david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第74章
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raising his eyes from the ground。 When we； at last； reached our
own door； Agnes discovered that she had left her little reticule
behind。 Delighted to be of any service to her； I ran back to fetch it。
I went into the supper…room where it had been left； which was
deserted and dark。 But a door of communication between that and
the Doctor’s study； where there was a light； being open； I passed
on there； to say what I wanted； and to get a candle。
The Doctor was sitting in his easy…chair by the fireside； and his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
young wife was on a stool at his feet。 The Doctor； with a
complacent smile； was reading aloud some manuscript
explanation or statement of a theory out of that interminable
Dictionary； and she was looking up at him。 But with such a face as
I never saw。 It was so beautiful in its form； it was so ashy pale； it
was so fixed in its abstraction； it was so full of a wild； sleepwalking； dreamy horror of I don’t know what。 The eyes were wide
open； and her brown hair fell in two rich clusters on her shoulders；
and on her white dress； disordered by the want of the lost ribbon。
Distinctly as I recollect her look； I cannot say of what it was
expressive； I cannot even say of what it is expressive to me now；
rising again before my older judgement。 Penitence； humiliation；
shame； pride； love； and trustfulness—I see them all； and in them
all； I see that horror of I don’t know what。
My entrance； and my saying what I wanted； roused her。 It
disturbed the Doctor too； for when I went back to replace the
candle I had taken from the table； he was patting her head； in his
fatherly way； and saying he was a merciless drone to let her tempt
him into reading on； and he would have her go to bed。
But she asked him； in a rapid； urgent manner； to let her stay—
to let her feel assured （I heard her murmur some broken words to
this effect） that she was in his confidence that night。 And； as she
turned again towards him； after glancing at me as I left the room
and went out at the door； I saw her cross her hands upon his knee；
and look up at him with the same face； something quieted； as he
resumed his reading。
It made a great impression on me； and I remembered it a long
time afterwards； as I shall have occasion to narrate when the time
comes。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 17
SOMEBODY TURNS UP
It has not occurred to me to mention Peggotty since I ran
away； but； of course； I wrote her a letter almost as soon as I
was housed at Dover； and another； and a longer letter；
containing all particulars fully related； when my aunt took me
formally under her protection。 On my being settled at Doctor
Strong’s I wrote to her again； detailing my happy condition and
prospects。 I never could have derived anything like the pleasure
from spending the money Mr。 Dick had given me； that I felt in
sending a gold half…guinea to Peggotty； per post； enclosed in this
last letter； to discharge the sum I had borrowed of her： in which
epistle； not before； I mentioned about the young man with the
donkey…cart。
To these communications Peggotty replied as promptly； if not
as concisely； as a merchant’s clerk。 Her utmost powers of
expression （which were certainly not great in ink） were exhausted
in the attempt to write what she felt on the subject of my journey。
Four sides of incoherent and interjectional beginnings of
sentences； that had no end； except blots； were inadequate to afford
her any relief。 But the blots were more expressive to me than the
best composition； for they showed me that Peggotty had been
crying all over the paper； and what could I have desired more？
I made out； without much difficulty； that she could not take
quite kindly to my aunt yet。 The notice was too short after so long
a prepossession the other way。 We never knew a person； she
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David Copperfield
wrote； but to think that Miss Betsey should seem to be so different
from what she had been thought to be； was a Moral！—that was her
word。 She was evidently still afraid of Miss Betsey； for she sent her
grateful duty to her but timidly； and she was evidently afraid of
me； too； and entertained the probability of my running away again
soon： if I might judge from the repeated hints she threw out； that
the coach…fare to Yarmouth was always to be had of her for the
asking。
She gave me one piece of intelligence which affected me very
much； namely； that there had been a sale of the furniture at our
old home； and that Mr。 and Miss Murdstone were gone away； and
the house was shut up； to be let or sold。 God knows I had no part
in it while they remained there； but it pained me to think of the
dear old place as altogether abandoned； of the weeds growing tall
in the garden； and the fallen leaves lying thick and wet upon the
paths。 I imagined how the winds of winter would howl round it；
how the cold rain would beat upon the window…glass； how the
moon would make ghosts on the walls of the empty rooms；
watching their solitude all night。 I thought afresh of the grave in
the churchyard； underneath the tree： and it seemed as if the house
were dead too； now； and all connected with my father and mother
were faded away。
There was no other news in Peggotty’s letters。 Mr。 Barkis was
an excellent husband； she said； though still a little near； but we all
had our faults； and she had plenty （though I am sure I don’t know
what they were）； and he sent his duty； and my little bedroom was
always ready for me。 Mr。 Peggotty was well； and Ham was well；
and Mrs。。 Gummidge was but poorly； and little Em’ly wouldn’t
send her love； but said that Peggotty might send it； if she liked。
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David Copperfield
All this intelligence I dutifully imparted to my aunt； only
reserving to myself the mention of little Em’ly； to whom I
instinctively felt that she would not very tenderly incline。 While I
was yet new at Doctor Strong’s； she made several excursions over
to Canterbury to see me； and always at unseasonable hours： with
the view； I suppose； of taking me by surprise。 But； finding me well
employed； and bearing a good character； and hearing on all hands
that I rose fast in the school； she soon discontinued these visits。 I
saw her on a Saturday； every third or fourth week； when I went
over to Dover for a treat； and I saw Mr。 Dick every alternate
Wednesday； when he arrived by stage…coach at noon； to stay until
next morning。
On these occasions Mr。 Dick never travelled without a leathern
writing…desk； containing a supply of stationery and the Memorial；
in relation to which document he had a notion that time was
beginning to press now； and that it really must be got out of hand。
Mr。 Dick was very partial to gingerbread。 To render his visits
the more agreeable； my aunt had instructed me to open a credit
for him at a cake shop； which was hampered with the stipulation
that he should not be served with more than one shilling’s…worth
in the course of any one day。 This； and the reference of all his little
bills at the county inn where he slept； to my aunt； before they were
paid； induced me to suspect that he was only allowed to rattle his
money； and not to spend it。 I found on further investigation that
this was so； or at least there was an agreement between him and
my aunt that he should account to her for all his disbursements。
As he had no idea of deceiving her； and always desired to please
her； he was thus made chary of launching into expense。 On this
point； as well as on all other possible points； Mr。 Dick was
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David Copperfield
convinced that my aunt was the wisest and most wonderful of
women； as he repeatedly told me with infinite secrecy； and always
in a whisper。
‘Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Dick； with an air of mystery； after
imparting this confidence to me； one Wednesday； ‘who’s the man
that hides near our house and frightens her？’
‘Frightens my aunt； sir？’
