david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第73章
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several times with her fan （which she kissed first）； and returned
triumphantly to her former station。
Some more company coming in； among whom were the two
masters and Adams； the talk became general； and it naturally
turned on Mr。 Jack Maldon； and his voyage； and the country he
was going to； and his various plans and prospects。 He was to leave
that night； after supper； in a post…chaise； for Gravesend； where the
ship； in which he was to make the voyage； lay； and was to be
gone—unless he came home on leave； or for his health—I don’t
know how many years。 I recollect it was settled by general consent
that India was quite a misrepresented country； and had nothing
objectionable in it； but a tiger or two； and a little heat in the warm
part of the day。 For my own part； I looked on Mr。 Jack Maldon as a
modern Sindbad； and pictured him the bosom friend of all the
Rajahs in the East； sitting under canopies； smoking curly golden
pipes—a mile long； if they could be straightened out。
Mrs。 Strong was a very pretty singer： as I knew； who often
heard her singing by herself。 But； whether she was afraid of
singing before people； or was out of voice that evening； it was
certain that she couldn’t sing at all。 She tried a duet； once； with
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David Copperfield
her cousin Maldon； but could not so much as begin； and
afterwards； when she tried to sing by herself； although she began
sweetly； her voice died away on a sudden； and left her quite
distressed； with her head hanging down over the keys。 The good
Doctor said she was nervous； and； to relieve her； proposed a round
game at cards； of which he knew as much as of the art of playing
the trombone。 But I remarked that the Old Soldier took him into
custody directly； for her partner； and instructed him； as the first
preliminary of initiation； to give her all the silver he had in his
pocket。
We had a merry game； not made the less merry by the Doctor’s
mistakes； of which he committed an innumerable quantity； in spite
of the watchfulness of the butterflies； and to their great
aggravation。 Mrs。 Strong had declined to play； on the ground of
not feeling very well； and her cousin Maldon had excused himself
because he had some packing to do。 When he had done it；
however； he returned； and they sat together； talking； on the sofa。
From time to time she came and looked over the Doctor’s hand；
and told him what to play。 She was very pale； as she bent over
him； and I thought her finger trembled as she pointed out the
cards； but the Doctor was quite happy in her attention； and took
no notice of this； if it were so。
At supper； we were hardly so gay。 Everyone appeared to feel
that a parting of that sort was an awkward thing； and that the
nearer it approached； the more awkward it was。 Mr。 Jack Maldon
tried to be very talkative； but was not at his ease； and made
matters worse。 And they were not improved； as it appeared to me；
by the Old Soldier： who continually recalled passages of Mr。 Jack
Maldon’s youth。
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The Doctor； however； who felt； I am sure； that he was making
everybody happy； was well pleased； and had no suspicion but that
we were all at the utmost height of enjoyment。
‘Annie； my dear；’ said he； looking at his watch； and filling his
glass； ‘it is past your cousin jack’s time； and we must not detain
him； since time and tide—both concerned in this case—wait for no
man。 Mr。 Jack Maldon； you have a long voyage； and a strange
country； before you； but many men have had both； and many men
will have both； to the end of time。 The winds you are going to
tempt； have wafted thousands upon thousands to fortune； and
brought thousands upon thousands happily back。’
‘It’s an affecting thing；’ said Mrs。 Markleham—‘however it’s
viewed； it’s affecting； to see a fine young man one has known from
an infant； going away to the other end of the world； leaving all he
knows behind； and not knowing what’s before him。 A young man
really well deserves constant support and patronage；’ looking at
the Doctor； ‘who makes such sacrifices。’
‘Time will go fast with you； Mr。 Jack Maldon；’ pursued the
Doctor； ‘and fast with all of us。 Some of us can hardly expect；
perhaps； in the natural course of things； to greet you on your
return。 The next best thing is to hope to do it； and that’s my case。 I
shall not weary you with good advice。 You have long had a good
model before you； in your cousin Annie。 Imitate her virtues as
nearly as you can。’
Mrs。 Markleham fanned herself； and shook her head。
‘Farewell； Mr。 Jack；’ said the Doctor； standing up； on which we
all stood up。 ‘A prosperous voyage out； a thriving career abroad；
and a happy return home！’
We all drank the toast； and all shook hands with Mr。 Jack
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David Copperfield
Maldon； after which he hastily took leave of the ladies who were
there； and hurried to the door； where he was received； as he got
into the chaise； with a tremendous broadside of cheers discharged
by our boys； who had assembled on the lawn for the purpose。
Running in among them to swell the ranks； I was very near the
chaise when it rolled away； and I had a lively impression made
upon me； in the midst of the noise and dust； of having seen Mr。
Jack Maldon rattle past with an agitated face； and something
cherry…coloured in his hand。
After another broadside for the Doctor； and another for the
Doctor’s wife； the boys dispersed； and I went back into the house；
where I found the guests all standing in a group about the Doctor；
discussing how Mr。 Jack Maldon had gone away； and how he had
borne it； and how he had felt it； and all the rest of it。 In the midst
of these remarks； Mrs。 Markleham cried： ‘Where’s Annie？’
No Annie was there； and when they called to her； no Annie
replied。 But all pressing out of the room； in a crowd； to see what
was the matter； we found her lying on the hall floor。 There was
great alarm at first； until it was found that she was in a swoon； and
that the swoon was yielding to the usual means of recovery； when
the Doctor； who had lifted her head upon his knee； put her curls
aside with his hand； and said； looking around：
‘Poor Annie！ She’s so faithful and tender…hearted！ It’s the
parting from her old playfellow and friend—her favourite cousin—
that has done this。 Ah！ It’s a pity！ I am very sorry！’
When she opened her eyes； and saw where she was； and that
we were all standing about her； she arose with assistance： turning
her head； as she did so； to lay it on the Doctor’s shoulder—or to
hide it； I don’t know which。 We went into the drawing…room； to
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David Copperfield
leave her with the Doctor and her mother； but she said； it seemed；
that she was better than she had been since morning； and that she
would rather be brought among us； so they brought her in； looking
very white and weak； I thought； and sat her on a sofa。
‘Annie； my dear；’ said her mother； doing something to her
dress。 ‘See here！ You have lost a bow。 Will anybody be so good as
find a ribbon； a cherry…coloured ribbon？’
It was the one she had worn at her bosom。 We all looked for it； I
myself looked everywhere； I am certain—but nobody could find it。
‘Do you recollect where you had it last； Annie？’ said her
mother。
I wondered how I could have thought she looked white； or
anything but burning red； when she answered that she had had it
safe； a little while ago； she thought； but it was not worth looking
for。
Nevertheless； it was looked for again； and still not found。 She
entreated that there might be no more searching； but it was still
sought for； in a desultory way； until she was quite well； and the
company took their departure。
We walked very slowly home； Mr。 Wickfield； Agnes； and I—
Agnes and I admiring the moonlight； and Mr。 Wickfield scarcely
raising his eyes from the ground。 When we； at last； reached our
own door； Agnes discovered that sh
