 dust, compared
to rocks. It is owing to the difficulty of knowing whether they are likely to
endure or have any real foundation, that my sister Clarissa and myself have been
very undecided how to act, Mr. Copperfield, and Mr. -«
    »Traddles,« said my friend, finding himself looked at.
    »I beg pardon. Of the Inner Temple, I believe?« said Miss Clarissa, again
glancing at my letter.
    Traddles said »Exactly so,« and became pretty red in the face.
    Now, although I had not received any express encouragement as yet, I fancied
that I saw in the two little sisters, and particularly in Miss Lavinia, an
intensified enjoyment of this new and fruitful subject of domestic interest, a
settling down to make the most of it, a disposition to pet it, in which there
was a good bright ray of hope. I thought I perceived that Miss Lavinia would
have uncommon satisfaction in superintending two young lovers, like Dora and me;
and that Miss Clarissa would have hardly less satisfaction in seeing her
superintend us, and in chiming in with her own particular department of the
subject whenever that impulse was strong upon her. This gave me courage to
protest most vehemently that I loved Dora better than I could tell, or any one
believe; that all my friends knew how I loved her; that my aunt, Agnes,
Traddles, every one who knew me, knew how I loved her, and how earnest my love
had made me. For the truth of this, I appealed to Traddles. And Traddles, firing
up as if he were plunging into a Parliamentary Debate, really did come out
nobly: confirming me in good round terms, and in a plain sensible practical
manner, that evidently made a favourable impression.
    »I speak, if I may presume to say so, as one who has some little experience
of such things,« said Traddles, »being myself engaged to a young lady - one of
ten, down in Devonshire - and seeing no probability, at present, of our
engagement coming to a termination.«
    »You may be able to confirm what I have said, Mr. Traddles,« observed Miss
Lavinia, evidently taking a new interest in him, »of the affection that is
modest and retiring; that waits and waits?«
    »Entirely, ma'am,« said Traddles.
    Miss Clarissa looked at Miss Lavinia, and shook her head gravely. Miss
Lavinia looked consciously at Miss Clarissa, and heaved a little sigh.
    »Sister Lavinia,« said Miss Clarissa, »take my
