david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第92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！


atonement　if　I　had　known　what　to　make；　and　how　to　make　it。　

‘Why；　Daisy；　old　boy；　dumb…foundered！’　laughed　Steerforth；　
shaking　my　hand　heartily；　and　throwing　it　gaily　away。　‘Have　I　
detected　you　in　another　feast；　you　Sybarite！　These　Doctors’　
Commons　fellows　are　the　gayest　men　in　town；　I　believe；　and　beat　
us　sober　Oxford　people　all　to　nothing！’　His　bright　glance　went　
merrily　round　the　room；　as　he　took　the　seat　on　the　sofa　opposite　to　
me；　which　Mrs。　Micawber　had　recently　vacated；　and　stirred　the　
fire　into　a　blaze。　

‘I　was　so　surprised　at　first；’　said　I；　giving　him　welcome　with　all　
the　cordiality　I　felt；　‘that　I　had　hardly　breath　to　greet　you　with；　
Steerforth。’　

‘Well；　the　sight　of　me　is　good　for　sore　eyes；　as　the　Scotch　say；’　
replied　Steerforth；　‘and　so　is　the　sight　of　you；　Daisy；　in　full　bloom。　
How　are　you；　my　Bacchanal？’　

‘I　am　very　well；’　said　I；　‘and　not　at　all　Bacchanalian　tonight；　
though　I　confess　to　another　party　of　three。’　

‘All　of　whom　I　met　in　the　street；　talking　loud　in　your　praise；’　
returned　Steerforth。　‘Who’s　our　friend　in　the　tights？’　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

I　gave　him　the　best　idea　I　could；　in　a　few　words；　of　Mr。　
Micawber。　He　laughed　heartily　at　my　feeble　portrait　of　that　
gentleman；　and　said　he　was　a　man　to　know；　and　he　must　know　
him。　‘But　who　do　you　suppose　our　other　friend　is？’　said　I；　in　my　
turn。　

‘Heaven　knows；’　said　Steerforth。　‘Not　a　bore；　I　hope？　I　thought　
he　looked　a　little　like　one。’　

‘Traddles！’　I　replied；　triumphantly。　

‘Who’s　he？’　asked　Steerforth；　in　his　careless　way。　

‘Don’t　you　remember　Traddles？　Traddles　in　our　room　at　Salem　
House？’　

‘Oh！　That　fellow！’　said　Steerforth；　beating　a　lump　of　coal　on　the　
top　of　the　fire；　with　the　poker。　‘Is　he　as　soft　as　ever？　And　where　the　
deuce　did　you　pick　him　up？’　

I　extolled　Traddles　in　reply；　as　highly　as　I　could；　for　I　felt　that　
Steerforth　rather　slighted　him。　Steerforth；　dismissing　the　subject　
with　a　light　nod；　and　a　smile；　and　the　remark　that　he　would　be　
glad　to　see　the　old　fellow　too；　for　he　had　always　been　an　odd　fish；　
inquired　if　I　could　give　him　anything　to　eat？　During　most　of　this　
short　dialogue；　when　he　had　not　been　speaking　in　a　wild　vivacious　
manner；　he　had　sat　idly　beating　on　the　lump　of　coal　with　the　
poker。　I　observed　that　he　did　the　same　thing　while　I　was　getting　
out　the　remains　of　the　pigeon…pie；　and　so　forth。　

‘Why；　Daisy；　here’s　a　supper　for　a　king！’　he　exclaimed；　starting　
out　of　his　silence　with　a　burst；　and　taking　his　seat　at　the　table。　‘I　
shall　do　it　justice；　for　I　have　come　from　Yarmouth。’　

‘I　thought　you　came　from　Oxford？’　I　returned。　

‘Not　I；’　said　Steerforth。　‘I　have　been　seafaring—better　
employed。’　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

‘Littimer　was　here　today；　to　inquire　for　you；’　I　remarked；　‘and　I　
understood　him　that　you　were　at　Oxford；　though；　now　I　think　of　it；　
he　certainly　did　not　say　so。’　

‘Littimer　is　a　greater　fool　than　I　thought　him；　to　have　been　
inquiring　for　me　at　all；’　said　Steerforth；　jovially　pouring　out　a　glass　
of　wine；　and　drinking　to　me。　‘As　to　understanding　him；　you　are　a　
cleverer　fellow　than　most　of　us；　Daisy；　if　you　can　do　that。’　

‘That’s　true；　indeed；’　said　I；　moving　my　chair　to　the　table。　‘So　
you　have　been　at　Yarmouth；　Steerforth！’　interested　to　know　all　
about　it。　‘Have　you　been　there　long？’　

‘No；’　he　returned。　‘An　escapade　of　a　week　or　so。’　

‘And　how　are　they　all？　Of　course；　little　Emily　is　not　married　
yet？’　

‘Not　yet。　Going　to　be；　I　believe—in　so　many　weeks；　or　months；　
or　something　or　other。　I　have　not　seen　much　of　’em。　By　the　by’；　he　
laid　down　his　knife　and　fork；　which　he　had　been　using　with　great　
diligence；　and　began　feeling　in　his　pockets；　‘I　have　a　letter　for　you。’　

‘From　whom？’　

‘Why；　from　your　old　nurse；’　he　returned；　taking　some　papers　
out　of　his　breast　pocket。　“‘J。　Steerforth；　Esquire；　debtor；　to　The　
Willing　Mind”；　that’s　not　it。　Patience；　and　we’ll　find　it　presently。　
Old　what’s…his…name’s　in　a　bad　way；　and　it’s　about　that；　I　believe。’　

‘Barkis；　do　you　mean？’　

‘Yes！’　still　feeling　in　his　pockets；　and　looking　over　their　
contents：　‘it’s　all　over　with　poor　Barkis；　I　am　afraid。　I　saw　a　little　
apothecary　there—surgeon；　or　whatever　he　is—who　brought　your　
worship　into　the　world。　He　was　mighty　learned　about　the　case；　to　
me；　but　the　upshot　of　his　opinion　was；　that　the　carrier　was　making　
his　last　journey　rather　fast。—Put　your　hand　into　the　breast　pocket　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

of　my　great…coat　on　the　chair　yonder；　and　I　think　you’ll　find　the　

letter。　Is　it　there？’　

‘Here　it　is！’　said　I。　

‘That’s　right！’　

It　was　from　Peggotty；　something　less　legible　than　usual；　and　
brief。　It　informed　me　of　her　husband’s　hopeless　state；　and　hinted　
at　his　being　‘a　little　nearer’　than　heretofore；　and　consequently　
more　difficult　to　manage　for　his　own　comfort。　It　said　nothing　of　her　
weariness　and　watching；　and　praised　him　highly。　It　was　written　
with　a　plain；　unaffected；　homely　piety　that　I　knew　to　be　genuine；　
and　ended　with　‘my　duty　to　my　ever　darling’—meaning　myself。　

While　I　deciphered　it；　Steerforth　continued　to　eat　and　drink。　

‘It’s　a　bad　job；’　he　said；　when　I　had　done；　‘but　the　sun　sets　every　
day；　and　people　die　every　minute；　and　we　mustn’t　be　scared　by　the　
common　lot。　If　we　failed　to　hold　our　own；　because　that　equal　foot　
at　all　men’s　doors　was　heard　knocking　somewhere；　every　object　in　
this　world　would　slip　from　us。　No！　Ride　on！　Rough…shod　if　need　be；　
smooth…shod　if　that　will　do；　but　ride　on！　Ride　on　over　all　obstacles；　
and　win　the　race！’　

‘And　win　what　race？’　said　I。　

‘The　race　that　one　has　started　in；’　said　he。　‘Ride　on！’　

I　noticed；　I　remember；　as　he　paused；　looking　at　me　with　his　
handsome　head　a　little　thrown　back；　and　his　glass　raised　in　his　
hand；　that；　though　the　freshness　of　the　sea…wind　was　on　his　face；　
and　it　was　ruddy；　there　were　traces　in　it；　made　since　I　last　saw　it；　
as　if　he　had　applied　himself　to　some　habitual　strain　of　the　fervent　
energy　which；　when　roused；　was　so　passionately　roused　within　
him。　I　had　it　in　my　thoughts　to　remonstrate　with　him　upon　his　
desperate　way　of　pursuing　any　fancy　that　he　took—such　as　this　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

buffeting　of　rough　seas；　and　braving　of　hard　weather；　for　
example—when　my　mind　glanced　off　to　the　immediate　subject　of　
our　conversation　again；　and　pursued　that　instead。　

‘I　tell　you　what；　Steerforth；’　said　I；　‘if　your　high　spirits　will　listen　
to　me—’　

‘They　are　potent　spirits；　and　will　do　whatever　you　like；’　he　
answered；　moving　from　the　table　to　the　fireside　again。　

‘Then　I　tell　you　what；　Steerforth。　I　think　I　will　go　down　and　see　
my　old　nurse。　It　is　not　that　I　can　do　her　any　good；　or　render　her　
any　real　service；　but　she　is　so　attached　to　me　that　my　visit　will　
have　as　much　effect　on　her；　as　if　I　could　do　both。　She　will　take　it　so　
kindly　that　it　will　be　a　comfort　and　support　to　her。　It　is　no　great　
effort　to　make；　I　am　sure；　for　such　a　friend　as　she　has　been　to　me。　
Wouldn’t　you　go　a　day’s　journey；　if　you　were　in　my　place？’　

His　face　was　thoughtful；　and　he　sat　considering　a　little　before　he　
answered；　in　a　low　voice；　‘Well！　Go。　You　can　do　no　harm。’　

‘You　have　just　come　back；’　said　I；　‘and　it　would　be　in　vain　to　ask　
you　to　go　with　me？’　

‘Quite；’　he　returned。　‘I　am　for　Highgate　tonight。　I　have　not　seen　
my　mother　this　long　time；　and　it　lies　upon　my　conscience；　for　it’s　
something　to　be　loved　as　she　loves　her　prodigal　son。—Bah！　
Nonsense！—You　mean　to　go　tomorrow；　I　suppose？’　he　said；　
holding　me　out　at　arm’s　length；　with　a　hand　on　each　of　my　
shoulders。　

‘Yes；　I　think　so。’　

‘Well；　then；　don’t　go　till　next　day。　I　wanted　you　to　come　and　stay　
a　few　days　with　us。　Here　I　am；　on　purpose　to　bid　you；　and　you　fly　
off　to　Yarmouth！’　

‘You　are　a　nice　fellow　to　talk　of　flying　off；　Steerforth；　who　are　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

always　running　wild　on　some　unknown　expedition　or　other！’　

He　looked　at　me　for　a　moment　without　speaking；　and　then　
rejoined；　still　holding　me　as　before；　and　giving　me　a　shake：　

‘Come！　Say　the　next　day；　and　pass　as　much　of　tomorrow　as　you　
can　with　us！　Who　knows　when　we　may　meet　again；　else？　Come！　
Say　the　next　day！　I　want　you　to　stand　between　Rosa　Dartle　and　
me；　and　keep　us　asunder。’　

‘Would　you　love　each　other　too　much；　without　me？’　

‘Yes；　or　hate；’　laughed　Steerforth；　‘no　matter　which。　Come！　Say　
the　next　day！’　

I　said　the　next　day；　and　he　put　on　his　great…coat　and　lighted　his　
cigar；　and　set　off　to　walk　home。　Finding　him　in　this　intention；　I　put　
on　my　own　great…coat　（but　did　not　light　my　own　cigar；　having　had　
enough　of　that　for　one　while）　and　walked　with　him　as　far　as　the　
open　road：　a　dull　road；　then；　at　night。　He　was　in　great　spirits　all　
the　way；　and　when　we　parted；　and　I　looked　after　him　going　so　
gallantly　and　airily　homeward；　I　thought　of　his　saying；　‘Ride　on　
over　all　obstacles；　and　win　the　race！’　and　wished；　for　the　first　time；　
that　he　had　some　worthy　race　to　run。　

I　was　undressing　in　my　own　room；　when　Mr。　Micawber’s　letter　
tumbled　on　the　floor。　Thus　reminded　of　it；　I　broke　the　seal　and　
read　as　follows。　It　was　dated　an　hour　and　a　half　before　dinner。　I　am　
not　sure　whether　I　have　mentioned　that；　when　Mr。　Micawber　was　
at　any　particularly　desperate　crisis；　he　used　a　sort　of　legal　
phraseology；　which　he　seemed　to　think　equivalent　to　winding　up　
his　affairs。　

‘SIR—for　I　dare　not　say　my　dear　Copperfield；　
‘It　is　expedient　that　I　should　inform　you　that　the　undersigned　is　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

Crushed。　Some　flickering　efforts　to　spare　you　the　premature　
knowledge　of　his　calamitous　position；　you　may　observe　in　him　this　
day；　but　hope　has　sunk　beneath　the　horizon；　and　the　undersigned　
is　Crushed。　

‘The　present　communication　is　penned　within　the　personal　
range　（I　cannot　call　it　the　society）　of　an　individual；　in　a　state　
closely　bordering　on　intoxication；　employed　by　a　broker。　That　
individual　is　in　legal　possession　of　the　premises；　under　a　distress　
for　rent。　His　inventory　includes；　not　only　the　chattels　and　effects　of　
every　description　belonging　to　the　undersigned；　as　yearly　tenant　of　
this　habitation；　but　also　those　appertaining　to　Mr。　Thomas　
Traddles；　lodger；　a　member　of　the　Honourable　Society　of　the　Inner　
Temple。　

‘If　any　drop　of　gloom　were　wanting　in　the　overflowing　cup；　
which　is　now　“commended”　（in　the　language　of　an　immortal　
Writer）　to　the　lips　of　the　undersigned；　it　would　be　found　in　the　
fact；　that　a　friendly　acceptance　granted　to　the　undersigned；　by　the　
before…mentioned　Mr。　Thomas　Traddles；　for　the　sum　of　￡23l　4s。　
9。d。　is　over　due；　and　is　not　provided　for。　Also；　in　the　fact　that　the　
living　responsibilities　clinging　to　the　undersigned　will；　in　the　
course　of　nature；　be　increased　by　the　sum　of　one　more　helpless