david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第14章

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that　my　mother　was　my　comforter　and　friend。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

This　gained　upon　me　as　we　went　along；　so　that　the　nearer　we　
drew；　the　more　familiar　the　objects　became　that　we　passed；　the　
more　excited　I　was　to　get　there；　and　to　run　into　her　arms。　But　
Peggotty；　instead　of　sharing　in　those　transports；　tried　to　check　
them　（though　very　kindly）；　and　looked　confused　and　out　of　sorts。　

Blunderstone　Rookery　would　come；　however；　in　spite　of　her；　
when　the　carrier’s　horse　pleased—and　did。　How　well　I　recollect　it；　
on　a　cold　grey　afternoon；　with　a　dull　sky；　threatening　rain！　

The　door　opened；　and　I　looked；　half　laughing　and　half　crying　in　
my　pleasant　agitation；　for　my　mother。　It　was　not　she；　but　a　strange　
servant。　

‘Why；　Peggotty！’　I　said；　ruefully；　‘isn’t　she　come　home？’　

‘Yes；　yes；　Master　Davy；’　said　Peggotty。　‘She’s　come　home。　Wait　
a　bit；　Master　Davy；　and　I’ll—I’ll　tell　you　something。’　

Between　her　agitation；　and　her　natural　awkwardness　in　getting　
out　of　the　cart；　Peggotty　was　making　a　most　extraordinary　festoon　
of　herself；　but　I　felt　too　blank　and　strange　to　tell　her　so。　When　she　
had　got　down；　she　took　me　by　the　hand；　led　me；　wondering；　into　
the　kitchen；　and　shut　the　door。　

‘Peggotty！’　said　I；　quite　frightened。　‘What’s　the　matter？’　

‘Nothing’s　the　matter；　bless　you；　Master　Davy　dear！’　she　
answered；　assuming　an　air　of　sprightliness。　

‘Something’s　the　matter；　I’m　sure。　Where’s　mama？’　

‘Where’s　mama；　Master　Davy？’　repeated　Peggotty。　

‘Yes。　Why　hasn’t　she　come　out　to　the　gate；　and　what　have　we　
come　in　here　for？　Oh；　Peggotty！’　My　eyes　were　full；　and　I　felt　as　if　I　
were　going　to　tumble　down。　

‘Bless　the　precious　boy！’　cried　Peggotty；　taking　hold　of　me。　
‘What　is　it？　Speak；　my　pet！’　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

‘Not　dead；　too！　Oh；　she’s　not　dead；　Peggotty？’　

Peggotty　cried　out　No！　with　an　astonishing　volume　of　voice；　and　
then　sat　down；　and　began　to　pant；　and　said　I　had　given　her　a　turn。　

I　gave　her　a　hug　to　take　away　the　turn；　or　to　give　her　another　
turn　in　the　right　direction；　and　then　stood　before　her；　looking　at　
her　in　anxious　inquiry。　

‘You　see；　dear；　I　should　have　told　you　before　now；’　said　
Peggotty；　‘but　I　hadn’t　an　opportunity。　I　ought　to　have　made　it；　
perhaps；　but　I　couldn’t　azackly’—that　was　always　the　substitute　
for　exactly；　in　Peggotty’s　militia　of　words—‘bring　my　mind　to　it。’　

‘Go　on；　Peggotty；’　said　I；　more　frightened　than　before。　

‘Master　Davy；’　said　Peggotty；　untying　her　bonnet　with　a　shaking　
hand；　and　speaking　in　a　breathless　sort　of　way。　‘What　do　you　
think？　You　have　got　a　Pa！’　

I　trembled；　and　turned　white。　Something—I　don’t　know　what；　
or　how—connected　with　the　grave　in　the　churchyard；　and　the　
raising　of　the　dead；　seemed　to　strike　me　like　an　unwholesome　
wind。　

‘A　new　one；’　said　Peggotty。　

‘A　new　one？’　I　repeated。　

Peggotty　gave　a　gasp；　as　if　she　were　swallowing　something　that　
was　very　hard；　and；　putting　out　her　hand；　said：　

‘Come　and　see　him。’　

‘I　don’t　want　to　see　him。’　

—‘And　your　mama；’　said　Peggotty。　

I　ceased　to　draw　back；　and　we　went　straight　to　the　best　parlour；　
where　she　left　me。　On　one　side　of　the　fire；　sat　my　mother；　on　the　
other；　Mr。　Murdstone。　My　mother　dropped　her　work；　and　arose　
hurriedly；　but　timidly　I　thought。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

‘Now；　Clara　my　dear；’　said　Mr。　Murdstone。　‘Recollect！　control　
yourself；　always　control　yourself！　Davy　boy；　how　do　you　do？’　

I　gave　him　my　hand。　After　a　moment　of　suspense；　I　went　and　
kissed　my　mother：　she　kissed　me；　patted　me　gently　on　the　
shoulder；　and　sat　down　again　to　her　work。　I　could　not　look　at　her；　I　
could　not　look　at　him；　I　knew　quite　well　that　he　was　looking　at　us　
both；　and　I　turned　to　the　window　and　looked　out　there；　at　some　
shrubs　that　were　drooping　their　heads　in　the　cold。　

As　soon　as　I　could　creep　away；　I　crept　upstairs。　My　old　dear　
bedroom　was　changed；　and　I　was　to　lie　a　long　way　off。　I　rambled　
downstairs　to　find　anything　that　was　like　itself；　so　altered　it　all　
seemed；　and　roamed　into　the　yard。　I　very　soon　started　back　from　
there；　for　the　empty　dog…kennel　was　filled　up　with　a　great　dog—　
deep　mouthed　and　black…haired　like　Him—and　he　was　very　angry　
at　the　sight　of　me；　and　sprang　out　to　get　at　me。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

Chapter　4　

I　FALL　INTO　DISGRACE　

If　the　room　to　which　my　bed　was　removed　were　a　sentient　
thing　that　could　give　evidence；　I　might　appeal　to　it　at　this　
day—who　sleeps　there　now；　I　wonder！—to　bear　witness　for　
me　what　a　heavy　heart　I　carried　to　it。　I　went　up　there；　hearing　the　
dog　in　the　yard　bark　after　me　all　the　way　while　I　climbed　the　
stairs；　and；　looking　as　blank　and　strange　upon　the　room　as　the　
room　looked　upon　me；　sat　down　with　my　small　hands　crossed；　and　
thought。　

I　thought　of　the　oddest　things。　Of　the　shape　of　the　room；　of　the　
cracks　in　the　ceiling；　of　the　paper　on　the　walls；　of　the　flaws　in　the　
window…glass　making　ripples　and　dimples　on　the　prospect；　of　the　
washing…stand　being　rickety　on　its　three　legs；　and　having　a　
discontented　something　about　it；　which　reminded　me　of　Mrs。　
Gummidge　under　the　influence　of　the　old　one。　I　was　crying　all　the　
time；　but；　except　that　I　was　conscious　of　being　cold　and　dejected；　I　
am　sure　I　never　thought　why　I　cried。　At　last　in　my　desolation　I　
began　to　consider　that　I　was　dreadfully　in　love　with　little　Em’ly；　
and　had　been　torn　away　from　her　to　come　here　where　no　one　
seemed　to　want　me；　or　to　care　about　me；　half　as　much　as　she　did。　
This　made　such　a　very　miserable　piece　of　business　of　it；　that　I　
rolled　myself　up　in　a　corner　of　the　counterpane；　and　cried　myself　
to　sleep。　

I　was　awoke　by　somebody　saying　‘Here　he　is！’　and　uncovering　
my　hot　head。　My　mother　and　Peggotty　had　come　to　look　for　me；　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

and　it　was　one　of　them　who　had　done　it。　

‘Davy；’　said　my　mother。　‘What’s　the　matter？’　

I　thought　it　was　very　strange　that　she　should　ask　me；　and　
answered；　‘Nothing。’　I　turned　over　on　my　face；　I　recollect；　to　hide　
my　trembling　lip；　which　answered　her　with　greater　truth。　‘Davy；’　
said　my　mother。　‘Davy；　my　child！’　

I　dare　say　no　words　she　could　have　uttered　would　have　affected　
me　so　much；　then；　as　her　calling　me　her　child。　I　hid　my　tears　in　the　
bedclothes；　and　pressed　her　from　me　with　my　hand；　when　she　
would　have　raised　me　up。　

‘This　is　your　doing；　Peggotty；　you　cruel　thing！’　said　my　mother。　
‘I　have　no　doubt　at　all　about　it。　How　can　you　reconcile　it　to　your　
conscience；　I　wonder；　to　prejudice　my　own　boy　against　me；　or　
against　anybody　who　is　dear　to　me？　What　do　you　mean　by　it；　
Peggotty？’　

Poor　Peggotty　lifted　up　her　hands　and　eyes；　and　only　answered；　
in　a　sort　of　paraphrase　of　the　grace　I　usually　repeated　after　dinner；　
‘Lord　forgive　you；　Mrs。　Copperfield；　and　for　what　you　have　said　
this　minute；　may　you　never　be　truly　sorry！’　

‘It’s　enough　to　distract　me；’　cried　my　mother。　‘In　my　
honeymoon；　too；　when　my　most　inveterate　enemy　might　relent；　
one　would　think；　and　not　envy　me　a　little　peace　of　mind　and　
happiness。　Davy；　you　naughty　boy！　Peggotty；　you　savage　creature！　
Oh；　dear　me！’　cried　my　mother；　turning　from　one　of　us　to　the　
other；　in　her　pettish　wilful　manner；　‘what　a　troublesome　world　this　
is；　when　one　has　the　most　right　to　expect　it　to　be　as　agreeable　as　
possible！’　

I　felt　the　touch　of　a　hand　that　I　knew　was　neither　hers　nor　
Peggotty’s；　and　slipped　to　my　feet　at　the　bed…side。　It　was　Mr。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

Murdstone’s　hand；　and　he　kept　it　on　my　arm　as　he　said：　

‘What’s　this？　Clara；　my　love；　have　you　forgotten？—Firmness；　
my　dear！’　

‘I　am　very　sorry；　Edward；’　said　my　mother。　‘I　meant　to　be　very　
good；　but　I　am　so　uncomfortable。’　

‘Indeed！’　he　answered。　‘That’s　a　bad　hearing；　so　soon；　Clara。’　

‘I　say　it’s　very　hard　I　should　be　made　so　now；’　returned　my　
mother；　pou