david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第114章
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the best authorities。 As no arguments I could urge; in my
bewildered condition; had the least effect upon his modesty in
inducing him to accept my bedroom; I was obliged to make the
best arrangements I could; for his repose before the fire。 The
mattress of the sofa (which was a great deal too short for his lank
figure); the sofa pillows; a blanket; the table…cover; a clean
breakfast…cloth; and a great…coat; made him a bed and covering;
for which he was more than thankful。 Having lent him a night…cap;
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David Copperfield
which he put on at once; and in which he made such an awful
figure; that I have never worn one since; I left him to his rest。
I never shall forget that night。 I never shall forget how I turned
and tumbled; how I wearied myself with thinking about Agnes and
this creature; how I considered what could I do; and what ought I
to do; how I could come to no other conclusion than that the best
course for her peace was to do nothing; and to keep to myself what
I had heard。 If I went to sleep for a few moments; the image of
Agnes with her tender eyes; and of her father looking fondly on
her; as I had so often seen him look; arose before me with
appealing faces; and filled me with vague terrors。 When I awoke;
the recollection that Uriah was lying in the next room; sat heavy
on me like a waking nightmare; and oppressed me with a leaden
dread; as if I had had some meaner quality of devil for a lodger。
The poker got into my dozing thoughts besides; and wouldn’t
come out。 I thought; between sleeping and waking; that it was still
red hot; and I had snatched it out of the fire; and run him through
the body。 I was so haunted at last by the idea; though I knew there
was nothing in it; that I stole into the next room to look at him。
There I saw him; lying on his back; with his legs extending to I
don’t know where; gurglings taking place in his throat; stoppages
in his nose; and his mouth open like a post…office。 He was so much
worse in reality than in my distempered fancy; that afterwards I
was attracted to him in very repulsion; and could not help
wandering in and out every half…hour or so; and taking another
look at him。 Still; the long; long night seemed heavy and hopeless
as ever; and no promise of day was in the murky sky。
When I saw him going downstairs early in the morning (for;
thank Heaven! he would not stay to breakfast); it appeared to me
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David Copperfield
as if the night was going away in his person。 When I went out to
the Commons; I charged Mrs。 Crupp with particular directions to
leave the windows open; that my sitting…room might be aired; and
purged of his presence。
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David Copperfield
Chapter 26
I FALL INTO CAPTIVITY
Isaw no more of Uriah Heep; until the day when Agnes left
town。 I was at the coach office to take leave of her and see her
go; and there was he; returning to Canterbury by the same
conveyance。 It was some small satisfaction to me to observe his
spare; short…waisted; high…shouldered; mulberry…coloured greatcoat perched up; in company with an umbrella like a small tent; on
the edge of the back seat on the roof; while Agnes was; of course;
inside; but what I underwent in my efforts to be friendly with him;
while Agnes looked on; perhaps deserved that little recompense。
At the coach window; as at the dinner…party; he hovered about us
without a moment’s intermission; like a great vulture: gorging
himself on every syllable that I said to Agnes; or Agnes said to me。
In the state of trouble into which his disclosure by my fire had
thrown me; I had thought very much of the words Agnes had used
in reference to the partnership。 ‘I did what I hope was right。
Feeling sure that it was necessary for papa’s peace that the
sacrifice should be made; I entreated him to make it。’ A miserable
foreboding that she would yield to; and sustain herself by; the
same feeling in reference to any sacrifice for his sake; had
oppressed me ever since。 I knew how she loved him。 I knew what
the devotion of her nature was。 I knew from her own lips that she
regarded herself as the innocent cause of his errors; and as owing
him a great debt she ardently desired to pay。 I had no consolation
in seeing how different she was from this detestable Rufus with
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David Copperfield
the mulberry…coloured great…coat; for I felt that in the very
difference between them; in the self…denial of her pure soul and
the sordid baseness of his; the greatest danger lay。 All this;
doubtless; he knew thoroughly; and had; in his cunning;
considered well。
Yet I was so certain that the prospect of such a sacrifice afar off;
must destroy the happiness of Agnes; and I was so sure; from her
manner; of its being unseen by her then; and having cast no
shadow on her yet; that I could as soon have injured her; as given
her any warning of what impended。 Thus it was that we parted
without explanation: she waving her hand and smiling farewell
from the coach window; her evil genius writhing on the roof; as if
he had her in his clutches and triumphed。
I could not get over this farewell glimpse of them for a long
time。 When Agnes wrote to tell me of her safe arrival; I was as
miserable as when I saw her going away。 Whenever I fell into a
thoughtful state; this subject was sure to present itself; and all my
uneasiness was sure to be redoubled。 Hardly a night passed
without my dreaming of it。 It became a part of my life; and as
inseparable from my life as my own head。
I had ample leisure to refine upon my uneasiness: for
Steerforth was at Oxford; as he wrote to me; and when I was not at
the Commons; I was very much alone。 I believe I had at this time
some lurking distrust of Steerforth。 I wrote to him most
affectionately in reply to his; but I think I was glad; upon the
whole; that he could not come to London just then。 I suspect the
truth to be; that the influence of Agnes was upon me; undisturbed
by the sight of him; and that it was the more powerful with me;
because she had so large a share in my thoughts and interest。
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David Copperfield
In the meantime; days and weeks slipped away。 I was articled to
Spenlow and Jorkins。 I had ninety pounds a year (exclusive of my
house…rent and sundry collateral matters) from my aunt。 My
rooms were engaged for twelve months certain: and though I still
found them dreary of an evening; and the evenings long; I could
settle down into a state of equable low spirits; and resign myself to
coffee; which I seem; on looking back; to have taken by the gallon
at about this period of my existence。 At about this time; too; I
made three discoveries: first; that Mrs。 Crupp was a martyr to a
curious disorder called ‘the spazzums’; which was generally
accompanied with inflammation of the nose; and required to be
constantly treated with peppermint; secondly; that something
peculiar in the temperature of my pantry; made the brandy…bottles
burst; thirdly; that I was alone in the world; and much given to
record that circumstance in fragments of English versification。
On the day when I was articled; no festivity took place; beyond
my having sandwiches and sherry into the office for the clerks;
and going alone to the theatre at night。 I went to see The Stranger;
as a Doctors’ Commons sort of play; and was so dreadfully cut up;
that I hardly knew myself in my own glass when I got home。 Mr。
Spenlow remarked; on this occasion; when we concluded our
business; that he should have been happy to have seen me at his
house at Norwood to celebrate our becoming connected; but for
his domestic arrangements being in some disorder; on account of
the expected return of his daughter from finishing her education
at Paris。 But; he intimated that when she came home he should
hope to have the pleasure of entertaining me。 I knew that he was a
widower with one daughter; and expressed my
acknowledgement