 it, ma'am,« I returned.
    »Far from it,« assented Miss Murdstone. »I do not wish to revive the memory
of past differences, or of past outrages. I have received outrages from a person
- a female, I am sorry to say, for the credit of my sex - who is not to be
mentioned without scorn and disgust; and therefore I would rather not mention
her.«
    I felt very fiery on my aunt's account; but I said it would certainly be
better, if Miss Murdstone pleased, not to mention her. I could not hear her
disrespectfully mentioned, I added, without expressing my opinion in a decided
tone.
    Miss Murdstone shut her eyes, and disdainfully inclined her head; then,
slowly opening her eyes, resumed:
    »David Copperfield, I shall not attempt to disguise the fact, that I formed
an unfavourable opinion of you in your childhood. It may have been a mistaken
one, or you may have ceased to justify it. That is not in question between us
now. I belong to a family remarkable, I believe, for some firmness; and I am not
the creature of circumstance or change. I may have my opinion of you. You may
have your opinion of me.«
    I inclined my head, in my turn.
    »But it is not necessary,« said Miss Murdstone, »that these opinions should
come into collision here. Under existing circumstances, it is as well on all
accounts that they should not. As the chances of life have brought us together
again, and may bring us together on other occasions, I would say, let us meet
here as distant acquaintances. Family circumstances are a sufficient reason for
our only meeting on that footing, and it is quite unnecessary that either of us
should make the other the subject of remark. Do you approve of this?«
    »Miss Murdstone,« I returned, »I think you and Mr. Murdstone used me very
cruelly, and treated my mother with great unkindness. I shall always think so,
as long as I live. But I quite agree in what you propose.«
    Miss Murdstone shut her eyes again, and bent her head. Then, just touching
the back of my hand with the tips of her cold, stiff fingers, she walked away,
arranging the little fetters on her wrists and round her neck: which seemed to
be the same set, in exactly the same state, as when I had seen her last. These
reminded me, in reference to Miss Murdstone's nature, of the
