david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第87章
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
old schoolfellow； and my acceptance of his invitation； we went out
in a hackney…chariot； and saw a Panorama and some other sights；
and took a walk through the Museum； where I could not help
observing how much Steerforth knew； on an infinite variety of
subjects； and of how little account he seemed to make his
knowledge。
‘You’ll take a high degree at college； Steerforth；’ said I； ‘if you
have not done so already； and they will have good reason to be
proud of you。’
‘I take a degree！’ cried Steerforth。 ‘Not I！ my dear Daisy—will
you mind my calling you Daisy？’
‘Not at all！’ said I。
‘That’s a good fellow！ My dear Daisy；’ said Steerforth； laughing。
‘I have not the least desire or intention to distinguish myself in
that way。 I have done quite sufficient for my purpose。 I find that I
am heavy company enough for myself as I am。’
‘But the fame—’ I was beginning。
‘You romantic Daisy！’ said Steerforth； laughing still more
heartily： ‘why should I trouble myself； that a parcel of heavy…
headed fellows may gape and hold up their hands？ Let them do it
at some other man。 There’s fame for him； and he’s welcome to it。’
I was abashed at having made so great a mistake； and was glad
to change the subject。 Fortunately it was not difficult to do； for
Steerforth could always pass from one subject to another with a
carelessness and lightness that were his own。
Lunch succeeded to our sight…seeing； and the short winter day
wore away so fast； that it was dusk when the stage…coach stopped
with us at an old brick house at Highgate on the summit of the hill。
An elderly lady； though not very far advanced in years； with a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
proud carriage and a handsome face； was in the doorway as we
alighted； and greeting Steerforth as ‘My dearest James；’ folded
him in her arms。 To this lady he presented me as his mother； and
she gave me a stately welcome。
It was a genteel old…fashioned house； very quiet and orderly。
From the windows of my room I saw all London lying in the
distance like a great vapour； with here and there some lights
twinkling through it。 I had only time； in dressing； to glance at the
solid furniture； the framed pieces of work （done； I supposed； by
Steerforth’s mother when she was a girl）； and some pictures in
crayons of ladies with powdered hair and bodices； coming and
going on the walls； as the newly…kindled fire crackled and
sputtered； when I was called to dinner。
There was a second lady in the dining…room； of a slight short
figure； dark； and not agreeable to look at； but with some
appearance of good looks too； who attracted my attention： perhaps
because I had not expected to see her； perhaps because I found
myself sitting opposite to her； perhaps because of something really
remarkable in her。 She had black hair and eager black eyes； and
was thin； and had a scar upon her lip。 It was an old scar—I should
rather call it seam； for it was not discoloured； and had healed
years ago—which had once cut through her mouth； downward
towards the chin； but was now barely visible across the table；
except above and on her upper lip； the shape of which it had
altered。 I concluded in my own mind that she was about thirty
years of age； and that she wished to be married。 She was a little
dilapidated—like a house—with having been so long to let； yet
had； as I have said； an appearance of good looks。 Her thinness
seemed to be the effect of some wasting fire within her； which
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
found a vent in her gaunt eyes。
She was introduced as Miss Dartle； and both Steerforth and his
mother called her Rosa。 I found that she lived there； and had been
for a long time Mrs。 Steerforth’s companion。 It appeared to me
that she never said anything she wanted to say； outright； but
hinted it； and made a great deal more of it by this practice。 For
example； when Mrs。 Steerforth observed； more in jest than
earnest； that she feared her son led but a wild life at college； Miss
Dartle put in thus：
‘Oh； really？ You know how ignorant I am； and that I only ask
for information； but isn’t it always so？ I thought that kind of life
was on all hands understood to be—eh？’
‘It is education for a very grave profession； if you mean that；
Rosa；’ Mrs。 Steerforth answered with some coldness。
‘Oh！ Yes！ That’s very true；’ returned Miss Dartle。 ‘But isn’t it；
though？—I want to be put right； if I am wrong—isn’t it； really？’
‘Really what？’ said Mrs。 Steerforth。
‘Oh！ You mean it’s not！’ returned Miss Dartle。 ‘Well； I’m very
glad to hear it！ Now； I know what to do！ That’s the advantage of
asking。 I shall never allow people to talk before me about
wastefulness and profligacy； and so forth； in connexion with that
life； any more。’
‘And you will be right；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth。 ‘My son’s tutor is a
conscientious gentleman； and if I had not implicit reliance on my
son； I should have reliance on him。’
‘Should you？’ said Miss Dartle。 ‘Dear me！ Conscientious； is he？
Really conscientious； now？’
‘Yes； I am convinced of it；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth。
‘How very nice！’ exclaimed Miss Dartle。 ‘What a comfort！ Really
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
conscientious？ Then he’s not—but of course he can’t be； if he’s
really conscientious。 Well； I shall be quite happy in my opinion of
him； from this time。 You can’t think how it elevates him in my
opinion； to know for certain that he’s really conscientious！’
Her own views of every question； and her correction of
everything that was said to which she was opposed； Miss Dartle
insinuated in the same way： sometimes； I could not conceal from
myself； with great power； though in contradiction even of
Steerforth。 An instance happened before dinner was done。 Mrs。
Steerforth speaking to me about my intention of going down into
Suffolk； I said at hazard how glad I should be； if Steerforth would
only go there with me； and explaining to him that I was going to
see my old nurse； and Mr。 Peggotty’s family； I reminded him of the
boatman whom he had seen at school。
‘Oh！ That bluff fellow！’ said Steerforth。 ‘He had a son with him；
hadn’t he？’
‘No。 That was his nephew；’ I replied； ‘whom he adopted；
though； as a son。 He has a very pretty little niece too； whom he
adopted as a daughter。 In short； his house—or rather his boat； for
he lives in one； on dry land—is full of people who are objects of his
generosity and kindness。 You would be delighted to see that
household。’
‘Should I？’ said Steerforth。 ‘Well； I think I should。 I must see
what can be done。 It would be worth a journey （not to mention the
pleasure of a journey with you； Daisy）； to see that sort of people
together； and to make one of ’em。’
My heart leaped with a new hope of pleasure。 But it was in
reference to the tone in which he had spoken of ‘that sort of
people’； that Miss Dartle； whose sparkling eyes had been watchful
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
of us； now broke in again。
‘Oh； but； really？ Do tell me。 Are they； though？’ she said。
‘Are they what？ And are who what？’ said Steerforth。
‘That sort of people。—Are they really animals and clods； and
beings of another order？ I want to know so much。’
‘Why； there’s a pretty wide separation between them and us；’
said Steerforth； with indifference。 ‘They are not to be expected to
be as sensitive as we are。 Their delicacy is not to be shocked； or
hurt easily。 They are wonderfully virtuous； I dare say—some
people contend for that； at least； and I am sure I don’t want to
contradict them—but they have not very fine natures； and they
may be thankful that； like their coarse rough skins； they are not
easily wounded。’
‘Really！’ said Miss Dartle。 ‘Well； I don’t know； now； when I have
been better pleased than to hear that。 It’s so consoling！ It’s such a
de
