Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

¡¡¡¡I got upon the desk immediately, apprehensive of at least a great dog underneath. But, though I looked all round with anxious eyes, I could see nothing of him. I was still engaged in peering about, when Mr. Mell came back, and asked me what I did up there? ¡¡¡¡'I beg your pardon, sir,' says I, 'if you please, I'm looking for the dog.' ¡¡¡¡'Dog?' he says. 'What dog?' ¡¡¡¡'Isn't it a dog, sir?' ¡¡¡¡'Isn't what a dog?' ¡¡¡¡'That's to be taken care of, sir; that bites.' ¡¡¡¡'No, Copperfield,' says he, gravely, 'that's not a dog. That's a boy. My instructions are, Copperfield,
to put this placard on your back. I am sorry to make such a beginning with you, but I must do it.' With that he took me down, and tied the placard, which was neatly constructed for the purpose, on my shoulders like a knapsack; and wherever I went, afterwards, I had the consolation of carrying it. ¡¡¡¡What I suffered from that placard, nobody can imagine. Whether it was possible for people to see me or not, I always fancied that somebody was reading it. It was no relief to turn round and find nobody; for wherever my back was, there I imagined somebody always to be. That cruel man with the wooden leg aggravated my