“I am going with you, Master Copperfield, if you’ll allow me the pleasure of a walk with an old acquaintance.” Saying this, with a jerk of his body, which might have been either propitiatory or derisive, he fell into step beside me.

“Uriah!” said I, as civilly as I could, after a silence.

“Master Copperfield!” said Uriah.

“To tell you the truth (at which you will not be offended), I came out to walk alone, because I have had so much company.”

He looked at me sideways, and said with his hardest grin, “You mean mother.”

“Why yes, I do,” said I.