david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第41章
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away。 I was so far from being warned off from Peggotty’s society;
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David Copperfield
that; provided I was not in Mr。 Murdstone’s; I was never sought
out or inquired for。 At first I was in daily dread of his taking my
education in hand again; or of Miss Murdstone’s devoting herself
to it; but I soon began to think that such fears were groundless;
and that all I had to anticipate was neglect。
I do not conceive that this discovery gave me much pain then。 I
was still giddy with the shock of my mother’s death; and in a kind
of stunned state as to all tributary things。 I can recollect; indeed; to
have speculated; at odd times; on the possibility of my not being
taught any more; or cared for any more; and growing up to be a
shabby; moody man; lounging an idle life away; about the village;
as well as on the feasibility of my getting rid of this picture by
going away somewhere; like the hero in a story; to seek my
fortune: but these were transient visions; daydreams I sat looking
at sometimes; as if they were faintly painted or written on the wall
of my room; and which; as they melted away; left the wall blank
again。
‘Peggotty;’ I said in a thoughtful whisper; one evening; when I
was warming my hands at the kitchen fire; ‘Mr。 Murdstone likes
me less than he used to。 He never liked me much; Peggotty; but he
would rather not even see me now; if he can help it。’
‘Perhaps it’s his sorrow;’ said Peggotty; stroking my hair。
‘I am sure; Peggotty; I am sorry too。 If I believed it was his
sorrow; I should not think of it at all。 But it’s not that; oh; no; it’s
not that。’
‘How do you know it’s not that?’ said Peggotty; after a silence。
‘Oh; his sorrow is another and quite a different thing。 He is
sorry at this moment; sitting by the fireside with Miss Murdstone;
but if I was to go in; Peggotty; he would be something besides。’
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David Copperfield
‘What would he be?’ said Peggotty。
‘Angry;’ I answered; with an involuntary imitation of his dark
frown。 ‘If he was only sorry; he wouldn’t look at me as he does。 I
am only sorry; and it makes me feel kinder。’
Peggotty said nothing for a little while; and I warmed my
hands; as silent as she。
‘Davy;’ she said at length。
‘Yes; Peggotty?’
‘I have tried; my dear; all ways I could think of—all the ways
there are; and all the ways there ain’t; in short—to get a suitable
service here; in Blunderstone; but there’s no such a thing; my
love。’
‘And what do you mean to do; Peggotty;’ says I; wistfully。 ‘Do
you mean to go and seek your fortune?’
‘I expect I shall be forced to go to Yarmouth;’ replied Peggotty;
‘and live there。’
‘You might have gone farther off;’ I said; brightening a little;
‘and been as bad as lost。 I shall see you sometimes; my dear old
Peggotty; there。 You won’t be quite at the other end of the world;
will you?’
‘Contrary ways; please God!’ cried Peggotty; with great
animation。 ‘As long as you are here; my pet; I shall come over
every week of my life to see you。 One day; every week of my life!’
I felt a great weight taken off my mind by this promise: but
even this was not all; for Peggotty went on to say:
‘I’m a…going; Davy; you see; to my brother’s; first; for another
fortnight’s visit—just till I have had time to look about me; and get
to be something like myself again。 Now; I have been thinking that
perhaps; as they don’t want you here at present; you might be let
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David Copperfield
to go along with me。’
If anything; short of being in a different relation to every one
about me; Peggotty excepted; could have given me a sense of
pleasure at that time; it would have been this project of all others。
The idea of being again surrounded by those honest faces; shining
welcome on me; of renewing the peacefulness of the sweet Sunday
morning; when the bells were ringing; the stones dropping in the
water; and the shadowy ships breaking through the mist; of
roaming up and down with little Em’ly; telling her my troubles;
and finding charms against them in the shells and pebbles on the
beach; made a calm in my heart。 It was ruffled next moment; to be
sure; by a doubt of Miss Murdstone’s giving her consent; but even
that was set at rest soon; for she came out to take an evening grope
in the store…closet while we were yet in conversation; and
Peggotty; with a boldness that amazed me; broached the topic on
the spot。
‘The boy will be idle there;’ said Miss Murdstone; looking into a
pickle…jar; ‘and idleness is the root of all evil。 But; to be sure; he
would be idle here—or anywhere; in my opinion。’
Peggotty had an angry answer ready; I could see; but she
swallowed it for my sake; and remained silent。
‘Humph!’ said Miss Murdstone; still keeping her eye on the
pickles; ‘it is of more importance than anything else—it is of
paramount importance—that my brother should not be disturbed
or made uncomfortable。 I suppose I had better say yes。’
I thanked her; without making any demonstration of joy; lest it
should induce her to withdraw her assent。 Nor could I help
thinking this a prudent course; since she looked at me out of the
pickle…jar; with as great an access of sourness as if her black eyes
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David Copperfield
had absorbed its contents。 However; the permission was given;
and was never retracted; for when the month was out; Peggotty
and I were ready to depart。
Mr。 Barkis came into the house for Peggotty’s boxes。 I had
never known him to pass the garden…gate before; but on this
occasion he came into the house。 And he gave me a look as he
shouldered the largest box and went out; which I thought had
meaning in it; if meaning could ever be said to find its way into Mr。
Barkis’s visage。
Peggotty was naturally in low spirits at leaving what had been
her home so many years; and where the two strong attachments of
her life—for my mother and myself—had been formed。 She had
been walking in the churchyard; too; very early; and she got into
the cart; and sat in it with her handkerchief at her eyes。
So long as she remained in this condition; Mr。 Barkis gave no
sign of life whatever。 He sat in his usual place and attitude like a
great stuffed figure。 But when she began to look about her; and to
speak to me; he nodded his head and grinned several times。 I have
not the least notion at whom; or what he meant by it。
‘It’s a beautiful day; Mr。 Barkis!’ I said; as an act of politeness。
‘It ain’t bad;’ said Mr。 Barkis; who generally qualified his
speech; and rarely committed himself。
‘Peggotty is quite comfortable now; Mr。 Barkis;’ I remarked; for
his satisfaction。
‘Is she; though?’ said Mr。 Barkis。
After reflecting about it; with a sagacious air; Mr。 Barkis eyed
her; and said:
‘Are you pretty comfortable?’
Peggotty laughed; and answered in the affirmative。
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David Copperfield
‘But really and truly; you know。 Are you?’ growled Mr。 Barkis;
sliding nearer to her on the seat; and nudging her with his elbow。
‘Are you? Really and truly pretty comfortable? Are you? Eh?’
At each of these inquiries Mr。 Barkis shuffled nearer to her; and
gave her another nudge; so that at last we were all crowded
together in the left…hand corner of the cart; and I was so squeezed
that I could hardly bear it。
Peggotty calling his attention to my sufferings; Mr。 Barkis gave
me a little more room at once; and got away by degrees。 But I
could not help observing that he seemed to think he had hit upon
a wonderful expedient for expressing himself in a neat; agreeable;
and pointed manner; without the inconvenience of inventing
conversation。 He manifestly chuckled over it for some time。 By
and by he turned to Peggotty again; and repeating; ‘Are you pretty
comfortable though?’ bore down upon us as before; until the
breath was nearly edge