david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第67章
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
may pay for him； if you like。 We won’t be hard about terms； but
you shall pay if you will。’
‘On that understanding；’ said my aunt； ‘though it doesn’t lessen
the real obligation； I shall be very glad to leave him。’
‘Then come and see my little housekeeper；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。
We accordingly went up a wonderful old staircase； with a
balustrade so broad that we might have gone up that； almost as
easily； and into a shady old drawing…room； lighted by some three
or four of the quaint windows I had looked up at from the street：
which had old oak seats in them； that seemed to have come of the
same trees as the shining oak floor； and the great beams in the
ceiling。 It was a prettily furnished room； with a piano and some
lively furniture in red and green； and some flowers。 It seemed to
be all old nooks and corners； and in every nook and corner there
was some queer little table； or cupboard； or bookcase； or seat； or
something or other； that made me think there was not such
another good corner in the room； until I looked at the next one；
and found it equal to it； if not better。 On everything there was the
same air of retirement and cleanliness that marked the house
outside。
Mr。 Wickfield tapped at a door in a corner of the panelled wall；
and a girl of about my own age came quickly out and kissed him。
On her face； I saw immediately the placid and sweet expression of
the lady whose picture had looked at me downstairs。 It seemed to
my imagination as if the portrait had grown womanly； and the
original remained a child。 Although her face was quite bright and
happy； there was a tranquillity about it； and about her—a quiet；
good； calm spirit—that I never have forgotten； that I shall never
forget。 This was his little housekeeper； his daughter Agnes； Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Wickfield said。 When I heard how he said it； and saw how he held
her hand； I guessed what the one motive of his life was。
She had a little basket…trifle hanging at her side； with keys in it；
and she looked as staid and as discreet a housekeeper as the old
house could have。 She listened to her father as he told her about
me； with a pleasant face； and when he had concluded； proposed to
my aunt that we should go upstairs and see my room。 We all went
together； she before us： and a glorious old room it was； with more
oak beams； and diamond panes； and the broad balustrade going
all the way up to it。
I cannot call to mind where or when； in my childhood； I had
seen a stained glass window in a church。 Nor do I recollect its
subject。 But I know that when I saw her turn round； in the grave
light of the old staircase； and wait for us； above； I thought of that
window； and I associated something of its tranquil brightness with
Agnes Wickfield ever afterwards。
My aunt was as happy as I was； in the arrangement made for
me； and we went down to the drawing…room again； well pleased
and gratified。 As she would not hear of staying to dinner； lest she
should by any chance fail to arrive at home with the grey pony
before dark； and as I apprehend Mr。 Wickfield knew her too well
to argue any point with her； some lunch was provided for her
there； and Agnes went back to her governess； and Mr。 Wickfield to
his office。 So we were left to take leave of one another without any
restraint。
She told me that everything would be arranged for me by Mr。
Wickfield； and that I should want for nothing； and gave me the
kindest words and the best advice。
‘Trot；’ said my aunt in conclusion； ‘be a credit to yourself； to me；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and Mr。 Dick； and Heaven be with you！’
I was greatly overcome； and could only thank her； again and
again； and send my love to Mr。 Dick。
‘Never；’ said my aunt； ‘be mean in anything； never be false；
never be cruel。 Avoid those three vices； Trot； and I can always be
hopeful of you。’
I promised； as well as I could； that I would not abuse her
kindness or forget her admonition。
‘The pony’s at the door；’ said my aunt； ‘and I am off！ Stay here。’
With these words she embraced me hastily； and went out of the
room； shutting the door after her。 At first I was startled by so
abrupt a departure； and almost feared I had displeased her； but
when I looked into the street； and saw how dejectedly she got into
the chaise； and drove away without looking up； I understood her
better and did not do her that injustice。
By five o’clock； which was Mr。 Wickfield’s dinner…hour； I had
mustered up my spirits again； and was ready for my knife and
fork。 The cloth was only laid for us two； but Agnes was waiting in
the drawing…room before dinner； went down with her father； and
sat opposite to him at table。 I doubted whether he could have
dined without her。
We did not stay there； after dinner； but came upstairs into the
drawing…room again： in one snug corner of which； Agnes set
glasses for her father； and a decanter of port wine。 I thought he
would have missed its usual flavour； if it had been put there for
him by any other hands。
There he sat； taking his wine； and taking a good deal of it； for
two hours； while Agnes played on the piano； worked； and talked to
him and me。 He was； for the most part； gay and cheerful with us；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
but sometimes his eyes rested on her； and he fell into a brooding
state； and was silent。 She always observed this quickly； I thought；
and always roused him with a question or caress。 Then he came
out of his meditation； and drank more wine。
Agnes made the tea； and presided over it； and the time passed
away after it； as after dinner； until she went to bed； when her
father took her in his arms and kissed her； and； she being gone；
ordered candles in his office。 Then I went to bed too。
But in the course of the evening I had rambled down to the
door； and a little way along the street； that I might have another
peep at the old houses； and the grey Cathedral； and might think of
my coming through that old city on my journey； and of my passing
the very house I lived in； without knowing it。 As I came back； I saw
Uriah Heep shutting up the office； and feeling friendly towards
everybody； went in and spoke to him； and at parting； gave him my
hand。 But oh； what a clammy hand his was！ as ghostly to the touch
as to the sight！ I rubbed mine afterwards； to warm it； and to rub his
off。
It was such an uncomfortable hand； that； when I went to my
room； it was still cold and wet upon my memory。 Leaning out of
the window； and seeing one of the faces on the beam…ends looking
at me sideways； I fancied it was Uriah Heep got up there
somehow； and shut him out in a hurry。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 16
I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE
Next morning； after breakfast； I entered on school life
again。 I went； accompanied by Mr。 Wickfield； to the
scene of my future studies—a grave building in a
courtyard； with a learned air about it that seemed very well suited
to the stray rooks and jackdaws who came down from the
Cathedral towers to walk with a clerkly bearing on the grass…
plot—and was introduced to my new master； Doctor Strong。
Doctor Strong looked almost as rusty； to my thinking； as the tall
iron rails and gates outside the house； and almost as stiff and
heavy as the great stone urns that flanked them； and were set up；
on the top of the red…brick wall； at regular distances all round the
court； like sublimated skittles； for Time to play at。 He was in his
library （I mean Doctor Strong was）； with his clothes not
particularly well brushed； and his hair not particularly well
combed； his knee…smalls unbraced； his long black gaiters
unbuttoned； and his shoes yawning like two caverns on the
hearth…rug。 Turning upon me a lustreless eye； that reminded me
of a long…forgotten blind old horse who once used to crop the
grass； and tumble over the graves； in Blu
