david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第97章
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blooming little creature at his side。 Indeed； there was a frankness
in his face； an honesty； and an undisguised show of his pride in
her； and his love for her； which were； to me； the best of good looks。
I thought； as they came towards us； that they were well matched
even in that particular。
She withdrew her hand timidly from his arm as we stopped to
speak to them； and blushed as she gave it to Steerforth and to me。
When they passed on； after we had exchanged a few words； she
did not like to replace that hand； but； still appearing timid and
constrained； walked by herself。 I thought all this very pretty and
engaging； and Steerforth seemed to think so too； as we looked
after them fading away in the light of a young moon。
Suddenly there passed us—evidently following them—a young
woman whose approach we had not observed； but whose face I
saw as she went by； and thought I had a faint remembrance of。
She was lightly dressed； looked bold； and haggard； and flaunting；
and poor； but seemed； for the time； to have given all that to the
wind which was blowing； and to have nothing in her mind but
going after them。 As the dark distant level； absorbing their figures
into itself； left but itself visible between us and the sea and clouds；
her figure disappeared in like manner； still no nearer to them than
before。
‘That is a black shadow to be following the girl；’ said Steerforth；
standing still； ‘what does it mean？’
He spoke in a low voice that sounded almost strange to Me。
‘She must have it in her mind to beg of them； I think；’ said I。
‘A beggar would be no novelty；’ said Steerforth； ‘but it is a
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strange thing that the beggar should take that shape tonight。’
‘Why？’ I asked。
‘For no better reason； truly； than because I was thinking；’ he
said； after a pause； ‘of something like it； when it came by。 Where
the Devil did it come from； I wonder！’
‘From the shadow of this wall； I think；’ said I； as we emerged
upon a road on which a wall abutted。
‘It’s gone！’ he returned； looking over his shoulder。 ‘And all ill go
with it。 Now for our dinner！’
But he looked again over his shoulder towards the sea…line
glimmering afar off； and yet again。 And he wondered about it； in
some broken expressions； several times； in the short remainder of
our walk； and only seemed to forget it when the light of fire and
candle shone upon us； seated warm and merry； at table。
Littimer was there； and had his usual effect upon me。 When I
said to him that I hoped Mrs。 Steerforth and Miss Dartle were
well； he answered respectfully （and of course respectably）； that
they were tolerably well； he thanked me； and had sent their
compliments。 This was all； and yet he seemed to me to say as
plainly as a man could say： ‘You are very young； sir； you are
exceedingly young。’
We had almost finished dinner； when taking a step or two
towards the table； from the corner where he kept watch upon us；
or rather upon me； as I felt； he said to his master：
‘I beg your pardon； sir。 Miss Mowcher is down here。’
‘Who？’ cried Steerforth； much astonished。
‘Miss Mowcher； sir。’
‘Why； what on earth does she do here？’ said Steerforth。
‘It appears to be her native part of the country； sir。 She informs
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David Copperfield
me that she makes one of her professional visits here； every year；
sir。 I met her in the street this afternoon； and she wished to know
if she might have the honour of waiting on you after dinner； sir。’
‘Do you know the Giantess in question； Daisy？’ inquired
Steerforth。
I was obliged to confess—I felt ashamed； even of being at this
disadvantage before Littimer—that Miss Mowcher and I were
wholly unacquainted。
‘Then you shall know her；’ said Steerforth； ‘for she is one of the
seven wonders of the world。 When Miss Mowcher comes； show her
in。’
I felt some curiosity and excitement about this lady； especially
as Steerforth burst into a fit of laughing when I referred to her；
and positively refused to answer any question of which I made her
the subject。 I remained； therefore； in a state of considerable
expectation until the cloth had been removed some half an hour；
and we were sitting over our decanter of wine before the fire；
when the door opened； and Littimer； with his habitual serenity
quite undisturbed； announced：
‘Miss Mowcher！’
I looked at the doorway and saw nothing。 I was still looking at
the doorway； thinking that Miss Mowcher was a long while
making her appearance； when； to my infinite astonishment； there
came waddling round a sofa which stood between me and it； a
pursy dwarf； of about forty or forty…five； with a very large head and
face； a pair of roguish grey eyes； and such extremely little arms；
that； to enable herself to lay a finger archly against her snub nose；
as she ogled Steerforth； she was obliged to meet the finger halfway； and lay her nose against it。 Her chin； which was what is
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called a double chin； was so fat that it entirely swallowed up the
strings of her bonnet； bow and all。 Throat she had none； waist she
had none； legs she had none； worth mentioning； for though she
was more than full…sized down to where her waist would have
been； if she had had any； and though she terminated； as human
beings generally do； in a pair of feet； she was so short that she
stood at a common…sized chair as at a table； resting a bag she
carried on the seat。 This lady—dressed in an off…hand； easy style；
bringing her nose and her forefinger together； with the difficulty I
have described； standing with her head necessarily on one side；
and； with one of her sharp eyes shut up； making an uncommonly
knowing face—after ogling Steerforth for a few moments； broke
into a torrent of words。
‘What！ My flower！’ she pleasantly began； shaking her large head
at him。 ‘You’re there； are you！ Oh； you naughty boy； fie for shame；
what do you do so far away from home？ Up to mischief； I’ll be
bound。 Oh； you’re a downy fellow； Steerforth； so you are； and I’m
another； ain’t I？ Ha； ha； ha！ You’d have betted a hundred pound to
five； now； that you wouldn’t have seen me here； wouldn’t you？
Bless you； man alive； I’m everywhere。 I’m here and there； and
where not； like the conjurer’s half…crown in the lady’s
handkercher。 Talking of handkerchers—and talking of ladies—
what a comfort you are to your blessed mother； ain’t you； my dear
boy； over one of my shoulders； and I don’t say which！’
Miss Mowcher untied her bonnet； at this passage of her
discourse； threw back the strings； and sat down； panting； on a
footstool in front of the fire—making a kind of arbour of the dining
table； which spread its mahogany shelter above her head。
‘Oh my stars and what’s…their…names！’ she went on； clapping a
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hand on each of her little knees； and glancing shrewdly at me； ‘I’m
of too full a habit； that’s the fact； Steerforth。 After a flight of stairs；
it gives me as much trouble to draw every breath I want； as if it
was a bucket of water。 If you saw me looking out of an upper
window； you’d think I was a fine woman； wouldn’t you？’
‘I should think that； wherever I saw you；’ replied Steerforth。
‘Go along； you dog； do！’ cried the little creature； making a whisk
at him with the handkerchief with which she was wiping her face；
‘and don’t be impudent！ But I give you my word and honour I was
at Lady Mithers’s last week—there’s a woman！ How she wears！—
and Mithers himself came into the room where I was waiting for
her—there’s a man！ How he wears！ and his wig too； for he’s had it
these ten years—and he went on at that rate in the complimentary
line； that I began to think I should be obliged to ring the bell。 Ha！
ha！ ha！ He’s a pleasant wretch； but he wants principle。’
‘What were you doing for Lady Mithers？’ asked Steerforth。
‘That’s t
