 the world, my good sir!« cried Mr. Micawber, stopping him on his
way to the bell; »appetite and myself, Mr. Dixon, have long been strangers.«
    Mr. Dixon was so well pleased with his new name, and appeared to think it so
very obliging in Mr. Micawber to confer it upon him, that he shook hands with
him again, and laughed rather childishly.
    »Dick,« said my aunt, »attention!«
    Mr. Dick recovered himself, with a blush.
    »Now, sir,« said my aunt to Mr. Micawber, as she put on her gloves, »we are
ready for Mount Vesuvius, or anything else, as soon as you please.«
    »Madam,« returned Mr. Micawber, »I trust you will shortly witness an
eruption. Mr. Traddles, I have your permission, I believe, to mention here that
we have been in communication together?«
    »It is undoubtedly the fact, Copperfield,« said Traddles, to whom I looked
in surprise. »Mr. Micawber has consulted me, in reference to what he has in
contemplation; and I have advised him to the best of my judgment.«
    »Unless I deceive myself, Mr. Traddles,« pursued Mr. Micawber, »what I
contemplate is a disclosure of an important nature.«
    »Highly so,« said Traddles.
    »Perhaps, under such circumstances, madam and gentlemen,« said Mr. Micawber,
»you will do me the favour to submit yourselves, for the moment, to the
direction of one, who, however unworthy to be regarded in any other light but as
a Waif and Stray upon the shore of human nature, is still your fellow-man,
though crushed out of his original form by individual errors, and the
accumulative force of a combination of circumstances?«
    »We have perfect confidence in you, Mr. Micawber,« said I, »and will do what
you please.«
    »Mr. Copperfield,« returned Mr. Micawber, »your confidence is not, at the
existing juncture, ill-bestowed. I would beg to be allowed a start of five
minutes by the clock; and then to receive the present company, inquiring for
Miss Wickfield, at the office of Wickfield and Heep, whose Stipendiary I am.«
    My aunt and I looked at Traddles, who nodded his approval.
    »I have no more,« observed Mr. Micawber, »to say at present.«
    With which, to my infinite surprise, he included us all
