david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第78章

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pastry…cook’s　myself。　Walking　along　the　Strand；　afterwards；　and　
observing　a　hard　mottled　substance　in　the　window　of　a　ham　and　
beef　shop；　which　resembled　marble；　but　was　labelled　‘Mock　
Turtle’；　I　went　in　and　bought　a　slab　of　it；　which　I　have　since　seen　
reason　to　believe　would　have　sufficed　for　fifteen　people。　This　
preparation；　Mrs。　Crupp；　after　some　difficulty；　consented　to　warm　
up；　and　it　shrunk　so　much　in　a　liquid　state；　that　we　found　it　what　
Steerforth　called　‘rather　a　tight　fit’　for　four。　

These　preparations　happily　completed；　I　bought　a　little　dessert　
in　Covent　Garden　Market；　and　gave　a　rather　extensive　order　at　a　
retail　wine…merchant’s　in　that　vicinity。　When　I　came　home　in　the　
afternoon；　and　saw　the　bottles　drawn　up　in　a　square　on　the　pantry　
floor；　they　looked　so　numerous　（though　there　were　two　missing；　
which　made　Mrs。　Crupp　very　uncomfortable）；　that　I　was　
absolutely　frightened　at　them。　

One　of　Steerforth’s　friends　was　named　Grainger；　and　the　other　
Markham。　They　were　both　very　gay　and　lively　fellows；　Grainger；　
something　older　than　Steerforth；　Markham；　youthful…looking；　and　
I　should　say　not　more　than　twenty。　I　observed　that　the　latter　
always　spoke　of　himself　indefinitely；　as　‘a　man’；　and　seldom　or　
never　in　the　first　person　singular。　

‘A　man　might　get　on　very　well　here；　Mr。　Copperfield；’　said　
Markham—meaning　himself。　

‘It’s　not　a　bad　situation；’　said　I；　‘and　the　rooms　are　really　
commodious。’　

‘I　hope　you　have　both　brought　appetites　with　you？’　said　

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David　Copperfield　

Steerforth。　

‘Upon　my　honour；’　returned　Markham；　‘town　seems　to　sharpen　
a　man’s　appetite。　A　man　is　hungry　all　day　long。　A　man　is　
perpetually　eating。’　

Being　a　little　embarrassed　at　first；　and　feeling　much　too　young　
to　preside；　I　made　Steerforth　take　the　head　of　the　table　when　
dinner　was　announced；　and　seated　myself　opposite　to　him。　
Everything　was　very　good；　we　did　not　spare　the　wine；　and　he　
exerted　himself　so　brilliantly　to　make　the　thing　pass　off　well；　that　
there　was　no　pause　in　our　festivity。　I　was　not　quite　such　good　
company　during　dinner　as　I　could　have　wished　to　be；　for　my　chair　
was　opposite　the　door；　and　my　attention　was　distracted　by　
observing　that　the　handy　young　man　went　out　of　the　room　very　
often；　and　that　his　shadow　always　presented　itself；　immediately　
afterwards；　on　the　wall　of　the　entry；　with　a　bottle　at　its　mouth。　The　
‘young　gal’　likewise　occasioned　me　some　uneasiness：　not　so　much　
by　neglecting　to　wash　the　plates；　as　by　breaking　them。　For　being　of　
an　inquisitive　disposition；　and　unable　to　confine　herself　（as　her　
positive　instructions　were）　to　the　pantry；　she　was　constantly　
peering　in　at　us；　and　constantly　imagining　herself　detected；　in　
which　belief；　she　several　times　retired　upon　the　plates　（with　which　
she　had　carefully　paved　the　floor）；　and　did　a　great　deal　of　
destruction。　

These；　however；　were　small　drawbacks；　and　easily　forgotten　
when　the　cloth　was　cleared；　and　the　dessert　put　on　the　table；　at　
which　period　of　the　entertainment　the　handy　young　man　was　
discovered　to　be　speechless。　Giving　him　private　directions　to　seek　
the　society　of　Mrs。　Crupp；　and　to　remove　the　‘young　gal’　to　the　
basement　also；　I　abandoned　myself　to　enjoyment。　

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I　began；　by　being　singularly　cheerful　and　light…hearted；　all　sorts　
of　half…forgotten　things　to　talk　about；　came　rushing　into　my　mind；　
and　made　me　hold　forth　in　a　most　unwonted　manner。　I　laughed　
heartily　at　my　own　jokes；　and　everybody　else’s；　called　Steerforth　to　
order　for　not　passing　the　wine；　made　several　engagements　to　go　to　
Oxford；　announced　that　I　meant　to　have　a　dinner…party　exactly　
like　that；　once　a　week；　until　further　notice；　and　madly　took　so　
much　snuff　out　of　Grainger’s　box；　that　I　was　obliged　to　go　into　the　
pantry；　and　have　a　private　fit　of　sneezing　ten　minutes　long。　

I　went　on；　by　passing　the　wine　faster　and　faster　yet；　and　
continually　starting　up　with　a　corkscrew　to　open　more　wine；　long　
before　any　was　needed。　I　proposed　Steerforth’s　health。　I　said　he　
was　my　dearest　friend；　the　protector　of　my　boyhood；　and　the　
companion　of　my　prime。　I　said　I　was　delighted　to　propose　his　
health。　I　said　I　owed　him　more　obligations　than　I　could　ever　repay；　
and　held　him　in　a　higher　admiration　than　I　could　ever　express。　I　
finished　by　saying；　‘I’ll　give　you　Steerforth！　God　bless　him！　
Hurrah！’　We　gave　him　three　times　three；　and　another；　and　a　good　
one　to　finish　with。　I　broke　my　glass　in　going　round　the　table　to　
shake　hands　with　him；　and　I　said　（in　two　words）　‘Steerforth—　
you’retheguidingstarofmyexistence。’　

I　went　on；　by　finding　suddenly　that　somebody　was　in　the　middle　
of　a　song。　Markham　was　the　singer；　and　he　sang　‘When　the　heart　
of　a　man　is　depressed　with　care’。　He　said；　when　he　had　sung　it；　he　
would　give　us　‘Woman！’　I　took　objection　to　that；　and　I　couldn’t　
allow　it。　I　said　it　was　not　a　respectful　way　of　proposing　the　toast；　
and　I　would　never　permit　that　toast　to　be　drunk　in　my　house　
otherwise　than　as　‘The　Ladies！’　I　was　very　high　with　him；　mainly　I　
think　because　I　saw　Steerforth　and　Grainger　laughing　at　me—or　

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at　him—or　at　both　of　us。　He　said　a　man　was　not　to　be　dictated　to。　I　
said　a　man　was。　He　said　a　man　was　not　to　be　insulted；　then。　I　said　
he　was　right　there—never　under　my　roof；　where　the　Lares　were　
sacred；　and　the　laws　of　hospitality　paramount。　He　said　it　was　no　
derogation　from　a　man’s　dignity　to　confess　that　I　was　a　devilish　
good　fellow。　I　instantly　proposed　his　health。　

Somebody　was　smoking。　We　were　all　smoking。　I　was　smoking；　
and　trying　to　suppress　a　rising　tendency　to　shudder。　Steerforth　
had　made　a　speech　about　me；　in　the　course　of　which　I　had　been　
affected　almost　to　tears。　I　returned　thanks；　and　hoped　the　present　
company　would　dine　with　me　tomorrow；　and　the　day　after—each　
day　at　five　o’clock；　that　we　might　enjoy　the　pleasures　of　
conversation　and　society　through　a　long　evening。　I　felt　called　upon　
to　propose　an　individual。　I　would　give　them　my　aunt。　Miss　Betsey　
Trotwood；　the　best　of　her　sex！　

Somebody　was　leaning　out　of　my　bedroom　window；　refreshing　
his　forehead　against　the　cool　stone　of　the　parapet；　and　feeling　the　
air　upon　his　face。　It　was　myself。　I　was　addressing　myself　as　
‘Copperfield’；　and　saying；　‘Why　did　you　try　to　smoke？　You　might　
have　known　you　couldn’t　do　it。’　Now；　somebody　was　unsteadily　
contemplating　his　features　in　the　looking…glass。　That　was　I　too。　I　
was　very　pale　in　the　looking…glass；　my　eyes　had　a　vacant　
appearance；　and　my　hair—only　my　hair；　nothing　else—looked　
drunk。　

Somebody　said　to　me；　‘Let　us　go　to　the　theatre；　Copperfield！’　
There　was　no　bedroom　before　me；　but　again　the　jingling　table　
covered　with　glasses；　the　lamp；　Grainger　on　my　right　hand；　
Markham　on　my　left；　and　Steerforth　opposite—all　sitting　in　a　mist；　
and　a　long　way　off。　The　theatre？　To　be　sure。　The　very　thing。　Come　

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along！　But　they　must　excuse　me　if　I　saw　everybody　out　first；　and　
turned　the　lamp　off—in　case　of　fire。　

Owing　to　some　confusion　in　the　dark；　the　door　was　gone。　I　was　
feeling　for　it　in　the　window…curtains；　when　Steerforth；　laughing；　
took　me　by　the　arm　and　led　me　out。　We　went　downstairs；　one　
behind　another。　Near　the　bottom；　somebody　fell；　and　rolled　down。　
Somebody　else　said　it　was　Copperfield。　I　was　angry　at　that　false　
report；　until；　finding　myself　on　my　back　in　the　passage；　I　began　to　
think　there　might　be　some　foundation　for　it。　

A　very　foggy　night；　with　great　rings　round　the　lamps　in　the　
streets！　There　was　an　indistinct　talk　of　its　being　wet。　I　considered　
it　frosty。　Steerforth　dusted　me　under　a　lamp…post；　and　put　my　hat　
into　shape；　which　somebody　produced　from　somewhere　in　a　most　
extraordinary　manner；　for　I　hadn’t　had　it　on　before。　Steerforth　
then　said；　‘You　are　all　right；　Copperfield；　are　you　not？’　and　I　told　
him；　‘Neverberrer。’　

A　man；　sitting　in　a　pigeon…hole…place；　looked　out　of　the　fog；　and　
took　money　from　somebody；　inquiring　if　I　was　one　of　the　
gentlemen　paid　for；　and　appearing　rather　doubtful　（as　I　remember　
in　the　glimpse　I　had　of　him）　whether　to　take　the　money　for　me　or　
not。　Shortly　afterwards；　we　were　very　high　up　in　a　very　hot　
theatre；　looking　down　into　a　large　pit；　that　seemed　to　me　to　smoke；　
the　people　with　whom　it　was　crammed　were　so　indistinct。　There　
was　a　great　stage；　too；　looking　very　clean　and　smooth　after　the　
streets；　and　there　were　people　upon　it；　talking　about　something　or　
other；　but　not　at　all　intelligibly。　There　was　an　abundance　of　bright　
lights；　and　there　was　music；　and　there　were　ladies　down　in　the　
boxes；　and　I　don’t　know　what　more。　The　whole　building　looked　to　
me　as　if　it　were　learning　to　swim；　it　conducted　itself　in　such　an　

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unaccountable　manner；　when　I　tried　to　steady　it。　

On　somebody’s　motion；　we　resolved　to　go　downstairs　to　the　
dress…boxes；　where　the　ladies　were。　A　gentleman　lounging；　full　
dressed；　on　a　sofa；　with　an　opera…glass　in　his　hand；　passed　before　
my　view；　and　also　my　own　figure　at　full　length　in　a　glass。　Then　I　
was　being　ushered　into　one　of　these　boxes；　and　found　myself　
saying　something　as　I　sat　down；　and　people　about　me　crying　
‘Silence！’　to　somebody；　and　ladies　casting　indignant　glances　at　me；　
and—what！　yes！—Agnes；　sitting　on　the　seat　before　me；　in　the　same　
box；　with　a　lady　and　gentleman　beside　her；　whom　I　didn’t　know。　I　
see　her　face　now；　better　than　I　did　then；　I　dare　say；　with　its　
indelible　look　of　regret　and　wonder　turned　upon　me。　

‘Agnes！’　I　said；　thickly；　‘Lorblessmer！　Agnes！’　

‘Hush！　Pray！’　she　answered；　I　could　not　conceive　why。　‘You　
disturb　the　company。　Look　at　the　stage！’　

I　tried；　on　her　injunction；　to　fix　it；　and　to　hear　something　of　
what　was　going　on　there；　but　quite　in　vain。　I　looked　at　her　again　by　
and　by；　and　saw　her　shrink　into　her　corner；　and　put　her　gloved　
hand　to　her　forehead。　

‘Agnes！’　I　said。　‘I’mafraidyou’renorwell。’　

‘Yes；　yes。　Do　not　mind　me；　Trotwood；’　she　returned。　‘Listen！　
Are　you　going　away　soon？’　

‘Amigoarawaysoo？’　I　repeated。　

‘Yes。’　

I　had　a　stupid　intention　of　replying　that　I　was　going　to　wait；　to　
hand　her　downstairs。　I　suppose　I　expressed　it；　somehow；　for　after　
she　had　looked　at　me　attentively　for　a　little　while；　she　appeared　to　
understand；　and　replied　in　a　low　tone：　‘I　know　you　will　do　as　I　ask　
you；　if　I　tell　you　I　am　very　earnest　in　it。　Go　away　now；　Trotwood；　

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for　my　sake；　and　ask　your　friends　to　take　you　home。’　

She　had　so　far　improved　me；　for　the　time；　that　though　I　was　
angry　with　her；　I　felt　ashamed；　and　with　a　short　‘Goori！’　（which　I　
intended　for　‘Good　night！’）　got　up　and　went　away。　They　followed；　
and　I　stepped　at　once　out　of　the　box…door　into　my　bedroom；　where　
only　Steerforth　was　with　me；　helping　me　to　undress；　and　where　I　
was　by　turns　telling　him