david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第88章

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‘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　
delight　to　know　that；　when　they　suffer；　they　don’t　feel！　Sometimes　
I　have　been　quite　uneasy　for　that　sort　of　people；　but　now　I　shall　
just　dismiss　the　idea　of　them；　altogether。　Live　and　learn。　I　had　my　
doubts；　I　confess；　but　now　they’re　cleared　up。　I　didn’t　know；　and　
now　I　do　know；　and　that　shows　the　advantage　of　asking—don’t　it？’　

I　believed　that　Steerforth　had　said　what　he　had；　in　jest；　or　to　
draw　Miss　Dartle　out；　and　I　expected　him　to　say　as　much　when　she　
was　gone；　and　we　two　were　sitting　before　the　fire。　But　he　merely　
asked　me　what　I　thought　of　her。　

‘She　is　very　clever；　is　she　not？’　I　asked。　

‘Clever！　She　brings　everything　to　a　grindstone；’　said　Steerforth；　
and　sharpens　it；　as　she　has　sharpened　her　own　face　and　figure　
these　years　past。　She　has　worn　herself　away　by　constant　
sharpening。　She　is　all　edge。’　

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David　Copperfield　

‘What　a　remarkable　scar　that　is　upon　her　lip！’　I　said。　

Steerforth’s　face　fell；　and　he　paused　a　moment。　

‘Why；　the　fact　is；’　he　returned；　‘I　did　that。’　

‘By　an　unfortunate　accident！’　

‘No。　I　was　a　young　boy；　and　she　exasperated　me；　and　I　threw　a　
hammer　at　her。　A　promising　young　angel　I　must　have　been！’　I　was　
deeply　sorry　to　have　touched　on　such　a　painful　theme；　but　that　
was　useless　now。　

‘She　has　borne　the　mark　ever　since；　as　you　see；’　said　Steerforth；　
‘and　she’ll　bear　it　to　her　grave；　if　she　ever　rests　in　one—though　I　
can　hardly　believe　she　will　ever　rest　anywhere。　She　was　the　
motherless　child　of　a　sort　of　cousin　of　my　father’s。　He　died　one　day。　
My　mother；　who　was　then　a　widow；　brought　her　here　to　be　
company　to　her。　She　has　a　couple　of　thousand　pounds　of　her　own；　
and　saves　the　interest　of　it　every　year；　to　add　to　the　principal。　
There’s　the　history　of　Miss　Rosa　Dartle　for　you。’　

‘And　I　have　no　doubt　she　loves　you　like　a　brother？’　said　I。　

‘Humph！’　retorted　Steerforth；　looking　at　the　fire。　‘Some　
brothers　are　not　loved　over　much；　and　some　love—but　help　
yourself；　Copperfield！　We’ll　drink　the　daisies　of　the　field；　in　
compliment　to　you；　and　the　lilies　of　the　valley　that　toil　not；　neither　
do　they　spin；　in　compliment　to　me—the　more　shame　for　me！’　A　
moody　smile　that　had　overspread　his　features　cleared　off　as　he　
said　this　merrily；　and　he　was　his　own　frank；　winning　self　again。　

I　could　not　help　glancing　at　the　scar　with　a　painful　interest　
when　we　went　in　to　tea。　It　was　not　long　before　I　observed　that　it　
was　the　most　susceptible　part　of　her　face；　and　that；　when　she　
turned　pale；　that　mark　altered　first；　and　became　a　dull；　leadcoloured　streak；　lengthening　out　to　its　full　extent；　like　a　mark　in　

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David　Copperfield　

invisible　ink　brought　to　the　fire。　There　was　a　little　altercation　
between　her　and　Steerforth　about　a　cast　of　the　dice　at　back　
gammon—when　I　thought　her；　for　one　moment；　in　a　storm　of　rage；　
and　then　I　saw　it　start　forth　like　the　old　writing　on　the　wall。　

It　was　no　matter　of　wonder　to　me　to　find　Mrs。　Steerforth　
devoted　to　her　son。　She　seemed　to　be　able　to　speak　or　think　about　
nothing　else。　She　showed　me　his　picture　as　an　infant；　in　a　locket；　
with　some　of　his　baby…hair　in　it；　she　showed　me　his　picture　as　he　
had　been　when　I　first　knew　him；　and　she　wore　at　her　breast　his　
picture　as　he　was　now。　All　the　letters　he　had　ever　written　to　her；　
she　kept　in　a　cabinet　near　her　own　chair　by　the　fire；　and　she　would　
have　read　me　some　of　them；　and　I　should　have　been　very　glad　to　
hear　them　too；　if　he　had　not　interposed；　and　coaxed　her　out　of　the　
design。　

‘It　was　at　Mr。　Creakle’s；　my　son　tells　me；　that　you　first　became　
acquainted；’　said　Mrs。　Steerforth；　as　she　and　I　were　talking　at　one　
table；　while　they　played　backgammon　at　another。　‘Indeed；　I　
recollect　his　speaking；　at　that　time；　of　a　pupil　younger　than　himself　
who　had　taken　his　fancy　there；　but　your　name；　as　you　may　
suppose；　has　not　lived　in　my　memory。’　

‘He　was　very　generous　and　noble　to　me　in　those　days；　I　assure　
you；　ma’am；’　said　I；　‘and　I　stood　in　need　of　such　a　friend。　I　should　
have　been　quite　crushed　without　him。’　

‘He　is　always　generous　and　noble；’　said　Mrs。　Steerforth；　
proudly。　

I　subscribed　to　this　with　all　my　heart；　God　knows。　She　knew　I　
did；　for　the　stateliness　of　her　manner　already　abated　towards　me；　
except　when　she　spoke　in　praise　of　him；　and　then　her　air　was　
always　lofty。　

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David　Copperfield　

‘It　was　not　a　fit　school　generally　for　my　son；’　said　she；　‘far　from　
it；　but　there　were　particular　circumstances　to　be　considered　at　the　
time；　of　more　importance　even　than　that　selection。　My　son’s　high　
spirit　made　it　desirable　that　he　should　be　placed　with　some　man　
who　felt　its　superiority；　and　would　be　content　to　bow　himself　
before　it；　and　we　found　such　a　man　there。’　

I　knew　that；　knowing　the　fellow。　And　yet　I　did　not　despise　him　
the　more　for　it；　but　thought　it　a　redeeming　quality　in　him　if　he　
could　be　allowed　any　grace　for　not　resisting　one　so　irresistible　as　
Steerforth。　

‘My　son’s　great　capacity　was　tempted　on；　there；　by　a　feeling　of　
voluntary　emulation　and　conscious　pride；’　the　fond　lady　went　on　to　
say。　‘He　would　have　risen　against　all　constraint；　but　he　found　
himself　the　monarch　of　the　place；　and　he　haughtily　determined　to　
be　worthy　of　his　station。　It　was　like　himself。’　

I　echoed；　with　all　my　heart　and　soul；　that　it　was　like　himself。　

‘So　my　son　took；　of　his　own　will；　and　on　no　compulsion；　to　the　
course　in　which　he　can　always；　when　it　is　his　pleasure；　outstrip　
every　competitor；’　she　pursued。　‘My　son　informs　me；　Mr。　
Copperfield；　that　you　were　quite　devoted　to　him；　and　that　when　
you　met　yesterday　you　made　yourself　known　to　him　with　tears　of　
joy。　I　should　be　an　affected　woman　if　I　made　any　pretence　of　being　
surprised　by　my　son’s　inspiring　such　emotions；　but　I　cannot　be　
indifferent　to　anyone　who　is　so　sensible　of　his　merit；　and　I　am　very　
glad　to　see　you　here；　and　can　assure　you　that　he　feels　an　unusual　
friendship　for　you；　and　that　you　may　rely　on　his　protection。’　

Miss　Dartle　played　backgammon　as　eagerly　as　she　did　
everything　else。　If　I　had　seen　her；　first；　at　the　board；　I　should　have　
fancied　that　her　figure　had　got　thin；　and　her　eyes　had　got　large；　

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David　Copperfield　

over　that　pursuit；　and　no　other　in　the　world。　But　I　am　very　much　
mistaken　if　she　missed　a　word　of　this；　or　lost　a　look　of　mine　as　I　
received　it　with　the　utmost　pleasure；　and　honoured　by　Mrs。　
Steerforth’s　confidence；　felt　older　than　I　had　done　since　I　left　
Canterbury。　

When　the　evening　was　pretty　far　spent；　and　a　tray　of　glasses　
and　decanters　came　in；　Steerforth　promised；　over　the　fire；　that　he　
would　seriously　think　of　going　down　into　the　country　with　me。　
There　was　no　hurry；　he　said；　a　week　hence　would　do；　and　his　
mother　hospitably　said　the　same。　While　we　were　talking；　he　more　
than　once　called　me　Daisy；　which　brought　Miss　Dartle　out　again。　

‘But　really；　Mr。　Copperfield；’　she　asked；　‘is　it　a　nickname？　And　
why　does　he　give　it　you？　Is　it—eh？—because　he　thinks　you　young　
and　innocent？　I　am　so　stupid　in　these　things。’　

I　coloured　in　replying　that　I　believed　it　was。　

‘Oh！’　said　Miss　Dartle。　‘Now　I　am　glad　to　know　that！　I　ask　for　
information；　and　I　am　glad　to　know　it。　He　thinks　you　young　and　
innocent；　and　so　you　are　his　friend。　Well；　that’s　quite　delightful！’　

She　went　to　bed　soon　after　this；　and　Mrs。　Steerforth　retired　too。　
Steerforth　and　I；　after　lingering　for　half…an…hour　over　the　fire；　
talking　about　Traddles　and　all　the　rest　of　them　at　old　Salem　
House；　went　upstairs　together。　Steerforth’s　room　was　next　to　
mine；　and　I　went　in　to　look　at　it。　It　was　a　picture　of　comfort；　full　of　
easy…chairs；　cushions　and　footstools；　worked　by　his　mother’s　hand；　
and　with　no　sort　of　thing　omitted　that　could　help　to　render　it　
complete。　Finally；　her　handsome　features　looked　do