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.