david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第68章
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of a long…forgotten blind old horse who once used to crop the
grass； and tumble over the graves； in Blunderstone churchyard； he
said he was glad to see me： and then he gave me his hand； which I
didn’t know what to do with； as it did nothing for itself。
But； sitting at work； not far from Doctor Strong； was a very
pretty young lady—whom he called Annie； and who was his
daughter； I supposed—who got me out of my difficulty by kneeling
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David Copperfield
down to put Doctor Strong’s shoes on； and button his gaiters；
which she did with great cheerfulness and quickness。 When she
had finished； and we were going out to the schoolroom； I was
much surprised to hear Mr。 Wickfield； in bidding her good
morning； address her as ‘Mrs。 Strong’； and I was wondering could
she be Doctor Strong’s son’s wife； or could she be Mrs。 Doctor
Strong； when Doctor Strong himself unconsciously enlightened
me。
‘By the by； Wickfield；’ he said； stopping in a passage with his
hand on my shoulder； ‘you have not found any suitable provision
for my wife’s cousin yet？’
‘No；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘No。 Not yet。’
‘I could wish it done as soon as it can be done； Wickfield；’ said
Doctor Strong； ‘for Jack Maldon is needy； and idle； and of those
two bad things； worse things sometimes come。 What does Doctor
Watts say；’ he added； looking at me； and moving his head to the
time of his quotation； ‘“Satan finds some mischief still； for idle
hands to do。”’
‘Egad； Doctor；’ returned Mr。 Wickfield； ‘if Doctor Watts knew
mankind； he might have written； with as much truth； “Satan finds
some mischief still； for busy hands to do。” The busy people achieve
their full share of mischief in the world； you may rely upon it。
What have the people been about； who have been the busiest in
getting money； and in getting power； this century or two？ No
mischief？’
‘Jack Maldon will never be very busy in getting either； I expect；’
said Doctor Strong； rubbing his chin thoughtfully。
‘Perhaps not；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； ‘and you bring me back to the
question； with an apology for digressing。 No； I have not been able
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David Copperfield
to dispose of Mr。 Jack Maldon yet。 I believe；’ he said this with
some hesitation； ‘I penetrate your motive； and it makes the thing
more difficult。’
‘My motive；’ returned Doctor Strong； ‘is to make some suitable
provision for a cousin； and an old playfellow； of Annie’s。’
‘Yes； I know；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； ‘at home or abroad。’
‘Aye！’ replied the Doctor； apparently wondering why he
emphasized those words so much。 ‘At home or abroad。’
‘Your own expression； you know；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘Or
abroad。’
‘Surely；’ the Doctor answered。 ‘Surely。 One or other。’
‘One or other？ Have you no choice？’ asked Mr。 Wickfield。
‘No；’ returned the Doctor。
‘No？’ with astonishment。
‘Not the least。’
‘No motive；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； ‘for meaning abroad； and not at
home？’
‘No；’ returned the Doctor。
‘I am bound to believe you； and of course I do believe you；’ said
Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘It might have simplified my office very much； if I
had known it before。 But I confess I entertained another
impression。’
Doctor Strong regarded him with a puzzled and doubting look；
which almost immediately subsided into a smile that gave me
great encouragement； for it was full of amiability and sweetness；
and there was a simplicity in it； and indeed in his whole manner；
when the studious； pondering frost upon it was got through； very
attractive and hopeful to a young scholar like me。 Repeating ‘no’；
and ‘not the least’； and other short assurances to the same
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purport； Doctor Strong jogged on before us； at a queer； uneven
pace； and we followed： Mr。 Wickfield； looking grave； I observed；
and shaking his head to himself； without knowing that I saw him。
The schoolroom was a pretty large hall； on the quietest side of
the house； confronted by the stately stare of some half…dozen of
the great urns； and commanding a peep of an old secluded garden
belonging to the Doctor； where the peaches were ripening on the
sunny south wall。 There were two great aloes； in tubs； on the turf
outside the windows； the broad hard leaves of which plant
（looking as if they were made of painted tin） have ever since； by
association； been symbolical to me of silence and retirement。
About five…and…twenty boys were studiously engaged at their
books when we went in； but they rose to give the Doctor good
morning； and remained standing when they saw Mr。 Wickfield and
me。
‘A new boy； young gentlemen；’ said the Doctor； ‘Trotwood
Copperfield。’
One Adams； who was the head…boy； then stepped out of his
place and welcomed me。 He looked like a young clergyman； in his
white cravat； but he was very affable and good…humoured； and he
showed me my place； and presented me to the masters； in a
gentlemanly way that would have put me at my ease； if anything
could。
It seemed to me so long； however； since I had been among such
boys； or among any companions of my own age； except Mick
Walker and Mealy Potatoes； that I felt as strange as ever I have
done in my life。 I was so conscious of having passed through
scenes of which they could have no knowledge； and of having
acquired experiences foreign to my age； appearance； and
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condition as one of them； that I half believed it was an imposture
to come there as an ordinary little schoolboy。 I had become； in the
Murdstone and Grinby time； however short or long it may have
been； so unused to the sports and games of boys； that I knew I was
awkward and inexperienced in the commonest things belonging to
them。 Whatever I had learnt； had so slipped away from me in the
sordid cares of my life from day to night； that now； when I was
examined about what I knew； I knew nothing； and was put into the
lowest form of the school。 But； troubled as I was； by my want of
boyish skill； and of book…learning too； I was made infinitely more
uncomfortable by the consideration； that； in what I did know； I
was much farther removed from my companions than in what I
did not。 My mind ran upon what they would think； if they knew of
my familiar acquaintance with the King’s Bench Prison？ Was
there anything about me which would reveal my proceedings in
connexion with the Micawber family—all those pawnings； and
sellings； and suppers—in spite of myself？ Suppose some of the
boys had seen me coming through Canterbury； wayworn and
ragged； and should find me out？ What would they say； who made
so light of money； if they could know how I had scraped my
halfpence together； for the purchase of my daily saveloy and beer；
or my slices of pudding？ How would it affect them； who were so
innocent of London life； and London streets； to discover how
knowing I was （and was ashamed to be） in some of the meanest
phases of both？ All this ran in my head so much； on that first day
at Doctor Strong’s； that I felt distrustful of my slightest look and
gesture； shrunk within myself whensoever I was approached by
one of my new schoolfellows； and hurried off the minute school
was over； afraid of committing myself in my response to any
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friendly notice or advance。
But there was such an influence in Mr。 Wickfield’s old house；
that when I knocked at it； with my new school…books under my
arm； I began to feel my uneasiness softening away。 As I went up to
my airy old room； the grave shadow of the staircase seemed to fall
upon my doubts and fears； and to make the past more indistinct。 I
sat there； sturdily conning my books； until dinner…time （we were
out of school for good at three）； and went down； hopeful of
becoming a passable sort of boy yet。
Agnes was in the drawing…room； waiting for her father； who was
detained by someone in his office。 She
