david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第96章
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doen’t need to be so fearsome； and take on so much。 What？ You’ll
go along with me？—Well！ come along with me—come！ If her uncle
was turned out of house and home； and forced to lay down in a
dyke； Mas’r Davy；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； with no less pride than
before； ‘it’s my belief she’d go along with him； now！ But there’ll be
someone else； soon；—someone else； soon； Em’ly！’
Afterwards； when I went upstairs； as I passed the door of my
little chamber； which was dark； I had an indistinct impression of
her being within it； cast down upon the floor。 But； whether it was
really she； or whether it was a confusion of the shadows in the
room； I don’t know now。
I had leisure to think； before the kitchen fire； of pretty little
Emily’s dread of death—which； added to what Mr。 Omer had told
me； I took to be the cause of her being so unlike herself—and I had
leisure； before Peggotty came down； even to think more leniently
of the weakness of it： as I sat counting the ticking of the clock； and
deepening my sense of the solemn hush around me。 Peggotty took
me in her arms； and blessed and thanked me over and over again
for being such a comfort to her （that was what she said） in her
distress。 She then entreated me to come upstairs； sobbing that Mr。
Barkis had always liked me and admired me； that he had often
talked of me； before he fell into a stupor； and that she believed； in
case of his coming to himself again； he would brighten up at sight
of me； if he could brighten up at any earthly thing。
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David Copperfield
The probability of his ever doing so； appeared to me； when I
saw him； to be very small。 He was lying with his head and
shoulders out of bed； in an uncomfortable attitude； half resting on
the box which had cost him so much pain and trouble。 I learned；
that； when he was past creeping out of bed to open it； and past
assuring himself of its safety by means of the divining rod I had
seen him use； he had required to have it placed on the chair at the
bed…side； where he had ever since embraced it； night and day。 His
arm lay on it now。 Time and the world were slipping from beneath
him； but the box was there； and the last words he had uttered
were （in an explanatory tone） ‘Old clothes！’
‘Barkis； my dear！’ said Peggotty； almost cheerfully： bending
over him； while her brother and I stood at the bed’s foot。 ‘Here’s
my dear boy—my dear boy； Master Davy； who brought us
together； Barkis！ That you sent messages by； you know！ Won’t you
speak to Master Davy？’
He was as mute and senseless as the box； from which his form
derived the only expression it had。
‘He’s a going out with the tide；’ said Mr。 Peggotty to me； behind
his hand。
My eyes were dim and so were Mr。 Peggotty’s； but I repeated in
a whisper； ‘With the tide？’
‘People can’t die； along the coast；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ’except
when the tide’s pretty nigh out。 They can’t be born； unless it’s
pretty nigh in—not properly born； till flood。 He’s a going out with
the tide。 It’s ebb at half…arter three； slack water half an hour。 If he
lives till it turns； he’ll hold his own till past the flood； and go out
with the next tide。’
We remained there； watching him； a long time—hours。 What
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David Copperfield
mysterious influence my presence had upon him in that state of
his senses； I shall not pretend to say； but when he at last began to
wander feebly； it is certain he was muttering about driving me to
school。
‘He’s coming to himself；’ said Peggotty。
Mr。 Peggotty touched me； and whispered with much awe and
reverence。 ‘They are both a…going out fast。’
‘Barkis； my dear！’ said Peggotty。
‘C。 P。 Barkis；’ he cried faintly。 ‘No better woman anywhere！’
‘Look！ Here’s Master Davy！’ said Peggotty。 For he now opened
his eyes。
I was on the point of asking him if he knew me； when he tried to
stretch out his arm； and said to me； distinctly； with a pleasant
smile：
‘Barkis is willin’！’
And； it being low water； he went out with the tide。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 31
A GREATER LOSS
It was not difficult for me； on Peggotty’s solicitation； to resolve
to stay where I was； until after the remains of the poor carrier
should have made their last journey to Blunderstone。 She had
long ago bought； out of her own savings； a little piece of ground in
our old churchyard near the grave of ‘her sweet girl’； as she always
called my mother； and there they were to rest。
In keeping Peggotty company； and doing all I could for her
（little enough at the utmost）； I was as grateful； I rejoice to think； as
even now I could wish myself to have been。 But I am afraid I had a
supreme satisfaction； of a personal and professional nature； in
taking charge of Mr。 Barkis’s will； and expounding its contents。
I may claim the merit of having originated the suggestion that
the will should be looked for in the box。 After some search； it was
found in the box； at the bottom of a horse’s nose…bag； wherein
（besides hay） there was discovered an old gold watch； with chain
and seals； which Mr。 Barkis had worn on his wedding…day； and
which had never been seen before or since； a silver tobacco…
stopper； in the form of a leg； an imitation lemon； full of minute
cups and saucers； which I have some idea Mr。 Barkis must have
purchased to present to me when I was a child； and afterwards
found himself unable to part with； eighty…seven guineas and a half；
in guineas and half…guineas； two hundred and ten pounds； in
perfectly clean Bank notes； certain receipts for Bank of England
stock； an old horseshoe； a bad shilling； a piece of camphor； and an
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
oyster…shell。 From the circumstance of the latter article having
been much polished； and displaying prismatic colours on the
inside； I conclude that Mr。 Barkis had some general ideas about
pearls； which never resolved themselves into anything definite。
For years and years； Mr。 Barkis had carried this box； on all his
journeys； every day。 That it might the better escape notice； he had
invented a fiction that it belonged to ‘Mr。 Blackboy’； and was ‘to be
left with Barkis till called for’； a fable he had elaborately written
on the lid； in characters now scarcely legible。
He had hoarded； all these years； I found； to good purpose。 His
property in money amounted to nearly three thousand pounds。 Of
this he bequeathed the interest of one thousand to Mr。 Peggotty
for his life； on his decease； the principal to be equally divided
between Peggotty； little Emily； and me； or the survivor or
survivors of us； share and share alike。 All the rest he died
possessed of； he bequeathed to Peggotty； whom he left residuary
legatee； and sole executrix of that his last will and testament。
I felt myself quite a proctor when I read this document aloud
with all possible ceremony； and set forth its provisions； any
number of times； to those whom they concerned。 I began to think
there was more in the Commons than I had supposed。 I examined
the will with the deepest attention； pronounced it perfectly formal
in all respects； made a pencil…mark or so in the margin； and
thought it rather extraordinary that I knew so much。
In this abstruse pursuit； in making an account for Peggotty； of
all the property into which she had come； in arranging all the
affairs in an orderly manner； and in being her referee and adviser
on every point； to our joint delight； I passed the week before the
funeral。 I did not see little Emily in that interval； but they told me
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David Copperfield
she was to be quietly married in a fortnight。
I did not attend the funeral in character； if I may venture to say
so。 I mean I was not dressed up in a black coat and a streamer； to
frighten the birds； but I walked over to Blunderstone early in the
morning； and was in the churchyard when it came； attended only
by Peggotty and her brother。 The mad gentleman looked on； out of
my little window； Mr。 Chillip’s baby wagged its heavy head； and
rolled its goggle eyes； at the clergyman； over its nurse’s shoulder；
Mr。 Omer breathed short in the background； no one else was
there； and it was very quiet。 We walked about the churchyard for
an hour； after all was over； and pulled some young leaves from the
tree above my mother’s grave。
A dread falls on me here。 A cloud is lowering on the distant
town； towards which I retraced my solitary steps。 I fear to
approach it。 I cannot bear to think of what did come； upon that
memorable night； of what must come again； if I go on。
It is no worse； because I write of it。 It would be no better； if I
stopped my most unwilling hand。 It is done。 Nothing can undo it；
nothing can make it otherwise than as it was。
My old nurse was to go to London with me next day； on the
business of the will。 Little Emily was passing that day at Mr。
Omer’s。 We were all to meet in the old boathouse that night。 Ham
would bring Emily at the usual hour。 I would walk back at my
leisure。 The brother and sister would return as they had come；
and be expecting us； when the day closed in； at the fireside。
I parted from them at the wicket…gate； where visionary Strap
had rested with Roderick Random’s knapsack in the days of yore；
and； instead of going straight back； walked a little distance on the
road to Lowestoft。 Then I turned； and walked back towards
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David Copperfield
Yarmouth。 I stayed to dine at a decent alehouse； some mile or two
from the Ferry I have mentioned before； and thus the day wore
away； and it was evening when I reached it。 Rain was falling
heavily by that time； and it was a wild night； but there was a moon
behind the clouds； and it was not dark。
I was soon within sight of Mr。 Peggotty’s house； and of the light
within it shining through the window。 A little floundering across
the sand； which was heavy； brought me to the door； and I went in。
It looked very comfortable indeed。 Mr。 Peggotty had smoked his
evening pipe and there were preparations for some supper by and
by。 The fire was bright； the ashes were thrown up； the locker was
ready for little Emily in her old place。 In her own old place sat
Peggotty； once more； looking （but for her dress） as if she had
never left it。 She had fallen back； already； on the society of the
work…box with St。 Paul’s upon the lid； the yard…measure in the
cottage； and the bit of wax…candle； and there they all were； just as
if they had never been disturbed。 Mrs。 Gummidge appeared to be
fretting a little； in her old corner； and consequently looked quite
natural； too。
‘You’re first of the lot； Mas’r Davy！’ said Mr。 Peggotty with a
happy face。 ‘Doen’t keep in that coat； sir； if it’s wet。’
‘Thank you； Mr。 Peggotty；’ said I； giving him my outer coat to
hang up。 ‘It’s quite dry。’
‘So ’tis！’ said Mr。 Peggotty； feeling my shoulders。 �
