david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第159章

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conceiving　that；　in　becoming　a　graminivorous　animal；　I　should　
sacrifice　to　Dora。　

As　yet；　little　Dora　was　quite　unconscious　of　my　desperate　
firmness；　otherwise　than　as　my　letters　darkly　shadowed　it　forth。　
But　another　Saturday　came；　and　on　that　Saturday　evening　she　
was　to　be　at　Miss　Mills’s；　and　when　Mr。　Mills　had　gone　to　his　
whist…club　（telegraphed　to　me　in　the　street；　by　a　bird…cage　in　the　
drawing…room　middle　window）；　I　was　to　go　there　to　tea。　

By　this　time；　we　were　quite　settled　down　in　Buckingham　Street；　
where　Mr。　Dick　continued　his　copying　in　a　state　of　absolute　
felicity。　My　aunt　had　obtained　a　signal　victory　over　Mrs。　Crupp；　by　
paying　her　off；　throwing　the　first　pitcher　she　planted　on　the　stairs　
out　of　window；　and　protecting　in　person；　up　and　down　the　
staircase；　a　supernumerary　whom　she　engaged　from　the　outer　
world。　These　vigorous　measures　struck　such　terror　to　the　breast　of　
Mrs。　Crupp；　that　she　subsided　into　her　own　kitchen；　under　the　

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David　Copperfield　

impression　that　my　aunt　was　mad。　My　aunt　being　supremely　
indifferent　to　Mrs。　Crupp’s　opinion　and　everybody　else’s；　and　
rather　favouring　than　discouraging　the　idea；　Mrs。　Crupp；　of　late　
the　bold；　became　within　a　few　days　so　faint…hearted；　that　rather　
than　encounter　my　aunt　upon　the　staircase；　she　would　endeavour　
to　hide　her　portly　form　behind　doors—leaving　visible；　however；　a　
wide　margin　of　flannel　petticoat—or　would　shrink　into　dark　
corners。　This　gave　my　aunt　such　unspeakable　satisfaction；　that　I　
believe　she　took　a　delight　in　prowling　up　and　down；　with　her　
bonnet　insanely　perched　on　the　top　of　her　head；　at　times　when　
Mrs。　Crupp　was　likely　to　be　in　the　way。　

My　aunt；　being　uncommonly　neat　and　ingenious；　made　so　many　
little　improvements　in　our　domestic　arrangements；　that　I　seemed　
to　be　richer　instead　of　poorer。　Among　the　rest；　she　converted　the　
pantry　into　a　dressing…room　for　me；　and　purchased　and　
embellished　a　bedstead　for　my　occupation；　which　looked　as　like　a　
bookcase　in　the　daytime　as　a　bedstead　could。　I　was　the　object　of　
her　constant　solicitude；　and　my　poor　mother　herself　could　not　
have　loved　me　better；　or　studied　more　how　to　make　me　happy。　

Peggotty　had　considered　herself　highly　privileged　in　being　
allowed　to　participate　in　these　labours；　and；　although　she　still　
retained　something　of　her　old　sentiment　of　awe　in　reference　to　my　
aunt；　had　received　so　many　marks　of　encouragement　and　
confidence；　that　they　were　the　best　friends　possible。　But　the　time　
had　now　come　（I　am　speaking　of　the　Saturday　when　I　was　to　take　
tea　at　Miss　Mills’s）　when　it　was　necessary　for　her　to　return　home；　
and　enter　on　the　discharge　of　the　duties　she　had　undertaken　in　
behalf　of　Ham。　‘So　good…bye；　Barkis；’　said　my　aunt；　‘and　take　care　
of　yourself！　I　am　sure　I　never　thought　I　could　be　sorry　to　lose　you！’　

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I　took　Peggotty　to　the　coach　office　and　saw　her　off。　She　cried　at　
parting；　and　confided　her　brother　to　my　friendship　as　Ham　had　
done。　We　had　heard　nothing　of　him　since　he　went　away；　that　
sunny　afternoon。　

‘And　now；　my　own　dear　Davy；’　said　Peggotty；　‘if；　while　you’re　a　
prentice；　you　should　want　any　money　to　spend；　or　if；　when　you’re　
out　of　your　time；　my　dear；　you　should　want　any　to　set　you　up　（and　
you　must　do　one　or　other；　or　both；　my　darling）；　who　has　such　a　
good　right　to　ask　leave　to　lend　it　you；　as　my　sweet　girl’s　own　old　
stupid　me！’　

I　was　not　so　savagely　independent　as　to　say　anything　in　reply；　
but　that　if　ever　I　borrowed　money　of　anyone；　I　would　borrow　it　of　
her。　Next　to　accepting　a　large　sum　on　the　spot；　I　believe　this　gave　
Peggotty　more　comfort　than　anything　I　could　have　done。　

‘And；　my　dear！’　whispered　Peggotty；　‘tell　the　pretty　little　angel　
that　I　should　so　have　liked　to　see　her；　only　for　a　minute！　And　tell　
her　that　before　she　marries　my　boy；　I’ll　come　and　make　your　house　
so　beautiful　for　you；　if　you’ll　let　me！’　

I　declared　that　nobody　else　should　touch　it；　and　this　gave　
Peggotty　such　delight　that　she　went　away　in　good　spirits。　

I　fatigued　myself　as　much　as　I　possibly　could　in　the　Commons　
all　day；　by　a　variety　of　devices；　and　at　the　appointed　time　in　the　
evening　repaired　to　Mr。　Mills’s　street。　Mr。　Mills；　who　was　a　terrible　
fellow　to　fall　asleep　after　dinner；　had　not　yet　gone　out；　and　there　
was　no　bird…cage　in　the　middle　window。　

He　kept　me　waiting　so　long；　that　I　fervently　hoped　the　Club　
would　fine　him　for　being　late。　At　last　he　came　out；　and　then　I　saw　
my　own　Dora　hang　up　the　bird…cage；　and　peep　into　the　balcony　to　
look　for　me；　and　run　in　again　when　she　saw　I　was　there；　while　Jip　

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remained　behind；　to　bark　injuriously　at　an　immense　butcher’s　dog　
in　the　street；　who　could　have　taken　him　like　a　pill。　

Dora　came　to　the　drawing…room　door　to　meet　me；　and　Jip　came　
scrambling　out；　tumbling　over　his　own　growls；　under　the　
impression　that　I　was　a　Bandit；　and　we　all　three　went　in；　as　happy　
and　loving　as　could　be。　I　soon　carried　desolation　into　the　bosom　of　
our　joys—not　that　I　meant　to　do　it；　but　that　I　was　so　full　of　the　
subject—by　asking　Dora；　without　the　smallest　preparation；　if　she　
could　love　a　beggar？　

My　pretty；　little；　startled　Dora！　Her　only　association　with　the　
word　was　a　yellow　face　and　a　nightcap；　or　a　pair　of　crutches；　or　a　
wooden　leg；　or　a　dog　with　a　decanter…stand　in　his　mouth；　or　
something　of　that　kind；　and　she　stared　at　me　with　the　most　
delightful　wonder。　

‘How　can　you　ask　me　anything　so　foolish？’　pouted　Dora。　‘Love　a　
beggar！’　

‘Dora；　my　own　dearest！’　said　I。　‘I　am　a　beggar！’　

‘How　can　you　be　such　a　silly　thing；’　replied　Dora；　slapping　my　
hand；　‘as　to　sit　there；　telling　such　stories？　I’ll　make　Jip　bite　you！’　

Her　childish　way　was　the　most　delicious　way　in　the　world　to　me；　
but　it　was　necessary　to　be　explicit；　and　I　solemnly　repeated：　

‘Dora；　my　own　life；　I　am　your　ruined　David！’　

‘I　declare　I’ll　make　Jip　bite　you！’　said　Dora；　shaking　her　curls；　‘if　
you　are　so　ridiculous。’　

But　I　looked　so　serious；　that　Dora　left　off　shaking　her　curls；　and　
laid　her　trembling　little　hand　upon　my　shoulder；　and　first　looked　
scared　and　anxious；　then　began　to　cry。　That　was　dreadful。　I　fell　
upon　my　knees　before　the　sofa；　caressing　her；　and　imploring　her　
not　to　rend　my　heart；　but；　for　some　time；　poor　little　Dora　did　

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nothing　but　exclaim　Oh　dear！　Oh　dear！　And　oh；　she　was　so　
frightened！　And　where　was　Julia　Mills！　And　oh；　take　her　to　Julia　
Mills；　and　go　away；　please！　until　I　was　almost　beside　myself。　

At　last；　after　an　agony　of　supplication　and　protestation；　I　got　
Dora　to　look　at　me；　with　a　horrified　expression　of　face；　which　I　
gradually　soothed　until　it　was　only　loving；　and　her　soft；　pretty　
cheek　was　lying　against　mine。　Then　I　told　her；　with　my　arms　
clasped　round　her；　how　I　loved　her；　so　dearly；　and　so　dearly；　how　I　
felt　it　right　to　offer　to　release　her　from　her　engagement；　because　
now　I　was　poor；　how　I　never　could　bear　it；　or　recover　it；　if　I　lost　
her；　how　I　had　no　fears　of　poverty；　if　she　had　none；　my　arm　being　
nerved　and　my　heart　inspired　by　her；　how　I　was　already　working　
with　a　courage　such　as　none　but　lovers　knew；　how　I　had　begun　to　
be　practical；　and　look　into　the　future；　how　a　crust　well　earned　was　
sweeter　far　than　a　feast　inherited；　and　much　more　to　the　same　
purpose；　which　I　delivered　in　a　burst　of　passionate　eloquence　
quite　surprising　to　myself；　though　I　had　been　thinking　about　it；　
day　and　night；　ever　since　my　aunt　had　astonished　me。　

‘Is　your　heart　mine　still；　dear　Dora？’　said　I；　rapturously；　for　I　
knew　by　her　clinging　to　me　that　it　was。　

‘Oh；　yes！’　cried　Dora。　‘Oh；　yes；　it’s　all　yours。　Oh；　don’t　be　
dreadful！’　

I　dreadful！　To　Dora！　

‘Don’t　talk　about　being　poor；　and　working　hard！’　said　Dora；　
nestling　closer　to　me。　‘Oh；　don’t；　don’t！’　

‘My　dearest　love；’　said　I；　‘the　crust　well…earned—’　

‘Oh；　yes；　but　I　don’t　want　to　hear　any　more　about　cru