The Adelphi: SEVENTEEN - Putney Sisters and Dora.

Putney sisters were sitting in the drawing room of their small house. Lavinia the younger sister had a letter in her hand.  Clarissa the elder had her arms crossed accross her breast. Both the sisters looked exactly like late Mr Spenlow. Both were dressed alike, but the younger had some embellishments and looked more lively and attractive.  There was not much division with their brother Mr Francis Spenlow.  Francis took his own ways and the sisters took their own.

The sisters knew little about their brother's profession, but they knew that there was no savings, and his hereditary property was to sell to pay off his debts.  The sisters' initial instinct was to put a close to that chapter. 

'Let us bury this with ourselves,' said Clarissa releasing her arms and raising herself from seat, 'not a good case.' 

Lavinia, folding the letter and keeping it in her elbow pocket, said, 'we know nothing about this boy.  We know nothing about our niece.'

'Francis's wife had never gave us an occasion in her life time to get in contact with our niece,' said Clarissa.

'Yes,' said Lavinia, Francis took his own way and we ours.

'Do you remember what Dora's mama said,' continued Miss Clarissa, 'that there was no room for family at the dinner-table.'

'Yes, Yes.  I remember well. It would have been better,' she continued, 'for the happiness of all the parties, if she mentioned plainly what her intentions were.'

'Sister Clarissa,' said sister Lavinia, 'let us stop digging the past, and talk about the future.  This Copperfield, we do not know him. Suppose, this is only a boy and girl inclination.'

'Yes, Yes.  Both are very young. And I do not favour his occupation. The proctor. No future. Almost dead.'

'Let us wait. This will fade away.' 

'Our Francis was in this for a long period. He earned nothing. And he lost his ancestral property in it. Thousand pounds. Everything gone.'

'Now, this Julia Mills. How are we going to handle her.'

'She is leaving for India, along with Mr Mills. She is busy with her voyage.'

Thus the sisters decided to wait and see.

[ Dickens was in his thirties when he started writing David Copperfield.  Dickens was a great observer.  An introspection into his own adolescence and the life of his  adolescent friends must have prompted him to create the character of Dora Spenlow.  When we compare Agnes Wickfield and Dora Spenlow, the former is matured beyond her years.  "Blind, blind, blind!" was David's sentiments towards Miss Shepherd, Miss Larkins and Miss Dora Spenlow.  Miss Betsey was aware of this because she had gone through the same experience, but later regret it, threw away the shackles, but found that she could not clear the pin as long as his separated husband was alive.  Even without Dora Spenlow the fiction would be complete.  Once created Dora should meet her end, so as to complete the bildungsroman course of the fiction. Here, to remove Dora an alternate course is adopted]

After a few weeks the sisters had a relook at the matter. They took the letter to their niece and sought her view on its content.

She told them that it was a pastime to overcome the dull life under the watch of Miss Murdstone. The theatrical experience she acquired in Paris helped her make a good performance. She was not interested in cookery book and housekeeping and was thinking of leaving for Paris to continue her education.  She told her aunts that she is going to write to  David Copperfield.

After a few days Trotwood Copperfield received the letter.

Doady, 

It is time we must end our roleplay, into which we have been brought under different circumstances.  I do not know why my papa called me back from Paris before finishing my education.  But I had to hide my resentment and make a show, because I loved papa very much.  Your coming was really a relief to me to escape the boredom and gloom that Miss Murdstone carried with her.  Poor papa had a great appreciation of you and your aunt Miss Betsey.  I think papa had some design when he invited you to the party when you were articled.  You know, papa never invited anyone from the office to the party.  Even Mr Jorkins was not an exception.  Papa was very class conscious.

A few days before that incident involving Jip and your letter and Miss Murdstone I heard papa telling her that your aunt is ruined.  And after that incident, he told me that never write any letter to you or to receive any fresh one. I have never written to you, but was receiving plenty.

Doady!  You love Agnus very much.  That is why you are Jealous of Uriah Heep. But you think your love of Agnus is something different, and call it sisterly, and you go after Miss Sharp, Miss Larkins and even Miss Rosa Dartle. Nothing to worry about. These are all natural. Be frank with Agnus and tell her that you love her. I do not like a life in the cookery book and housekeeping and all those drudgery connected with it.  I would like to continue my education in Paris.  Means are meagre, only that one thousand pounds, my poor Papa's legacy.  I think papa had been living in a make-believe world: this palacious house, the garden, the maids and servents, the phaeton - everything gone.

Miss Julia Mills is leaving for India. And I am leaving for Paris. Thank you for your innocence and mischief and pardon my pastime.

Never mind that bad angel comment of your Agnes. She could not resist the charm of James Steerforth. Think of him at his best.

Dora Spenlow.