the moment of her birth I will be her friend and her godmother I would like you to name her Betsey Trotwood Copperfield My mother was so awed by Miss Trotwood that she didn’t dare argue the point But she did burst into a fresh storm of tears Well my aunt said Don’t cry anymore You’ll make yourself ill And it won’t be good for you or my goddaughter Her firm instance seemed to do my mother some good for she did stop crying Peggotty carried in the tea things and took one look at my mother before sending word for the doctor Miss Trotwood merely stuffed bits of cotton in her ears and waited by the fire The doctor arrived quickly and saw to my mother As I was still some hours away from arrival he came downstairs to warm by the fire Seeing the cotton in my aunt’s ears he assumed she had an earache and offered some medical advice for curing it 6
Nonsense Miss Trotwood snapped so firmly that the doctor made no other attempt at conversation He went up and down the stairs several times to check on my mother Each time he came into the parlor my aunt glared at him until he slunk upstairs again Finally the doctor came down and said I am happy to congratulate you How is she my aunt asked As comfortable as she can be after such a task he said You may see her presently It might do her some good My aunt waved this speech away and leaned closer to the doctor And she How is she The doctor stared at her blankly The baby Miss Trotwood finally prompted The doctor said with a smile He is a healthy boy My aunt said nothing She merely turned around and walked out She never came back 8
2 I Have a Change My memories of my own early years were pleasant I can clearly picture my mother’s pretty hair and our dear Peggotty’s apple-red cheeks My mother and Peggotty spoiled me completely and I was happy to imagine the three of us alone forever Still my mother too soon began walking home from church on the arm of a tall gentleman named Murdstone The man called me a prince and my mother laughed I did not like him or the way he touched my mother’s arm Eventually I learned I would have a two week outing to visit some of Peggotty’s relatives 9
