david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第55章
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haystack。 I imagined it would be a kind of company to have the
boys； and the bedroom where I used to tell the stories； so near me：
although the boys would know nothing of my being there； and the
bedroom would yield me no shelter。
I had had a hard day’s work； and was pretty well jaded when I
came climbing out； at last； upon the level of Blackheath。 It cost me
some trouble to find out Salem House； but I found it； and I found a
haystack in the corner； and I lay down by it； having first walked
round the wall； and looked up at the windows； and seen that all
was dark and silent within。 Never shall I forget the lonely
sensation of first lying down； without a roof above my head！
Sleep came upon me as it came on many other outcasts； against
whom house…doors were locked； and house…dogs barked； that
night—and I dreamed of lying on my old school…bed； talking to the
boys in my room； and found myself sitting upright； with
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Steerforth’s name upon my lips； looking wildly at the stars that
were glistening and glimmering above me。 When I remembered
where I was at that untimely hour； a feeling stole upon me that
made me get up； afraid of I don’t know what； and walk about。 But
the fainter glimmering of the stars； and the pale light in the sky
where the day was coming； reassured me： and my eyes being very
heavy； I lay down again and slept—though with a knowledge in my
sleep that it was cold—until the warm beams of the sun； and the
ringing of the getting…up bell at Salem House； awoke me。 If I could
have hoped that Steerforth was there； I would have lurked about
until he came out alone； but I knew he must have left long since。
Traddles still remained； perhaps； but it was very doubtful； and I
had not sufficient confidence in his discretion or good luck；
however strong my reliance was on his good nature； to wish to
trust him with my situation。 So I crept away from the wall as Mr。
Creakle’s boys were getting up； and struck into the long dusty
track which I had first known to be the Dover Road when I was
one of them； and when I little expected that any eyes would ever
see me the wayfarer I was now； upon it。
What a different Sunday morning from the old Sunday morning
at Yarmouth！ In due time I heard the church…bells ringing； as I
plodded on； and I met people who were going to church； and I
passed a church or two where the congregation were inside； and
the sound of singing came out into the sunshine； while the beadle
sat and cooled himself in the shade of the porch； or stood beneath
the yew…tree； with his hand to his forehead； glowering at me going
by。 But the peace and rest of the old Sunday morning were on
everything； except me。 That was the difference。 I felt quite wicked
in my dirt and dust； with my tangled hair。 But for the quiet picture
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I had conjured up； of my mother in her youth and beauty； weeping
by the fire； and my aunt relenting to her； I hardly think I should
have had the courage to go on until next day。 But it always went
before me； and I followed。
I got； that Sunday； through three…and…twenty miles on the
straight road； though not very easily； for I was new to that kind of
toil。 I see myself； as evening closes in； coming over the bridge at
Rochester； footsore and tired； and eating bread that I had bought
for supper。 One or two little houses； with the notice； ‘Lodgings for
Travellers’； hanging out； had tempted me； but I was afraid of
spending the few pence I had； and was even more afraid of the
vicious looks of the trampers I had met or overtaken。 I sought no
shelter； therefore； but the sky； and toiling into Chatham；—which；
in that night’s aspect； is a mere dream of chalk； and drawbridges；
and mastless ships in a muddy river； roofed like Noah’s arks；—
crept； at last； upon a sort of grass…grown battery overhanging a
lane； where a sentry was walking to and fro。 Here I lay down； near
a cannon； and； happy in the society of the sentry’s footsteps；
though he knew no more of my being above him than the boys at
Salem House had known of my lying by the wall； slept soundly
until morning。
Very stiff and sore of foot I was in the morning； and quite dazed
by the beating of drums and marching of troops； which seemed to
hem me in on every side when I went down towards the long
narrow street。 Feeling that I could go but a very little way that day；
if I were to reserve any strength for getting to my journey’s end； I
resolved to make the sale of my jacket its principal business。
Accordingly； I took the jacket off； that I might learn to do without
it； and carrying it under my arm； began a tour of inspection of the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
various slop…shops。
It was a likely place to sell a jacket in； for the dealers in secondhand clothes were numerous； and were； generally speaking； on the
look…out for customers at their shop doors。 But as most of them
had； hanging up among their stock； an officer’s coat or two；
epaulettes and all； I was rendered timid by the costly nature of
their dealings； and walked about for a long time without offering
my merchandise to anyone。
This modesty of mine directed my attention to the marine…store
shops； and such shops as Mr。 Dolloby’s； in preference to the
regular dealers。 At last I found one that I thought looked
promising； at the corner of a dirty lane； ending in an enclosure full
of stinging…nettles； against the palings of which some second…hand
sailors’ clothes； that seemed to have overflowed the shop； were
fluttering among some cots； and rusty guns； and oilskin hats； and
certain trays full of so many old rusty keys of so many sizes that
they seemed various enough to open all the doors in the world。
Into this shop； which was low and small； and which was
darkened rather than lighted by a little window； overhung with
clothes； and was descended into by some steps； I went with a
palpitating heart； which was not relieved when an ugly old man；
with the lower part of his face all covered with a stubbly grey
beard； rushed out of a dirty den behind it； and seized me by the
hair of my head。 He was a dreadful old man to look at； in a filthy
flannel waistcoat； and smelling terribly of rum。 His bedstead；
covered with a tumbled and ragged piece of patchwork； was in the
den he had come from； where another little window showed a
prospect of more stinging…nettles； and a lame donkey。
‘Oh； what do you want？’ grinned this old man； in a fierce；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
monotonous whine。 ‘Oh； my eyes and limbs； what do you want？
Oh； my lungs and liver； what do you want？ Oh； goroo； goroo！’
I was so much dismayed by these words； and particularly by the
repetition of the last unknown one； which was a kind of rattle in
his throat； that I could make no answer； hereupon the old man；
still holding me by the hair； repeated：
‘Oh； what do you want？ Oh； my eyes and limbs； what do you
want？ Oh； my lungs and liver； what do you want？ Oh； goroo！’—
which he screwed out of himself； with an energy that made his
eyes start in his head。
‘I wanted to know；’ I said； trembling； ‘if you would buy a jacket。’
‘Oh； let’s see the jacket！’ cried the old man。 ‘Oh； my heart on
fire； show the jacket to us！ Oh； my eyes and limbs； bring the jacket
out！’
With that he took his trembling hands； which were like the
claws of a great bird； out of my hair； and put on a pair of
spectacles； not at all ornamental to his inflamed eyes。
‘Oh； how much for the jacket？’ cried the old man； after
examining it。 ‘Oh—goroo！—how much for the jacket？’
‘Half…a…crown；’ I answered； recovering myself。
‘Oh； my lungs and liver；’ cried the old man； ‘no！ Oh； my eyes；
no！ Oh； my limbs； no！ Eighteenpence。 Goroo！’
Every time he uttered this ejaculation； his eyes seemed to be in
danger of starting out； and every sentence he spoke； he delivered
in a sort of tune； always exactly the same； and m
