The analyses of a text #2

Question

The narrator recalls his adolescence.He is an apprentice for the lawyer Mr. Spenlow.He is crazy for Mr. Spenlow's only daughter Dora.Peggotty is his old nurse and a present wealthy widow.He took her to his office to deal with the legal procedure of her legacy..................................Peggotty's business, which was what we used to call 'common-form business' in the Commons (and very light and lucrative the common-form business was), being settled, I took her down to the office one morning to pay her bill. Mr. Spenlow had stepped out, old Tiffey said, to get a gentleman sworn for a marriage licence; but as I knew he would be back directly, our place lying close to the Surrogate's, and to the Vicar-General's office too, I told Peggotty to wait.We were a little like undertakers, in the Commons, as regarded Probate transactions; generally making it a rule to look more or less cut up, when we had to deal with clients in mourning. In a similar feeling of delicacy, we were always blithe and light-hearted with the licence clients. Therefore I hinted to Peggotty that she would find Mr. Spenlow much recovered from the shock of Mr. Barkis's decease; and indeed he came in like a bridegroom.[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]1. I'd like to know if "being settled" means "after it was settled."2. And I'd like to know if "as regarded Probate transactions" means "in the way in which we regarded Probate transactions."Thank you in advance for your help.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

1. Copperfield's law firm handled the legal matters regarding Mr. Peggotty's business, after his death. This being settled (the legal work on this has been completed by the firm), Copperfield takes Peggotty's widow to the law firm to pay the bill for its legal services.

2. Law firms are like undertakers when they handle probate matters (legal matters concerning property inheritance after the death of someone), and are very somber and respectful to a newly widowed woman (like undertakers are very somber and respectful to a widow). But Copperfield's firm also handles marriage licenses and in that matter they are very upbeat and cheerful with clients. Spenlow is out handling a marriage license and so his demeanor will be very cheerful when he returns, which might alarm the widow Peggotty. So Copperfield tells her Spenlow will seem cheerful when he returns because he has recovered from the shock of a certain Mr. Barkis's death. "As regarded Probate transactions" means "when we handle probate matters."

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, No Name One, for your so very kind answer.

But I don't think "We were a little like undertakers, in the Commons when we regarded Probate transactions" is natural.

Vic Z · Answer

David Copperfield was written in 1850. No-one lives or speaks like these characters any more, though many still love the almost poetic style of writing, it is what it is.

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joon1. I'd like to know if "being settled" means "after it was settled."

Yes, but you can't substitute one for the other, phrase for phrase, in that sentence. The original has a non-finite form; your paraphrase has a finite form. All together you have this:

Her business being settled, I .... ~ After her business was settled, I ....

You can't have Her business being settled, I ... = Her business after it was settled, I ...

I suspect you already know this.

To be more precise, there is also the idea of "because". After (and because) her business was settled, ....

park sang joon2. And I'd like to know if "as regarded Probate transactions" means "in the way in which we regarded Probate transactions."

Yes and no. It's a good paraphrase, but you don't need to treat "regard" in its verbal form to get the meaning of it. A shorter way to do it as shown below. I'll give you two ways to paraphrase it. The second is more informal.

We were a little like undertakers [as regarded / in the matter of / when it came to] Probate transactions.

CJ

The analyses of a text #2

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