“I have been with him going on four year, Master Copperfield,” said Uriah, shutting up his book, after carefully marking the place where he had left off. “Since a year after my father’s death. How much have I to be thankful for, in that! How much have I to be thankful for, in Mr. Wickfield’s kind intention to give me my articles, which would otherwise not lay within the umble means of mother and self!”
“Then, when your articled time is over, you’ll be a regular lawyer, I suppose?” said I.
“With the blessing of Providence, Master Copperfield,” returned Uriah.
“Perhaps you’ll be a partner in Mr. Wickfield’s business one of these days,” I said, to make myself agreeable; “and it will be Wickfield and Heep, or Heep late Wickfield.”
“Oh no, Master Copperfield,” returned Uriah, shaking his head, “I am much too umble for that!”
He certainly did look uncommonly like the carved face on the beam outside my window, as he sat, in his humility, eyeing me sideways, with his mouth widened and the creases in his cheeks.
“Mr. Wickfield is a most excellent man, Master Copperfield,” said Uriah. “If you have known him long, you know it, I am sure, much better than I can inform you.”
I replied that I was certain he was; but that I had not known him long myself, though he was a friend of my aunt’s.
“Oh, indeed, Master Copperfield!” said Uriah. “Your aunt is a sweet lady, Master Copperfield!”
He had a way of writhing when he wanted to express enthusiasm, which was very ugly, and which diverted my attention from the compliment he had paid my relation, to the snaky twistings of his throat and body.
“A sweet lady, Master Copperfield!” said Uriah Heep. “She has a great admiration for Miss Agnes, Master Copperfield, I believe?”
I said, “Yes,” boldly; not that I knew anything about it, Heaven forgive me!
“I hope you have too, Master Copperfield,” said Uriah. “But I am sure you must have.”
“Everybody must have,” I returned.
“Oh, thank you, Master Copperfield,” said Uriah Heep, “for that remark! It is so true! Umble as I am, I know it is so true! Oh, thank you, Master Copperfield!”
He writhed himself quite off his stool in the excitement of his feelings, and, being off, began to make arrangements for going home.
“Mother will be expecting me,” he said, referring to a pale, inexpressive-faced watch in his pocket, “and getting uneasy; for though we are very umble, Master Copperfield, we are much attached to one another. If you would come and see us, any afternoon, and take a cup of tea at our lowly dwelling, mother would be as proud of your company as I should be.”
I said I should be glad to come.
“Thank you, Master Copperfield,” returned Uriah, putting his book away upon a shelf. “I suppose you stop here some time, Master Copperfield?”
I said I was going to be brought up there, I believed, as long as I remained at school.
“Oh, indeed!” exclaimed Uriah. “I should think you would come into the business at last, Master Copperfield!”