david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第34章

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‘You　have　heard　the　“counting…house”　mentioned　sometimes；’　
said　Mr。　Murdstone。　

‘The　counting…house；　sir？’　I　repeated。　‘Of　Murdstone　and　
Grinby；　in　the　wine　trade；’　he　replied。　

I　suppose　I　looked　uncertain；　for　he　went　on　hastily：　

‘You　have　heard　the　“counting…house”　mentioned；　or　the　
business；　or　the　cellars；　or　the　wharf；　or　something　about　it。’　

‘I　think　I　have　heard　the　business　mentioned；　sir；’　I　said；　
remembering　what　I　vaguely　knew　of　his　and　his　sister’s　
resources。　‘But　I　don’t　know　when。’　

‘It　does　not　matter　when；’　he　returned。　‘Mr。　Quinion　manages　
that　business。’　

I　glanced　at　the　latter　deferentially　as　he　stood　looking　out　of　
window。　

‘Mr。　Quinion　suggests　that　it　gives　employment　to　some　other　
boys；　and　that　he　sees　no　reason　why　it　shouldn’t；　on　the　same　
terms；　give　employment　to　you。’　

‘He　having；’　Mr。　Quinion　observed　in　a　low　voice；　and　half　
turning　round；　‘no　other　prospect；　Murdstone。’　

Mr。　Murdstone；　with　an　impatient；　even　an　angry　gesture；　
resumed；　without　noticing　what　he　had　said：　

‘Those　terms　are；　that　you　will　earn　enough　for　yourself　to　
provide　for　your　eating　and　drinking；　and　pocket…money。　Your　

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lodging　（which　I　have　arranged　for）　will　be　paid　by　me。　So　will　

your　washing—’　

‘—Which　will　be　kept　down　to　my　estimate；’　said　his　sister。　

‘Your　clothes　will　be　looked　after　for　you；　too；’　said　Mr。　
Murdstone；　‘as　you　will　not　be　able；　yet　awhile；　to　get　them　for　
yourself。　So　you　are　now　going　to　London；　David；　with　Mr。　
Quinion；　to　begin　the　world　on　your　own　account。’　

‘In　short；　you　are　provided　for；’　observed　his　sister；　‘and　will　
please　to　do　your　duty。’　

Though　I　quite　understood　that　the　purpose　of　this　
announcement　was　to　get　rid　of　me；　I　have　no　distinct　
remembrance　whether　it　pleased　or　frightened　me。　My　impression　
is；　that　I　was　in　a　state　of　confusion　about　it；　and；　oscillating　
between　the　two　points；　touched　neither。　Nor　had　I　much　time　for　
the　clearing　of　my　thoughts；　as　Mr。　Quinion　was　to　go　upon　the　
morrow。　

Behold　me；　on　the　morrow；　in　a　much…worn　little　white　hat；　
with　a　black　crape　round　it　for　my　mother；　a　black　jacket；　and　a　
pair　of　hard；　stiff　corduroy　trousers—which　Miss　Murdstone　
considered　the　best　armour　for　the　legs　in　that　fight　with　the　world　
which　was　now　to　come　off。　behold　me　so　attired；　and　with　my　
little　worldly　all　before　me　in　a　small　trunk；　sitting；　a　lone　lorn　
child　（as　Mrs。　Gummidge　might　have　said）；　in　the　post…chaise　that　
was　carrying　Mr。　Quinion　to　the　London　coach　at　Yarmouth！　See；　
how　our　house　and　church　are　lessening　in　the　distance；　how　the　
grave　beneath　the　tree　is　blotted　out　by　intervening　objects；　how　
the　spire　points　upwards　from　my　old　playground　no　more；　and　
the　sky　is　empty！　

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Chapter　11　

I　BEGIN　LIFE　ON　MY　OWN　ACCOUNT；　AND
DON’T　LIKE　IT


Iknow　enough　of　the　world　now；　to　have　almost　lost　the　
capacity　of　being　much　surprised　by　anything；　but　it　is　matter　
of　some　surprise　to　me；　even　now；　that　I　can　have　been　so　
easily　thrown　away　at　such　an　age。　A　child　of　excellent　abilities；　
and　with　strong　powers　of　observation；　quick；　eager；　delicate；　and　
soon　hurt　bodily　or　mentally；　it　seems　wonderful　to　me　that　
nobody　should　have　made　any　sign　in　my　behalf。　But　none　was　
made；　and　I　became；　at　ten　years　old；　a　little　labouring　hind　in　the　
service　of　Murdstone　and　Grinby。　

Murdstone　and　Grinby’s　warehouse　was　at　the　waterside。　It　was　
down　in　Blackfriars。　Modern　improvements　have　altered　the　
place；　but　it　was　the　last　house　at　the　bottom　of　a　narrow　street；　
curving　down　hill　to　the　river；　with　some　stairs　at　the　end；　where　
people　took　boat。　It　was　a　crazy　old　house　with　a　wharf　of　its　own；　
abutting　on　the　water　when　the　tide　was　in；　and　on　the　mud　when　
the　tide　was　out；　and　literally　overrun　with　rats。　Its　panelled　
rooms；　discoloured　with　the　dirt　and　smoke　of　a　hundred　years；　I　
dare　say；　its　decaying　floors　and　staircase；　the　squeaking　and　
scuffling　of　the　old　grey　rats　down　in　the　cellars；　and　the　dirt　and　
rottenness　of　the　place；　are　things；　not　of　many　years　ago；　in　my　
mind；　but　of　the　present　instant。　They　are　all　before　me；　just　as　
they　were　in　the　evil　hour　when　I　went　among　them　for　the　first　
time；　with　my　trembling　hand　in　Mr。　Quinion’s。　

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Murdstone　and　Grinby’s　trade　was　among　a　good　many　kinds　of　
people；　but　an　important　branch　of　it　was　the　supply　of　wines　and　
spirits　to　certain　packet　ships。　I　forget　now　where　they　chiefly　
went；　but　I　think　there　were　some　among　them　that　made　voyages　
both　to　the　East　and　West　Indies。　I　know　that　a　great　many　empty　
bottles　were　one　of　the　consequences　of　this　traffic；　and　that　
certain　men　and　boys　were　employed　to　examine　them　against　the　
light；　and　reject　those　that　were　flawed；　and　to　rinse　and　wash　
them。　When　the　empty　bottles　ran　short；　there　were　labels　to　be　
pasted　on　full　ones；　or　corks　to　be　fitted　to　them；　or　seals　to　be　put　
upon　the　corks；　or　finished　bottles　to　be　packed　in　casks。　All　this　
work　was　my　work；　and　of　the　boys　employed　upon　it　I　was　one。　

There　were　three　or　four　of　us；　counting　me。　My　working　place　
was　established　in　a　corner　of　the　warehouse；　where　Mr。　Quinion　
could　see　me；　when　he　chose　to　stand　up　on　the　bottom　rail　of　his　
stool　in　the　counting…house；　and　look　at　me　through　a　window　
above　the　desk。　Hither；　on　the　first　morning　of　my　so　auspiciously　
beginning　life　on　my　own　account；　the　oldest　of　the　regular　boys　
was　summoned　to　show　me　my　business。　His　name　was　Mick　
Walker；　and　he　wore　a　ragged　apron　and　a　paper　cap。　He　informed　
me　that　his　father　was　a　bargeman；　and　walked；　in　a　black　velvet　
head…dress；　in　the　Lord　Mayor’s　Show。　He　also　informed　me　that　
our　principal　associate　would　be　another　boy　whom　he　introduced　
by　the—to　me—extraordinary　name　of　Mealy　Potatoes。　I　
discovered；　however；　that　this　youth　had　not　been　christened　by　
that　name；　but　that　it　had　been　bestowed　upon　him　in　the　
warehouse；　on　account　of　his　complexion；　which　was　pale　or　
mealy。　Mealy’s　father　was　a　waterman；　who　had　the　additional　
distinction　of　being　a　fireman；　and　was　engaged　as　such　at　one　of　

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the　large　theatres；　where　some　young　relation　of　Mealy’s—I　think　
his　little　sister—did　Imps　in　the　Pantomimes。　

No　words　can　express　the　secret　agony　of　my　soul　as　I　sunk　into　
this　companionship；　compared　these　henceforth　everyday　
associates　with　those　of　my　happier　childhood—not　to　say　with　
Steerforth；　Traddles；　and　the　rest　of　those　boys；　and　felt　my　hopes　
of　growing　up　to　be　a　learned　and　distinguished　man；　crushed　in　
my　bosom。　The　deep　remembrance　of　the　sense　I　had；　of　being　
utterly　without　hope　now；　of　the　shame　I　felt　in　my　position；　of　the　
misery　it　was　to　my　young　heart　to　believe　that　day　by　day　what　I　
had　learned；　and　thought；　and　delighted　in；　and　raised　my　fancy　
and　my　emulation　up　by；　would　pass　away　from　me；　little　by　little；　
never　to　be　brought　back　any　more；　cannot　be　written。　As　often　as　
Mick　Walker　went　away　in　the　course　of　that　forenoon；　I　mingled　
my　tears　with　the　water　in　which　I　was　washing　the　bottles；　and　
sobbed　as　if　there　were　a　flaw　in　my　own　breast；　and　it　were　in　
danger　of　bursting。　

The　counting…house　clock　was　at　half　past　twelve；　and　there　
was　general　preparation　for　going　to　dinner；　when　Mr。　Quinion　
tapped　at　the　counting…house　window；　and　beckoned　to　me　to　go　
in。　I　went　in；　and　found　there　a　stoutish；　middle…aged　person；　in　a　
brown　surtout　and　black　tights　and　shoes；　with　no　more　hair　upon　
his　head　（which　was　a　large　one；　and　very　shining）　than　there　is　
upon　an　egg；　and　with　a　very　extensive　face；　which　he　turned　full　
upon　me。　His　clothes　were　shabby；　but　he　had　an　imposing　shirt…
collar　on。　He　carried　a　jaunty　sort　of　a　stick；　with　a　large　pair　of　
rusty　tassels　to　it；　and　a　quizzing…glass　hung　outside　his　coat；—for　
ornament；　I　afterwards　found；　as　he　very　seldom　looked　through　
it；　and　couldn’t　see　anything　when　he　did。　

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‘This；’　said　Mr。　Quinion；　in　allusion　to　myself；　‘is　he。’　

‘This；’　said　the　stranger；　with　a　certain　condescending　roll　in　his　
voice；　and　a　certain　indescribable　air　of　doing　something　genteel；　
which　impressed　me　very　much；　‘is　Master　Copperfield。　I　hope　I　
see　you　well；　sir？’　

I　said　I　was　very　well；　and　hoped　he　was。　I　was　sufficiently　ill　at　
ease；　Heaven　knows；　but　it　was　not　in　my　nature　to　complain　
much　at　that　time　of　my　life；　so　I　said　I　was　very　well；　and　hoped　
he　was。　

‘I　am；’　said　the　stranger；　‘thank　Heaven；　quite　well。　I　have　
received　a　letter　from　Mr。　Murdstone；　in　which　he　mentions　that　
he　would　desire　me　to　receive　into　an　apartment　in　the　rear　of　my　
house；　which　is　at　present　unoccupied—and　is；　in　short；　to　be　let　
as　a—in　short；’　said　the　stranger；　with　a　smile　and　in　a　burst　of　
confidence；　‘as　a　bedroom—the　young　beginner　whom　I　have　now　
the　pleasure　to—’　and　the　stranger　waved　his　hand；　and　settled　his　
chin　in　his　shirt…collar。　

‘This　is　Mr。　Micawber；’　said　Mr。　Quinion　to　me。　

‘Ahem！’　said　the　stranger；　‘that　is　my　name。’　

‘Mr。　Micawber；’　said　Mr。　Quinion；　‘is　known　to　Mr。　Murdstone。　
He　takes　orders　for　us　on　commission；　when　he　can　get　any。　He　
has　been　written　to　by　Mr。　Murdstone；　on　the　subject　of　your　
lodgings；　and　he　will　receive　you　as　a　lodger。’　

‘My　address；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　‘is　Windsor　Terrace；　City　
Road。　I—in　short；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　with　the　same　genteel　air；　
and　in　another　burst　of　confidence—‘I　live　there。’　

I　made　him　a　bow。　

‘Under　the　impression；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　‘that　your　
peregrinations　in　this　metropolis　have　not　as　yet　been　extensive；　

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and　that　you　might　have　some　difficulty　in　penetrating　the　arcana　
of　the　Modern　Babylon　in　the　direction　of　the　City　Road；—in　
short；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　in　another　burst　of　confidence；　‘that　you　
might　lose　yourself—I　shall　be　happy　to　call　this　evening；　and　
install　you　in　the　knowledge　of　the　nearest　way。’　

I　thanked　him　with　all　my　heart；　for　it　was　friendly　in　him　to　
offer　to　take　that　trouble。　

‘At　what　hour；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　‘shall　I—’　

‘At　about　eight；’　said　Mr。　Quinion。　

‘At　about　eight；’　said　Mr。　Micawber。　‘I　beg　to　wish　you　good　day；　
Mr。　Quinion。　I　will　intrude　no　longer。’　

So　he　put　on　his　hat；　and　went　out　with　his　cane　under　his　arm：　
very　upright；　and　humming　a　tune　when　he　was　clear　of　the　
counting…house。　

Mr。　Quinion　then　formally　engaged　me　to　be　as　useful　as　I　could　
in　the　warehouse　of　Murdstone　and　Grinby；　at　a　salary；　I　think；　of　
six　shillings　a　week。　I　am　not　clear　whether　it　was　six　or　seven。　I　
am　inclined　to　believe；　from　my　uncertainty　on　this　head；　that　it　
was　six　at　first　and　seven　afterwards。　He　paid　me　a　we