david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第79章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
David Copperfield 363
partridge; and a pudding。 There was wine; and there was strong
ale; and after dinner Mrs。 Micawber made us a bowl of hot punch
with her own hands。
Mr。 Micawber was uncommonly convivial。 I never saw him such
good company。 He made his face shine with the punch; so that it
looked as if it had been varnished all over。 He got cheerfully
sentimental about the town; and proposed success to it; observing
that Mrs。 Micawber and himself had been made extremely snug
and comfortable there and that he never should forget the
agreeable hours they had passed in Canterbury。 He proposed me
afterwards; and he; and Mrs。 Micawber; and I; took a review of our
past acquaintance; in the course of which we sold the property all
over again。 Then I proposed Mrs。 Micawber: or; at least; said;
modestly; ‘If you’ll allow me; Mrs。 Micawber; I shall now have the
pleasure of drinking your health; ma’am。’ On which Mr。 Micawber
delivered an eulogium on Mrs。 Micawber’s character; and said she
had ever been his guide; philosopher; and friend; and that he
would recommend me; when I came to a marrying time of life; to
marry such another woman; if such another woman could be
found。
As the punch disappeared; Mr。 Micawber became still more
friendly and convivial。 Mrs。 Micawber’s spirits becoming elevated;
too; we sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’。 When we came to ‘Here’s a hand;
my trusty frere’; we all joined hands round the table; and when we
declared we would ‘take a right gude Willie Waught’; and hadn’t
the least idea what it meant; we were really affected。
In a word; I never saw anybody so thoroughly jovial as Mr。
Micawber was; down to the very last moment of the evening; when
I took a hearty farewell of himself and his amiable wife。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Consequently; I was not prepared; at seven o’clock next morning;
to receive the following communication; dated half past nine in the
evening; a quarter of an hour after I had left him:—
‘My DEAR YOUNG FRIEND;
‘The die is cast—all is over。 Hiding the ravages of care with a
sickly mask of mirth; I have not informed you; this evening; that
there is no hope of the remittance! Under these circumstances;
alike humiliating to endure; humiliating to contemplate; and
humiliating to relate; I have discharged the pecuniary liability
contracted at this establishment; by giving a note of hand; made
payable fourteen days after date; at my residence; Pentonville;
London。 When it becomes due; it will not be taken up。 The result
is destruction。 The bolt is impending; and the tree must fall。
‘Let the wretched man who now addresses you; my dear
Copperfield; be a beacon to you through life。 He writes with that
intention; and in that hope。 If he could think himself of so much
use; one gleam of day might; by possibility; penetrate into the
cheerless dungeon of his remaining existence—though his
longevity is; at present (to say the least of it); extremely
problematical。
‘This is the last communication; my dear Copperfield; you will
ever receive
‘From
The
‘Beggared Outcast;
‘WILKINS MICAWBER。’
I was so shocked by the contents of this heart…rending letter;
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
that I ran off directly towards the little hotel with the intention of
taking it on my way to Doctor Strong’s; and trying to soothe Mr。
Micawber with a word of comfort。 But; half…way there; I met the
London coach with Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber up behind; Mr。
Micawber; the very picture of tranquil enjoyment; smiling at Mrs。
Micawber’s conversation; eating walnuts out of a paper bag; with a
bottle sticking out of his breast pocket。 As they did not see me; I
thought it best; all things considered; not to see them。 So; with a
great weight taken off my mind; I turned into a by…street that was
the nearest way to school; and felt; upon the whole; relieved that
they were gone; though I still liked them very much; nevertheless。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 18
A RETROSPECT
My school…days! The silent gliding on of my existence—
the unseen; unfelt progress of my life—from childhood
up to youth! Let me think; as I look back upon that
flowing water; now a dry channel overgrown with leaves; whether
there are any marks along its course; by which I can remember
how it ran。
A moment; and I occupy my place in the Cathedral; where we
all went together; every Sunday morning; assembling first at
school for that purpose。 The earthy smell; the sunless air; the
sensation of the world being shut out; the resounding of the organ
through the black and white arched galleries and aisles; are wings
that take me back; and hold me hovering above those days; in a
half…sleeping and half…waking dream。
I am not the last boy in the school。 I have risen in a few months;
over several heads。 But the first boy seems to me a mighty
creature; dwelling afar off; whose giddy height is unattainable。
Agnes says ‘No;’ but I say ‘Yes;’ and tell her that she little thinks
what stores of knowledge have been mastered by the wonderful
Being; at whose place she thinks I; even I; weak aspirant; may
arrive in time。 He is not my private friend and public patron; as
Steerforth was; but I hold him in a reverential respect。 I chiefly
wonder what he’ll be; when he leaves Doctor Strong’s; and what
mankind will do to maintain any place against him。
But who is this that breaks upon me? This is Miss Shepherd;
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
whom I love。
Miss Shepherd is a boarder at the Misses Nettingalls’
establishment。 I adore Miss Shepherd。 She is a little girl; in a
spencer; with a round face and curly flaxen hair。 The Misses
Nettingalls’ young ladies come to the Cathedral too。 I cannot look
upon my book; for I must look upon Miss Shepherd。 When the
choristers chaunt; I hear Miss Shepherd。 In the service I mentally
insert Miss Shepherd’s name—I put her in among the Royal
Family。 At home; in my own room; I am sometimes moved to cry
out; ‘Oh; Miss Shepherd!’ in a transport of love。
For some time; I am doubtful of Miss Shepherd’s feelings; but;
at length; Fate being propitious; we meet at the dancing…school。 I
have Miss Shepherd for my partner。 I touch Miss Shepherd’s
glove; and feel a thrill go up the right arm of my jacket; and come
out at my hair。 I say nothing to Miss Shepherd; but we understand
each other。 Miss Shepherd and myself live but to be united。
Why do I secretly give Miss Shepherd twelve Brazil nuts for a
present; I wonder? They are not expressive of affection; they are
difficult to pack into a parcel of any regular shape; they are hard to
crack; even in room doors; and they are oily when cracked; yet I
feel that they are appropriate to Miss Shepherd。 Soft; seedy
biscuits; also; I bestow upon Miss Shepherd; and oranges
innumerable。 Once; I kiss Miss Shepherd in the cloak…room。
Ecstasy! What are my agony and indignation next day; when I
hear a flying rumour that the Misses Nettingall have stood Miss
Shepherd in the stocks for turning in her toes!
Miss Shepherd being the one pervading theme and vision of my
life; how do I ever come to break with her? I can’t conceive。 And
yet a coolness grows between Miss Shepherd and myself。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Whispers reach me of Miss Shepherd having said she wished I
wouldn’t stare so; and having avowed a preference for Master
Jones—for Jones! a boy of no merit whatever! The gulf between
me and Miss Shepherd widens。 At last; one day; I meet the Misses
Nettingalls’ establishment out walking。 Miss Shepherd makes a
face as she goes by; and laughs to her companion。 All is over。 The
devotion of a life—it seems a life; it is all the same—is at an end;
Miss Shepherd comes out of the morning service; and the Royal
Family know her no more。
I am higher in the school; and no one breaks my peace。 I am not
at all polite; now; to the Mi