The
artifice and cunning of the waiter of the Hotel at Yarmouth, where
little Copperfield awaits the coach, is excellently represented.
"The waiter brought me some chops and vegetables, and took the
covers off in such a bouncing manner, that I was afraid I must have
given him some offence. But he greatly relieved my mind by putting
a chair for me at the table, and saying very affably 'Now sixfoot
come on!'
"I thanked him and took my seat at the board; but found it
extremely difficult to handle my knife and fork with anything like
dexterity, or to avoid splashing myself with the gravy, while he
was standing opposite, staring so hard, and making me blush in the
most dreadful manner every time I caught his eye. After watching me
into the second chop, he said:
"There's half a pint of ale for you, will you have it now?'
"I thanked him and said 'Yes'--upon which he poured it out of a jug
into a large tumbler, and held it up against the light and made it
look beautiful.
"'My eye!' he said 'It seems a good deal, don't it.'
"'It does seem a good deal,' I answered with a smile, for it was
quite delightful to me to find him so pleasant. He was a
twinkling-eyed, purple-faced man, with his hair standing upright
all over his head; and as he stood with one arm akimbo, holding up
the glass to the light, with one hand he looked quite friendly.
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