david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第125章
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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。 Micawber to take。 I feel that the time is arrived when Mr。
Micawber should exert himself and—I will add—assert himself；
and it appears to me that these are the means。 I am aware that I
am merely a female； and that a masculine judgement is usually
considered more competent to the discussion of such questions；
still I must not forget that； when I lived at home with my papa and
mama； my papa was in the habit of saying； “Emma’s form is
fragile； but her grasp of a subject is inferior to none。” That my
papa was too partial； I well know； but that he was an observer of
character in some degree； my duty and my reason equally forbid
me to doubt。’
With these words； and resisting our entreaties that she would
grace the remaining circulation of the punch with her presence；
Mrs。 Micawber retired to my bedroom。 And really I felt that she
was a noble woman—the sort of woman who might have been a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Roman matron； and done all manner of heroic things； in times of
public trouble。
In the fervour of this impression； I congratulated Mr。 Micawber
on the treasure he possessed。 So did Traddles。 Mr。 Micawber
extended his hand to each of us in succession； and then covered
his face with his pocket…handkerchief； which I think had more
snuff upon it than he was aware of。 He then returned to the punch；
in the highest state of exhilaration。
He was full of eloquence。 He gave us to understand that in our
children we lived again； and that； under the pressure of pecuniary
difficulties； any accession to their number was doubly welcome。
He said that Mrs。 Micawber had latterly had her doubts on this
point； but that he had dispelled them； and reassured her。 As to her
family； they were totally unworthy of her； and their sentiments
were utterly indifferent to him； and they might—I quote his own
expression—go to the Devil。
Mr。 Micawber then delivered a warm eulogy on Traddles。 He
said Traddles’s was a character； to the steady virtues of which he
（Mr。 Micawber） could lay no claim； but which； he thanked Heaven；
he could admire。 He feelingly alluded to the young lady； unknown；
whom Traddles had honoured with his affection； and who had
reciprocated that affection by honouring and blessing Traddles
with her affection。 Mr。 Micawber pledged her。 So did I。 Traddles
thanked us both； by saying； with a simplicity and honesty I had
sense enough to be quite charmed with； ‘I am very much obliged
to you indeed。 And I do assure you； she’s the dearest girl！—’
Mr。 Micawber took an early opportunity； after that； of hinting；
with the utmost delicacy and ceremony； at the state of my
affections。 Nothing but the serious assurance of his friend
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Copperfield to the contrary； he observed； could deprive him of the
impression that his friend Copperfield loved and was beloved。
After feeling very hot and uncomfortable for some time； and after
a good deal of blushing； stammering； and denying； I said； having
my glass in my hand； ‘Well！ I would give them D。！’ which so
excited and gratified Mr。 Micawber； that he ran with a glass of
punch into my bedroom； in order that Mrs。 Micawber might drink
D。； who drank it with enthusiasm； crying from within； in a shrill
voice； ‘Hear； hear！ My dear Mr。 Copperfield； I am delighted。 Hear！’
and tapping at the wall； by way of applause。
Our conversation； afterwards； took a more worldly turn； Mr。
Micawber telling us that he found Camden Town inconvenient；
and that the first thing he contemplated doing； when the
advertisement should have been the cause of something
satisfactory turning up； was to move。 He mentioned a terrace at
the western end of Oxford Street； fronting Hyde Park； on which he
had always had his eye； but which he did not expect to attain
immediately； as it would require a large establishment。 There
would probably be an interval； he explained； in which he should
content himself with the upper part of a house； over some
respectable place of business—say in Piccadilly；—which would be
a cheerful situation for Mrs。 Micawber； and where； by throwing
out a bow…window； or carrying up the roof another story； or
making some little alteration of that sort； they might live；
comfortably and reputably； for a few years。 Whatever was
reserved for him； he expressly said； or wherever his abode might
be； we might rely on this—there would always be a room for
Traddles； and a knife and fork for me。 We acknowledged his
kindness； and he begged us to forgive his having launched into
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
these practical and business…like details； and to excuse it as
natural in one who was making entirely new arrangements in life。
Mrs。 Micawber； tapping at the wall again to know if tea were
ready； broke up this particular phase of our friendly conversation。
She made tea for us in a most agreeable manner； and； whenever I
went near her； in handing about the tea…cups and bread…andbutter； asked me； in a whisper； whether D。 was fair； or dark； or
whether she was short； or tall： or something of that kind； which I
think I liked。 After tea； we discussed a variety of topics before the
fire； and Mrs。 Micawber was good enough to sing us （in a small；
thin； flat voice； which I remembered to have considered； when I
first knew her； the very table…beer of acoustics） the favourite
ballads of ‘The Dashing White Sergeant’； and ‘Little Tafflin’。 For
both of these songs Mrs。 Micawber had been famous when she
lived at home with her papa and mama。 Mr。 Micawber told us； that
when he heard her sing the first one； on the first occasion of his
seeing her beneath the parental roof； she had attracted his
attention in an extraordinary degree； but that when it came to
Little Tafflin； he had resolved to win that woman or perish in the
attempt。
It was between ten and eleven o’clock when Mrs。 Micawber
rose to replace her cap in the whitey…brown paper parcel； and to
put on her bonnet。 Mr。 Micawber took the opportunity of Traddles
putting on his great…coat； to slip a letter into my hand； with a
whispered request that I would read it at my leisure。 I also took
the opportunity of my holding a candle over the banisters to light
them down； when Mr。 Micawber was going first； leading Mrs。
Micawber； and Traddles was following with the cap； to detain
Traddles for a moment on the top of the stairs。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Traddles；’ said I； ‘Mr。 Micawber don’t mean any harm； poor
fellow： but； if I were you； I wouldn’t lend him anything。’
‘My dear Copperfield；’ returned Traddles； smiling； ‘I haven’t got
anything to lend。’
‘You have got a name； you know；’ said I。
‘Oh！ You call that something to lend？’ returned Traddles； with a
thoughtful look。
‘Certainly。’
‘Oh！’ said Traddles。 ‘Yes； to be sure！ I am very much obliged to
you； Copperfield； but—I am afraid I have lent him that already。’
‘For the bill that is to be a certain investment？’ I inquired。
‘No；’ said Traddles。 ‘Not for that one。 This is the first I have
heard of that one。 I have been thinking that he will most likely
propose that one； on the way home。 Mine’s another。’
‘I hope there will be nothing wrong about it；’ said I。 ‘I hope not；’
said Traddles。 ‘I should think not； though； because he told me；
only the other day； that it was provided for。 That was Mr。
Micawber’s expression； “Provided for。”’
Mr。 Micawber looking up at this juncture to where we were
standing； I had only time to repeat my caution。 Traddles thanked
me； and descended。 But I was much afraid； when I observed the
good…natured manner in which he went down with the cap in his
hand； and gave Mrs。 Micawber his arm； that he would be carried
into the Money Market neck and heels。
I returned to my fireside； and was musing； half gravely a
