david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第47章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


benighted　innocent　had　never　seen　such　a　man。　He　was　made　of　
sweetness。　He　worshipped　her。　He　doted　on　her　boy—tenderly　
doted　on　him！　He　was　to　be　another　father　to　him；　and　they　were　
all　to　live　together　in　a　garden　of　roses；　weren’t　they？　Ugh！　Get　
along　with　you；　do！’　said　my　aunt。　

‘I　never　heard　anything　like　this　person　in　my　life！’　exclaimed　
Miss　Murdstone。　

‘And　when　you　had　made　sure　of　the　poor　little　fool；’　said　my　
aunt—‘God　forgive　me　that　I　should　call　her　so；　and　she　gone　
where　you　won’t　go　in　a　hurry—because　you　had　not　done　wrong　
enough　to　her　and　hers；　you　must　begin　to　train　her；　must　you？　
begin　to　break　her；　like　a　poor　caged　bird；　and　wear　her　deluded　
life　away；　in　teaching　her　to　sing　your　notes？’　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

‘This　is　either　insanity　or　intoxication；’　said　Miss　Murdstone；　in　
a　perfect　agony　at　not　being　able　to　turn　the　current　of　my　aunt’s　
address　towards　herself；　‘and　my　suspicion　is　that　it’s　intoxication。’　

Miss　Betsey；　without　taking　the　least　notice　of　the　interruption；　
continued　to　address　herself　to　Mr。　Murdstone　as　if　there　had　been　
no　such　thing。　

‘Mr。　Murdstone；’　she　said；　shaking　her　finger　at　him；　‘you　were　
a　tyrant　to　the　simple　baby；　and　you　broke　her　heart。　She　was　a　
loving　baby—I　know　that；　I　knew　it　years　before　you　ever　saw　
her—and　through　the　best　part　of　her　weakness　you　gave　her　the　
wounds　she　died　of。　There　is　the　truth　for　your　comfort；　however　
you　like　it。　And　you　and　your　instruments　may　make　the　most　of　
it。’　

‘Allow　me　to　inquire；　Miss　Trotwood；’　interposed　Miss　
Murdstone；　‘whom　you　are　pleased　to　call；　in　a　choice　of　words　in　
which　I　am　not　experienced；　my　brother’s　instruments？’　

‘It　was　clear　enough；　as　I　have　told　you；　years　before　you　ever　
saw　her—and　why；　in　the　mysterious　dispensations　of　Providence；　
you　ever　did　see　her；　is　more　than　humanity　can　comprehend—it　
was　clear　enough　that　the　poor　soft　little　thing　would　marry　
somebody；　at　some　time　or　other；　but　I　did　hope　it　wouldn’t　have　
been　as　bad　as　it　has　turned　out。　That　was　the　time；　Mr。　
Murdstone；　when　she　gave　birth　to　her　boy　here；’　said　my　aunt；　‘to　
the　poor　child　you　sometimes　tormented　her　through　afterwards；　
which　is　a　disagreeable　remembrance　and　makes　the　sight　of　him　
odious　now。　Aye；　aye！　you　needn’t　wince！’　said　my　aunt。　‘I　know　
it’s　true　without　that。’　

He　had　stood　by　the　door；　all　this　while；　observant　of　her　with　a　
smile　upon　his　face；　though　his　black　eyebrows　were　heavily　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

contracted。　I　remarked　now；　that；　though　the　smile　was　on　his　face　
still；　his　colour　had　gone　in　a　moment；　and　he　seemed　to　breathe　
as　if　he　had　been　running。　

‘Good　day；　sir；’　said　my　aunt；　‘and　good…bye！　Good　day　to　you；　
too；　ma’am；’　said　my　aunt；　turning　suddenly　upon　his　sister。　‘Let　
me　see　you　ride　a　donkey　over　my　green　again；　and　as　sure　as　you　
have　a　head　upon　your　shoulders；　I’ll　knock　your　bonnet　off；　and　
tread　upon　it！’　

It　would　require　a　painter；　and　no　common　painter　too；　to　
depict　my　aunt’s　face　as　she　delivered　herself　of　this　very　
unexpected　sentiment；　and　Miss　Murdstone’s　face　as　she　heard　it。　
But　the　manner　of　the　speech；　no　less　than　the　matter；　was　so　
fiery；　that　Miss　Murdstone；　without　a　word　in　answer；　discreetly　
put　her　arm　through　her　brother’s；　and　walked　haughtily　out　of　
the　cottage；　my　aunt　remaining　in　the　window　looking　after　them；　
prepared；　I　have　no　doubt；　in　case　of　the　donkey’s　reappearance；　
to　carry　her　threat　into　instant　execution。　

No　attempt　at　defiance　being　made；　however；　her　face　gradually　
relaxed；　and　became　so　pleasant；　that　I　was　emboldened　to　kiss　
and　thank　her；　which　I　did　with　great　heartiness；　and　with　both　
my　arms　clasped　round　her　neck。　I　then　shook　hands　with　Mr。　
Dick；　who　shook　hands　with　me　a　great　many　times；　and　hailed　
this　happy　close　of　the　proceedings　with　repeated　bursts　of　
laughter。　

‘You’ll　consider　yourself　guardian；　jointly　with　me；　of　this　child；　
Mr。　Dick；’　said　my　aunt。　

‘I　shall　be　delighted；’　said　Mr。　Dick；　‘to　be　the　guardian　of　
David’s　son。’　

‘Very　good；’　returned　my　aunt；　‘that’s　settled。　I　have　been　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

thinking；　do　you　know；　Mr。　Dick；　that　I　might　call　him　Trotwood？’　

‘Certainly；　certainly。　Call　him　Trotwood；　certainly；’　said　Mr。　
Dick。　‘David’s　son’s　Trotwood。’　

‘Trotwood　Copperfield；　you　mean；’　returned　my　aunt。　

‘Yes；　to　be　sure。　Yes。　Trotwood　Copperfield；’　said　Mr。　Dick；　a　
little　abashed。　

My　aunt　took　so　kindly　to　the　notion；　that　some　ready…made　
clothes；　which　were　purchased　for　me　that　afternoon；　were　
marked　‘Trotwood　Copperfield’；　in　her　own　handwriting；　and　in　
indelible　marking…ink；　before　I　put　them　on；　and　it　was　settled　that　
all　the　other　clothes　which　were　ordered　to　be　made　for　me　（a　
complete　outfit　was　bespoke　that　afternoon）　should　be　marked　in　
the　same　way。　

Thus　I　began　my　new　life；　in　a　new　name；　and　with　everything　
new　about　me。　Now　that　the　state　of　doubt　was　over；　I　felt；　for　
many　days；　like　one　in　a　dream。　I　never　thought　that　I　had　a　
curious　couple　of　guardians；　in　my　aunt　and　Mr。　Dick。　I　never　
thought　of　anything　about　myself；　distinctly。　The　two　things　
clearest　in　my　mind　were；　that　a　remoteness　had　come　upon　the　
old　Blunderstone　life—which　seemed　to　lie　in　the　haze　of　an　
immeasurable　distance；　and　that　a　curtain　had　for　ever　fallen　on　
my　life　at　Murdstone　and　Grinby’s。　No　one　has　ever　raised　that　
curtain　since。　I　have　lifted　it　for　a　moment；　even　in　this　narrative；　
with　a　reluctant　hand；　and　dropped　it　gladly。　The　remembrance　of　
that　life　is　fraught　with　so　much　pain　to　me；　with　so　much　mental　
suffering　and　want　of　hope；　that　I　have　never　had　the　courage　
even　to　examine　how　long　I　was　doomed　to　lead　it。　Whether　it　
lasted　for　a　year；　or　more；　or　less；　I　do　not　know。　I　only　know　that　
it　was；　and　ceased　to　be；　and　that　I　have　written；　and　there　I　leave　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

it。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

Chapter　15　

I　MAKE　ANOTHER　BEGINNING　

Mr。　Dick　and　I　soon　became　the　best　of　friends；　and　very　
often；　when　his　day’s　work　was　done；　went　out　together　
to　fly　the　great　kite。　Every　day　of　his　life　he　had　a　long　
sitting　at　the　Memorial；　which　never　made　the　least　progress；　
however　hard　he　laboured；　for　King　Charles　the　First　always　
strayed　into　it；　sooner　or　later；　and　then　it　was　thrown　aside；　and　
another　one　begun。　The　patience　and　hope　with　which　he　bore　
these　perpetual　disappointments；　the　mild　perception　he　had　that　
there　was　something　wrong　about　King　Charles　the　First；　the　
feeble　efforts　he　made　to　keep　him　out；　and　the　certainty　with　
which　he　came　in；　and　tumbled　the　Memorial　out　of　all　shape；　
made　a　deep　impression　on　me。　What　Mr。　Dick　supposed　would　
come　of　the　Memorial；　if　it　were　completed；　where　he　thought　it　
was　to　go；　or　what　he　thought　it　was　to　do；　he　knew　no　more　than　
anybody　else；　I　believe。　Nor　was　it　at　all　necessary　that　he　should　
trouble　himself　with　such　questions；　for　if　anything　were　certain　
under　the　sun；　it　was　certain　that　the　Memorial　never　would　be　
finished。　It　was　quite　an　affecting　sight；　I　used　to　think；　to　see　him　
with　the　kite　when　it　was　up　a　great　height　in　the　air。　What　he　had　
told　me；　in　his　room；　about　his　belief　in　its　disseminating　the　
statements　pasted　on　it；　which　were　nothing　but　old　leaves　of　
abortive　Memorials；　might　have　been　a　fancy　with　him　sometimes；　
but　not　when　he　was　out；　looking　up　at　the　kite　in　the　sky；　and　
feeling　it　pull　and　tug　at　his　hand。　He　never　looked　so　serene　as　he　
Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

did　then。　I　used　to　fancy；　as　I　sat　by　him　of　an　evening；　on　a　green　
slope；　and　saw　him　watch　the　kite　high　in　the　quiet　air；　that　it　
lifted　his　mind　out　of　its　confusion；　and　bore　it　（such　was　my　
boyish　thought）　into　the　skies。　As　he　wound　the　string　in　and　it　
came　lower　and　lower　down　out　of　the　beautiful　light；　until　it　
fluttered　to　the　ground；　and　lay　there　like　a　dead　thing；　he　seemed　
to　wake　gradually　out　of　a　dream；　and　I　remember　to　have　seen　
him　take　it　up；　and　look　about　him　in　a　lost　way；　as　if　they　had　
both　come　down　together；　so　that　I　pitied　him　with　all　my　heart。　

While　I　advanced　in　friendship　and　intimacy　with　Mr。　Dick；　I　
did　not　go　backward　in　the　favour　of　his　staunch　friend；　my　aunt。　
She　took　so　kindly　to　me；　that；　in　the　course　of　a　few　weeks；　she　
shortened　my　adopted　name　of　Trotwood　into　Trot；　and　even　
encouraged　me　to　hope；　that　if　I　went　on　as　I　had　begun；　I　might　
take　equal　rank　in　her　affections　with　my　sister　Betsey　Trotwood。　

‘Trot；’　said　my　aunt　one　evening；　when　the　backgammon…board　
was　placed　as　usual　for　herself　and　Mr。　Dick；　‘we　must　not　forget　
your　education。’　

This　was　my　only　subject　of　anxiety；　and　I　felt　quite　delighted　
by　her　referring　to　it。　

‘Should　you　like　to　go　to　school　at　Canterbury？’　said　my　aunt。　

I　replied　that　I　should　like　it　very　much；　as　it　was　so　near　her。　

‘Good；’　said　my　aunt。　‘Should　you　like　to　go　tomorrow？’　

Being　already　no　stranger　to　the　general　rapidity　of　my　aunt’s　
evolutions；　I　was　not　surprised　by　the　suddenness　of　the　proposal；　
and　said：　‘Yes。’　

‘Good；’　said　my　aunt　again。　‘Janet；　hire　the　grey　pony　and　
chaise　tomorrow　morning　at　ten　o’clock；　and　pack　up　Master　
Trotwood’s　clothes　tonight。’　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

I　was　greatly　elated　by　these　orders；　but　my　heart　smote　me　for　
my　selfishness；　when　I　witnessed　their　effect　on　Mr。　Dick；　who　was　
so　low…spirited　at　the　prospect　of　our　separation；　and　played　so　ill　
in　consequence；　that　my　aunt；　after　giving　him　several　admonitory　
raps　on　the　knuckles　with　her　dice…box；　shut　up　the　board；　and　
declined　to　play　with　him　any　more。　But；　on　hearing　from　my　aunt　
that　I　should　sometimes　come　over　on　a　Saturday；　and　that　he　
could　sometimes　come　and　see　me　on　a　Wednesday；　he　revived；　
and　vowed　to　make　another　kite　for　those　occasions；　of　
proportions　greatly　surpassing　the　present　one。　In　the　morning　he　
was　downhearted　again；　and　would　have　sustained　himself　by　
giving　me　all　the　money　he　had　in　his　possession；　gold　and　silver　
too；　if　my　aunt　had　not　interposed；　and　limited　the　gift　to　five　
shillings；　which；　at　his　earnest　petition；　were　afterwards　increased　
to　ten。　We　parted　at　the　garden…gate　in　a　most　affectionate　
manner；　and　Mr。　Dick　did　not　go　into　the　house　until　my　aunt　had　
driven　me　out　of　sight　of　it。　

My　aunt；　who　was　perfectly　indifferent　to　public　opinion；　drove　
the　grey　pony　through　Dover　in　a　masterly　manner；　sitting　high　
and　stiff　like　a　state　coachman；　keeping　a　steady　eye　upon　him　
wherever　he　went；　and　making　a　point　of　not　letting　him　have　his　
own　way　in　any　respect。　When　we　came　into　the　country　road；　she　
permitted　him　to　relax　a　little；　however；　and　looking　at　me　down　in　
a　valley　of　cu