He laid his head upon her shoulder, as if he were oppressed with heavy shame, and went out with her.

Her eyes met mine for but an instant, yet I saw how much she knew of what had passed.

‘I didn’t expect he’d cut up so rough, Master Copperfield,’ said Uriah. ‘But it’s nothing. I’ll be friends with him tomorrow. It’s for his good. I’m umbly anxious for his good.’

I gave him no answer, and went upstairs into the quiet room where Agnes had so often sat beside me at my books.

Nobody came near me until late at night. I took up a book, and tried to read. I heard the clocks strike twelve, and was still reading, without knowing what I read, when Agnes touched me.