 - which
they don't - what is the use of that? Again I contend that we are no farther
advanced than we were before.«
    I shook my head, and said, »Not a bit.« Traddles also shook his head, and
said, »Not a bit.«
    »What do I deduce from this?« Mrs. Micawber went on to say, still with the
same air of putting a case lucidly. »What is the conclusion, my dear Mr.
Copperfield, to which I am irresistibly brought? Am I wrong in saying, it is
clear that we must live?«
    I answered »Not at all!« and Traddles answered »Not at all!« and I found
myself afterwards sagely adding, alone, that a person must either live or die.
    »Just so,« returned Mrs. Micawber. »It is precisely that. And the fact is,
my dear Mr. Copperfield, that we can not live without something widely different
from existing circumstances shortly turning up. Now I am convinced, myself, and
this I have pointed out to Mr. Micawber several times of late, that things
cannot be expected to turn up of themselves. We must, in a measure, assist to
turn them up. I may be wrong, but I have formed that opinion.«
    Both Traddles and I applauded it highly.
    »Very well,« said Mrs. Micawber. »Then what do I recommend? Here is Mr.
Micawber with a variety of qualifications - with great talent -«
    »Really, my love,« said Mr. Micawber.
    »Pray, my dear, allow me to conclude. Here is Mr. Micawber, with a variety
of qualifications, with great talent - I should say, with genius, but that may
be the partiality of a wife -«
    Traddles and I both murmured »No.«
    »And here is Mr. Micawber without any suitable position or employment. Where
does that responsibility rest? Clearly on society. Then I would make a fact so
disgraceful known, and boldly challenge society to set it right. It appears to
me, my dear Mr. Copperfield,« said Mrs. Micawber, forcibly, »that what Mr.
Micawber has to do, is to throw down the gauntlet to society, and say, in
effect, Show me who will take that up. Let the party immediately step forward.«
    I ventured to ask Mrs. Micawber how this was to be done.
    »By advertising,« said Mrs. Micawber - »in all the papers. It appears
