david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第94章
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in that； you’ll say。 No； because he takes care on her； like a brother；
arter dark； and indeed afore dark； and at all times。 But this
tarpaulin chap； he takes hold of her hand； and he cries out to me；
joyful； “Look here！ This is to be my little wife！” And she says； half
bold and half shy； and half a laughing and half a crying； “Yes；
Uncle！ If you please。”—If I please！’ cried Mr。 Peggotty； rolling his
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David Copperfield
head in an ecstasy at the idea； ‘Lord； as if I should do anythink
else！—“If you please； I am steadier now； and I have thought better
of it； and I’ll be as good a little wife as I can to him； for he’s a dear；
good fellow！” Then Missis Gummidge； she claps her hands like a
play； and you come in。 Theer！ the murder’s out！’ said Mr。
Peggotty—‘You come in！ It took place this here present hour； and
here’s the man that’ll marry her； the minute she’s out of her time。’
Ham staggered； as well he might； under the blow Mr。 Peggotty
dealt him in his unbounded joy； as a mark of confidence and
friendship； but feeling called upon to say something to us； he said；
with much faltering and great difficulty：
‘She warn’t no higher than you was； Mas’r Davy—when you
first come—when I thought what she’d grow up to be。 I see her
grown up—gent’lmen—like a flower。 I’d lay down my life for her—
Mas’r Davy—Oh！ most content and cheerful！ She’s more to me—
gent’lmen—than—she’s all to me that ever I can want； and more
than ever I—than ever I could say。 I—I love her true。 There ain’t a
gent’lman in all the land—nor yet sailing upon all the sea—that
can love his lady more than I love her； though there’s many a
common man—would say better—what he meant。’
I thought it affecting to see such a sturdy fellow as Ham was
now； trembling in the strength of what he felt for the pretty little
creature who had won his heart。 I thought the simple confidence
reposed in us by Mr。 Peggotty and by himself； was； in itself；
affecting。 I was affected by the story altogether。 How far my
emotions were influenced by the recollections of my childhood； I
don’t know。 Whether I had come there with any lingering fancy
that I was still to love little Em’ly； I don’t know。 I know that I was
filled with pleasure by all this； but； at first； with an indescribably
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David Copperfield
sensitive pleasure； that a very little would have changed to pain。
Therefore； if it had depended upon me to touch the prevailing
chord among them with any skill； I should have made a poor hand
of it。 But it depended upon Steerforth； and he did it with such
address； that in a few minutes we were all as easy and as happy as
it was possible to be。
‘Mr。 Peggotty；’ he said； ‘you are a thoroughly good fellow； and
deserve to be as happy as you are tonight。 My hand upon it！ Ham；
I give you joy； my boy。 My hand upon that； too！ Daisy； stir the fire；
and make it a brisk one！ and Mr。 Peggotty； unless you can induce
your gentle niece to come back （for whom I vacate this seat in the
corner）； I shall go。 Any gap at your fireside on such a night—such
a gap least of all—I wouldn’t make； for the wealth of the Indies！’
So Mr。 Peggotty went into my old room to fetch little Em’ly。 At
first little Em’ly didn’t like to come； and then Ham went。 Presently
they brought her to the fireside； very much confused； and very
shy；—but she soon became more assured when she found how
gently and respectfully Steerforth spoke to her； how skilfully he
avoided anything that would embarrass her； how he talked to Mr。
Peggotty of boats； and ships； and tides； and fish； how he referred
to me about the time when he had seen Mr。 Peggotty at Salem
House； how delighted he was with the boat and all belonging to it；
how lightly and easily he carried on； until he brought us； by
degrees； into a charmed circle； and we were all talking away
without any reserve。
Em’ly； indeed； said little all the evening； but she looked； and
listened； and her face got animated； and she was charming。
Steerforth told a story of a dismal shipwreck （which arose out of
his talk with Mr。 Peggotty）； as if he saw it all before him—and little
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David Copperfield
Em’ly’s eyes were fastened on him all the time； as if she saw it too。
He told us a merry adventure of his own； as a relief to that； with as
much gaiety as if the narrative were as fresh to him as it was to
us—and little Em’ly laughed until the boat rang with the musical
sounds； and we all laughed （Steerforth too）； in irresistible
sympathy with what was so pleasant and light…hearted。 He got Mr。
Peggotty to sing； or rather to roar； ‘When the stormy winds do
blow； do blow； do blow’； and he sang a sailor’s song himself； so
pathetically and beautifully； that I could have almost fancied that
the real wind creeping sorrowfully round the house； and
murmuring low through our unbroken silence； was there to listen。
As to Mrs。 Gummidge； he roused that victim of despondency
with a success never attained by anyone else （so Mr。 Peggotty
informed me）； since the decease of the old one。 He left her so little
leisure for being miserable； that she said next day she thought she
must have been bewitched。
But he set up no monopoly of the general attention； or the
conversation。 When little Em’ly grew more courageous； and talked
（but still bashfully） across the fire to me； of our old wanderings
upon the beach； to pick up shells and pebbles； and when I asked
her if she recollected how I used to be devoted to her； and when
we both laughed and reddened； casting these looks back on the
pleasant old times； so unreal to look at now； he was silent and
attentive； and observed us thoughtfully。 She sat； at this time； and
all the evening； on the old locker in her old little corner by the
fire—Ham beside her； where I used to sit。 I could not satisfy
myself whether it was in her own little tormenting way； or in a
maidenly reserve before us； that she kept quite close to the wall；
and away from him； but I observed that she did so； all the evening。
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David Copperfield
As I remember； it was almost midnight when we took our leave。
We had had some biscuit and dried fish for supper； and Steerforth
had produced from his pocket a full flask of Hollands； which we
men （I may say we men； now； without a blush） had emptied。 We
parted merrily； and as they all stood crowded round the door to
light us as far as they could upon our road； I saw the sweet blue
eyes of little Em’ly peeping after us； from behind Ham； and heard
her soft voice calling to us to be careful how we went。
‘A most engaging little Beauty！’ said Steerforth； taking my arm。
‘Well！ It’s a quaint place； and they are quaint company； and it’s
quite a new sensation to mix with them。’
‘How fortunate we are； too；’ I returned； ‘to have arrived to
witness their happiness in that intended marriage！ I never saw
people so happy。 How delightful to see it； and to be made the
sharers in their honest joy； as we have been！’
‘That’s rather a chuckle…headed fellow for the girl； isn’t he？’
said Steerforth。
He had been so hearty with him； and with them all； that I felt a
shock in this unexpected and cold reply。 But turning quickly upon
him； and seeing a laugh in his eyes； I answered； much relieved：
‘Ah； Steerforth！ It’s well for you to joke about the poor！ You
may skirmish with Miss Dartle； or try to hide your sympathies in
jest from me； but I know better。 When I see how perfectly you
understand them； how exquisitely you can enter into happiness
like this plain fisherman’s； or humour a love like my old nurse’s； I
know that there is not a joy or sorrow； not an emotion； of such
people； that can be indifferent to you。 And I admire and love you
for it； Steerforth； twenty times the more！’
He stopped； and； looking in my face； said； ‘Daisy； I believe you
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David Copper
