david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第53章
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and smiling； all over his head and face； up to the present moment；
checked himself and frowned—‘the miserable wretch you behold。’
‘My dear Micawber！’ urged his wife。
‘I say；’ returned Mr。 Micawber； quite forgetting himself； and
smiling again； ‘the miserable wretch you behold。 My advice is；
never do tomorrow what you can do today。 Procrastination is the
thief of time。 Collar him！’
‘My poor papa’s maxim；’ Mrs。 Micawber observed。
‘My dear；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘your papa was very well in his
way； and Heaven forbid that I should disparage him。 Take him for
all in all； we ne’er shall—in short； make the acquaintance；
probably； of anybody else possessing； at his time of life； the same
legs for gaiters； and able to read the same description of print；
without spectacles。 But he applied that maxim to our marriage； my
dear； and that was so far prematurely entered into； in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
consequence； that I never recovered the expense。’ Mr。 Micawber
looked aside at Mrs。 Micawber； and added： ‘Not that I am sorry for
it。 Quite the contrary； my love。’ After which； he was grave for a
minute or so。
‘My other piece of advice； Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘you
know。 Annual income twenty pounds； annual expenditure
nineteen nineteen and six； result happiness。 Annual income
twenty pounds； annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six；
result misery。 The blossom is blighted； the leaf is withered； the god
of day goes down upon the dreary scene； and—and in short you
are for ever floored。 As I am！’
To make his example the more impressive； Mr。 Micawber drank
a glass of punch with an air of great enjoyment and satisfaction；
and whistled the College Hornpipe。
I did not fail to assure him that I would store these precepts in
my mind； though indeed I had no need to do so； for； at the time；
they affected me visibly。 Next morning I met the whole family at
the coach office； and saw them； with a desolate heart； take their
places outside； at the back。
‘Master Copperfield；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘God bless you！ I
never can forget all that； you know； and I never would if I could。’
‘Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘farewell！ Every happiness
and prosperity！ If； in the progress of revolving years； I could
persuade myself that my blighted destiny had been a warning to
you； I should feel that I had not occupied another man’s place in
existence altogether in vain。 In case of anything turning up （of
which I am rather confident）； I shall be extremely happy if it
should be in my power to improve your prospects。’
I think； as Mrs。 Micawber sat at the back of the coach； with the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
children； and I stood in the road looking wistfully at them； a mist
cleared from her eyes； and she saw what a little creature I really
was。 I think so； because she beckoned to me to climb up； with
quite a new and motherly expression in her face； and put her arm
round my neck； and gave me just such a kiss as she might have
given to her own boy。 I had barely time to get down again before
the coach started； and I could hardly see the family for the
handkerchiefs they waved。 It was gone in a minute。 The Orfling
and I stood looking vacantly at each other in the middle of the
road； and then shook hands and said good…bye； she going back； I
suppose； to St。 Luke’s workhouse； as I went to begin my weary day
at Murdstone and Grinby’s。
But with no intention of passing many more weary days there。
No。 I had resolved to run away。—To go； by some means or other；
down into the country； to the only relation I had in the world； and
tell my story to my aunt； Miss Betsey。 I have already observed that
I don’t know how this desperate idea came into my brain。 But；
once there； it remained there； and hardened into a purpose than
which I have never entertained a more determined purpose in my
life。 I am far from sure that I believed there was anything hopeful
in it； but my mind was thoroughly made up that it must be carried
into execution。
Again； and again； and a hundred times again； since the night
when the thought had first occurred to me and banished sleep； I
had gone over that old story of my poor mother’s about my birth；
which it had been one of my great delights in the old time to hear
her tell； and which I knew by heart。 My aunt walked into that
story； and walked out of it； a dread and awful personage； but there
was one little trait in her behaviour which I liked to dwell on； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
which gave me some faint shadow of encouragement。 I could not
forget how my mother had thought that she felt her touch her
pretty hair with no ungentle hand； and though it might have been
altogether my mother’s fancy； and might have had no foundation
whatever in fact； I made a little picture； out of it； of my terrible
aunt relenting towards the girlish beauty that I recollected so well
and loved so much； which softened the whole narrative。 It is very
possible that it had been in my mind a long time； and had
gradually engendered my determination。
As I did not even know where Miss Betsey lived； I wrote a long
letter to Peggotty； and asked her； incidentally； if she remembered；
pretending that I had heard of such a lady living at a certain place
I named at random； and had a curiosity to know if it were the
same。 In the course of that letter； I told Peggotty that I had a
particular occasion for half a guinea； and that if she could lend me
that sum until I could repay it； I should be very much obliged to
her； and would tell her afterwards what I had wanted it for。
Peggotty’s answer soon arrived； and was； as usual； full of
affectionate devotion。 She enclosed the half guinea （I was afraid
she must have had a world of trouble to get it out of Mr。 Barkis’s
box）； and told me that Miss Betsey lived near Dover； but whether
at Dover itself； at Hythe； Sandgate； or Folkestone； she could not
say。 One of our men； however； informing me on my asking him
about these places； that they were all close together； I deemed this
enough for my object； and resolved to set out at the end of that
week。
Being a very honest little creature； and unwilling to disgrace
the memory I was going to leave behind me at Murdstone and
Grinby’s； I considered myself bound to remain until Saturday
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
night； and； as I had been paid a week’s wages in advance when I
first came there； not to present myself in the counting…house at the
usual hour； to receive my stipend。 For this express reason； I had
borrowed the half…guinea； that I might not be without a fund for
my travelling…expenses。 Accordingly； when the Saturday night
came； and we were all waiting in the warehouse to be paid； and
Tipp the carman； who always took precedence； went in first to
draw his money； I shook Mick Walker by the hand； asked him；
when it came to his turn to be paid； to say to Mr。 Quinion that I
had gone to move my box to Tipp’s； and； bidding a last good night
to Mealy Potatoes； ran away。
My box was at my old lodging； over the water； and I had written
a direction for it on the back of one of our address cards that we
nailed on the casks： ‘Master David； to be left till called for； at the
Coach Office； Dover。’ This I had in my pocket ready to put on the
box； after I should have got it out of the house； and as I went
towards my lodging； I looked about me for someone who would
help me to carry it to the booking…office。
There was a long…legged young man with a very little empty
donkey…cart； standing near the Obelisk； in the Blackfriars Road；
whose eye I caught as I was going by； and who； addressing me as
‘Sixpenn’orth of bad ha’pence；’ hoped ‘I should know him agin to
swear to’—in allusion； I have no doubt； to my staring at him。 I
stopped to assure him that I had not done so in bad manners； but
uncertain whether he might or might not like a job。
‘Wot job？’ s
