david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第66章
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attracted my attention； as he stood at the pony’s head； rubbing his
chin with it； and looking up at us in the chaise。
‘Is Mr。 Wickfield at home； Uriah Heep？’ said my aunt。
‘Mr。 Wickfield’s at home； ma’am；’ said Uriah Heep； ‘if you’ll
please to walk in there’—pointing with his long hand to the room
he meant。
We got out； and leaving him to hold the pony； went into a long
low parlour looking towards the street； from the window of which
I caught a glimpse； as I went in； of Uriah Heep breathing into the
pony’s nostrils； and immediately covering them with his hand； as if
he were putting some spell upon him。 Opposite to the tall old
chimney…piece were two portraits： one of a gentleman with grey
hair （though not by any means an old man） and black eyebrows；
who was looking over some papers tied together with red tape； the
other； of a lady； with a very placid and sweet expression of face；
who was looking at me。
I believe I was turning about in search of Uriah’s picture； when；
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David Copperfield
a door at the farther end of the room opening； a gentleman
entered； at sight of whom I turned to the first…mentioned portrait
again； to make quite sure that it had not come out of its frame。 But
it was stationary； and as the gentleman advanced into the light； I
saw that he was some years older than when he had had his
picture painted。
‘Miss Betsey Trotwood；’ said the gentleman； ‘pray walk in。 I was
engaged for a moment； but you’ll excuse my being busy。 You know
my motive。 I have but one in life。’
Miss Betsey thanked him； and we went into his room； which
was furnished as an office； with books； papers； tin boxes； and so
forth。 It looked into a garden； and had an iron safe let into the
wall； so immediately over the mantelshelf； that I wondered； as I sat
down； how the sweeps got round it when they swept the chimney。
‘Well； Miss Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； for I soon found that
it was he； and that he was a lawyer； and steward of the estates of a
rich gentleman of the county； ‘what wind blows you here？ Not an
ill wind； I hope？’
‘No；’ replied my aunt。 ‘I have not come for any law。’
‘That’s right； ma’am；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘You had better come
for anything else。’ His hair was quite white now； though his
eyebrows were still black。 He had a very agreeable face； and； I
thought； was handsome。 There was a certain richness in his
complexion； which I had been long accustomed； under Peggotty’s
tuition； to connect with port wine； and I fancied it was in his voice
too； and referred his growing corpulency to the same cause。 He
was very cleanly dressed； in a blue coat； striped waistcoat； and
nankeen trousers； and his fine frilled shirt and cambric neckcloth
looked unusually soft and white； reminding my strolling fancy （I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
call to mind） of the plumage on the breast of a swan。
‘This is my nephew；’ said my aunt。
‘Wasn’t aware you had one； Miss Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。
‘My grand…nephew； that is to say；’ observed my aunt。
‘Wasn’t aware you had a grand…nephew； I give you my word；’
said Mr。 Wickfield。
‘I have adopted him；’ said my aunt； with a wave of her hand；
importing that his knowledge and his ignorance were all one to
her； ‘and I have brought him here； to put to a school where he may
be thoroughly well taught； and well treated。 Now tell me where
that school is； and what it is； and all about it。’
‘Before I can advise you properly；’ said Mr。 Wickfield—‘the old
question； you know。 What’s your motive in this？’
‘Deuce take the man！’ exclaimed my aunt。 ‘Always fishing for
motives； when they’re on the surface！ Why； to make the child
happy and useful。’
‘It must be a mixed motive； I think；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； shaking
his head and smiling incredulously。
‘A mixed fiddlestick；’ returned my aunt。 ‘You claim to have one
plain motive in all you do yourself。 You don’t suppose； I hope； that
you are the only plain dealer in the world？’
‘Ay； but I have only one motive in life； Miss Trotwood；’ he
rejoined； smiling。 ‘Other people have dozens； scores； hundreds。 I
have only one。 There’s the difference。 However； that’s beside the
question。 The best school？ Whatever the motive； you want the
best？’
My aunt nodded assent。
‘At the best we have；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； considering； ‘your
nephew couldn’t board just now。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘But he could board somewhere else； I suppose？’ suggested my
aunt。
Mr。 Wickfield thought I could。 After a little discussion； he
proposed to take my aunt to the school； that she might see it and
judge for herself； also； to take her； with the same object； to two or
three houses where he thought I could be boarded。 My aunt
embracing the proposal； we were all three going out together；
when he stopped and said：
‘Our little friend here might have some motive； perhaps； for
objecting to the arrangements。 I think we had better leave him
behind？’
My aunt seemed disposed to contest the point； but to facilitate
matters I said I would gladly remain behind； if they pleased； and
returned into Mr。 Wickfield’s office； where I sat down again； in the
chair I had first occupied； to await their return。
It so happened that this chair was opposite a narrow passage；
which ended in the little circular room where I had seen Uriah
Heep’s pale face looking out of the window。 Uriah； having taken
the pony to a neighbouring stable； was at work at a desk in this
room； which had a brass frame on the top to hang paper upon； and
on which the writing he was making a copy of was then hanging。
Though his face was towards me； I thought； for some time； the
writing being between us； that he could not see me； but looking
that way more attentively； it made me uncomfortable to observe
that； every now and then； his sleepless eyes would come below the
writing； like two red suns； and stealthily stare at me for I dare say
a whole minute at a time； during which his pen went； or pretended
to go； as cleverly as ever。 I made several attempts to get out of
their way—such as standing on a chair to look at a map on the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
other side of the room； and poring over the columns of a Kentish
newspaper—but they always attracted me back again； and
whenever I looked towards those two red suns； I was sure to find
them； either just rising or just setting。
At length； much to my relief； my aunt and Mr。 Wickfield came
back； after a pretty long absence。 They were not so successful as I
could have wished； for though the advantages of the school were
undeniable； my aunt had not approved of any of the boardinghouses proposed for me。
‘It’s very unfortunate；’ said my aunt。 ‘I don’t know what to do；
Trot。’
‘It does happen unfortunately；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘But I’ll tell
you what you can do； Miss Trotwood。’
‘What’s that？’ inquired my aunt。
‘Leave your nephew here； for the present。 He’s a quiet fellow。
He won’t disturb me at all。 It’s a capital house for study。 As quiet
as a monastery； and almost as roomy。 Leave him here。’
My aunt evidently liked the offer； though she was delicate of
accepting it。 So did I。 ‘Come； Miss Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。
‘This is the way out of the difficulty。 It’s only a temporary
arrangement； you know。 If it don’t act well； or don’t quite accord
with our mutual convenience； he can easily go to the right…about。
There will be time to find some better place for him in the
meanwhile。 You had better determine to leave him here for the
present！’
‘I am very much obliged to you；’ said my aunt； ‘and so is he； I
see； but—’
‘Come！ I know what you mean；’ cried Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘You shall
not be oppressed by the receipt of favours； Miss Trotwood。 You
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David Copperfield
may pay for him； if you like。 We won’t be hard about
