david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第86章

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whole　nervous　system；　if　I　had　had　any　in　those　days；　must　have　
gone　by　the　board。　By　and　by　we　went　to　church。　Miss　Murdstone　
was　between　Dora　and　me　in　the　pew；　but　I　heard　her　sing；　and　
the　congregation　vanished。　A　sermon　was　delivered—about　Dora；　
of　course—and　I　am　afraid　that　is　all　I　know　of　the　service。　

We　had　a　quiet　day。　No　company；　a　walk；　a　family　dinner　of　
four；　and　an　evening　of　looking　over　books　and　pictures；　Miss　
Murdstone　with　a　homily　before　her；　and　her　eye　upon　us；　keeping　
guard　vigilantly。　Ah！　little　did　Mr。　Spenlow　imagine；　when　he　sat　

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opposite　to　me　after　dinner　that　day；　with　his　pocket…handkerchief　
over　his　head；　how　fervently　I　was　embracing　him；　in　my　fancy；　as　
his　son…in…law！　Little　did　he　think；　when　I　took　leave　of　him　at　
night；　that　he　had　just　given　his　full　consent　to　my　being　engaged　
to　Dora；　and　that　I　was　invoking　blessings　on　his　head！　

We　departed　early　in　the　morning；　for　we　had　a　Salvage　case　
coming　on　in　the　Admiralty　Court；　requiring　a　rather　accurate　
knowledge　of　the　whole　science　of　navigation；　in　which　（as　we　
couldn’t　be　expected　to　know　much　about　those　matters　in　the　
Commons）　the　judge　had　entreated　two　old　Trinity　Masters；　for　
charity’s　sake；　to　come　and　help　him　out。　Dora　was　at　the　
breakfast…table　to　make　the　tea　again；　however；　and　I　had　the　
melancholy　pleasure　of　taking　off　my　hat　to　her　in　the　phaeton；　as　
she　stood　on　the　door…step　with　Jip　in　her　arms。　

What　the　Admiralty　was　to　me　that　day；　what　nonsense　I　made　
of　our　case　in　my　mind；　as　I　listened　to　it；　how　I　saw　‘DORA’　
engraved　upon　the　blade　of　the　silver　oar　which　they　lay　upon　the　
table；　as　the　emblem　of　that　high　jurisdiction；　and　how　I　felt　when　
Mr。　Spenlow　went　home　without　me　（I　had　had　an　insane　hope　
that　he　might　take　me　back　again）；　as　if　I　were　a　mariner　myself；　
and　the　ship　to　which　I　belonged　had　sailed　away　and　left　me　on　a　
desert　island；　I　shall　make　no　fruitless　effort　to　describe。　If　that　
sleepy　old　court　could　rouse　itself；　and　present　in　any　visible　form　
the　daydreams　I　have　had　in　it　about　Dora；　it　would　reveal　my　
truth。　

I　don’t　mean　the　dreams　that　I　dreamed　on　that　day　alone；　but　
day　after　day；　from　week　to　week；　and　term　to　term。　I　went　there；　
not　to　attend　to　what　was　going　on；　but　to　think　about　Dora。　If　ever　
I　bestowed　a　thought　upon　the　cases；　as　they　dragged　their　slow　

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length　before　me；　it　was　only　to　wonder；　in　the　matrimonial　cases　
（remembering　Dora）；　how　it　was　that　married　people　could　ever　be　
otherwise　than　happy；　and；　in　the　Prerogative　cases；　to　consider；　if　
the　money　in　question　had　been　left　to　me；　what　were　the　foremost　
steps　I　should　immediately　have　taken　in　regard　to　Dora。　Within　
the　first　week　of　my　passion；　I　bought　four　sumptuous　
waistcoats—not　for　myself；　I　had　no　pride　in　them；　for　Dora—and　
took　to　wearing　straw…coloured　kid　gloves　in　the　streets；　and　laid　
the　foundations　of　all　the　corns　I　have　ever　had。　If　the　boots　I　wore　
at　that　period　could　only　be　produced　and　compared　with　the　
natural　size　of　my　feet；　they　would　show　what　the　state　of　my　heart　
was；　in　a　most　affecting　manner。　

And　yet；　wretched　cripple　as　I　made　myself　by　this　act　of　
homage　to　Dora；　I　walked　miles　upon　miles　daily　in　the　hope　of　
seeing　her。　Not　only　was　I　soon　as　well　known　on　the　Norwood　
Road　as　the　postmen　on　that　beat；　but　I　pervaded　London　
likewise。　I　walked　about　the　streets　where　the　best　shops　for　ladies　
were；　I　haunted　the　Bazaar　like　an　unquiet　spirit；　I　fagged　through　
the　Park　again　and　again；　long　after　I　was　quite　knocked　up。　
Sometimes；　at　long　intervals　and　on　rare　occasions；　I　saw　her。　
Perhaps　I　saw　her　glove　waved　in　a　carriage　window；　perhaps　I　
met　her；　walked　with　her　and　Miss　Murdstone　a　little　way；　and　
spoke　to　her。　In　the　latter　case　I　was　always　very　miserable　
afterwards；　to　think　that　I　had　said　nothing　to　the　purpose；　or　that　
she　had　no　idea　of　the　extent　of　my　devotion；　or　that　she　cared　
nothing　about　me。　I　was　always　looking　out；　as　may　be　supposed；　
for　another　invitation　to　Mr。　Spenlow’s　house。　I　was　always　being　
disappointed；　for　I　got　none。　

Mrs。　Crupp　must　have　been　a　woman　of　penetration；　for　when　

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this　attachment　was　but　a　few　weeks　old；　and　I　had　not　had　the　
courage　to　write　more　explicitly　even　to　Agnes；　than　that　I　had　
been　to　Mr。　Spenlow’s　house；　‘whose　family；’　I　added；　‘consists　of　
one　daughter’；—I　say　Mrs。　Crupp　must　have　been　a　woman　of　
penetration；　for；　even　in　that　early　stage；　she　found　it　out。　She　
came　up　to　me　one　evening；　when　I　was　very　low；　to　ask　（she　being　
then　afflicted　with　the　disorder　I　have　mentioned）　if　I　could　oblige　
her　with　a　little　tincture　of　cardamums　mixed　with　rhubarb；　and　
flavoured　with　seven　drops　of　the　essence　of　cloves；　which　was　the　
best　remedy　for　her　complaint；—or；　if　I　had　not　such　a　thing　by　
me；　with　a　little　brandy；　which　was　the　next　best。　It　was　not；　she　
remarked；　so　palatable　to　her；　but　it　was　the　next　best。　As　I　had　
never　even　heard　of　the　first　remedy；　and　always　had　the　second　
in　the　closet；　I　gave　Mrs。　Crupp　a　glass　of　the　second；　which　（that　I　
might　have　no　suspicion　of　its　being　devoted　to　any　improper　use）　
she　began　to　take　in　my　presence。　

‘Cheer　up；　sir；’　said　Mrs。　Crupp。　‘I　can’t　abear　to　see　you　so；　sir：　
I’m　a　mother　myself。’　

I　did　not　quite　perceive　the　application　of　this　fact　to　myself；　but　
I　smiled　on　Mrs。　Crupp；　as　benignly　as　was　in　my　power。　

‘Come；　sir；’　said　Mrs。　Crupp。　‘Excuse　me。　I　know　what　it　is；　sir。　
There’s　a　lady　in　the　case。’　

‘Mrs。　Crupp？’　I　returned；　reddening。　

‘Oh；　bless　you！　Keep　a　good　heart；　sir！’　said　Mrs。　Crupp；　
nodding　encouragement。　‘Never　say　die；　sir！　If　She　don’t　smile　
upon　you；　there’s　a　many　as　will。　You　are　a　young　gentleman　to　be　
smiled　on；　Mr。　Copperfull；　and　you　must　learn　your　walue；　sir。’　

Mrs。　Crupp　always　called　me　Mr。　Copperfull：　firstly；　no　doubt；　
because　it　was　not　my　name；　and　secondly；　I　am　inclined　to　think；　

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in　some　indistinct　association　with　a　washing…day。　

‘What　makes　you　suppose　there　is　any　young　lady　in　the　case；　
Mrs。　Crupp？’　said　I。　

‘Mr。　Copperfull；’　said　Mrs。　Crupp；　with　a　great　deal　of　feeling；　
‘I’m　a　mother　myself。’　

For　some　time　Mrs。　Crupp　could　only　lay　her　hand　upon　her　
nankeen　bosom；　and　fortify　herself　against　returning　pain　with　
sips　of　her　medicine。　At　length　she　spoke　again。　

‘When　the　present　set　were　took　for　you　by　your　dear　aunt；　Mr。　
Copperfull；’　said　Mrs。　Crupp；　‘my　remark　were；　I　had　now　found　
summun　I　could　care　for。　“Thank　Ev’in！”　were　the　expression；　“I　
have　now　found　summun　I　can　care　for！”—You　don’t　eat　enough；　
sir；　nor　yet　drink。’　

‘Is　that　what　you　found　your　supposition　on；　Mrs。　Crupp？’　said　

I。　
‘Sir；’　said　Mrs。　Crupp；　in　a　tone　approaching　to　severity；　‘I’ve　
laundressed　other　young　gentlemen　besides　yourself。　A　young　
gentleman　may　be　over…careful　of　himself；　or　he　may　be　under…
careful　of　himself。　He　may　brush　his　hair　too　regular；　or　too　unregular。　He　may　wear　his　boots　much　too　large　for　him；　or　much　
too　small。　That　is　according　as　the　young　gentleman　has　his　
original　character　formed。　But　let　him　go　to　which　extreme　he　
may；　sir；　there’s　a　young　lady　in　both　of　’em。’　

Mrs。　Crupp　shook　her　head　in　such　a　determined　manner；　that　
I　had　not　an　inch　of　vantage…ground　left。　

‘It　was　but　the　gentleman　which　died　here　before　yourself；’　said　
Mrs。　Crupp；　‘that　fell　in　love—with　a　barmaid—and　had　his　
waistcoats　took　in　directly；　though　much　swelled　by　drinking。’　

‘Mrs。　Crupp；’　said　I；　‘I　must　beg　you　not　to　connect　the　young　

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lady　in　my　case　with　a　barmaid；　or　anything　of　that　sort；　if　you　
please。’　

‘Mr。　Copperfull；’　returned　Mrs。　Crupp；　‘I’m　a　mother　myself；　
and　not　likely。　I　ask　your　pardon；　sir；　if　I　intrude。　I　should　never　
wish　to　intrude　where　I　were　not　welcome。　But　you　are　a　young　
gentleman；　Mr。　Copperfull；　and　my　adwice　to　you　is；　to　cheer　up；　
sir；　to　keep　a　good　heart；　and　to　know　your　own　walue。　If　you　was　
to　take　to　something；　sir；’　said　Mrs。　Crupp；　‘if　you　was　to　take　to　
skittles；　now；　which　is　healthy；　you　might　find　it　divert　your　mind；　
and　do　you　good。’　

With　these　words；　Mrs。　Crupp；　affecting　to　be　very　careful　of　the　
brandy—which　was　all　gone—thanked　me　with　a　majestic　curtsey；　
and　retired。　As　her　figure　disappeared　into　the　gloom　of　the　entry；　
this　counsel　certainly　presented　itself　to　my　mind　in　the　light　of　a　
slight　liberty　on　Mrs。　Crupp’s　part；　but；　at　the　same　time；　I　was　
content　to　receive　it；　in　another　point　of　view；　as　a　word　to　the　
wise；　and　a　warning　in　future　to　keep　my　secret　better。　

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Chapter　27　

TOMMY　TRADDLES　

It　may　have　been　in　consequence　of　Mrs。　Crupp’s　advice；　and；　
perhaps；　for　no　better　reason　than　because　there　was　a　
certain　similarity　in　the　sound　of　the　word　skittles　and　
Traddles；　that　it　came　into　my　head；　next　day；　to　go　and　look　after　
Traddles。　The　time　he　had　mentioned　was　more　than　out；　and　he　
lived　in　a　little　street　near　the　Veterinary　College　at　Camden　
Town；　which　was　principally　tenanted；　as　one　of　our　clerks　who　
lived　in　that　direction　informed　me；　by　gentlemen　students；　who　
bought　live　donkeys；　and　made　experiments　on　those　quadrupeds　
in　their　private　apartments。　Having　obtained　from　this　clerk　a　
direction　to　the　academic　grove　in　question；　I　set　out；　the　same　
afternoon；　to　visit　my　old　schoolfellow。　

I　found　that　the　street　was　not　as　desirable　a　one　as　I　could　have　
wished　it　to　be；　for　the　sake　of　Traddles。　The　inhabitants　appeared　
to　have　a　propensity　to　throw　any　little　trifles　they　were　not　in　
want　of；　into　the　road：　which　not　only　made　it　rank　and　sloppy；　but　
untidy　too；　on　account　of　the　cabbage…leaves。　The　refuse　was　not　
wholly　vegetable　either；　for　I　myself　saw　a　shoe；　a　doubled…up　
saucepan；　a　black　bonnet；　and　an　umbrella；　in　various　stages　of　
decomposition；　as　I　was　looking　out　for　the　number　I　wanted。　

The　general　air　of　the　place　reminded　me　forcibly　of　the　days　
when　I　lived　with　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Micawber。　An　indescribable　
character　of　faded　gentility　that　attached　to　the　house　I　sought；　
and　made　it　unlike　all　the　other　houses　in　the　street—though　they　

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were　all　built　on　one　monotonous　pattern；　and　looked　like　the　
early　copies　of　a　blundering　boy　who　was　learning　to　make　houses；　
and　had　not　yet　got　out　of　his　cramped　brick…and…mortar　
pothooks—reminded　me　still　more　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Micawber。　
Happening　to　arrive　at　the　door　as　it　was　opened　to　the　afternoon　
milkman；　I　was　reminded　of　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Micawber　more　forcibly　
yet。　

‘Now；’　said　the　milkman　to　a　very　youthful　servant　girl。　‘Has　
that　there　littl