 and the steam of boiling water, as Mr. Micawber did that
afternoon. It was wonderful to see his face shining at us out of a thin cloud of
these delicate fumes, as he stirred, and mixed, and tasted, and looked as if he
were making, instead of punch, a fortune for his family down to the latest
posterity. As to Mrs. Micawber, I don't know whether it was the effect of the
cap, or the lavender-water, or the pins, or the fire, or the wax candles, but
she came out of my room, comparatively speaking, lovely. And the lark was never
gayer than that excellent woman.
    I suppose - I never ventured to inquire, but I suppose - that Mrs. Crupp,
after frying the soles, was taken ill. Because we broke down at that point. The
leg of mutton came up very red within, and very pale without: besides having a
foreign substance of a gritty nature sprinkled over it, as if it had had a fall
into the ashes of that remarkable kitchen fireplace. But we were not in a
condition to judge of this fact from the appearance of the gravy, forasmuch as
the young gal had dropped it all upon the stairs - where it remained,
by-the-bye, in a long train, until it was worn out. The pigeon-pie was not bad,
but it was a delusive pie: the crust being like a disappointing head,
phrenologically speaking: full of lumps and bumps, with nothing particular
underneath. In short, the banquet was such a failure that I should have been
quite unhappy - about the failure, I mean, for I was always unhappy about Dora -
if I had not been relieved by the great good-humour of my company, and by a
bright suggestion from Mr. Micawber.
    »My dear friend Copperfield,« said Mr. Micawber, »accidents will occur in
the best-regulated families; and in families not regulated by that pervading
influence which sanctifies while it enhances the - a - I would say, in short, by
the influence of Woman, in the lofty character of Wife, they may be expected
with confidence, and must be borne with philosophy. If you will allow me to take
the liberty of remarking that there are few comestibles better, in their way,
than a Devil, and that I believe, with a little division of labour, we could
accomplish a good one if the young person in attendance could produce a
gridiron, I would put it to you, that this little misfortune may
