david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第29章
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spirits and indisposed to resume the story； and then it was rather
hard work； and it must be done； for to disappoint or to displease
Steerforth was of course out of the question。 In the morning； too；
when I felt weary； and should have enjoyed another hour’s repose
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
very much； it was a tiresome thing to be roused； like the Sultana
Scheherazade； and forced into a long story before the getting…up
bell rang； but Steerforth was resolute； and as he explained to me；
in return； my sums and exercises； and anything in my tasks that
was too hard for me； I was no loser by the transaction。 Let me do
myself justice； however。 I was moved by no interested or selfish
motive； nor was I moved by fear of him。 I admired and loved him；
and his approval was return enough。 It was so precious to me that
I look back on these trifles； now； with an aching heart。
Steerforth was considerate； too； and showed his consideration；
in one particular instance； in an unflinching manner that was a
little tantalizing； I suspect； to poor Traddles and the rest。
Peggotty’s promised letter—what a comfortable letter it was！—
arrived before ‘the half’ was many weeks old； and with it a cake in
a perfect nest of oranges； and two bottles of cowslip wine。 This
treasure； as in duty bound； I laid at the feet of Steerforth； and
begged him to dispense。
‘Now； I’ll tell you what； young Copperfield；’ said he： ‘the wine
shall be kept to wet your whistle when you are story…telling。’
I blushed at the idea； and begged him； in my modesty； not to
think of it。 But he said he had observed I was sometimes hoarse—
a little roopy was his exact expression—and it should be； every
drop； devoted to the purpose he had mentioned。 Accordingly； it
was locked up in his box； and drawn off by himself in a phial； and
administered to me through a piece of quill in the cork； when I
was supposed to be in want of a restorative。 Sometimes； to make it
a more sovereign specific； he was so kind as to squeeze orange
juice into it； or to stir it up with ginger； or dissolve a peppermint
drop in it； and although I cannot assert that the flavour was
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David Copperfield
improved by these experiments； or that it was exactly the
compound one would have chosen for a stomachic； the last thing
at night and the first thing in the morning； I drank it gratefully and
was very sensible of his attention。
We seem； to me； to have been months over Peregrine； and
months more over the other stories。 The institution never flagged
for want of a story； I am certain； and the wine lasted out almost as
well as the matter。 Poor Traddles—I never think of that boy but
with a strange disposition to laugh； and with tears in my eyes—
was a sort of chorus； in general； and affected to be convulsed with
mirth at the comic parts； and to be overcome with fear when there
was any passage of an alarming character in the narrative。 This
rather put me out； very often。 It was a great jest of his； I recollect；
to pretend that he couldn’t keep his teeth from chattering；
whenever mention was made of an Alguazill in connexion with the
adventures of Gil Blas； and I remember that when Gil Blas met
the captain of the robbers in Madrid； this unlucky joker
counterfeited such an ague of terror； that he was overheard by Mr。
Creakle； who was prowling about the passage； and handsomely
flogged for disorderly conduct in the bedroom。 Whatever I had
within me that was romantic and dreamy； was encouraged by so
much story…telling in the dark； and in that respect the pursuit may
not have been very profitable to me。 But the being cherished as a
kind of plaything in my room； and the consciousness that this
accomplishment of mine was bruited about among the boys； and
attracted a good deal of notice to me though I was the youngest
there； stimulated me to exertion。 In a school carried on by sheer
cruelty； whether it is presided over by a dunce or not； there is not
likely to be much learnt。 I believe our boys were； generally； as
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David Copperfield
ignorant a set as any schoolboys in existence； they were too much
troubled and knocked about to learn； they could no more do that
to advantage； than any one can do anything to advantage in a life
of constant misfortune； torment； and worry。 But my little vanity；
and Steerforth’s help； urged me on somehow； and without saving
me from much； if anything； in the way of punishment； made me；
for the time I was there； an exception to the general body；
insomuch that I did steadily pick up some crumbs of knowledge。
In this I was much assisted by Mr。 Mell； who had a liking for me
that I am grateful to remember。 It always gave me pain to observe
that Steerforth treated him with systematic disparagement； and
seldom lost an occasion of wounding his feelings； or inducing
others to do so。 This troubled me the more for a long time； because
I had soon told Steerforth； from whom I could no more keep such
a secret； than I could keep a cake or any other tangible possession；
about the two old women Mr。 Mell had taken me to see； and I was
always afraid that Steerforth would let it out； and twit him with it。
We little thought； any one of us； I dare say； when I ate my
breakfast that first morning； and went to sleep under the shadow
of the peacock’s feathers to the sound of the flute； what
consequences would come of the introduction into those almshouses of my insignificant person。 But the visit had its unforeseen
consequences； and of a serious sort； too； in their way。
One day when Mr。 Creakle kept the house from indisposition；
which naturally diffused a lively joy through the school； there was
a good deal of noise in the course of the morning’s work。 The great
relief and satisfaction experienced by the boys made them difficult
to manage； and though the dreaded Tungay brought his wooden
leg in twice or thrice； and took notes of the principal offenders’
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David Copperfield
names； no great impression was made by it； as they were pretty
sure of getting into trouble tomorrow； do what they would； and
thought it wise； no doubt； to enjoy themselves today。
It was； properly； a half…holiday； being Saturday。 But as the
noise in the playground would have disturbed Mr。 Creakle； and
the weather was not favourable for going out walking； we were
ordered into school in the afternoon； and set some lighter tasks
than usual； which were made for the occasion。 It was the day of
the week on which Mr。 Sharp went out to get his wig curled； so
Mr。 Mell； who always did the drudgery； whatever it was； kept
school by himself。 If I could associate the idea of a bull or a bear
with anyone so mild as Mr。 Mell； I should think of him； in
connexion with that afternoon when the uproar was at its height；
as of one of those animals； baited by a thousand dogs。 I recall him
bending his aching head； supported on his bony hand； over the
book on his desk； and wretchedly endeavouring to get on with his
tiresome work； amidst an uproar that might have made the
Speaker of the House of Commons giddy。 Boys started in and out
of their places； playing at puss in the corner with other boys； there
were laughing boys； singing boys； talking boys； dancing boys；
howling boys； boys shuffled with their feet； boys whirled about
him； grinning； making faces； mimicking him behind his back and
before his eyes； mimicking his poverty； his boots； his coat； his
mother； everything belonging to him that they should have had
consideration for。
‘Silence！’ cried Mr。 Mell； suddenly rising up； and striking his
desk with the book。 ‘What does this mean！ It’s impossible to bear
it。 It’s maddening。 How can you do it to me； boys？’
It was my book that he struck his desk with； and as I stood
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David Copperfield
beside him； following his eye as it glanced round the room； I saw
the boys all stop； some suddenly surprised； some half afrai
