david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第7章

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on　in　a　crowded　street？　Can　I　say　of　her　innocent　and　girlish　
beauty；　that　it　faded；　and　was　no　more；　when　its　breath　falls　on　my　
cheek　now；　as　it　fell　that　night？　Can　I　say　she　ever　changed；　when　
my　remembrance　brings　her　back　to　life；　thus　only；　and；　truer　to　
its　loving　youth　than　I　have　been；　or　man　ever　is；　still　holds　fast　
what　it　cherished　then？　

I　write　of　her　just　as　she　was　when　I　had　gone　to　bed　after　this　
talk；　and　she　came　to　bid　me　good　night。　She　kneeled　down　
playfully　by　the　side　of　the　bed；　and　laying　her　chin　upon　her　
hands；　and　laughing；　said：　

‘What　was　it　they　said；　Davy？　Tell　me　again。　I　can’t　believe　it。’　

‘“Bewitching—”’　I　began。　

My　mother　put　her　hands　upon　my　lips　to　stop　me。　

‘It　was　never　bewitching；’　she　said；　laughing。　‘It　never　could　
have　been　bewitching；　Davy。　Now　I　know　it　wasn’t！’　

‘Yes；　it　was。　“Bewitching　Mrs。　Copperfield”；’　I　repeated　stoutly。　
‘And；　“pretty。”’　

‘No；　no；　it　was　never　pretty。　Not　pretty；’　interposed　my　mother；　
laying　her　fingers　on　my　lips　again。　

‘Yes　it　was。　“Pretty　little　widow。”’　

‘What　foolish；　impudent　creatures！’　cried　my　mother；　laughing　
and　covering　her　face。　‘What　ridiculous　men！　An’t　they？　Davy　
dear—’　

‘Well；　Ma。’　

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‘Don’t　tell　Peggotty；　she　might　be　angry　with　them。　I　am　
dreadfully　angry　with　them　myself；　but　I　would　rather　Peggotty　
didn’t　know。’　

I　promised；　of　course；　and　we　kissed　one　another　over　and　over　
again；　and　I　soon　fell　fast　asleep。　

It　seems　to　me；　at　this　distance　of　time；　as　if　it　were　the　next　day　
when　Peggotty　broached　the　striking　and　adventurous　proposition　
I　am　about　to　mention；　but　it　was　probably　about　two　months　
afterwards。　

We　were　sitting　as　before；　one　evening　（when　my　mother　was　
out　as　before）；　in　company　with　the　stocking　and　the　yard…
measure；　and　the　bit　of　wax；　and　the　box　with　St。　Paul’s　on　the　lid；　
and　the　crocodile　book；　when　Peggotty；　after　looking　at　me　several　
times；　and　opening　her　mouth　as　if　she　were　going　to　speak；　
without　doing　it—which　I　thought　was　merely　gaping；　or　I　should　
have　been　rather　alarmed—said　coaxingly：　

‘Master　Davy；　how　should　you　like　to　go　along　with　me　and　
spend　a　fortnight　at　my　brother’s　at　Yarmouth？　Wouldn’t　that　be　a　
treat？’　

‘Is　your　brother　an　agreeable　man；　Peggotty？’　I　inquired；　
provisionally。　

‘Oh；　what　an　agreeable　man　he　is！’　cried　Peggotty；　holding　up　
her　hands。　‘Then　there’s　the　sea；　and　the　boats　and　ships；　and　the　
fishermen；　and　the　beach；　and　Am　to　play　with—’　

Peggotty　meant　her　nephew　Ham；　mentioned　in　my　first　
chapter；　but　she　spoke　of　him　as　a　morsel　of　English　Grammar。　

I　was　flushed　by　her　summary　of　delights；　and　replied　that　it　
would　indeed　be　a　treat；　but　what　would　my　mother　say？　

‘Why　then　I’ll　as　good　as　bet　a　guinea；’　said　Peggotty；　intent　

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upon　my　face；　‘that　she’ll　let　us　go。　I’ll　ask　her；　if　you　like；　as　soon　
as　ever　she　comes　home。　There　now！’　

‘But　what’s　she　to　do　while　we’re　away？’　said　I；　putting　my　
small　elbows　on　the　table　to　argue　the　point。　‘She　can’t　live　by　
herself。’　

If　Peggotty　were　looking　for　a　hole；　all　of　a　sudden；　in　the　heel　
of　that　stocking；　it　must　have　been　a　very　little　one　indeed；　and　not　
worth　darning。　

‘I　say！　Peggotty！　She　can’t　live　by　herself；　you　know。’　

‘Oh；　bless　you！’　said　Peggotty；　looking　at　me　again　at　last。　‘Don’t　
you　know？　She’s　going　to　stay　for　a　fortnight　with　Mrs。　Grayper。　
Mrs。　Grayper’s　going　to　have　a　lot　of　company。’　

Oh！　If　that　was　it；　I　was　quite　ready　to　go。　I　waited；　in　the　
utmost　impatience；　until　my　mother　came　home　from　Mrs。　
Grayper’s　（for　it　was　that　identical　neighbour）；　to　ascertain　if　we　
could　get　leave　to　carry　out　this　great　idea。　Without　being　nearly　
so　much　surprised　as　I　had　expected；　my　mother　entered　into　it　
readily；　and　it　was　all　arranged　that　night；　and　my　board　and　
lodging　during　the　visit　were　to　be　paid　for。　

The　day　soon　came　for　our　going。　It　was　such　an　early　day　that　
it　came　soon；　even　to　me；　who　was　in　a　fever　of　expectation；　and　
half　afraid　that　an　earthquake　or　a　fiery　mountain；　or　some　other　
great　convulsion　of　nature；　might　interpose　to　stop　the　expedition。　
We　were　to　go　in　a　carrier’s　cart；　which　departed　in　the　morning　
after　breakfast。　I　would　have　given　any　money　to　have　been　
allowed　to　wrap　myself　up　over…night；　and　sleep　in　my　hat　and　
boots。　

It　touches　me　nearly　now；　although　I　tell　it　lightly；　to　recollect　
how　eager　I　was　to　leave　my　happy　home；　to　think　how　little　I　

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suspected　what　I　did　leave　for　ever。　

I　am　glad　to　recollect　that　when　the　carrier’s　cart　was　at　the　
gate；　and　my　mother　stood　there　kissing　me；　a　grateful　fondness　
for　her　and　for　the　old　place　I　had　never　turned　my　back　upon　
before；　made　me　cry。　I　am　glad　to　know　that　my　mother　cried　too；　
and　that　I　felt　her　heart　beat　against　mine。　

I　am　glad　to　recollect　that　when　the　carrier　began　to　move；　my　
mother　ran　out　at　the　gate；　and　called　to　him　to　stop；　that　she　
might　kiss　me　once　more。　I　am　glad　to　dwell　upon　the　earnestness　
and　love　with　which　she　lifted　up　her　face　to　mine；　and　did　so。　

As　we　left　her　standing　in　the　road；　Mr。　Murdstone　came　up　to　
where　she　was；　and　seemed　to　expostulate　with　her　for　being　so　
moved。　I　was　looking　back　round　the　awning　of　the　cart；　and　
wondered　what　business　it　was　of　his。　Peggotty；　who　was　also　
looking　back　on　the　other　side；　seemed　anything　but　satisfied；　as　
the　face　she　brought　back　in　the　cart　denoted。　

I　sat　looking　at　Peggotty　for　some　time；　in　a　reverie　on　this　
supposititious　case：　whether；　if　she　were　employed　to　lose　me　like　
the　boy　in　the　fairy　tale；　I　should　be　able　to　track　my　way　home　
again　by　the　buttons　she　would　shed。　

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Chapter　3　

I　HAVE　A　CHANGE　

The　carrier’s　horse　was　the　laziest　horse　in　the　world；　I　
should　hope；　and　shuffled　along；　with　his　head　down；　as　if　
he　liked　to　keep　people　waiting　to　whom　the　packages　
were　directed。　I　fancied；　indeed；　that　he　sometimes　chuckled　
audibly　over　this　reflection；　but　the　carrier　said　he　was　only　
troubled　with　a　cough。　The　carrier　had　a　way　of　keeping　his　head　
down；　like　his　horse；　and　of　drooping　sleepily　forward　as　he　drove；　
with　one　of　his　arms　on　each　of　his　knees。　I　say　‘drove’；　but　it　
struck　me　that　the　cart　would　have　gone　to　Yarmouth　quite　as　well　
without　him；　for　the　horse　did　all　that；　and　as　to　conversation；　he　
had　no　idea　of　it　but　whistling。　

Peggotty　had　a　basket　of　refreshments　on　her　knee；　which　
would　have　lasted　us　out　handsomely；　if　we　had　been　going　to　
London　by　the　same　conveyance。　We　ate　a　good　deal；　and　slept　a　
good　deal。　Peggotty　always　went　to　sleep　with　her　chin　upon　the　
handle　of　the　basket；　her　hold　of　which　never　relaxed；　and　I　could　
not　have　believed　unless　I　had　heard　her　do　it；　that　one　
defenceless　woman　could　have　snored　so　much。　

We　made　so　many　deviations　up　and　down　lanes；　and　were　
such　a　long　time　delivering　a　bedstead　at　a　public…house；　and　
calling　at　other　places；　that　I　was　quite　tired；　and　very　glad；　when　
we　saw　Yarmouth。　It　looked　rather　spongy　and　soppy；　I　thought；　
as　I　carried　my　eye　over　the　great　dull　waste　that　lay　across　the　
river；　and　I　could　not　help　wondering；　if　the　world　were　really　as　

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round　as　my　geography　book　said；　how　any　part　of　it　came　to　be　so　
flat。　But　I　reflected　that　Yarmouth　might　be　situated　at　one　of　the　
poles；　which　would　account　for　it。　

As　we　drew　a　little　nearer；　and　saw　the　whole　adjacent　prospect　
lying　a　straight　low　line　under　the　sky；　I　hinted　to　Peggotty　that　a　
mound　or　so　might　have　improved　it；　and　also　that　if　the　land　had　
been　a　little　more　separated　from　the　sea；　and　the　town　and　the　
tide　had　not　been　quite　so　much　mixed　up；　like　toast　and　water；　it　
would　have　been　nicer。　But　Peggotty　said；　with　greater　emphasis　
than　usual；　that　we　must　take　things　as　we　found　them；　and　that；　
for　her　part；　she　was　proud　to　call　herself　a　Yarmouth　Bloater。　

When　we　got　into　the　street　（which　was　strange　enough　to　me）　
and　smelt　the　fish；　and　pitch；　and　oakum；　and　tar；　and　saw　the　
sailors　walking　about；　and　the　carts　jingling　up　and　down　over　the　
stones；　I　felt　that　I　had　done　so　busy　a　place　an　injustice；　and　said　
as　much　to　Peggotty；　who　heard　my　expressions　of　delight　with　
great　complacency；　and　told　me　it　was　well　known　（I　suppose　to　
those　who　had　the　good　fortune　to　be　born　Bloaters）　that　
Yarmouth　was；　upon　the　whole；　the　finest　place　in　the　universe。　

‘Here’s　my　Am！’　screamed　Peggotty；　‘growed　out　of　knowledge！’　

He　was　waiting　for　us；　in　fact；　at　the　public…house；　and　asked　
me　how　I　found　myself；　like　an　old　acquaintance。　I　did　not　feel；　at　
first；　that　I　knew　him　as　well　as　he　knew　me；　because　he　had　never　
come　to　our　house　since　the　night　I　was　born；　and　naturally　he　had　
the　advantage　of　me。　But　our　intimacy　was　much　advanced　by　his　
taking　me　on　his　back　to　carry　me　home。　He　was；　now；　a　huge；　
strong　fellow　of　six　feet　high；　broad　in　proportion；　and　round…
shouldered；　but　with　a　simpering　boy’s　face　and　curly　light　hair　
that　gave　him　quite　a　sheepish　look。　He　was　dressed　in　a　canvas　

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jacket；　and　a　pair　of　such　very　stiff　trousers　that　they　would　have　
stood　quite　as　well　alone；　without　any　legs　in　them。　And　you　
couldn’t　so　properly　have　said　he　wore　a　hat；　as　that　he　was　
covered　in　a…top；　like　an　old　building；　with　something　pitchy。　

Ham　carrying　me　on　his　back　and　a　small　box　of　ours　under　his　
arm；　and　Peggotty　carrying　another　small　box　of　ours；　we　turned　
down　lanes　bestrewn　with　bits　of　chips　and　little　hillocks　of　sand；　
and　went　past　gas…works；　rope…walks；　boat…builders’　yards；　
shipwrights’　yards；　ship…breakers’　yards；　caulkers’　yards；　riggers’　
lofts；　smiths’　forges；　and　a　great　litter　of　such　places；　until　we　came　
out　upon　the　dull　waste　I　had　already　seen　at　a　distance；　when　
Ham　said；　

‘Yon’s　our　house；　Mas’r　Davy！’　

I　looked　in　all　directions；　as　far　as　I　could　stare　over　the　
wilderness；　and　away　at　the　sea；　and　away　at　the　river；　but　no　
house　could　I　make　out。　There　was　a　black　barge；　or　some　other　
kind　of　superannuated　boat；　not　far　off；　high　and　dry　on　the　
ground；　with　an　iron　funnel　sticking　out　of　it　for　a　chimney　and　
smoking　very　cosily；　but　nothing　else　in　the　way　of　a　habitation　
that　was　visible　to　me。　

‘That’s　not　it？’　said　I。　‘That　ship…looking　thing？’　

‘That’s　it；　Mas’r　Davy；’　returned　Ham。　

If　it　had　been　Aladdin’s　palace；　roc’s　egg　and　all；　I　suppose　I　
could　not　have　been　more　charmed　with　the　romantic　idea　of　
living　in　it。　There　was　a　delightful　door　cut　in　the　side；　and　it　was　
roofed　in；　and　there　were　little　windows　in　it；　but　the　wonderful　
charm　of　it　was；　that　it　was　a　real　boat　whi