david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第58章
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have been very unhappy since she died。 I have been slighted； and
taught nothing； and thrown upon myself； and put to work not fit
for me。 It made me run away to you。 I was robbed at first setting
out； and have walked all the way； and have never slept in a bed
since I began the journey。’ Here my self…support gave way all at
once； and with a movement of my hands； intended to show her my
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
ragged state； and call it to witness that I had suffered something； I
broke into a passion of crying； which I suppose had been pent up
within me all the week。
My aunt； with every sort of expression but wonder discharged
from her countenance； sat on the gravel； staring at me； until I
began to cry； when she got up in a great hurry； collared me； and
took me into the parlour。 Her first proceeding there was to unlock
a tall press； bring out several bottles； and pour some of the
contents of each into my mouth。 I think they must have been taken
out at random； for I am sure I tasted aniseed water； anchovy
sauce； and salad dressing。 When she had administered these
restoratives； as I was still quite hysterical； and unable to control
my sobs； she put me on the sofa； with a shawl under my head； and
the handkerchief from her own head under my feet； lest I should
sully the cover； and then； sitting herself down behind the green
fan or screen I have already mentioned； so that I could not see her
face； ejaculated at intervals； ‘Mercy on us！’ letting those
exclamations off like minute guns。
After a time she rang the bell。 ‘Janet；’ said my aunt； when her
servant came in。 ‘Go upstairs； give my compliments to Mr。 Dick；
and say I wish to speak to him。’
Janet looked a little surprised to see me lying stiffly on the sofa
（I was afraid to move lest it should be displeasing to my aunt）； but
went on her errand。 My aunt； with her hands behind her； walked
up and down the room； until the gentleman who had squinted at
me from the upper window came in laughing。
‘Mr。 Dick；’ said my aunt； ‘don’t be a fool； because nobody can be
more discreet than you can； when you choose。 We all know that。
So don’t be a fool； whatever you are。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
The gentleman was serious immediately； and looked at me； I
thought； as if he would entreat me to say nothing about the
window。
‘Mr。 Dick；’ said my aunt； ‘you have heard me mention David
Copperfield？ Now don’t pretend not to have a memory； because
you and I know better。’
‘David Copperfield？’ said Mr。 Dick； who did not appear to me to
remember much about it。 ‘David Copperfield？ Oh yes； to be sure。
David； certainly。’
‘Well；’ said my aunt； ‘this is his boy—his son。 He would be as
like his father as it’s possible to be； if he was not so like his mother；
too。’
‘His son？’ said Mr。 Dick。 ‘David’s son？ Indeed！’
‘Yes；’ pursued my aunt； ‘and he has done a pretty piece of
business。 He has run away。 Ah！ His sister； Betsey Trotwood； never
would have run away。’ My aunt shook her head firmly； confident
in the character and behaviour of the girl who never was born。
‘Oh！ you think she wouldn’t have run away？’ said Mr。 Dick。
‘Bless and save the man；’ exclaimed my aunt； sharply； ‘how he
talks！ Don’t I know she wouldn’t？ She would have lived with her
god…mother； and we should have been devoted to one another。
Where； in the name of wonder； should his sister； Betsey Trotwood；
have run from； or to？’
‘Nowhere；’ said Mr。 Dick。
‘Well then；’ returned my aunt； softened by the reply； ‘how can
you pretend to be wool…gathering； Dick； when you are as sharp as
a surgeon’s lancet？ Now； here you see young David Copperfield；
and the question I put to you is； what shall I do with him？’
‘What shall you do with him？’ said Mr。 Dick； feebly； scratching
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
his head。 ‘Oh！ do with him？’
‘Yes；’ said my aunt； with a grave look； and her forefinger held
up。 ‘Come！ I want some very sound advice。’
‘Why； if I was you；’ said Mr。 Dick； considering； and looking
vacantly at me； ‘I should—’ The contemplation of me seemed to
inspire him with a sudden idea； and he added； briskly； ‘I should
wash him！’
‘Janet；’ said my aunt； turning round with a quiet triumph；
which I did not then understand； ‘Mr。 Dick sets us all right。 Heat
the bath！’
Although I was deeply interested in this dialogue； I could not
help observing my aunt； Mr。 Dick； and Janet； while it was in
progress； and completing a survey I had already been engaged in
making of the room。
My aunt was a tall； hard…featured lady； but by no means ill…
looking。 There was an inflexibility in her face； in her voice； in her
gait and carriage； amply sufficient to account for the effect she had
made upon a gentle creature like my mother； but her features
were rather handsome than otherwise； though unbending and
austere。 I particularly noticed that she had a very quick； bright
eye。 Her hair； which was grey； was arranged in two plain divisions；
under what I believe would be called a mob…cap； I mean a cap；
much more common then than now； with side…pieces fastening
under the chin。 Her dress was of a lavender colour； and perfectly
neat； but scantily made； as if she desired to be as little
encumbered as possible。 I remember that I thought it； in form；
more like a riding…habit with the superfluous skirt cut off； than
anything else。 She wore at her side a gentleman’s gold watch； if I
might judge from its size and make； with an appropriate chain and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
seals； she had some linen at her throat not unlike a shirt…collar；
and things at her wrists like little shirt…wristbands。
Mr。 Dick； as I have already said； was grey…headed； and florid： I
should have said all about him； in saying so； had not his head been
curiously bowed—not by age； it reminded me of one of Mr。
Creakle’s boys’ heads after a beating—and his grey eyes
prominent and large； with a strange kind of watery brightness in
them that made me； in combination with his vacant manner； his
submission to my aunt； and his childish delight when she praised
him； suspect him of being a little mad； though； if he were mad；
how he came to be there puzzled me extremely。 He was dressed
like any other ordinary gentleman； in a loose grey morning coat
and waistcoat； and white trousers； and had his watch in his fob；
and his money in his pockets： which he rattled as if he were very
proud of it。
Janet was a pretty blooming girl； of about nineteen or twenty；
and a perfect picture of neatness。 Though I made no further
observation of her at the moment； I may mention here what I did
not discover until afterwards； namely； that she was one of a series
of protégées whom my aunt had taken into her service expressly to
educate in a renouncement of mankind； and who had generally
completed their abjuration by marrying the baker。
The room was as neat as Janet or my aunt。 As I laid down my
pen； a moment since； to think of it； the air from the sea came
blowing in again； mixed with the perfume of the flowers； and I saw
the old…fashioned furniture brightly rubbed and polished； my
aunt’s inviolable chair and table by the round green fan in the
bow…window； the drugget…covered carpet； the cat； the kettle…
holder； the two canaries； the old china； the punchbowl full of dried
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
rose…leaves； the tall press guarding all sorts of bottles and pots；
and； wonderfully out of keeping with the rest； my dusty self upon
the sofa； taking note of everything。
Janet had gone away to get the bath ready； when my aunt； to
my great alarm； became in one moment rigid with indignation；
and had hardly voice to cry out； ‘Janet！ Donkeys！’
Upon which； Janet came running up the stairs as if the house
were in flames； darted out on a little piece of green in front； and
warned off two saddle…donkeys； lady…ridden； that
