david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第75章
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Lincoln’s Inn Fields； where I found my aunt up； and waiting
supper。
If I had been round the world since we parted； we could hardly
have been better pleased to meet again。 My aunt cried outright as
she embraced me； and said； pretending to laugh； that if my poor
mother had been alive； that silly little creature would have shed
tears； she had no doubt。
‘So you have left Mr。 Dick behind； aunt？’ said I。 ‘I am sorry for
that。 Ah； Janet； how do you do？’
As Janet curtsied； hoping I was well； I observed my aunt’s
visage lengthen very much。
‘I am sorry for it； too；’ said my aunt； rubbing her nose。 ‘I have
had no peace of mind； Trot； since I have been here。’ Before I could
ask why； she told me。
‘I am convinced；’ said my aunt； laying her hand with
melancholy firmness on the table； ‘that Dick’s character is not a
character to keep the donkeys off。 I am confident he wants
strength of purpose。 I ought to have left Janet at home； instead；
and then my mind might perhaps have been at ease。 If ever there
was a donkey trespassing on my green；’ said my aunt； with
emphasis； ‘there was one this afternoon at four o’clock。 A cold
feeling came over me from head to foot； and I know it was a
donkey！’
I tried to comfort her on this point； but she rejected consolation。
‘It was a donkey；’ said my aunt； ‘and it was the one with the
stumpy tail which that Murdering sister of a woman rode； when
she came to my house。’ This had been； ever since； the only name
my aunt knew for Miss Murdstone。 ‘If there is any Donkey in
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Dover； whose audacity it is harder to me to bear than another’s；
that；’ said my aunt； striking the table； ‘is the animal！’
Janet ventured to suggest that my aunt might be disturbing
herself unnecessarily； and that she believed the donkey in
question was then engaged in the sand…and…gravel line of business；
and was not available for purposes of trespass。 But my aunt
wouldn’t hear of it。
Supper was comfortably served and hot； though my aunt’s
rooms were very high up—whether that she might have more
stone stairs for her money； or might be nearer to the door in the
roof； I don’t know—and consisted of a roast fowl； a steak； and
some vegetables； to all of which I did ample justice； and which
were all excellent。 But my aunt had her own ideas concerning
London provision； and ate but little。
‘I suppose this unfortunate fowl was born and brought up in a
cellar；’ said my aunt； ‘and never took the air except on a hackney
coach…stand。 I hope the steak may be beef； but I don’t believe it。
Nothing’s genuine in the place； in my opinion； but the dirt。’
‘Don’t you think the fowl may have come out of the country；
aunt？’ I hinted。
‘Certainly not；’ returned my aunt。 ‘It would be no pleasure to a
London tradesman to sell anything which was what he pretended
it was。’
I did not venture to controvert this opinion； but I made a good
supper； which it greatly satisfied her to see me do。 When the table
was cleared； Janet assisted her to arrange her hair； to put on her
nightcap； which was of a smarter construction than usual （‘in case
of fire’； my aunt said）； and to fold her gown back over her knees；
these being her usual preparations for warming herself before
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going to bed。 I then made her； according to certain established
regulations from which no deviation； however slight； could ever be
permitted； a glass of hot wine and water； and a slice of toast cut
into long thin strips。 With these accompaniments we were left
alone to finish the evening； my aunt sitting opposite to me
drinking her wine and water； soaking her strips of toast in it； one
by one； before eating them； and looking benignantly on me； from
among the borders of her nightcap。
‘Well； Trot；’ she began； ‘what do you think of the proctor plan？
Or have you not begun to think about it yet？’
‘I have thought a good deal about it； my dear aunt； and I have
talked a good deal about it with Steerforth。 I like it very much
indeed。 I like it exceedingly。’
‘Come！’ said my aunt。 ‘That’s cheering！’
‘I have only one difficulty； aunt。’
‘Say what it is； Trot；’ she returned。
‘Why； I want to ask； aunt； as this seems； from what I
understand； to be a limited profession； whether my entrance into
it would not be very expensive？’
‘It will cost；’ returned my aunt； ‘to article you； just a thousand
pounds。’
‘Now； my dear aunt；’ said I； drawing my chair nearer； ‘I am
uneasy in my mind about that。 It’s a large sum of money。 You have
expended a great deal on my education； and have always been as
liberal to me in all things as it was possible to be。 You have been
the soul of generosity。 Surely there are some ways in which I
might begin life with hardly any outlay； and yet begin with a good
hope of getting on by resolution and exertion。 Are you sure that it
would not be better to try that course？ Are you certain that you
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can afford to part with so much money； and that it is right that it
should be so expended？ I only ask you； my second mother； to
consider。 Are you certain？’
My aunt finished eating the piece of toast on which she was
then engaged； looking me full in the face all the while； and then
setting her glass on the chimney…piece； and folding her hands
upon her folded skirts； replied as follows：
‘Trot； my child； if I have any object in life； it is to provide for
your being a good； a sensible； and a happy man。 I am bent upon
it—so is Dick。 I should like some people that I know to hear Dick’s
conversation on the subject。 Its sagacity is wonderful。 But no one
knows the resources of that man’s intellect； except myself！’
She stopped for a moment to take my hand between hers； and
went on：
‘It’s in vain； Trot； to recall the past； unless it works some
influence upon the present。 Perhaps I might have been better
friends with your poor father。 Perhaps I might have been better
friends with that poor child your mother； even after your sister
Betsey Trotwood disappointed me。 When you came to me； a little
runaway boy； all dusty and way…worn； perhaps I thought so。 From
that time until now； Trot； you have ever been a credit to me and a
pride and a pleasure。 I have no other claim upon my means； at
least’—here to my surprise she hesitated； and was confused—‘no； I
have no other claim upon my means—and you are my adopted
child。 Only be a loving child to me in my age； and bear with my
whims and fancies； and you will do more for an old woman whose
prime of life was not so happy or conciliating as it might have
been； than ever that old woman did for you。’
It was the first time I had heard my aunt refer to her past
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history。 There was a magnanimity in her quiet way of doing so；
and of dismissing it； which would have exalted her in my respect
and affection； if anything could。
‘All is agreed and understood between us； now； Trot；’ said my
aunt； ‘and we need talk of this no more。 Give me a kiss； and we’ll
go to the Commons after breakfast tomorrow。’
We had a long chat by the fire before we went to bed。 I slept in a
room on the same floor with my aunt’s； and was a little disturbed
in the course of the night by her knocking at my door as often as
she was agitated by a distant sound of hackney…coaches or market…
carts； and inquiring； ‘if I heard the engines？’ But towards morning
she slept better； and suffered me to do so too。
At about mid…day； we set out for the office of Messrs Spenlow
and Jorkins； in Doctors’ Commons。 My aunt； who had this other
general opinion in reference to London； that every man she saw
was a pickpocket； gave me her purse to carry for her； which had
ten guineas in it and some silver。
We made a pause at the toy shop in Fleet Street； to see the
giants of Saint Dunstan’s strike upon the bells—we had timed our
going； so as to catch them at it； at twelve o’clock—and then went
on towards Ludgate Hill； and St。 Paul’s Churchyard。 We were
crossing to the former place； when I found that my aunt greatly
accelerated her speed； and looked frightened。 I observed； at the
same time； that a lowering ill…dressed man who had stopped and
stared at us in passing； a little before； was coming so close after us
as to brush against her。
‘Trot！ My dear Trot！’ cried my aunt； in a terrified whisper； and
pressing my arm。 ‘I don’t know what I am to do。’
‘Don’t be alarmed；’ said I。 ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of。 Step
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into a shop； and I’ll soon get rid of this fellow。’
‘No； no； child！’ she returned。 ‘Don’t speak to him for the world。 I
entreat； I order you！’
‘Good Heaven； aunt！’ said I。 ‘He is nothing but a sturdy beggar。’
‘You don’t know what he is！’ replied my aunt。 ‘You don’t know
who he is！ You don’t know what you say！’
We had stopped in an empty door…way； while this was passing；
and he had stopped too。
‘Don’t look at him！’ said my aunt； as I turned my head
indignantly； ‘but get me a coach； my dear； and wait for me in St。
Paul’s Churchyard。’
‘Wait for you？’ I replied。
‘Yes；’ rejoined my aunt。 ‘I must go alone。 I must go with him。’
‘With him； aunt？ This man？’
‘I am in my senses；’ she replied； ‘and I tell you I must。 Get mea
coach！’
However much astonished I might be； I was sensible that I had
no right to refuse compliance with such a peremptory command。 I
hurried away a few paces； and called a hackney…chariot which was
passing empty。 Almost before I could let down the steps； my aunt
sprang in； I don’t know how； and the man followed。 She waved her
hand to me to go away； so earnestly； that； all confounded as I was；
I turned from them at once。 In doing so； I heard her say to the
coachman； ‘Drive anywhere！ Drive straight on！’ and presently the
chariot passed me； going up the hill。
What Mr。 Dick had told me； and what I had supposed to be a
delusion of his； now came into my mind。 I could not doubt that this
person was the person of whom he had made such mysterious
mention； though what the nature of his hold upon my aunt could
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possibly be； I was quite unable to imagine。 After half an hour’s
cooling in the churchyard； I saw the chariot coming back。 The
driver stopped beside me； and my aunt was sitting in it alone。
She had not yet sufficiently recovered from her agitation to be
quite prepared for the visit we had to make。 She desired me to get
into the chariot； and to tell the coachman to drive slowly up and
down a little while。 She said no more； except； ‘My dear child；
never ask me what it was； and don’t refer to it；’ until she had
perfectly regained her composure； when she told me she was quite
herself now； and we might get out。
