david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第59章
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were in flames； darted out on a little piece of green in front； and
warned off two saddle…donkeys； lady…ridden； that had presumed to
set hoof upon it； while my aunt； rushing out of the house； seized
the bridle of a third animal laden with a bestriding child； turned
him； led him forth from those sacred precincts； and boxed the ears
of the unlucky urchin in attendance who had dared to profane that
hallowed ground。
To this hour I don’t know whether my aunt had any lawful right
of way over that patch of green； but she had settled it in her own
mind that she had； and it was all the same to her。 The one great
outrage of her life； demanding to be constantly avenged； was the
passage of a donkey over that immaculate spot。 In whatever
occupation she was engaged； however interesting to her the
conversation in which she was taking part； a donkey turned the
current of her ideas in a moment； and she was upon him straight。
Jugs of water； and watering…pots； were kept in secret places ready
to be discharged on the offending boys； sticks were laid in ambush
behind the door； sallies were made at all hours； and incessant war
prevailed。 Perhaps this was an agreeable excitement to the
donkey…boys； or perhaps the more sagacious of the donkeys；
understanding how the case stood； delighted with constitutional
obstinacy in coming that way。 I only know that there were three
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
alarms before the bath was ready； and that on the occasion of the
last and most desperate of all； I saw my aunt engage； single…
handed； with a sandy…headed lad of fifteen； and bump his sandy
head against her own gate； before he seemed to comprehend what
was the matter。 These interruptions were of the more ridiculous to
me； because she was giving me broth out of a table…spoon at the
time （having firmly persuaded herself that I was actually starving；
and must receive nourishment at first in very small quantities）；
and； while my mouth was yet open to receive the spoon； she would
put it back into the basin； cry ‘Janet！ Donkeys！’ and go out to the
assault。
The bath was a great comfort。 For I began to be sensible of
acute pains in my limbs from lying out in the fields； and was now
so tired and low that I could hardly keep myself awake for five
minutes together。 When I had bathed； they （I mean my aunt and
Janet） enrobed me in a shirt and a pair of trousers belonging to
Mr。 Dick； and tied me up in two or three great shawls。 What sort of
bundle I looked like； I don’t know； but I felt a very hot one。 Feeling
also very faint and drowsy； I soon lay down on the sofa again and
fell asleep。
It might have been a dream； originating in the fancy which had
occupied my mind so long； but I awoke with the impression that
my aunt had come and bent over me； and had put my hair away
from my face； and laid my head more comfortably； and had then
stood looking at me。 The words； ‘Pretty fellow；’ or ‘Poor fellow；’
seemed to be in my ears； too； but certainly there was nothing else；
when I awoke； to lead me to believe that they had been uttered by
my aunt； who sat in the bow…window gazing at the sea from
behind the green fan； which was mounted on a kind of swivel； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
turned any way。
We dined soon after I awoke； off a roast fowl and a pudding； I
sitting at table； not unlike a trussed bird myself； and moving my
arms with considerable difficulty。 But as my aunt had swathed me
up； I made no complaint of being inconvenienced。 All this time I
was deeply anxious to know what she was going to do with me； but
she took her dinner in profound silence； except when she
occasionally fixed her eyes on me sitting opposite； and said； ‘Mercy
upon us！’ which did not by any means relieve my anxiety。
The cloth being drawn； and some sherry put upon the table （of
which I had a glass）； my aunt sent up for Mr。 Dick again； who
joined us； and looked as wise as he could when she requested him
to attend to my story； which she elicited from me； gradually； by a
course of questions。 During my recital； she kept her eyes on Mr。
Dick； who I thought would have gone to sleep but for that； and
who； whensoever he lapsed into a smile； was checked by a frown
from my aunt。
‘Whatever possessed that poor unfortunate Baby； that she must
go and be married again；’ said my aunt； when I had finished； ‘I
can’t conceive。’
‘Perhaps she fell in love with her second husband；’ Mr。 Dick
suggested。
‘Fell in love！’ repeated my aunt。 ‘What do you mean？ What
business had she to do it？’
‘Perhaps；’ Mr。 Dick simpered； after thinking a little； ‘she did it
for pleasure。’
‘Pleasure； indeed！’ replied my aunt。 ‘A mighty pleasure for the
poor Baby to fix her simple faith upon any dog of a fellow； certain
to ill…use her in some way or other。 What did she propose to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
herself； I should like to know！ She had had one husband。 She had
seen David Copperfield out of the world； who was always running
after wax dolls from his cradle。 She had got a baby—oh； there
were a pair of babies when she gave birth to this child sitting here；
that Friday night！—and what more did she want？’
Mr。 Dick secretly shook his head at me； as if he thought there
was no getting over this。
‘She couldn’t even have a baby like anybody else；’ said my aunt。
‘Where was this child’s sister； Betsey Trotwood？ Not forthcoming。
Don’t tell me！’
Mr。 Dick seemed quite frightened。
‘That little man of a doctor； with his head on one side；’ said my
aunt； ‘Jellips； or whatever his name was； what was he about？ All
he could do； was to say to me； like a robin redbreast—as he is—
“It’s a boy。” A boy！ Yah； the imbecility of the whole set of ’em！’
The heartiness of the ejaculation startled Mr。 Dick exceedingly；
and me； too； if I am to tell the truth。
‘And then； as if this was not enough； and she had not stood
sufficiently in the light of this child’s sister； Betsey Trotwood；’ said
my aunt； ‘she marries a second time—goes and marries a
Murderer—or a man with a name like it—and stands in this child’s
light！ And the natural consequence is； as anybody but a baby
might have foreseen； that he prowls and wanders。 He’s as like
Cain before he was grown up； as he can be。’
Mr。 Dick looked hard at me； as if to identify me in this
character。
‘And then there’s that woman with the Pagan name；’ said my
aunt； ‘that Peggotty； she goes and gets married next。 Because she
has not seen enough of the evil attending such things； she goes and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
gets married next； as the child relates。 I only hope；’ said my aunt；
shaking her head； ‘that her husband is one of those Poker
husbands who abound in the newspapers； and will beat her well
with one。’
I could not bear to hear my old nurse so decried； and made the
subject of such a wish。 I told my aunt that indeed she was
mistaken。 That Peggotty was the best； the truest； the most faithful；
most devoted； and most self…denying friend and servant in the
world； who had ever loved me dearly； who had ever loved my
mother dearly； who had held my mother’s dying head upon her
arm； on whose face my mother had imprinted her last grateful
kiss。 And my remembrance of them both； choking me； I broke
down as I was trying to say that her home was my home； and that
all she had was mine； and that I would have gone to her for
shelter； but for her humble station； which made me fear that I
might bring some trouble on her—I broke down； I say； as I was
trying to say so； and laid my face in my hands upon the table。
‘Well； well！’ said my aunt； ‘the child is right to stand by those
who have stood by him—Janet！ Donkeys！’
I thoroughly believe that but for those unfortunate donkeys； we
should have come to a good understanding； for my aunt had laid
her hand on my shoulder； and the impulse was upon me； thus
emboldened； to embrace her and beseech
