david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第35章
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was six at first and seven afterwards。 He paid me a week down
（from his own pocket； I believe）； and I gave Mealy sixpence out of
it to get my trunk carried to Windsor Terrace that night： it being
too heavy for my strength； small as it was。 I paid sixpence more for
my dinner； which was a meat pie and a turn at a neighbouring
pump； and passed the hour which was allowed for that meal； in
walking about the streets。
At the appointed time in the evening； Mr。 Micawber
reappeared。 I washed my hands and face； to do the greater honour
to his gentility； and we walked to our house； as I suppose I must
now call it； together； Mr。 Micawber impressing the name of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
streets； and the shapes of corner houses upon me； as we went
along； that I might find my way back； easily； in the morning。
Arrived at this house in Windsor Terrace （which I noticed was
shabby like himself； but also； like himself； made all the show it
could）； he presented me to Mrs。 Micawber； a thin and faded lady；
not at all young； who was sitting in the parlour （the first floor was
altogether unfurnished； and the blinds were kept down to delude
the neighbours）； with a baby at her breast。 This baby was one of
twins； and I may remark here that I hardly ever； in all my
experience of the family； saw both the twins detached from Mrs。
Micawber at the same time。 One of them was always taking
refreshment。
There were two other children； Master Micawber； aged about
four； and Miss Micawber； aged about three。 These； and a dark…
complexioned young woman； with a habit of snorting； who was
servant to the family； and informed me； before half an hour had
expired； that she was ‘a Orfling’； and came from St。 Luke’s
workhouse； in the neighbourhood； completed the establishment。
My room was at the top of the house； at the back： a close chamber；
stencilled all over with an ornament which my young imagination
represented as a blue muffin； and very scantily furnished。
‘I never thought；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； when she came up； twin
and all； to show me the apartment； and sat down to take breath；
‘before I was married； when I lived with papa and mama； that I
should ever find it necessary to take a lodger。 But Mr。 Micawber
being in difficulties； all considerations of private feeling must give
way。’
I said： ‘Yes； ma’am。’
‘Mr。 Micawber’s difficulties are almost overwhelming just at
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David Copperfield
present；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘and whether it is possible to bring
him through them； I don’t know。 When I lived at home with papa
and mama； I really should have hardly understood what the word
meant； in the sense in which I now employ it； but experientia does
it；—as papa used to say。’
I cannot satisfy myself whether she told me that Mr。 Micawber
had been an officer in the Marines； or whether I have imagined it。
I only know that I believe to this hour that he WAS in the Marines
once upon a time； without knowing why。 He was a sort of town
traveller for a number of miscellaneous houses； now； but made
little or nothing of it； I am afraid。
‘If Mr。 Micawber’s creditors will not give him time；’ said Mrs。
Micawber； ‘they must take the consequences； and the sooner they
bring it to an issue the better。 Blood cannot be obtained from a
stone； neither can anything on account be obtained at present （not
to mention law expenses） from Mr。 Micawber。’
I never can quite understand whether my precocious self…
dependence confused Mrs。 Micawber in reference to my age； or
whether she was so full of the subject that she would have talked
about it to the very twins if there had been nobody else to
communicate with； but this was the strain in which she began； and
she went on accordingly all the time I knew her。
Poor Mrs。 Micawber！ She said she had tried to exert herself；
and so； I have no doubt； she had。 The centre of the street door was
perfectly covered with a great brass…plate； on which was engraved
‘Mrs。 Micawber’s Boarding Establishment for Young Ladies’： but I
never found that any young lady had ever been to school there； or
that any young lady ever came； or proposed to come； or that the
least preparation was ever made to receive any young lady。 The
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
only visitors I ever saw； or heard of； were creditors。 They used to
come at all hours； and some of them were quite ferocious。 One
dirty…faced man； I think he was a boot…maker； used to edge himself
into the passage as early as seven o’clock in the morning； and call
up the stairs to Mr。 Micawber—‘Come！ You ain’t out yet； you
know。 Pay us； will you？ Don’t hide； you know； that’s mean。 I
wouldn’t be mean if I was you。 Pay us； will you？ You just pay us；
d’ye hear？ Come！’ Receiving no answer to these taunts； he would
mount in his wrath to the words ‘swindlers’ and ‘robbers’； and
these being ineffectual too； would sometimes go to the extremity of
crossing the street； and roaring up at the windows of the second
floor； where he knew Mr。 Micawber was。 At these times； Mr。
Micawber would be transported with grief and mortification； even
to the length （as I was once made aware by a scream from his wife）
of making motions at himself with a razor； but within half…an…hour
afterwards； he would polish up his shoes with extraordinary pains；
and go out； humming a tune with a greater air of gentility than
ever。 Mrs。 Micawber was quite as elastic。 I have known her to be
thrown into fainting fits by the king’s taxes at three o’clock； and to
eat lamb chops； breaded； and drink warm ale （paid for with two
tea…spoons that had gone to the pawnbroker’s） at four。 On one
occasion； when an execution had just been put in； coming home
through some chance as early as six o’clock； I saw her lying （of
course with a twin） under the grate in a swoon； with her hair all
torn about her face； but I never knew her more cheerful than she
was； that very same night； over a veal cutlet before the kitchen
fire； telling me stories about her papa and mama； and the
company they used to keep。
In this house； and with this family； I passed my leisure time。 My
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
own exclusive breakfast of a penny loaf and a pennyworth of milk；
I provided myself。 I kept another small loaf； and a modicum of
cheese； on a particular shelf of a particular cupboard； to make my
supper on when I came back at night。 This made a hole in the six
or seven shillings； I know well； and I was out at the warehouse all
day； and had to support myself on that money all the week。 From
Monday morning until Saturday night； I had no advice； no
counsel； no encouragement； no consolation； no assistance； no
support； of any kind； from anyone； that I can call to mind； as I
hope to go to heaven！
I was so young and childish； and so little qualified—how could I
be otherwise？—to undertake the whole charge of my own
existence； that often； in going to Murdstone and Grinby’s； of a
morning； I could not resist the stale pastry put out for sale at half…
price at the pastrycooks’ doors； and spent in that the money I
should have kept for my dinner。 Then； I went without my dinner；
or bought a roll or a slice of pudding。 I remember two pudding
shops； between which I was divided； according to my finances。
One was in a court close to St。 Martin’s Church—at the back of the
church；—which is now removed altogether。 The pudding at that
shop was made of currants； and was rather a special pudding； but
was dear； twopennyworth not being larger than a pennyworth of
more ordinary pudding。 A good shop for the latter was in the
Strand—somewhere in that part which has been rebuilt since。 It
was a stout pale pudding； heavy and flabby； and with great flat
raisins in it； stuck in whole at wide distances apart。 It came up hot
at about my time every day； and many a day did I dine off it。 When
I dined regularly and handsomely； I had a saveloy and a penny
loaf； or a fourpenny plate of red beef from a cook’s shop； or a plate
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
of bread and cheese and a glass of beer； from a miserable old
public…house opposite our place of business； called the Lion； or the
Lion and something else that I have forgotten。 Once； I remember
carrying my own bread （which I had brought from home in the
morning） under my arm； wrapped in a piece of paper； like a book；
and going to a famous alamode beef…house near Drury Lane； and
ordering a ‘small plate’ of that delicacy to eat with it。 What the
waiter thought of such a strange little apparition coming in all
alone； I don’t know； but I can see him now； staring at me as I ate
my dinner； and bringing up the other waiter to look。 I gave him a
halfpenny for himself； and I wish he hadn’t taken it。
We had half…an…hour； I think； for tea。 When I had money
enough； I used to get half…a…pint of ready…made coffee and a slice
of bread and butter。 When I had none； I used to look at a venison
shop in Fleet Street； or I have strolled； at such a time； as far as
Covent Garden Market； and stared at the pineapples。 I was fond of
wandering about the Adelphi； because it was a mysterious place；
with those dark arches。 I see myself emerging one evening from
some of these arches； on a little public…house close to the river；
with an open space before it； where some coal…heavers were
dancing； to look at whom I sat down upon a bench。 I wonder what
they thought of me！
I was such a child； and so little； that frequently when I went into
the bar of a strange public…house for a glass of ale or porter； to
moisten what I had had for dinner； they were afraid to give it me。 I
remember one hot evening I went into the bar of a public…house；
and said to the landlord：
‘What is your best—your very best—ale a glass？’ For it was a
special occasion。 I don’t know what。 It may have been my
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David Copperfield
birthday。
‘Twopence…halfpenny；’ says the landlord； ‘is the price of the
Genuine Stunning ale。’
‘Then；’ says I； producing the money； ‘just draw me a glass of the
Genuine Stunning； if you please； with a good head to it。’
The landlord looked at me in return over the bar； from head to
foot； with a strange smile on his face； and instead of drawing the
beer； looked round the screen and said something to his wife。 She
came out from behind it； with her work in her hand； and joined
him in surveying me。 Here we stand； all three； before me now。 The
landlord in his shirt…sleeves； leaning against the bar window…
frame； his wife looking over the little half…door； and I； in some
confusion； looking up at them from outside the partition。 They
asked me a good many questions； as； what my name was； how old
I was； where I lived； how I was employed； and how I came there。
To all of which； that I might commit nobody； I invented； I am
afraid； appropriate answers。 They served me with the ale； though I
suspect it was no
