,«
said Mr. Micawber, »who is a man of remarkable shrewdness, I desire to speak
with all possible respect. My friend Heep has not fixed the positive
remuneration at too high a figure, but he has made a great deal, in the way of
extrication from the pressure of pecuniary difficulties, contingent on the value
of my services; and on the value of those services, I pin my faith. Such address
and intelligence as I chance to possess,« said Mr. Micawber, boastfully
disparaging himself, with the old genteel air, »will be devoted to my friend
Heep's service. I have already some acquaintance with the law - as a defendant
on civil process - and I shall immediately apply myself to the Commentaries of
one of the most eminent and remarkable of our English Jurists. I believe it is
unnecessary to add that I allude to Mr. Justice Blackstone.«
    These observations, and indeed the greater part of the observations made
that evening, were interrupted by Mrs. Micawber's discovering that Master
Micawber was sitting on his boots, or holding his head on with both arms as if
he felt it loose, or accidentally kicking Traddles under the table, or shuffling
his feet over one another, or producing them at distances from himself
apparently outrageous to nature, or lying sideways with his hair among the
wineglasses, or developing his restlessness of limb in some other form
incompatible with the general interests of society; and by Master Micawber's
receiving those discoveries in a resentful spirit. I sat all the while, amazed
by Mr. Micawber's disclosure, and wondering what it meant; until Mrs. Micawber
resumed the thread of the discourse, and claimed my attention.
    »What I particularly request Mr. Micawber to be careful of, is,« said Mrs.
Micawber, »that he does not, my dear Mr. Copperfield, in applying himself to
this subordinate branch of the law, place it out of his power to rise,
ultimately, to the top of the tree. I am convinced that Mr. Micawber, giving his
mind to a profession so adapted to his fertile resources, and his flow of
language, must distinguish himself. Now, for example, Mr. Traddles,« said Mrs.
Micawber, assuming a profound air, »a Judge, or even say a Chancellor. Does an
individual place himself beyond the pale of those preferments by entering on
such an office as Mr. Micawber has accepted?«
    »My dear,« observed Mr. Micawber - but glancing inquisitively at Traddles,
too; »we have time enough
