david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第57章
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down to sleep； it was with me on my waking in the morning； it
went before me all day。 I have associated it； ever since； with the
sunny street of Canterbury； dozing as it were in the hot light； and
with the sight of its old houses and gateways； and the stately； grey
Cathedral； with the rooks sailing round the towers。 When I came；
at last； upon the bare； wide downs near Dover； it relieved the
solitary aspect of the scene with hope； and not until I reached that
first great aim of my journey； and actually set foot in the town
itself； on the sixth day of my flight； did it desert me。 But then；
strange to say； when I stood with my ragged shoes； and my dusty；
sunburnt； half…clothed figure； in the place so long desired； it
seemed to vanish like a dream； and to leave me helpless and
dispirited。
I inquired about my aunt among the boatmen first； and
received various answers。 One said she lived in the South
Foreland Light； and had singed her whiskers by doing so； another；
that she was made fast to the great buoy outside the harbour； and
could only be visited at half…tide； a third； that she was locked up in
Maidstone jail for child…stealing； a fourth； that she was seen to
mount a broom in the last high wind； and make direct for Calais。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
The fly…drivers； among whom I inquired next； were equally jocose
and equally disrespectful； and the shopkeepers； not liking my
appearance； generally replied； without hearing what I had to say；
that they had got nothing for me。 I felt more miserable and
destitute than I had done at any period of my running away。 My
money was all gone； I had nothing left to dispose of； I was hungry；
thirsty； and worn out； and seemed as distant from my end as if I
had remained in London。
The morning had worn away in these inquiries； and I was
sitting on the step of an empty shop at a street corner； near the
market…place； deliberating upon wandering towards those other
places which had been mentioned； when a fly…driver； coming by
with his carriage； dropped a horsecloth。 Something good…natured
in the man’s face； as I handed it up； encouraged me to ask him if
he could tell me where Miss Trotwood lived； though I had asked
the question so often； that it almost died upon my lips。
‘Trotwood；’ said he。 ‘Let me see。 I know the name； too。 Old
lady？’
‘Yes；’ I said； ‘rather。’
‘Pretty stiff in the back？’ said he； making himself upright。
‘Yes；’ I said。 ‘I should think it very likely。’
‘Carries a bag？’ said he—‘bag with a good deal of room in it—is
gruffish； and comes down upon you； sharp？’
My heart sank within me as I acknowledged the undoubted
accuracy of this description。
‘Why then； I tell you what；’ said he。 ‘If you go up there；’ pointing
with his whip towards the heights； ‘and keep right on till you come
to some houses facing the sea； I think you’ll hear of her。 My
opinion is she won’t stand anything； so here’s a penny for you。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I accepted the gift thankfully； and bought a loaf with it。
Dispatching this refreshment by the way； I went in the direction
my friend had indicated； and walked on a good distance without
coming to the houses he had mentioned。 At length I saw some
before me； and approaching them； went into a little shop （it was
what we used to call a general shop； at home）； and inquired if they
could have the goodness to tell me where Miss Trotwood lived。 I
addressed myself to a man behind the counter； who was weighing
some rice for a young woman； but the latter； taking the inquiry to
herself； turned round quickly。
‘My mistress？’ she said。 ‘What do you want with her； boy？’
‘I want；’ I replied； ‘to speak to her； if you please。’
‘To beg of her； you mean；’ retorted the damsel。
‘No；’ I said； ‘indeed。’ But suddenly remembering that in truth I
came for no other purpose； I held my peace in confusion； and felt
my face burn。
My aunt’s handmaid； as I supposed she was from what she had
said； put her rice in a little basket and walked out of the shop；
telling me that I could follow her； if I wanted to know where Miss
Trotwood lived。 I needed no second permission； though I was by
this time in such a state of consternation and agitation； that my
legs shook under me。 I followed the young woman； and we soon
came to a very neat little cottage with cheerful bow…windows： in
front of it； a small square gravelled court or garden full of flowers；
carefully tended； and smelling deliciously。
‘This is Miss Trotwood’s；’ said the young woman。 ‘Now you
know； and that’s all I have got to say。’ With which words she
hurried into the house； as if to shake off the responsibility of my
appearance； and left me standing at the garden…gate； looking
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
disconsolately over the top of it towards the parlour window；
where a muslin curtain partly undrawn in the middle； a large
round green screen or fan fastened on to the windowsill； a small
table； and a great chair； suggested to me that my aunt might be at
that moment seated in awful state。
My shoes were by this time in a woeful condition。 The soles had
shed themselves bit by bit； and the upper leathers had broken and
burst until the very shape and form of shoes had departed from
them。 My hat （which had served me for a night…cap； too） was so
crushed and bent； that no old battered handleless saucepan on a
dunghill need have been ashamed to vie with it。 My shirt and
trousers； stained with heat； dew； grass； and the Kentish soil on
which I had slept—and torn besides—might have frightened the
birds from my aunt’s garden； as I stood at the gate。 My hair had
known no comb or brush since I left London。 My face； neck； and
hands； from unaccustomed exposure to the air and sun； were
burnt to a berry…brown。 From head to foot I was powdered almost
as white with chalk and dust； as if I had come out of a lime…kiln。 In
this plight； and with a strong consciousness of it； I waited to
introduce myself to； and make my first impression on； my
formidable aunt。
The unbroken stillness of the parlour window leading me to
infer； after a while； that she was not there； I lifted up my eyes to
the window above it； where I saw a florid； pleasant…looking
gentleman； with a grey head； who shut up one eye in a grotesque
manner； nodded his head at me several times； shook it at me as
often； laughed； and went away。
I had been discomposed enough before； but I was so much the
more discomposed by this unexpected behaviour； that I was on the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
point of slinking off； to think how I had best proceed； when there
came out of the house a lady with her handkerchief tied over her
cap； and a pair of gardening gloves on her hands； wearing a
gardening pocket like a toll…man’s apron； and carrying a great
knife。 I knew her immediately to be Miss Betsey； for she came
stalking out of the house exactly as my poor mother had so often
described her stalking up our garden at Blunderstone Rookery。
‘Go away！’ said Miss Betsey； shaking her head； and making a
distant chop in the air with her knife。 ‘Go along！ No boys here！’
I watched her； with my heart at my lips； as she marched to a
corner of her garden； and stooped to dig up some little root there。
Then； without a scrap of courage； but with a great deal of
desperation； I went softly in and stood beside her； touching her
with my finger。
‘If you please； ma’am；’ I began。
She started and looked up。
‘If you please； aunt。’
‘Eh？’ exclaimed Miss Betsey； in a tone of amazement I have
never heard approached。
‘If you please； aunt； I am your nephew。’
‘Oh； Lord！’ said my aunt。 And sat flat down in the garden…path。
‘I am David Copperfield； of Blunderstone； in Suffolk—where
you came； on the night when I was born； and saw my dear mama。 I
have been very unhappy since she died。 I have been slighted； and
taught nothing； and thrown
