“Good!” said Steerforth. “Come and prove it. We will go and see the lions for an hour or two⁠—it’s something to have a fresh fellow like you to show them to, Copperfield⁠—and then we’ll journey out to Highgate by the coach.”

I could hardly believe but that I was in a dream, and that I should wake presently in number forty-four, to the solitary box in the coffee room and the familiar waiter again. After I had written to my aunt and told her of my fortunate meeting with my admired old schoolfellow, and my acceptance of his invitation, we went out in a hackney-chariot, and saw a Panorama and some other sights, and took a walk through the Museum, where I could not help observing how much Steerforth knew, on an infinite variety of subjects, and of how little account he seemed to make his knowledge.

“You’ll take a high degree at college, Steerforth,” said I, “if you have not done so already; and they will have good reason to be proud of you.”