CHAPTER 27 - TOMMY TRADDLES

It may have been in consequence of Mrs. Crupp's advice, and,

perhaps, for no better reason than because there was a certain

similarity in the sound of the word skittles and Traddles, that it

came into my head, next day, to go and look after Traddles. The

time he had mentioned was more than out, and he lived in a little

street near the Veterinary College at Camden Town, which was

principally tenanted, as one of our clerks who lived in that

direction informed me, by gentlemen students, who bought live

donkeys, and made experiments on those quadrupeds in their private

apartments. Having obtained from this clerk a direction to the

academic grove in question, I set out, the same afternoon, to visit

my old schoolfellow.

I found that the street was not as desirable a one as I could have

wished it to be, for the sake of Traddles. The inhabitants

appeared to have a propensity to throw any little trifles they were

not in want of, into the road: which not only made it rank and

sloppy, but untidy too, on account of the cabbage-leaves. The

refuse was not wholly vegetable either, for I myself saw a shoe, a

doubled-up saucepan, a black bonnet, and an umbrella, in various

stages of decomposition, as I was looking out for the number I

wanted.

The general air of the place reminded me forcibly of the days when

I lived with Mr. and Mrs. Micawber. An indescribable character of

faded gentility that attached to the house I sought, and made it

unlike all the other houses in the street - though they were all

built on one monotonous pattern, and looked like the early copies

of a blundering boy who was learning to make houses, and had not

yet got out of his cramped brick-and-mortar pothooks - reminded me

still more of Mr. and Mrs. Micawber. Happening to arrive at the

door as it was opened to the afternoon milkman, I was reminded of

Mr. and Mrs. Micawber more forcibly yet.

'Now,' said the milkman to a very youthful servant girl. 'Has that

there little bill of mine been heerd on?'

'Oh, master says he'll attend to it immediate,' was the reply.

'Because,' said the milkman, going on as if he had received no

answer, and speaking, as I judged from his tone, rather for the

edification of somebody within the house, than of the youthful

servant - an impression which was strengthened by his manner of

glaring down the passage - 'because that there little bill has been

running so long, that I begin to believe it's run away altogether,

and never won't be heerd of. Now, I'm not a going to stand it, you

know!' said the milkman, still throwing his voice into the house,

and glaring down the passage.

As to his dealing in the mild article of milk, by the by, there

never was a greater anomaly. His deportment would have been fierce

in a butcher or a brandy-merchant.

The voice of the youthful servant became faint, but she seemed to

me, from the action of her lips, again to murmur that it would be

attended to immediate.

'I tell you what,' said the milkman, looking hard at her for the

first time, and taking her by the chin, 'are you fond of milk?'

'Yes, I likes it,' she replied.

'Good,' said the milkman. 'Then you won't have none tomorrow.

D'ye hear? Not a fragment of milk you won't have tomorrow.'

I thought she seemed, upon the whole, relieved by the prospect of

having any today. The milkman, after shaking his head at her

darkly, released her chin, and with anything rather than good-will

opened his can, and deposited the usual quantity in the family jug.

This done, he went away, muttering, and uttered the cry of his

trade next door, in a vindictive shriek.

'Does Mr. Traddles live here?' I then inquired.

A mysterious voice from the end of the passage replied 'Yes.' Upon

which the youthful servant replied 'Yes.'

'Is he at home?' said I.

Again the mysterious voice replied in the affirmative, and again

the servant echoed it. Upon this, I walked in, and in pursuance of

the servant's directions walked upstairs; conscious, as I passed

the back parlour-door, that I was surveyed by a mysterious eye,

probably belonging to the mysterious voice.

When I got to the top of the stairs - the house was only a story

high above the ground floor - Traddles was on the landing to meet

me. He was delighted to see me, and gave me welcome, with great

heartiness, to his little room. It was in the front of the house,

and extremely neat, though sparely furnished. It was his only

room, I saw; for there was a sofa-bedstead in it, and his

blacking-brushes and blacking were among his books - on the top

shelf, behind a dictionary. His table was covered with papers, and

he was hard at work in an old coat. I looked at nothing, that I

know of, but I saw everything, even to the prospect of a church

upon his china inkstand, as I sat down - and this, too, was a

faculty confirmed in me in the old Micawber times. Various

ingenious arrangements he had made, for the disguise of his chest

of drawers, and the accommodation of his boots, his shaving-glass,

and so forth, particularly impressed themselves upon me, as

evidences of the same Traddles who used to make models of

elephants' dens in writing-paper to put flies in; and to comfort

himself under ill usage, with the memorable works of art I have so

often mentioned.

In a corner of the room was something neatly covered up with a

large white cloth. I could not make out what that was.

'Traddles,' said I, shaking hands with him again, after I had sat

down, 'I am delighted to see you.'

'I am delighted to see YOU, Copperfield,' he returned. 'I am very

glad indeed to see you. It was because I was thoroughly glad to

see you when we met in Ely Place, and was sure you were thoroughly

glad to see me, that I gave you this address instead of my address

at chambers.'

'Oh! You have chambers?' said I.

'Why, I have the fourth of a room and a passage, and the fourth of

a clerk,' returned Traddles. 'Three others and myself unite to

have a set of chambers - to look business-like - and we quarter the

clerk too. Half-a-crown a week he costs me.'

His old simple character and good temper, and something of his old

unlucky fortune also, I thought, smiled at me in the smile with

which he made this explanation.

'It's not because I have the least pride, Copperfield, you

understand,' said Traddles, 'that I don't usually give my address

here. It's only on account of those who come to me, who might not

like to come here. For myself, I am fighting my way on in the

world against difficulties, and it would be ridiculous if I made a

pretence of doing anything else.'

'You are reading for the bar, Mr. Waterbrook informed me?' said I.

'Why, yes,' said Traddles, rubbing his hands slowly over one

another. 'I am reading for the bar. The fact is, I have just

begun to keep my terms, after rather a long delay. It's some time

since I was articled, but the payment of that hundred pounds was a

great pull. A great pull!' said Traddles, with a wince, as if he

had had a tooth out.

'Do you know what I can't help thinking of, Traddles, as I sit here

looking at you?' I asked him.

'No,' said he.

'That sky-blue suit you used to wear.'

'Lord, to be sure!' cried Traddles, laughing. 'Tight in the arms

and legs, you know? Dear me! Well! Those were happy times,

weren't they?'

'I think our schoolmaster might have made them happier, without

doing any harm to any of us, I acknowledge,' I returned.

'Perhaps he might,' said Traddles. 'But dear me, there was a good

deal of fun going on. Do you remember the nights in the bedroom?

When we used to have the suppers? And when you used to tell the

stories? Ha, ha, ha! And do you remember when I got caned for

crying about Mr. Mell? Old Creakle! I should like to see him

again, too!'

'He was a brute to you, Traddles,' said I, indignantly; for his

good humour made me feel as if I had seen him beaten but yesterday.

'Do you think so?' returned Traddles. 'Really? Perhaps he was

rather. But it's all over, a long while. Old Creakle!'

'You were brought up by an uncle, then?' said I.

'Of course I was!' said Traddles. 'The one I was always going to

write to. And always didn't, eh! Ha, ha, ha! Yes, I had an uncle

then. He died soon after I left school.'

'Indeed!'

'Yes. He was a retired - what do you call it! - draper -

cloth-merchant - and had made me his heir. But he didn't like me

when I grew up.'

'Do you really mean that?' said I. He was so composed, that I

fancied he must have some other meaning.

'Oh dear, yes, Copperfield! I mean it,' replied Traddles. 'It was

an unfortunate thing, but he didn't like me at all. He said I

wasn't at all what he expected, and so he married his housekeeper.'

'And what did you do?' I asked.

'I didn't do anything in particular,' said Traddles. 'I lived with

them, waiting to be put out in the world, until his gout

unfortunately flew to his stomach - and so he died, and so she

married a young man, and so I wasn't provided for.'

'Did you get nothing, Traddles, after all?'

'Oh dear, yes!' said Traddles. 'I got fifty pounds. I had never

been brought up to any profession, and at first I was at a loss

what to do for myself. However, I began, with the assistance of

the son of a professional man, who had been to Salem House -

Yawler, with his nose on one side. Do you recollect him?'

No. He had not been there with me; all the noses were straight in

my day.

'It don't matter,' said Traddles. 'I began, by means of his

assistance, to copy law writings. That didn't answer very well;

and then I began to state cases for them, and make abstracts, and

that sort of work. For I am a plodding kind of fellow,

Copperfield, and had learnt the way of doing such things pithily.

Well! That put it in my head to enter myself as a law student; and

that ran away with all that was left of the fifty pounds. Yawler

recommended me to one or two other offices, however - Mr.

Waterbrook's for one - and I got a good many jobs. I was fortunate

enough, too, to become acquainted with a person in the publishing

way, who was getting up an Encyclopaedia, and he set me to work;

and, indeed' (glancing at his table), 'I am at work for him at this

minute. I am not a bad compiler, Copperfield,' said Traddles,

preserving the same air of cheerful confidence in all he said, 'but

I have no invention at all; not a particle. I suppose there never

was a young man with less originality than I have.'

As Traddles seemed to expect that I should assent to this as a

matter of course, I nodded; and he went on, with the same sprightly

patience - I can find no better expression - as before.

'So, by little and little, and not living high, I managed to scrape

up the hundred pounds at last,' said Traddles; 'and thank Heaven

that's paid - though it was - though it certainly was,' said

Traddles, wincing again as if he had had another tooth out, 'a

pull. I am living by the sort of work I have mentioned, still, and

I hope, one of these days, to get connected with some newspaper:

which would almost be the making of my fortune. Now, Copperfield,

you are so exactly what you used to be, with that agreeable face,

and it's so pleasant to see you, that I sha'n't conceal anything.

Therefore you must know that I am engaged.'

Engaged! Oh, Dora!

'She is a curate's daughter,' said Traddles; 'one of ten, down in

Devonshire. Yes!' For he saw me glance, involuntarily, at the

prospect on the inkstand. 'That's the church! You come round here

to the left, out of this gate,' tracing his finger along the

inkstand, 'and exactly where I hold this pen, there stands the

house - facing, you understand, towards the church.'

The delight with which he entered into these particulars, did not

fully present itself to me until afterwards; for my selfish

thoughts were making a ground-plan of Mr. Spenlow's house and

garden at the same moment.

'She is such a dear girl!' said Traddles; 'a little older than me,

but the dearest girl! I told you I was going out of town? I have

been down there. I walked there, and I walked back, and I had the

most delightful time! I dare say ours is likely to be a rather

long engagement, but our motto is "Wait and hope!" We always say

that. "Wait and hope," we always say. And she would wait,

Copperfield, till she was sixty - any age you can mention - for

me!'

Traddles rose from his chair, and, with a triumphant smile, put his

hand upon the white cloth I had observed.

'However,' he said, 'it's not that we haven't made a beginning

towards housekeeping. No, no; we have begun. We must get on by

degrees, but we have begun. Here,' drawing the cloth off with

great pride and care, 'are two pieces of furniture to commence

with. This flower-pot and stand, she bought herself. You put that

in a parlour window,' said Traddles, falling a little back from it

to survey it with the greater admiration, 'with a plant in it, and

- and there you are! This little round table with the marble top

(it's two feet ten in circumference), I bought. You want to lay a

book down, you know, or somebody comes to see you or your wife, and

wants a place to stand a cup of tea upon, and - and there you are

again!' said Traddles. 'It's an admirable piece of workmanship -

firm as a rock!'

I praised them both, highly, and Traddles replaced the covering as

carefully as he had removed it.

'It's not a great deal towards the furnishing,' said Traddles, 'but

it's something. The table-cloths, and pillow-cases, and articles

of that kind, are what discourage me most, Copperfield. So does

the ironmongery - candle-boxes, and gridirons, and that sort of

necessaries - because those things tell, and mount up. However,

"wait

and hope!" And I assure you she's the dearest girl!'

'I am quite certain of it,' said I.

'In the meantime,' said Traddles, coming back to his chair; 'and

this is the end of my prosing about myself, I get on as well as I

can. I don't make much, but I don't spend much. In general, I

board with the people downstairs, who are very agreeable people

indeed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Micawber have seen a good deal of life,

and are excellent company.'

'My dear Traddles!' I quickly exclaimed. 'What are you talking

about?'

Traddles looked at me, as if he wondered what I was talking about.

'Mr. and Mrs. Micawber!' I repeated. 'Why, I am intimately

acquainted with them!'

An opportune double knock at the door, which I knew well from old

experience in Windsor Terrace, and which nobody but Mr. Micawber

could ever have knocked at that door, resolved any doubt in my mind

as to their being my old friends. I begged Traddles to ask his

landlord to walk up. Traddles accordingly did so, over the

banister; and Mr. Micawber, not a bit changed - his tights, his

stick, his shirt-collar, and his eye-glass, all the same as ever -

came into the room with a genteel and youthful air.

'I beg your pardon, Mr. Traddles,' said Mr. Micawber, with the old

roll in his voice, as he checked himself in humming a soft tune.

'I was not aware that there was any individual, alien to this

tenement, in your sanctum.'

Mr. Micawber slightly bowed to me, and pulled up his shirt-collar.

'How do you do, Mr. Micawber?' said I.

'Sir,' said Mr. Micawber, 'you are exceedingly obliging. I am in

statu quo.'

'And Mrs. Micawber?' I pursued.

'Sir,' said Mr. Micawber, 'she is also, thank God, in statu quo.'

'And the children, Mr. Micawber?'

'Sir,' said Mr. Micawber, 'I rejoice to reply that they are,

likewise, in the enjoyment of salubrity.'

All this time, Mr. Micawber had not known me in the least, though

he had stood face to face with me. But now, seeing me smile, he

examined my features with more attention, fell back, cried, 'Is it

possible! Have I the pleasure of again beholding Copperfield!' and

shook me by both hands with the utmost fervour.

'Good Heaven, Mr. Traddles!' said Mr. Micawber, 'to think that I

should find you acquainted with the friend of my youth, the

companion of earlier days! My dear!' calling over the banisters to

Mrs. Micawber, while Traddles looked (with reason) not a little

amazed at this description of me. 'Here is a gentleman in Mr.

Traddles's apartment, whom he wishes to have the pleasure of

presenting to you, my love!'

Mr. Micawber immediately reappeared, and shook hands with me again.

'And how is our good friend the Doctor, Copperfield?' said Mr.

Micawber, 'and all the circle at Canterbury?'

'I have none but good accounts of them,' said I.

'I am most delighted to hear it,' said Mr. Micawber. 'It was at

Canterbury where we last met. Within the shadow, I may

figuratively say, of that religious edifice immortalized by

Chaucer, which was anciently the resort of Pilgrims from the

remotest corners of - in short,' said Mr. Micawber, 'in the

immediate neighbourhood of the Cathedral.'

I replied that it was. Mr. Micawber continued talking as volubly

as he could; but not, I thought, without showing, by some marks of

concern in his countenance, that he was sensible of sounds in the

next room, as of Mrs. Micawber washing her hands, and hurriedly

opening and shutting drawers that were uneasy in their action.

'You find us, Copperfield,' said Mr. Micawber, with one eye on

Traddles, 'at present established, on what may be designated as a

small and unassuming scale; but, you are aware that I have, in the

course of my career, surmounted difficulties, and conquered

obstacles. You are no stranger to the fact, that there have been

periods of my life, when it has been requisite that I should pause,

until certain expected events should turn up; when it has been

necessary that I should fall back, before making what I trust I

shall not be accused of presumption in terming - a spring. The

present is one of those momentous stages in the life of man. You

find me, fallen back, FOR a spring; and I have every reason to

believe that a vigorous leap will shortly be the result.'

I was expressing my satisfaction, when Mrs. Micawber came in; a

little more slatternly than she used to be, or so she seemed now,

to my unaccustomed eyes, but still with some preparation of herself

for company, and with a pair of brown gloves on.

'My dear,' said Mr. Micawber, leading her towards me, 'here is a

gentleman of the name of Copperfield, who wishes to renew his

acquaintance with you.'

It would have been better, as it turned out, to have led gently up

to this announcement, for Mrs. Micawber, being in a delicate state

of health, was overcome by it, and was taken so unwell, that Mr.

Micawber was obliged, in great trepidation, to run down to the

water-butt in the backyard, and draw a basinful to lave her brow

with. She presently revived, however, and was really pleased to

see me. We had half-an-hour's talk, all together; and I asked her

about the twins, who, she said, were 'grown great creatures'; and

after Master and Miss Micawber, whom she described as 'absolute

giants', but they were not produced on that occasion.

Mr. Micawber was very anxious that I should stay to dinner. I

should not have been averse to do so, but that I imagined I

detected trouble, and calculation relative to the extent of the

cold meat, in Mrs. Micawber's eye. I therefore pleaded another

engagement; and observing that Mrs. Micawber's spirits were

immediately lightened, I resisted all persuasion to forego it.

But I told Traddles, and Mr. and Mrs. Micawber, that before I could

think of leaving, they must appoint a day when they would come and

dine with me. The occupations to which Traddles stood pledged,

rendered it necessary to fix a somewhat distant one; but an

appointment was made for the purpose, that suited us all, and then

I took my leave.

Mr. Micawber, under pretence of showing me a nearer way than that

by which I had come, accompanied me to the corner of the street;

being anxious (he explained to me) to say a few words to an old

friend, in confidence.

'My dear Copperfield,' said Mr. Micawber, 'I need hardly tell you

that to have beneath our roof, under existing circumstances, a mind

like that which gleams - if I may be allowed the expression - which

gleams - in your friend Traddles, is an unspeakable comfort. With

a washerwoman, who exposes hard-bake for sale in her

parlour-window, dwelling next door, and a Bow-street officer

residing over the way, you may imagine that his society is a source

of consolation to myself and to Mrs. Micawber. I am at present, my

dear Copperfield, engaged in the sale of corn upon commission. It

is not an avocation of a remunerative description - in other words,

it does not pay - and some temporary embarrassments of a pecuniary

nature have been the consequence. I am, however, delighted to add

that I have now an immediate prospect of something turning up (I am

not at liberty to say in what direction), which I trust will enable

me to provide, permanently, both for myself and for your friend

Traddles, in whom I have an unaffected interest. You may, perhaps,

be prepared to hear that Mrs. Micawber is in a state of health

which renders it not wholly improbable that an addition may be

ultimately made to those pledges of affection which - in short, to

the infantine group. Mrs. Micawber's family have been so good as

to express their dissatisfaction at this state of things. I have

merely to observe, that I am not aware that it is any business of

theirs, and that I repel that exhibition of feeling with scorn, and

with defiance!'

Mr. Micawber then shook hands with me again, and left me.

Read next: CHAPTER 28 - Mr. MICAWBER'S GAUNTLET

Read previous: CHAPTER 26 - I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY

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