If only he
were not so self-centred, if only he were more sympathetic.
But a combination of the three, or rather of the best qualities of
the three--Tom's good temper, Harry's tender strength, Dick's
brilliant masterfulness: that is the man who would be worthy of
you.
The woman David Copperfield wanted was Agnes and Dora rolled into
one. He had to take them one after the other, which was not so
nice. And did he really love Agnes, Mr. Dickens; or merely feel he
ought to? Forgive me, but I am doubtful concerning that second
marriage of Copperfield's. Come, strictly between ourselves, Mr.
Dickens, was not David, good human soul! now and again a wee bit
bored by the immaculate Agnes? She made him an excellent wife, I am
sure. SHE never ordered oysters by the barrel, unopened. It would,
on any day, have been safe to ask Traddles home to dinner; in fact,
Sophie and the whole rose-garden might have accompanied him, Agnes
would have been equal to the occasion. The dinner would have been
perfectly cooked and served, and Agnes' sweet smile would have
pervaded the meal. But AFTER the dinner, when David and Traddles
sat smoking alone, while from the drawing-room drifted down the
notes of high-class, elevating music, played by the saintly Agnes,
did they never, glancing covertly towards the empty chair between
them, see the laughing, curl-framed face of a very foolish little
woman--one of those foolish little women that a wise man thanks God
for making--and wish, in spite of all, that it were flesh and blood,
not shadow?
Oh, you foolish wise folk, who would remodel human nature! Cannot
you see how great is the work given unto childish hands? Think you
that in well-ordered housekeeping and high-class conversation lies
the whole making of a man? Foolish Dora, fashioned by clever old
magician Nature, who knows that weakness and helplessness are as a
talisman calling forth strength and tenderness in man, trouble
yourself not unduly about those oysters nor the underdone mutton,
little woman.
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