The Adelphi - TEN: Dora's Birthday

Peggotty was in Spenlow's office to pay the bill against their services - common-form business in Commons parlance -, connected with the will of Mr Barkis, and its execution. 

They had already finished their job with the Legal - Duty office and the Bank, and everything was in order. For a change they went to Fleet Street, to see Linwood's Exhibition of needle work, and then to the Tower of London, and to the top of St Paul's.

Tiffey said that Mr Spenlow had stepped out to get a gentleman sworn for a marriage license.

Mr Spenlow came, and with him came Murdstone.  He was not much changed.

'Ah, Copperfield, said Mr Spenlow,' you know this gentleman?'

Trotwood made a distant bow, but Peggotty barely recognised Murdstone.

He was disconcerted, but stopped for a moment, for Mr Spenlow to pass into his room, followed by Murdstone.

David touched Peggoty's hand, and cautioned her not  to advance, and they waited for the gentleman to finish his business.  David did not want to settle the old score, and leave Peggotty in her ignorance.

Murdstone came out of Mr Spenlow's room, folding his licence, took a side glance at them and went away.

Mr Spenlow did not appear to know the connection between

Mr Murdstone and Trotwood, but in his usual way, he narrated the gentleman's hurry to accomplish his goal, because there was money and beauty in his new marriage.

Old Tiffey soon came and handed the bill of Peggotty to Mr Spenlow.  He, settling his chin in his cravat, and rubbing it sotly, went over the items and handed it back to Tiffey with a bland sigh.

'I should have been happy,' said Mr Spenlow to Copperfield, if these charges have been limited to actuals, but I have a partner, you know.'

David expressed his acknowledgements, on behalf of Peggotty, and paid Tiffey in Banknotes.  Peggotty then retired to her lodgings.  Mr Spenlow and Trotwood went to the court.

Mr Spenlow told that this day week was Dora's birthday day, and he invited Trotwood to join a picnic on the occasion.

On the eventful day, he was on  horseback, with a bouquet in his hat trotting down to Norwood.  The hamper he carried weighed with crackers of tenderest mottoes, the pair of boots he bought for the occasion turned out to be an instrument of torment.

Dora was in her celestial blue dress, sitting on the garden-seat under the lilac tree, in the bright morning.  She was wearing a white chip bonnet.  There was a young lady of twenty, Julia Mills, who was the bosom friend of Dora.  When Trotwood presented his bouquet, Jip barked at him.

'Oh, thank you, Mr Copperfield, what dear flowers!' said Dora.  Trotwood was lost for words, though he had been studying the best form of words, the last three miles of his journey.  Dora held the bouquet of flowers to Jip to smell.  Jip growled and didn't smell them.  

'You will be glad to hear Mr Copperfield,' said Dora, 'that cross Murdstone is not here.  She has gone to her brother's marriage, and will be away at least three weeks.  Isn't that delightful?'

'Since you are delighted, I too am delighted,' said Trotwood.  Miss Mills smiled upon them.

'She is the most disagreeable thing I ever saw,' said Dora.

Mr Spenlow came out of the house, and Dora went to him, saying, 'Look, papa, what beautiful flowers!' And Miss Mills smiled thoughtfully.  And all of them walked towards the carriage.

The phaeton was open.  Dora, her father and Julia Mills were in the phaeton. Hampers (including the one of Trotwood), and a guitar were also in the phaeton.

Trotwood rode behind them.  Dora sat with her back to the horses, looking towards Trotwood.  She kept the bouquet close to her on the cushion, often carried it in her hand, and refreshed herself with its fragrance.

They came to a green spot, on a hill carpeted with soft turf.  There were shady trees, and heather, and rich landscape.  Here the people waited for Dora and her party.  Trotwood was jelous of other males, and he was particularly jelous of a gentleman with red-whiskers.

At dinner time the red-whiskers came forward to make salad.  Some of the ladies washed lettuces for him, and sliced them under his direction.  Dora was among these and Trotwood did not like it.  Later, Red-whiskers took himself the charge of the wine-cellar, and concealed it in the hollow trunk of a tree.  He sat with majority of lobster on his plate, eating his dinner at the feet of Dora!

Trotwood was very much irked, and as a compensation attached himself with a young creature in pink, with little eyes, and flirted with her desperately. Dora's health was drunk, and when Trotwood did this, her appealing eyes were seen over the head of Red-whiskers.

There was a general breaking up of the party, and Trotwood strolled alone among the trees in rage and remorse.  He was confused whether to pretend head-ache or to fly on his gallant grey.  But Miss Mills caught him, and said, 'Mr Copperfield, you are dull.'

He begged her pardon.

'And Dora,' said Miss Mills, 'you are dull.'

'Oh dear no! Not in the least.'

'Mr Copperfield and Dora,' said Miss Mills, 'enough of this.  Do not allow trivial misunderstanding to wither the blossoms of spring.'

Trotwood hardly knew what he did.  He was burning, but he took Dora's little hand, and kissed it, and Dora let him. 

Then they joined the others. They wanted Dora to sing. And the guitar was taken out of its case. And Dora sang and played the guitar. Miss Mills sang, and others sang.

The evening came on, and they had tea.  Trotwood was happy when the party was broke up, and other people went their several ways.  Mr Spenlow being a little drowsy, was fast asleep in the corner of the carriage. Trotwood rode by the side of the carriage.  Dora admired the horse, and patted him, and her shawl would not keep right, and now and then Trotwood drew it round her.

'Mr Copperfield,' said Mills, 'come to this side of the carriage, if you can.  I want to speak to you.'

Trotwood's gallant grey trotted to the other side of the carriage.

'Dora is coming to stay with me.  She is coming home with me the day after tomorrow.  If you would like to call, I am sure papa would be happy to see you.'

After delivering her message she said, 'Go back to Dora.'  And Trotwood went back to the other side of the carriage.

When the phaeton arrived at Norwood, Mr Spenlow was awake.  'You must come in, Copperfield and rest,' said Mr Spenlow.  They had sandwiches, wine-and-water.  Trotwood sat there for sometime and decided to take leave.  While he parted with the farewell touch of Dora's hand, he could hear Mr Spenlow snoring.  He rode all the way to London.

Every morning he thought of Dora.  And one fine morning he decided to declare his passion to Dora.  He knew that Dora was with Julia Mills.  So he went to Julia Mills.  He walked many time, up and down the street where the house of Mills stood.  Then he knocked at the door.  Mr Mills was not at home.  Miss Mills would do.

Trotwood was shown a room upstairs where Miss Mills and Dora were.  Miss Mills was copying a music, and Dora was painting flowers.  Miss Mills was very glad to see Trotwood, but very sorry her papa was not home.  Miss Mills after some talks, laid down her pen, and  left the room.

'I hope your poor horse was not tired, when he got home at night.' said Dora, lifting up her beautiful eyes.  'It was a long way for him.'

'It was a long way for him,' repeated Trotwood 

'Wasn't he fed, poor thing?'

'Yes, yes,' said he, 'he was well taken care of.'

Dora bent her head over her drawing a little while and said, 'I had sat in a burning fever, with my legs in a rigid a state, but you didn't seem to be sensible of that happiness yourself, at one time of the day, when you were sitting by Miss Kitt.'

'The creature in pink,' said Trotwood.

'I certainly don't know why you should,' said Dora, 

Trotwood knew that it was a stopgap to fill the vacuum when Dora was engaged in Red-whiskers' show.  Instead of dragging himself to further con, Trotwood had Dora in his arms. He told he loved her, should die without her, and he worshipped her. This, and his eloquent speech on love, that followed pleased Dora very much.  All these show was accompanied by the barking of Jip, who sat in her lap.  Both of them thought that they were engaged, though Dora stipulated that they should marry, only with the consent of her papa.

Then she went in search of Mills, brought her, and the lovers confided in her.

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