david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第124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!
We were all agreed upon that。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Then;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; who prided herself on taking a
clear view of things; and keeping Mr。 Micawber straight by her
woman’s wisdom; when he might otherwise go a little crooked;
‘then I ask myself this question。 If corn is not to be relied upon;
what is? Are coals to be relied upon? Not at all。 We have turned
our attention to that experiment; on the suggestion of my family;
and we find it fallacious。’
Mr。 Micawber; leaning back in his chair with his hands in his
pockets; eyed us aside; and nodded his head; as much as to say
that the case was very clearly put。
‘The articles of corn and coals;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; still more
argumentatively; ‘being equally out of the question; Mr。
Copperfield; I naturally look round the world; and say; “What is
there in which a person of Mr。 Micawber’s talent is likely to
succeed?” And I exclude the doing anything on commission;
because commission is not a certainty。 What is best suited to a
person of Mr。 Micawber’s peculiar temperament is; I am
convinced; a certainty。’
Traddles and I both expressed; by a feeling murmur; that this
great discovery was no doubt true of Mr。 Micawber; and that it did
him much credit。
‘I will not conceal from you; my dear Mr。 Copperfield;’ said Mrs。
Micawber; ‘that I have long felt the Brewing business to be
particularly adapted to Mr。 Micawber。 Look at Barclay and
Perkins! Look at Truman; Hanbury; and Buxton! It is on that
extensive footing that Mr。 Micawber; I know from my own
knowledge of him; is calculated to shine; and the profits; I am told;
are e…nor…mous! But if Mr。 Micawber cannot get into those firms—
which decline to answer his letters; when he offers his services
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
even in an inferior capacity—what is the use of dwelling upon that
idea? None。 I may have a conviction that Mr。 Micawber’s
manners—’
‘Hem! Really; my dear;’ interposed Mr。 Micawber。
‘My love; be silent;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; laying her brown glove
on his hand。 ‘I may have a conviction; Mr。 Copperfield; that Mr。
Micawber’s manners peculiarly qualify him for the Banking
business。 I may argue within myself; that if I had a deposit at a
banking…house; the manners of Mr。 Micawber; as representing
that banking…house; would inspire confidence; and must extend
the connexion。 But if the various banking…houses refuse to avail
themselves of Mr。 Micawber’s abilities; or receive the offer of them
with contumely; what is the use of dwelling upon that idea? None。
As to originating a banking…business; I may know that there are
members of my family who; if they chose to place their money in
Mr。 Micawber’s hands; might found an establishment of that
description。 But if they do not choose to place their money in Mr。
Micawber’s hands—which they don’t—what is the use of that?
Again I contend that we are no farther advanced than we were
before。’
I shook my head; and said; ‘Not a bit。’ Traddles also shook his
head; and said; ‘Not a bit。’
‘What do I deduce from this?’ Mrs。 Micawber went on to say;
still with the same air of putting a case lucidly。 ‘What is the
conclusion; my dear Mr。 Copperfield; to which I am irresistibly
brought? Am I wrong in saying; it is clear that we must live?’
I answered ‘Not at all!’ and Traddles answered ‘Not at all!’ and
I found myself afterwards sagely adding; alone; that a person must
either live or die。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Just so;’ returned Mrs。 Micawber; ‘It is precisely that。 And the
fact is; my dear Mr。 Copperfield; that we can not live without
something widely different from existing circumstances shortly
turning up。 Now I am convinced; myself; and this I have pointed
out to Mr。 Micawber several times of late; that things cannot be
expected to turn up of themselves。 We must; in a measure; assist to
turn them up。 I may be wrong; but I have formed that opinion。’
Both Traddles and I applauded it highly。
‘Very well;’ said Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘Then what do I recommend?
Here is Mr。 Micawber with a variety of qualifications—with great
talent—’
‘Really; my love;’ said Mr。 Micawber。
‘Pray; my dear; allow me to conclude。 Here is Mr。 Micawber;
with a variety of qualifications; with great talent—I should say;
with genius; but that may be the partiality of a wife—’
Traddles and I both murmured ‘No。’
‘And here is Mr。 Micawber without any suitable position or
employment。 Where does that responsibility rest? Clearly on
society。 Then I would make a fact so disgraceful known; and
boldly challenge society to set it right。 It appears to me; my dear
Mr。 Copperfield;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; forcibly; ‘that what Mr。
Micawber has to do; is to throw down the gauntlet to society; and
say; in effect; “Show me who will take that up。 Let the party
immediately step forward。”’
I ventured to ask Mrs。 Micawber how this was to be done。
‘By advertising;’ said Mrs。 Micawber—‘in all the papers。 It
appears to me; that what Mr。 Micawber has to do; in justice to
himself; in justice to his family; and I will even go so far as to say in
justice to society; by which he has been hitherto overlooked; is to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
advertise in all the papers; to describe himself plainly as so…and…so;
with such and such qualifications and to put it thus: “Now employ
me; on remunerative terms; and address; post…paid; to W。 M。; Post
Office; Camden Town。”’
‘This idea of Mrs。 Micawber’s; my dear Copperfield;’ said Mr。
Micawber; making his shirt…collar meet in front of his chin; and
glancing at me sideways; ‘is; in fact; the Leap to which I alluded;
when I last had the pleasure of seeing you。’
‘Advertising is rather expensive;’ I remarked; dubiously。
‘Exactly so!’ said Mrs。 Micawber; preserving the same logical
air。 ‘Quite true; my dear Mr。 Copperfield! I have made the
identical observation to Mr。 Micawber。 It is for that reason
especially; that I think Mr。 Micawber ought (as I have already said;
in justice to himself; in justice to his family; and in justice to
society) to raise a certain sum of money—on a bill。’
Mr。 Micawber; leaning back in his chair; trifled with his eyeglass and cast his eyes up at the ceiling; but I thought him
observant of Traddles; too; who was looking at the fire。
‘If no member of my family;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; ‘is possessed
of sufficient natural feeling to negotiate that bill—I believe there is
a better business…term to express what I mean—’
Mr。 Micawber; with his eyes still cast up at the ceiling;
suggested ‘Discount。’
‘To discount that bill;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; ‘then my opinion is;
that Mr。 Micawber should go into the City; should take that bill
into the Money Market; and should dispose of it for what he can
get。 If the individuals in the Money Market oblige Mr。 Micawber to
sustain a great sacrifice; that is between themselves and their
consciences。 I view it; steadily; as an investment。 I recommend Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Micawber; my dear Mr。 Copperfield; to do the same; to regard it as
an investment which is sure of return; and to make up his mind to
any sacrifice。’
I felt; but I am sure I don’t know why; that this was self…denying
and devoted in Mrs。 Micawber; and I uttered a murmur to that
effect。 Traddles; who took his tone from me; did likewise; still
looking at the fire。
‘I will not;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; finishing her punch; and
gathering her scarf about her shoulders; preparatory to her
withdrawal to my bedroom: ‘I will not protract these remarks on
the subject of Mr。 Micawber’s pecuniary affairs。 At your fireside;
my dear Mr。 Copperfield; and in the presence of Mr。 Traddles;
who; though not so old a friend; is quite one of ourselves; I could
not refrain from making you acquainted with the course I advise
Mr。