 I don't know why, that this was self-denying and
devoted in Mrs. Micawber, and I uttered a murmur to that effect. Traddles, who
took his tone from me, did likewise, still looking at the fire.
    »I will not,« said Mrs. Micawber, finishing her punch, and gathering her
scarf about her shoulders, preparatory to her withdrawal to my bedroom: »I will
not protract these remarks on the subject of Mr. Micawber's pecuniary affairs.
At your fireside, my dear Mr. Copperfield, and in the presence of Mr. Traddles,
who, though not so old a friend, is quite one of ourselves, I could not refrain
from making you acquainted with the course I advise Mr. Micawber to take. I feel
that the time is arrived when Mr. Micawber should exert himself and - I will add
- assert himself, and it appears to me that these are the means. I am aware that
I am merely a female, and that a masculine judgment is usually considered more
competent to the discussion of such question; still I must not forget that, when
I lived at home with my papa and mama, my papa was in the habit of saying,
Emma's form is fragile, but her grasp of a subject is inferior to none. That my
papa was too partial, I well know; but that he was an observer of character in
some degree, my duty and my reason equally forbid me to doubt.«
    With these words, and resisting our entreaties that she would grace the
remaining circulation of the punch with her presence, Mrs. Micawber retired to
my bedroom. And really I felt that she was a noble woman - the sort of woman who
might have been a Roman matron, and done all manner of heroic things, in times
of public trouble.
    In the fervour of this impression, I congratulated Mr. Micawber on the
treasure he possessed. So did Traddles. Mr. Micawber extended his hand to each
of us in succession, and then covered his face with his pocket-handkerchief,
which I think had more snuff upon it than he was aware of. He then returned to
the punch, in the highest state of exhilaration.
    He was full of eloquence. He gave us to understand that in our children we
lived again, and that, under the pressure of pecuniary difficulties, any
accession to their number was doubly welcome. He said that Mrs. Micawber had
latterly had her doubts on this point, but that he had dispelled them, and
reassured her. As to her family
