‘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.
‘Ah! But you know we’re so very umble,’ he returned. ‘And having such a knowledge of our own umbleness, we must really take care that we’re not pushed to the wall by them as isn’t umble. All stratagems are fair in love, sir.’
Raising his great hands until they touched his chin, he rubbed them softly, and softly chuckled; looking as like a malevolent baboon, I thought, as anything human could look.
‘You see,’ he said, still hugging himself in that unpleasant way, and shaking his head at me, ‘you’re quite a dangerous rival, Master Copperfield. You always was, you know.’
‘Do you set a watch upon Miss Wickfield, and make her home no home, because of me?’ said I.
‘Oh! Master Copperfield! Those are very arsh words,’ he replied.