David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Chapter 32 Page 42

ma’am, to sit down in this house. I’d sooner stand.’ And this was succeeded by another silence, which she broke thus:

‘I know, with deep regret, what has brought you here.

What do you want of me? What do you ask me to do?’

He put his hat under his arm, and feeling in his breast for Emily’s letter, took it out, unfolded it, and gave it to her. ‘Please to read that, ma’am. That’s my niece’s hand!’

She read it, in the same stately and impassive way, — untouched by its contents, as far as I could see, — and returned it to him.

‘“Unless he brings me back a lady,”’ said Mr. Peggotty, tracing out that part with his finger.