david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第51章
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used to go back to the prison; and walk up and down the parade
with Mr。 Micawber; or play casino with Mrs。 Micawber; and hear
reminiscences of her papa and mama。 Whether Mr。 Murdstone
knew where I was; I am unable to say。 I never told them at
Murdstone and Grinby’s。
Mr。 Micawber’s affairs; although past their crisis; were very
much involved by reason of a certain ‘Deed’; of which I used to
hear a great deal; and which I suppose; now; to have been some
former composition with his creditors; though I was so far from
being clear about it then; that I am conscious of having
confounded it with those demoniacal parchments which are held
to have; once upon a time; obtained to a great extent in Germany。
At last this document appeared to be got out of the way; somehow;
at all events it ceased to be the rock…ahead it had been; and Mrs。
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David Copperfield
Micawber informed me that ‘her family’ had decided that Mr。
Micawber should apply for his release under the Insolvent Debtors
Act; which would set him free; she expected; in about six weeks。
‘And then;’ said Mr。 Micawber; who was present; ‘I have no
doubt I shall; please Heaven; begin to be beforehand with the
world; and to live in a perfectly new manner; if—in short; if
anything turns up。’
By way of going in for anything that might be on the cards; I
call to mind that Mr。 Micawber; about this time; composed a
petition to the House of Commons; praying for an alteration in the
law of imprisonment for debt。 I set down this remembrance here;
because it is an instance to myself of the manner in which I fitted
my old books to my altered life; and made stories for myself; out of
the streets; and out of men and women; and how some main points
in the character I shall unconsciously develop; I suppose; in
writing my life; were gradually forming all this while。
There was a club in the prison; in which Mr。 Micawber; as a
gentleman; was a great authority。 Mr。 Micawber had stated his
idea of this petition to the club; and the club had strongly
approved of the same。 Wherefore Mr。 Micawber (who was a
thoroughly good…natured man; and as active a creature about
everything but his own affairs as ever existed; and never so happy
as when he was busy about something that could never be of any
profit to him) set to work at the petition; invented it; engrossed it
on an immense sheet of paper; spread it out on a table; and
appointed a time for all the club; and all within the walls if they
chose; to come up to his room and sign it。
When I heard of this approaching ceremony; I was so anxious to
see them all come in; one after another; though I knew the greater
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David Copperfield
part of them already; and they me; that I got an hour’s leave of
absence from Murdstone and Grinby’s; and established myself in a
corner for that purpose。 As many of the principal members of the
club as could be got into the small room without filling it;
supported Mr。 Micawber in front of the petition; while my old
friend Captain Hopkins (who had washed himself; to do honour to
so solemn an occasion) stationed himself close to it; to read it to all
who were unacquainted with its contents。 The door was then
thrown open; and the general population began to come in; in a
long file: several waiting outside; while one entered; affixed his
signature; and went out。 To everybody in succession; Captain
Hopkins said: ‘Have you read it?’—‘No。’—‘Would you like to hear
it read?’ If he weakly showed the least disposition to hear it;
Captain Hopkins; in a loud sonorous voice; gave him every word of
it。 The Captain would have read it twenty thousand times; if
twenty thousand people would have heard him; one by one。 I
remember a certain luscious roll he gave to such phrases as ‘The
people’s representatives in Parliament assembled;’ ‘Your
petitioners therefore humbly approach your honourable house;’
‘His gracious Majesty’s unfortunate subjects;’ as if the words were
something real in his mouth; and delicious to taste; Mr。 Micawber;
meanwhile; listening with a little of an author’s vanity; and
contemplating (not severely) the spikes on the opposite wall。
As I walked to and fro daily between Southwark and
Blackfriars; and lounged about at meal…times in obscure streets;
the stones of which may; for anything I know; be worn at this
moment by my childish feet; I wonder how many of these people
were wanting in the crowd that used to come filing before me in
review again; to the echo of Captain Hopkins’s voice! When my
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David Copperfield
thoughts go back; now; to that slow agony of my youth; I wonder
how much of the histories I invented for such people hangs like a
mist of fancy over well…remembered facts! When I tread the old
ground; I do not wonder that I seem to see and pity; going on
before me; an innocent romantic boy; making his imaginative
world out of such strange experiences and sordid things!
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 12
LIKING LIFE ON MY OWN ACCOUNT NO
BETTER; I FORM A GREAT RESOLUTION
In due time; Mr。 Micawber’s petition was ripe for hearing; and
that gentleman was ordered to be discharged under the Act;
to my great joy。 His creditors were not implacable; and Mrs。
Micawber informed me that even the revengeful boot…maker had
declared in open court that he bore him no malice; but that when
money was owing to him he liked to be paid。 He said he thought it
was human nature。
M r Micawber returned to the King’s Bench when his case was
over; as some fees were to be settled; and some formalities
observed; before he could be actually released。 The club received
him with transport; and held an harmonic meeting that evening in
his honour; while Mrs。 Micawber and I had a lamb’s fry in private;
surrounded by the sleeping family。
‘On such an occasion I will give you; Master Copperfield;’ said
Mrs。 Micawber; ‘in a little more flip;’ for we had been having some
already; ‘the memory of my papa and mama。’
‘Are they dead; ma’am?’ I inquired; after drinking the toast in a
wine…glass。
‘My mama departed this life;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; ‘before Mr。
Micawber’s difficulties commenced; or at least before they became
pressing。 My papa lived to bail Mr。 Micawber several times; and
then expired; regretted by a numerous circle。’
Mrs。 Micawber shook her head; and dropped a pious tear upon
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
the twin who happened to be in hand。
As I could hardly hope for a more favourable opportunity of
putting a question in which I had a near interest; I said to Mrs。
Micawber:
‘May I ask; ma’am; what you and Mr。 Micawber intend to do;
now that Mr。 Micawber is out of his difficulties; and at liberty?
Have you settled yet?’
‘My family;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; who always said those two
words with an air; though I never could discover who came under
the denomination; ‘my family are of opinion that Mr。 Micawber
should quit London; and exert his talents in the country。 Mr。
Micawber is a man of great talent; Master Copperfield。’
I said I was sure of that。
‘Of great talent;’ repeated Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘My family are of
opinion; that; with a little interest; something might be done for a
man of his ability in the Custom House。 The influence of my family
being local; it is their wish that Mr。 Micawber should go down to
Plymouth。 They think it indispensable that he should be upon the
spot。’
‘That he may be ready?’ I suggested。
‘Exactly;’ returned Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘That he may be ready—in
case of anything turning up。’
‘And do you go too; ma’am?’
The events of the day; in combination with the twins; if not with
the flip; had made Mrs。 Micawber hysterical; and she shed tears as
she replied:
‘I never will desert Mr。 Micawber。 Mr。 Micawber may have
concealed his difficulties from me in the first instance; but his