“And yet you knew it, long before I knew it myself,” I returned.
“Did I indeed, sir?” said Mr. Chillip. “Is it possible that I had the honour, sir, of officiating when—?”
“Yes,” said I.
“Dear me!” cried Mr. Chillip. “But no doubt you are a good deal changed since then, sir?”
“Probably,” said I.
“Well, sir,” observed Mr. Chillip, “I hope you’ll excuse me, if I am compelled to ask the favour of your name?”
On my telling him my name, he was really moved. He quite shook hands with me—which was a violent proceeding for him, his usual course being to slide a tepid little fish-slice, an inch or two in advance of his hip, and evince the greatest discomposure when anybody grappled with it. Even now, he put his hand in his coat pocket as soon as he could disengage it, and seemed relieved when he had got it safe back.
“Dear me, sir!” said Mr. Chillip, surveying me with his head on one side. “And it’s Mr. Copperfield, is it? Well, sir, I think I should have known you, if I had taken the liberty of looking more closely at you. There’s a strong resemblance between you and your poor father, sir.”
“I never had the happiness of seeing my father,” I observed.
“Very true, sir,” said Mr. Chillip, in a soothing tone. “And very much to be deplored it was, on all accounts! We are not ignorant, sir,” said Mr. Chillip, slowly shaking his little head again, “down in our part of the country, of your fame. There must be great excitement here, sir,” said Mr. Chillip, tapping himself on the forehead with his forefinger. “You must find it a trying occupation, sir!”