david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第142章
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of Court； and strolling past the Prerogative Office—I submitted
that I thought the Prerogative Office rather a queerly managed
institution。 Mr。 Spenlow inquired in what respect？ I replied； with
all due deference to his experience （but with more deference； I am
afraid； to his being Dora’s father）； that perhaps it was a little
nonsensical that the Registry of that Court； containing the original
wills of all persons leaving effects within the immense province of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Canterbury； for three whole centuries； should be an accidental
building； never designed for the purpose； leased by the registrars
for their Own private emolument； unsafe； not even ascertained to
be fire…proof； choked with the important documents it held； and
positively； from the roof to the basement； a mercenary speculation
of the registrars； who took great fees from the public； and
crammed the public’s wills away anyhow and anywhere； having no
other object than to get rid of them cheaply。 That； perhaps； it was
a little unreasonable that these registrars in the receipt of profits
amounting to eight or nine thousand pounds a year （to say nothing
of the profits of the deputy registrars； and clerks of seats）； should
not be obliged to spend a little of that money； in finding a
reasonably safe place for the important documents which all
classes of people were compelled to hand over to them； whether
they would or no。 That； perhaps； it was a little unjust； that all the
great offices in this great office should be magnificent sinecures；
while the unfortunate working…clerks in the cold dark room
upstairs were the worst rewarded； and the least considered men；
doing important services； in London。 That perhaps it was a little
indecent that the principal registrar of all； whose duty it was to
find the public； constantly resorting to this place； all needful
accommodation； should be an enormous sinecurist in virtue of
that post （and might be； besides； a clergyman； a pluralist； the
holder of a staff in a cathedral； and what not）；—while the public
was put to the inconvenience of which we had a specimen every
afternoon when the office was busy； and which we knew to be
quite monstrous。 That； perhaps； in short； this Prerogative Office of
the diocese of Canterbury was altogether such a pestilent job； and
such a pernicious absurdity； that but for its being squeezed away
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
in a corner of St。 Paul’s Churchyard； which few people knew； it
must have been turned completely inside out； and upside down；
long ago。
Mr。 Spenlow smiled as I became modestly warm on the subject；
and then argued this question with me as he had argued the other。
He said； what was it after all？ It was a question of feeling。 If the
public felt that their wills were in safe keeping； and took it for
granted that the office was not to be made better； who was the
worse for it？ Nobody。 Who was the better for it？ All the
Sinecurists。 Very well。 Then the good predominated。 It might not
be a perfect system； nothing was perfect； but what he objected to；
was； the insertion of the wedge。 Under the Prerogative Office； the
country had been glorious。 Insert the wedge into the Prerogative
Office； and the country would cease to be glorious。 He considered
it the principle of a gentleman to take things as he found them；
and he had no doubt the Prerogative Office would last our time。 I
deferred to his opinion； though I had great doubts of it myself。 I
find he was right； however； for it has not only lasted to the present
moment； but has done so in the teeth of a great parliamentary
report made （not too willingly） eighteen years ago； when all these
objections of mine were set forth in detail； and when the existing
stowage for wills was described as equal to the accumulation of
only two years and a half more。 What they have done with them
since； whether they have lost many； or whether they sell any； now
and then； to the butter shops； I don’t know。 I am glad mine is not
there； and I hope it may not go there； yet awhile。
I have set all this down； in my present blissful chapter； because
here it comes into its natural place。 Mr。 Spenlow and I falling into
this conversation； prolonged it and our saunter to and fro； until we
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
diverged into general topics。 And so it came about； in the end； that
Mr。 Spenlow told me this day week was Dora’s birthday； and he
would be glad if I would come down and join a little picnic on the
occasion。 I went out of my senses immediately； became a mere
driveller next day； on receipt of a little lace…edged sheet of notepaper； ‘Favoured by papa。 To remind’； and passed the intervening
period in a state of dotage。
I think I committed every possible absurdity in the way of
preparation for this blessed event。 I turn hot when I remember the
cravat I bought。 My boots might be placed in any collection of
instruments of torture。 I provided； and sent down by the Norwood
coach the night before； a delicate little hamper； amounting in
itself； I thought； almost to a declaration。 There were crackers in it
with the tenderest mottoes that could be got for money。 At six in
the morning； I was in Covent Garden Market； buying a bouquet
for Dora。 At ten I was on horseback （I hired a gallant grey； for the
occasion）； with the bouquet in my hat； to keep it fresh； trotting
down to Norwood。
I suppose that when I saw Dora in the garden and pretended
not to see her； and rode past the house pretending to be anxiously
looking for it； I committed two small fooleries which other young
gentlemen in my circumstances might have committed—because
they came so very natural to me。 But oh！ when I did find the
house； and did dismount at the garden…gate； and drag those stonyhearted boots across the lawn to Dora sitting on a garden…seat
under a lilac tree； what a spectacle she was； upon that beautiful
morning； among the butterflies； in a white chip bonnet and a dress
of celestial blue！ There was a young lady with her—comparatively
stricken in years—almost twenty； I should say。 Her name was Miss
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Mills。 and Dora called her Julia。 She was the bosom friend of Dora。
Happy Miss Mills！
Jip was there； and Jip would bark at me again。 When I
presented my bouquet； he gnashed his teeth with jealousy。 Well he
might。 If he had the least idea how I adored his mistress； well he
might！
‘Oh； thank you； Mr。 Copperfield！ What dear flowers！’ said Dora。
I had had an intention of saying （and had been studying the
best form of words for three miles） that I thought them beautiful
before I saw them so near her。 But I couldn’t manage it。 She was
too bewildering。 To see her lay the flowers against her little
dimpled chin； was to lose all presence of mind and power of
language in a feeble ecstasy。 I wonder I didn’t say； ‘Kill me； if you
have a heart； Miss Mills。 Let me die here！’
Then Dora held my flowers to Jip to smell。 Then Jip growled；
and wouldn’t smell them。 Then Dora laughed； and held them a
little closer to Jip； to make him。 Then Jip laid hold of a bit of
geranium with his teeth； and worried imaginary cats in it。 Then
Dora beat him； and pouted； and said； ‘My poor beautiful flowers！’
as compassionately； I thought； as if Jip had laid hold of me。 I
wished he had！
‘You’ll be so glad to hear； Mr。 Copperfield；’ said Dora； ‘that that
cross Miss Murdstone is not here。 She has gone to her brother’s
marriage； and will be away at least three weeks。 Isn’t that
delightful？’
I said I was sure it must be delightful to her； and all that was
delightful to her was delightful to me。 Miss Mills； with an air of
superior wisdom and benevolence； smiled upon us。
‘She is the most disagreeable thing I ever saw；’ said Dora。 ‘You
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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can’t believe how ill…tempered and shocking she is； Julia。’
‘Yes； I can； my dear！�
