"Perhaps you might be writin' to her, later on?"
"Yes, indeed," I said.
"Then you just say to her that Barkis is willin'. Would you?"
"Yes, sir," I replied, considerably puzzled by the message. And I did
deliver it the very first time I wrote to Peggotty. I did not then know
that the carrier meant, by being "willing," he wanted to marry my good
Peggotty and was too shy to say so for himself.
At Yarmouth I changed to the coach for London; and at London, to still
another coach for Salem, the school. And so, after a long, wearisome
journey, I reached my new destination. Another leaf of my life was
turned over, and a fresh one begun.
*III. SCHOOL. STEERFORTH AND TRADDLES*
Salem House was a square brick building with wings. The schoolroom was
very long, with three rows of desks running the length of it and
bristling all around with pegs for hats and slates. Scraps of
copy-books and exercises littered the floor. The other students had not
yet returned from their holidays when I took my first peep into this
room, in company with Mr. Mell, one of the tutors.
Presently I chanced to see a pasteboard sign lying upon a desk and
bearing these words:
"TAKE CARE OF HIM.
HE BITES."
I hurriedly climbed upon the desk, fearful of a dog underneath; but saw
none.
"What are you doing there?" asked Mr. Mell.
"I beg your pardon, sir," I replied. "If you please, I'm looking for
the dog."
"Dog? What dog?"