david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第22章
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I was very much concerned for his misfortunes； and felt that
any recognition short of ninepence would be mere brutality and
hardness of heart。 Therefore I gave him one of my three bright
shillings； which he received with much humility and veneration；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and spun up with his thumb； directly afterwards； to try the
goodness of。
It was a little disconcerting to me； to find； when I was being
helped up behind the coach； that I was supposed to have eaten all
the dinner without any assistance。 I discovered this； from
overhearing the lady in the bow…window say to the guard； ‘Take
care of that child； George； or he’ll burst！’ and from observing that
the women…servants who were about the place came out to look
and giggle at me as a young phenomenon。 My unfortunate friend
the waiter； who had quite recovered his spirits； did not appear to
be disturbed by this； but joined in the general admiration without
being at all confused。 If I had any doubt of him； I suppose this half
awakened it； but I am inclined to believe that with the simple
confidence of a child； and the natural reliance of a child upon
superior years （qualities I am very sorry any children should
prematurely change for worldly wisdom）； I had no serious mistrust
of him on the whole； even then。
I felt it rather hard； I must own； to be made； without deserving
it； the subject of jokes between the coachman and guard as to the
coach drawing heavy behind； on account of my sitting there； and
as to the greater expediency of my travelling by waggon。 The story
of my supposed appetite getting wind among the outside
passengers； they were merry upon it likewise； and asked me
whether I was going to be paid for； at school； as two brothers or
three； and whether I was contracted for； or went upon the regular
terms； with other pleasant questions。 But the worst of it was； that I
knew I should be ashamed to eat anything； when an opportunity
offered； and that； after a rather light dinner； I should remain
hungry all night—for I had left my cakes behind； at the hotel； in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
my hurry。 My apprehensions were realized。 When we stopped for
supper I couldn’t muster courage to take any； though I should
have liked it very much； but sat by the fire and said I didn’t want
anything。 This did not save me from more jokes； either； for a
husky…voiced gentleman with a rough face； who had been eating
out of a sandwich…box nearly all the way； except when he had been
drinking out of a bottle； said I was like a boa…constrictor who took
enough at one meal to last him a long time； after which； he
actually brought a rash out upon himself with boiled beef。
We had started from Yarmouth at three o’clock in the
afternoon； and we were due in London about eight next morning。
It was Mid…summer weather； and the evening was very pleasant。
When we passed through a village； I pictured to myself what the
insides of the houses were like； and what the inhabitants were
about； and when boys came running after us； and got up behind
and swung there for a little way； I wondered whether their fathers
were alive； and whether they Were happy at home。 I had plenty to
think of； therefore； besides my mind running continually on the
kind of place I was going to—which was an awful speculation。
Sometimes； I remember； I resigned myself to thoughts of home
and Peggotty； and to endeavouring； in a confused blind way； to
recall how I had felt； and what sort of boy I used to be； before I bit
Mr。 Murdstone： which I couldn’t satisfy myself about by any
means； I seemed to have bitten him in such a remote antiquity。
The night was not so pleasant as the evening； for it got chilly；
and being put between two gentlemen （the rough…faced one and
another） to prevent my tumbling off the coach； I was nearly
smothered by their falling asleep； and completely blocking me up。
They squeezed me so hard sometimes； that I could not help crying
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
out； ‘Oh！ If you please！’—which they didn’t like at all； because it
woke them。 Opposite me was an elderly lady in a great fur cloak；
who looked in the dark more like a haystack than a lady； she was
wrapped up to such a degree。 This lady had a basket with her； and
she hadn’t known what to do with it； for a long time； until she
found that on account of my legs being short； it could go
underneath me。 It cramped and hurt me so； that it made me
perfectly miserable； but if I moved in the least； and made a glass
that was in the basket rattle against something else （as it was sure
to do）； she gave me the cruellest poke with her foot； and said；
‘Come； don’t you fidget。 Your bones are young enough； I’m sure！’
At last the sun rose； and then my companions seemed to sleep
easier。 The difficulties under which they had laboured all night；
and which had found utterance in the most terrific gasps and
snorts； are not to be conceived。 As the sun got higher； their sleep
became lighter； and so they gradually one by one awoke。 I
recollect being very much surprised by the feint everybody made；
then； of not having been to sleep at all； and by the uncommon
indignation with which everyone repelled the charge。 I labour
under the same kind of astonishment to this day； having invariably
observed that of all human weaknesses； the one to which our
common nature is the least disposed to confess （I cannot imagine
why） is the weakness of having gone to sleep in a coach。
What an amazing place London was to me when I saw it in the
distance； and how I believed all the adventures of all my favourite
heroes to be constantly enacting and re…enacting there； and how I
vaguely made it out in my own mind to be fuller of wonders and
wickedness than all the cities of the earth； I need not stop here to
relate。 We approached it by degrees； and got； in due time； to the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
inn in the Whitechapel district； for which we were bound。 I forget
whether it was the Blue Bull； or the Blue Boar； but I know it was
the Blue Something； and that its likeness was painted up on the
back of the coach。
The guard’s eye lighted on me as he was getting down； and he
said at the booking…office door：
‘Is there anybody here for a yoongster booked in the name of
Murdstone； from Bloonderstone； Sooffolk； to be left till called for？’
Nobody answered。
‘Try Copperfield； if you please； sir；’ said I； looking helplessly
down。
‘Is there anybody here for a yoongster； booked in the name of
Murdstone； from Bloonderstone； Sooffolk； but owning to the name
of Copperfield； to be left till called for？’ said the guard。 ‘Come！ Is
there anybody？’
No。 There was nobody。 I looked anxiously around； but the
inquiry made no impression on any of the bystanders； if I except a
man in gaiters； with one eye； who suggested that they had better
put a brass collar round my neck； and tie me up in the stable。
A ladder was brought； and I got down after the lady； who was
like a haystack： not daring to stir； until her basket was removed。
The coach was clear of passengers by that time； the luggage was
very soon cleared out； the horses had been taken out before the
luggage； and now the coach itself was wheeled and backed off by
some hostlers； out of the way。 Still； nobody appeared； to claim the
dusty youngster from Blunderstone； Suffolk。
More solitary than Robinson Crusoe； who had nobody to look at
him and see that he was solitary； I went into the booking…office；
and； by invitation of the clerk on duty； passed behind the counter；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and sat down on the scale at which they weighed the luggage。
Here； as I sat looking at the parcels； packages； and books； and
inhaling the smell of stables （ever since associated with that
morning）； a procession of most tremendous considerations began
to march through my mind。 Supposing nobody should ever fetch
me； how long wo
