David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Chapter 38 Page 12

interrupted Mr. Spenlow, ‘by confining yourself to facts.’

Miss Murdstone cast down her eyes, shook her head as if protesting against this unseemly interruption, and with frowning dignity resumed:

‘Since I am to confine myself to facts, I will state them as dryly as I can. Perhaps that will be considered an acceptable course of proceeding. I have already said, sir, that I have had my suspicions of Miss Spenlow, in reference to David Copperfield, for some time.

I have frequently endeavoured to find decisive corroboration of those suspicions, but without effect. I have therefore forborne to mention them to Miss Spenlow’s father’; looking severely at him — ‘knowing how little disposition there usually is in such cases, to acknowledge the conscientious discharge of duty.’