23. CHARLES DICKENS: DAVID COPPERFIELD: CHAPTER 23: I CORROBORATE MR DICK AND CHOOSE A PROFESSION

When I woke up in the morning I thought very much of little Emily, and her emotions, after Martha had left.  I felt that I should keep those domestic disturbance to myself, and not let it out, even to Steerforth.  I had a gentle feeling towards Emily, who was my playmate.

While we were at breakfast, a letter was delivered to me, from my aunt.  It contained a matter, on which I could seek advice from Steerforth.  I resolved to make it make it a subject of discussion on our journey home.  Before departure, we had to take leave of all our friends in Yarmouth.  Peggotty and all of her family felt grief at our leaving.  The whole house of Omer and Joram turned out to bid us goodbye.  There were so many seafaring volunteers in attendance on Steerforth, when our portmanteau went to the coach.  We departed to the regret and admiration of all concerned, and left a great many people very sorry behind us.

'Do you stay long here, Littimer?' said I as he stood waiting to see the coach start.

'No, sir.  Probably not very long.'

'He can hardly say, just now,' said Steerforth, 'He knows what he has to do, and he will do it.'

'That I am sure, he will,' said I. 

Littimer touched his hat in acknowledgement of my good opinion, and I felt about eight years older.  He touched it once more, wishing us a good journey; and we left him standing on the pavement, as respectable a mystery as any pyramid in Egypt.

For some little time we held no conversation, Steerforth in his usual silence, and I wondering myself, when I should see the old places again, and what might happen to me and them in the meanwhile.

'Find a voice, David.  What about that letter you were speaking of at the breakfast?' 

'Oh!,' said I, taking out of my pocket, 'it's from my aunt.'

'And what does she say, requiring consideration?'

'Why, she reminds me Steerforth,' said I, 'that I came out on this expedition to look about, and think a little.' 

'Which of course, you have done?'

'Indeed I can't say I have, particularly.  To tell you the truth, I am afraid I have forgotten it.' 

'Well, look about you now, and make up your negligence,' said Steerforth.  Look to the right you'll sea a flat country, with a good deal of Marsh in it, and look left you'll see the same, Look to the front, you'll see no difference, and look to the rear, and there it is still.'

I laughed, and replied that I find no suitable profession in the whole prospect: which was perhaps to be attributed to its flatness.  

'What says our aunt on the subject?' inquired Steerforth, glancing at the letter in my hand.  'Does she suggest anything?'

'Why, yes,' said I.  'She asks me, here, if I think, I should like to be a proctor?  What do you think of it?'

'Well, I don't know,' replied Steerforth, coolly, you may as well do that as well as anything else.  I suppose?' 

I could not help laughing again at his balancing all callings and professions equally; and I told him so.'

'What is a proctor, Steerforth?' said I.

Why, he is a sort of monkish attorney,' replied Steerforth, 'He is, to some faded courts held in Doctor's Commons - a lazy old nook near St Paul's Churchyard - what solicitors are to courts of law and equity.  He is a functionary whose existence, in the natural course of things would have terminated about two hundred years ago.  I can tell you best what he is, by telling you what Doctor's Commons is.  It's a little out-of-the-way place, where they administer what is called ecclesiastical law, and play all kinds of tricks with obsolete  old monsters of act of parliament, which three fourth of the world know nothing about, and the other fourth supposes to have been dug up, in a fossil state, in the days of Edward.  It's a place that has ancient monopoly in in suits about people's will and people's marriages, and disputes among ships and boats.' 

'Nonsense, Steerforth,' I exclaimed.  'You don't mean to say that there is any affinity between nautical matters and ecclesiastical matters?'

'I don't, indeed, my dear boy,' exclaimed Steerforth, but I mean to say that, they are managed and decided by the same set of people down in that same Doctor's Commons.  You shall go there one day, and find them blundering through half the nautical terms in Young's dictionary, apropos of the "Nancy" having run down the "Sarah Jane", or Mr Peggotty and Yarmouth boatmen having put off in a gale of wind with an anchor and cable to the "Nelson" Indiaman in distress, and you shall go there another day, and find them deep in the evidence, pro and con, respecting a clergyman who have misbehaved himself; and you shall find the judge in the nautical case, the advocate in the clergyman case or contrariwise.  They are like actors: now a man's judge, and now he is not a judge, now he is one thing, now he is another; and now he is something else, change and change about; but it is always very pleasant, profitable little affair of private theatricals, presented to uncommonly select audience.' 

'But advocates and proctors are not one and the same?' said I, a little puzzled. 

'No,' returned Steerforth, 'the advocates are civilians - men who have taken a Doctor's degree at college - which is the first reason of my knowing anything about it.  The proctors employ the advocates.  Both get very comfortable fees and altogether they make mighty snug little party.  On the whole, I would recommend you to take Doctors' Commons kindly, David.  They plume themselves on their gentility there, I can tell you, if that's my satisfaction.'

I made allowance for Steerforth's light way of treating the subject.  Considering it in reference with the staid air  and of gravity and antiquity which I associated with that 'lazy old nook near St Peter's Church yard'; did not feel indisposed towards my aunt's suggestion; which she left to my free decision making no scruple of telling me that it had occurred to her, on her lately visiting her own proctor in Doctors' Commons for the purpose of settling her will in my favour. 

'That's a laudable procedure on the part of our aunt at all events.' said Steerforth, when I mentioned it, 'and one deserving of all encouragement.  Daisy my advice is that you take kindly to Doctors' Commons.' 

I quite made up my mind to do so.  I told Steerforth that my aunt was in the town and would be staying in Lincoln's Inn Fields.  At the end of our journey, we parted and I went to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where my aunt was up and waiting for supper.

If I had been round the world since we parted, we could hardly had been better pleased to meet again.  My aunt cried outright as she embraced me; and said, pretending to laugh, that if my poor mother had been alive, that silly creature would have shed tears, she had no doubt. 

'So you have left Mr Dick behind, aunt?' said I.  'I am sorry for that.  Ah, Janet, how do you do?'

As Janet curtsied hoping I was well, I observed my aunt's visage lengthen very much.

'I am sorry for it, too,' said my aunt, rubbing her nose.  'I have had no peace of mind, Trot, since I have been here.'  

Before I could ask why, she told me.

'I am convinced,' said my aunt, laying her hand with a melancholy firmness on the table, 'that Dick's character is not a character to keep the donkeys off.  I am confident that he wants strength of purpose.  I should have left Janet at home.  Then my mind might have perhaps been at ease.  If there ever was a donkey trespassing on my green,' said my aunt, with emphasis, 'there was one this afternoon at four o'clock.  A cold feeling came over me from head to foot, and I know it was a donkey.'

I tried to comfort her on this point, but she rejected the consolation.

'It was a donkey,' said my aunt; and it was the one with slumpy tail , which that Murdering sister of a woman rode when she came to my house.  This had been, ever since, the only name my aunt new for Miss Murdstone.  'If there is any donkey in Dover, whose audacity is harder to me to bear than another's, that,' said my aunt striking the table, 'is the animal!' 

Janet ventured to suggest, that it might be disturbing herself unnecessarily, and she believed, the donkey in question was then engaged in sand-and-gravel line of business, and was not available for purposes of trespass.  But my aunt wouldn't hear of it.

Supper was comfortably served and hot, though my aunt's room were very high up - whether that she might have more stone stairs for her money, or might be more nearer to the door in the roof I don't know.  It consisted of a roast of fowl, a steak, and some vegetables, to all of which I did ample justice, and which were all excellent.  But my aunt had her own ideas concerning London provision, and ate but little.

'I suppose this unfortunate fowl was born and brought up in a cellar,' said my aunt, 'and never took the air except on a hackney- coach-stand.  I hope the steak may be beef, but I don't believe it.  Nothing is genuine in the place, in my opinion, but the dirt.' 

'Don't you think the fowl may have come out of the country, aunt?' I hinted.

'Certainly not.' returned my aunt.  'It would be no pleasure to a London tradesman to sell anything which what he presented it was.' 

I did not venture to a controversy, but I made a good supper, which greatly satisfied her to see me do.  When the table was cleared Janet assisted her to arrange her hair, to put on her night cap, which was of smarter than usual; and to fold her gown back over her knees, these being her usual preparations for warming herself before going to bed.  I then made a glass of wine and hot water and a slice of toast cut into long thin strips.  I was accustomed to these routine of her's over a few years.  After these we sat alone to finish the evening.  My aunt sat opposite to me drinking her wine and water; soaking her strips of toast in it, one by one before eating them; and looking benignantly on me, from among the boarders of her night cap.

'Well, Trot,' she began, 'What do you think of the proctor plan? Or have you not begun to think about it yet? 

'I have thought a good deal about it, my dear aunt, and I have talked a good deal about it with Steerforth, I like it very much indeed.  I like it exceedingly.' 

'Come!' said my aunt, 'that is cheering!'

'I have only one difficulty, aunt.' 

'Say, what it is, Trot?' she returned. 

'Why, I want to ask, aunt, as this seems, from what I understand, to be a limited profession, whether my entrance into it would not be very expensive?'

'It will cost,' returned my aunt, to article you, just a thousand pounds.' 

Now, my dear aunt, said I, drawing my chair nearer, 'I am uneasy in my mind about that.  It is a large sum of money .  You have expended a great deal on my education, and have always been liberal to me in all things as it was possible to be.  You have been the soul of generosity.  Surely there are some ways in which I might begin life with hardly any outlay, and yet begin with a good hope getting on by resolution and exertion.  Are you sure that it would not be better to try that course?  Are you certain that you can afford to part with so much money, and is it right to be so expended?  I only ask you, my second mother, to consider.  Are you certain?  

My aunt finished eating the piece of toast on which she was then engaged, looking me full in the face all the while; and then setting her glass on chimney piece, and folding her hands upon her folded skirts, replied as follows: 

'Trot, my child, if I have any object in life, it is to provide for your being a good, a sensible and a happy man.  I am bent upon it, so is Dick.  I should like some people that I know hear Dick's conversation on the subject.  Its sagacity is wonderful.  But no one knows the resources of that man's intellect except myself!'

She stopped for a moment to take my hands between her's and went on: 

'It is vain, Trot, to recall the past, unless it works some influence on the present.  Perhaps I might have been better friends with that poor child, your mother, even after your sister Betsey Trotwood disappointed me.  When you came to me, a little runaway boy, all dusty and way-worn, perhaps I thought so.  From that time, until now, you have ever been a credit to me and a pride and pleasure.  I have no other claim upon my means, at least' - here to my surprise she hesitated, and was confused - no I have no other claim upon my means - and you are my adopted child.  Only be a loving child to me in my age, and bear with my whims and fancies; and you will do more for an old woman whose prime of life was not so happy and conciliating as it might have been, than ever that old woman did for you.' 

It was the first time, I heard my aunt refer to the past.  There was a magnanimity in her quiet way of doing so, and of dismissing it, which would have exalted her in my respect and consideration.

'All is said and agreed between us, now, Trot,' said my aunt, 'and we need talk of this no more.  Give me a kiss, and we will go to the Commons after breakfast tomorrow.' 

We had a long chat by the fire before we went to bed.  I slept in a room on the same floor with my aunt's, and was a little disturbed in the course of the night by her knocking at my door as often as she was agitated by a distant sound of hackney- coaches or market-carts, and inquiring, 'if I heard the wheels?'   But towards morning, she slept better, so that I too enjoyed a good sleep. 

At about midday, we set out for the office of Messers Spenlow and Jorkins in Doctors' Commons.  My aunt, who had this other general opinion of London, that every man she saw was a pickpocket gave me her purse to carry for her, which had ten guineas in it and some silver.  We made a stop at the toy shop in Fleet Street to see the giants on St Dunstan's strike upon the bells - we had timed out going, so as to catch them at it at twelve o'clock - and then went on towards Ludgate Hall, at St Paul's churchyard.  We are crossing the former place when I found that my aunt greatly accelerated her speed and looked frightened.  At the same time, I saw a man, ill-dressed, and low; stopped and stared at us, while passing; was following us, behind, so close, so as to brush her. 

'Trot, my dear Trot,' cried my aunt, in a terrified whisper, and pressing my arm.  'I don't know what I am to do.'

'Don't be alarmed,' said I.  'There is nothing to be afraid of.  Step into a shop, and I will soon get rid of the fellow.'

No, no child,' she returned.  'Don't speak to him for the world, I entreat, I order you!' 

'Good Heaven, aunt!' said I.  'He is nothing but a sturdy beggar.' 

'You don't know what he is!' replied my aunt. You don't know who he is!  You don't what you say!'

We had stopped in an empty doorway, while this was passing, and he had stopped too. 

'Don't look at him,' said my aunt, as I turned my hand indignantly, ' but get me a coach my dear, and wait for me in St Paul's Churchyard.' 

'Wait for you?' I replied.

 'Yes,' rejoined my aunt.  'I must go alone.  I must go with him.'

'With him, aunt?  This man?

I am in my senses,' she replied, 'and I tell you I must.  Get me a coach!'

However much astonished I might be, I am sensible that I had no right to refuse compliance with such a imperative command.  I hurried away a few paces, and called a hackney-coach which was passing empty.  Almost before I could let down the steps, my aunt sprang in, I don't know how, and the man followed.  She waved her hand to me to go away, so earnestly, that I was confounded.  I turned from them at once.  I heard her say to the coachman: 'Drive anywhere!  Drive straight on!'. Soon the chariot passed me going up the hill.

What Mr Dick had told me, and what I imagined to be his delusion, now came into my mind.  This was the person of whom Mr Dick had made a mysterious mention.  I was quite unable to measure the hold of this mysterious person upon my aunt.  After half an hour's cooling in the churchyard, I saw the chariot coming back.  The driver stopped beside me, and my aunt was sitting in it alone.

She had not yet sufficiently recovered from her agitation.  She desired me to get into the carriage, and told the coachman to drive up and down slowly for a little while.  This was essential for her to get over the agitation and prepare herself for the visit to Messers Spenlow and Jorkins.  She said no more, except, 'My dear child, never ask me what it was, and don't refer to it.'  When she had regained her composure, and was quite herself, she told me that we might get out.  She gave her purse to me to pay the driver.  I found all the guineas were gone, and only loose silver remained.

Doctors' Commons stood by a little low archway.  Here the noise of the city seemed to melt, as if by a magic, into a softened distance.  A few dull courts and narrow ways brought us to sky-lighted offices of Spenlow and Jorkins.  Three or four clerks were at work in the vestibule.  One of them, a little dry man, who wore a stiff brown wig that looked as if it were made of gingerbread rose to receive my aunt and show us into Mr Spenlow's room.

Mr Spenlow in court, ma'am,' said the dry man; 'it's an Arches day, it is close by, and I'll send for him directly.'

We were left waiting.  The furniture of the room was old fashioned and dusty.  The green baize on the top of the writing table had lost all its colour, and was withered and pale as an old pauper.  There were great many bundles of papers on it, some endorsed as Allegations, and some as Libels, and some as being in the Consistory Court, and some in the Arches court, some in the Admirality Court, some in the Prerogative Court, some in the Delegates Court.   I wondered how many are there in all and how long it would take to understand each of them.  Besides these there were immense manuscript books of Evidence taken on affidavit, strongly bound and tied together in massive sets, a set to each case, as if every case were a history in ten or twenty volumes.  All this looked very expensive, and gave me a distant idea of proctor business.  I was casting my eyes over these and many other similar objects, when hasty footsteps were heard in the room outside, and Mr Spenlow, in black gown trimmed with white fur, came hurrying in, taking off his hat as he came in.

He was a light- hearted gentleman, with undeniable boots, and the stiffest  of white cravats and shirt collars.  He was buttoned up, and must have taken up a great deal of pain with whiskers, which were accurately curled.  His gold watch chain was so massive, that a fancy came accross me, that he ought to have a sinew golden arm, to draw it out with, like those which are put up over the goldbeater's shops.  He was got up with such care, and was so stiff, that he could hardly bend himself and move his whole body, after sitting down in his chair, and being obliged, to take some papers on his table.

I had previously been presented by my aunt, and had been courteously received.  Mr Spenlow now said: 

'And so, Mr Copperfield, you think of entering into our profession?  I casually mentioned to Miss Trotwood when I had the pleasure of an interview with her, the other day.' -with another inclination of his body - punch again - that there was a vaccancy here.  Miss Trotwood was good enough to mention that she had a nephew who was her peculiar care, and for whom she was seeking to provide genteel in life.  The nephew, I believe, I have now the pleasure of- punch again. 

I bowed my acknowledgements, and said, my aunt had mentioned to me that there was that opening, and that I believed I should like it very much.  That I was strongly inclined to like it, and had taken immediately to the proposal.  That I could not absolutely pledge myself to like it, until I know something more about it.  That although it was little else than a matter of form, I presumed I should have an opportunity trying how I liked it befor I bound myself to it irrevocably.

Oh, surely! Surely,' said Mr Spenlow.  'We always, in this house, propose a month - an initiatory month.  I should be happy myself, to propose two months - three an indefinite period, in fact - I have a partner, Mr Jorkins. 

'And the premium, sir,' I returned, a thousand pounds?' 

'And the premium, stamps included is thousand pounds,' said Mr Spenlow.  'As I have mentioned to Miss Trotwood, I am actuated by no mercenary considerations; few men are less so, I believe; but Mr Jorkins has his opinions on these subjects, and I am bound to respect Mr Jorkins opinions, Mr Jorkins thinks a thousand pounds too little, in short.' 

'I suppose sir,' said I, still desiring to spare my aunt, 'that it is not the custom here, if an articled clerk were particularly useful, and made himself perfect master of his profession' - I could not help blushing, this looked so like praising myself - 'I suppose it is not the custom, in the later years of his time, to allow him any -'

Mr Spenlow, by a great effort, just lifted his head far enough out of his cravat to shake it, and answered, anticipating the word 'salary' 

'No.  I will not say what consideration I might give to that point myself, Mr Copperfield, if I were unfettered.  Mr Jorkins is immovable.'

I was quite dismayed by the idea of this terrible Jorkins.  But I found out afterwards that he was a mild man of heavy temperament whose place in the business was to keep himself in the background and be constantly exhibited by name as the most obdurate and ruthless of men.  If a clerk wanted his salary raised, Mr Jorkins wouldn't listen to such a proposition.  If a client were slow to settle his bills, Mr Jorkins was resolved to have it paid; and however painful these things might be to the feelings of Mr Spenlow, Mr Jorkins would have his bond.  The heart and hand of the good angel Spenlow would have been always open, but for the restraining demon Jorkins.  As I have grown older, I have had experience of some other houses on the principle of Spenlow and Jorkins.

It was settled that I should begin months probation as soon as I pleased, and that my aunt neither remain in the town nor return at its expiry, as the articles of agreement, of which I was to be the subject, could easily be sent to her at home for her signature.  When we had got so far, Mr Spenlow offered to take me into court then and there, and showed me what sort of place it was.

As I was willing enough to know, we went out with this object, leaving my aunt behind; who would trust herself, in no such place, and who I think, regarded all Courts of Law as Powder mills that might blow up at any time.

Mr Spenlow conducted me through a paved courtyard formed of grave brick houses, which I inferred, from the Doctors' name upon the door, to be the official abiding places of the learned advocates of whom Steerforth had told me; and into a large dull room, not unlike a chapel, on the left hand.  The upper part of the room was fenced off from the rest, and there, on the two sides of the raised platform of the horse - shoe shape sitting on easy old fashioned dinning room chairs, were sundry gentlemen in red gowns and grey wigs, whom I found to be the Doctors aforesaid.  Blinking over a little desk like pupil desk, in the curve of the horse shoe, was an old gentleman, whom, if I had seen him in an aviary, I should certainly have taken for an owl, but who, I learned, was the presiding judge.  In the space within the horse shoe, lower than these, that is to say, on about the level of the floor, were sundry gentlemen of Mr Spenlow's rank, and dressed like him in black gowns, with white fur upon them, sitting at a long green table.  Their cravats were in general stiff, and their looks haughty, but when two or three of them had to rise and answer a question of the presiding dignitary, I never saw anything more sheepish.  The public represented by a boy with a comforter and a shabby gentleman, secretly eating crumbs from out of his coat pockets, was warming himself at a stove in the centre of the court.  The languid stillness of the place was only broken by the chirping of the fire and by the voice of one of the Doctors, who was wandering slowly through a perfect library of evidence, and stopping to put up, from time to time, at little roadside inns of argument on the journey.  Altogether, I have never, on any occassion, made one at such a cosy, dosy old fashioned, time - forgotten sleepy headed little family party in all my life; and I felt it would be quite a soothing opiate to belong to it in any character - except perhaps as a suitor.

Very well satisfied with the dreamy nature of this retreat, I had informed Mr Spenlow that I had seen enough for that time, and we rejoined my aunt, with whom I departed from Doctors' Commons, feeling very young when I went out of Spenlow and Jorkins, on account of the clerks poking one another with their pens to point me out.

We arrived at Lincoln's Inn Fields, without any new adventures, except encountering an unlucky donkey in a costermonger's cart, who suggested painful associations to my aunt.  We had another long talk about our plans when we were safely housed, and as I knew she was anxious to get home, and among fire, food and pickpockets  could never be considered at her ease for half an hour in London, I urged her not to be uncomfortable on my account, but to leave me to take care of myself.

'I have not been here a week tomorrow, without considering that too my dear,' she returned.  'There is furnished a little set of chambers to be let in Adelphi, Trot, which ought to suit you to a marvel.' 

With this brief introduction, she produced from her pocket an advertisement, carefully cut out of a newspaper, setting forth that in Buckingham street in Adelphi there was to be let furnished, with a view of river, a singularly desirable, compact set of chambers, forming a genteel residence for a young gentleman, a member of one of one of the Inns Court, or otherwise with immediate possession.  Terms moderate.  Could be taken for a month only, if required.

'Why, this is the very thing! Aunt,' said I flushed with the possible dignity of living in chambers. 

'Then come,' replied my aunt immediately resuming the bonnet she had a minute before laid aside.  'We will go and look at them.' 

Away we went.  The advertisement directed us to apply to Mrs Crupp on the premises, and we rung the area bell, which we supposed to communicate with Mrs Crupp.  It was not until we had rung three or four times that we could prevail on Mrs Crupp to communicate with us, but at last she appeared, being a stout lady with a flounce of flannel petticoat below a nankeen gown. 

'Let us see these chambers of yours,    ma'am,' said my aunt.

'For this gentleman?'said Mrs Crupp, feeling in her pocket for her keys.

'Yes, for my nephew,' said my aunt.' 

'And a sweet set they is for sich!' said Mrs Crupp 

So we went upstairs.

They were on the top of the house - a great point with my aunt, being near the fire escape - and consisted of a little half blind entry, where you could see hardly anything, a little stone blind pantry where you could see nothing at all, a sitting room, a bed room.  The furniture was rather faded, but quite good enough for me, and sure enough, the river was outside the windows. 

As I was delighted with the place, Mrs Crupp and my aunt withdrew into the pantry to discuss the terms while I remained on sitting room sofa hardly daring to think it possible that I could be destined to live in such a noble residence.  After a single combat of some duration they returned, and I saw to my joy in Mrs Crupp's countenance and in my aunt's, that the deed was done. 

'Is it the last occupant's furniture?' asked my aunt.

'Yes, it's, ma'am,' said Mrs Crupp 

'What's become of him?' aked my aunt. 

Mrs Crupp was taken with a troublesome cough, in the midst of which she articulated with much difficulty.  'He was took ill here, ma'am and - ugh! ugh! ugh! dear me! - and he died!

'Hey, what did he die of ?' asked my aunt.

'Well, ma'am he died of drink,' said Mrs Crupp in confidence.  'And smoke.' 

'Smoke?  'You don't mean chimneys?' said my aunt. 

'No ma'am.  Cigars and pipes.' 

'That's not catching, Trot, at any rate,' remarked my aunt turning to me.

'No, indeed,' said I

In short, my aunt, seeing how enraptured I was with the premises, took them for a month, with leave to remain for twelve months when the time was out.  Mrs Crupp was to find linen, and to cook, every other necessary was already provided; and Mrs Crupp expressly intimated that she should always yearn towards me as a son.  I was to take possession the day after tomorrow, and Mrs Crupp said, thank heaven she had now found summun she could care for! 

On our way back, my aunt informed me how she confidently trusted that the life I was now to lead would make me firm and self reliant, which was all I wanted.  She repeated this several times next day in the intervals of our arranging for the transmission of my clothes and books from Mr Wickfield's; relative to which and to all my late holiday, I wrote a long letter to Agnes, of which my aunt took charge, as she was to leave on the succeeding day.  Not to lengthen these particulars, I need only add, that she made a handsome provision for all my possible wants during my month of trial.

To my great disappointment, Steerforth did not make his presence before her departure.  She too was disappointed that she missed my best friend.  I saw her safely seated in the Dover coach, with Janet at her side.  When the coach was gone, I turned my eyes to Adelphi, pondering on the old days when I used to roam about its subterranean arches, and on the happy changes which had brought me to the surface.

END OF CHAPTER 23