david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第102部分

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the　way；　and　when　we　parted；　and　I　looked　after　him　going　so　
gallantly　and　airily　homeward；　I　thought　of　his　saying；　‘Ride　on　
over　all　obstacles；　and　win　the　race！’　and　wished；　for　the　first　time；　
that　he　had　some　worthy　race　to　run。　

I　was　undressing　in　my　own　room；　when　Mr。　Micawber’s　letter　
tumbled　on　the　floor。　Thus　reminded　of　it；　I　broke　the　seal　and　
read　as　follows。　It　was　dated　an　hour　and　a　half　before　dinner。　I　am　
not　sure　whether　I　have　mentioned　that；　when　Mr。　Micawber　was　
at　any　particularly　desperate　crisis；　he　used　a　sort　of　legal　
phraseology；　which　he　seemed　to　think　equivalent　to　winding　up　
his　affairs。　

‘SIR—for　I　dare　not　say　my　dear　Copperfield；　
‘It　is　expedient　that　I　should　inform　you　that　the　undersigned　is　

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Crushed。　Some　flickering　efforts　to　spare　you　the　premature　
knowledge　of　his　calamitous　position；　you　may　observe　in　him　this　
day；　but　hope　has　sunk　beneath　the　horizon；　and　the　undersigned　
is　Crushed。　

‘The　present　communication　is　penned　within　the　personal　
range　（I　cannot　call　it　the　society）　of　an　individual；　in　a　state　
closely　bordering　on　intoxication；　employed　by　a　broker。　That　
individual　is　in　legal　possession　of　the　premises；　under　a　distress　
for　rent。　His　inventory　includes；　not　only　the　chattels　and　effects　of　
every　description　belonging　to　the　undersigned；　as　yearly　tenant　of　
this　habitation；　but　also　those　appertaining　to　Mr。　Thomas　
Traddles；　lodger；　a　member　of　the　Honourable　Society　of　the　Inner　
Temple。　

‘If　any　drop　of　gloom　were　wanting　in　the　overflowing　cup；　
which　is　now　“commended”　（in　the　language　of　an　immortal　
Writer）　to　the　lips　of　the　undersigned；　it　would　be　found　in　the　
fact；　that　a　friendly　acceptance　granted　to　the　undersigned；　by　the　
before…mentioned　Mr。　Thomas　Traddles；　for　the　sum　of　￡23l　4s。　
9。d。　is　over　due；　and　is　not　provided　for。　Also；　in　the　fact　that　the　
living　responsibilities　clinging　to　the　undersigned　will；　in　the　
course　of　nature；　be　increased　by　the　sum　of　one　more　helpless　
victim；　whose　miserable　appearance　may　be　looked　for—in　round　
numbers—at　the　expiration　of　a　period　not　exceeding　six　lunar　
months　from　the　present　date。　

‘After　premising　thus　much；　it　would　be　a　work　of　
supererogation　to　add；　that　dust　and　ashes　are　for　ever　scattered　
‘On　
‘The　
‘Head　

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‘Of　
‘WILKINS　MICAWBER。’　

Poor　Traddles！　I　knew　enough　of　Mr。　Micawber　by　this　time；　to　
foresee　that　he　might　be　expected　to　recover　the　blow；　but　my　
night’s　rest　was　sorely　distressed　by　thoughts　of　Traddles；　and　of　
the　curate’s　daughter；　who　was　one　of　ten；　down　in　Devonshire；　
and　who　was　such　a　dear　girl；　and　who　would　wait　for　Traddles　
（ominous　praise！）　until　she　was　sixty；　or　any　age　that　could　be　
mentioned。　

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Chapter　29　

I　VISIT　STEERFORTH　AT　HIS　HOME；　AGAIN　

Imentioned　to　Mr。　Spenlow　in　the　morning；　that　I　wanted　
leave　of　absence　for　a　short　time；　and　as　I　was　not　in　the　
receipt　of　any　salary；　and　consequently　was　not　obnoxious　to　
the　implacable　Jorkins；　there　was　no　difficulty　about　it。　I　took　that　
opportunity；　with　my　voice　sticking　in　my　throat；　and　my　sight　
failing　as　I　uttered　the　words；　to　express　my　hope　that　Miss　
Spenlow　was　quite　well；　to　which　Mr。　Spenlow　replied；　with　no　
more　emotion　than　if　he　had　been　speaking　of　an　ordinary　human　
being；　that　he　was　much　obliged　to　me；　and　she　was　very　well。　

We　articled　clerks；　as　germs　of　the　patrician　order　of　proctors；　
were　treated　with　so　much　consideration；　that　I　was　almost　my　
own　master　at　all　times。　As　I　did　not　care；　however；　to　get　to　
Highgate　before　one　or　two　o’clock　in　the　day；　and　as　we　had　
another　little　excommunication　case　in　court　that　morning；　which　
was　called　The　office　of　the　judge　promoted　by　Tipkins　against　
Bullock　for　his　soul’s　correction；　I　passed　an　hour　or　two　in　
attendance　on　it　with　Mr。　Spenlow　very　agreeably。　It　arose　out　of　a　
scuffle　between　two　churchwardens；　one　of　whom　was　alleged　to　
have　pushed　the　other　against　a　pump；　the　handle　of　which　pump　
projecting　into　a　school…house；　which　school…house　was　under　a　
gable　of　the　church…roof；　made　the　push　an　ecclesiastical　offence。　
It　was　an　amusing　case；　and　sent　me　up　to　Highgate；　on　the　box　of　
the　stage…coach；　thinking　about　the　Commons；　and　what　Mr。　
Spenlow　had　said　about　touching　the　Commons　and　bringing　

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down　the　country。　

Mrs。　Steerforth　was　pleased　to　see　me；　and　so　was　Rosa　Dartle。　
I　was　agreeably　surprised　to　find　that　Littimer　was　not　there；　and　
that　we　were　attended　by　a　modest　little　parlour…maid；　with　blue　
ribbons　in　her　cap；　whose　eye　it　was　much　more　pleasant；　and　
much　less　disconcerting；　to　catch　by　accident；　than　the　eye　of　that　
respectable　man。　But　what　I　particularly　observed；　before　I　had　
been　half…an…hour　in　the　house；　was　the　close　and　attentive　watch　
Miss　Dartle　kept　upon　me；　and　the　lurking　manner　in　which　she　
seemed　to　compare　my　face　with　Steerforth’s；　and　Steerforth’s　
with　mine；　and　to　lie　in　wait　for　something　to　come　out　between　
the　two。　So　surely　as　I　looked　towards　her；　did　I　see　that　eager　
visage；　with　its　gaunt　black　eyes　and　searching　brow；　intent　on　
mine；　or　passing　suddenly　from　mine　to　Steerforth’s；　or　
comprehending　both　of　us　at　once。　In　this　lynx…like　scrutiny　she　
was　so　far　from　faltering　when　she　saw　I　observed　it；　that　at　such　a　
time　she　only　fixed　her　piercing　look　upon　me　with　a　more　intent　
expression　still。　Blameless　as　I　was；　and　knew　that　I　was；　in　
reference　to　any　wrong　she　could　possibly　suspect　me　of；　I　shrunk　
before　her　strange　eyes；　quite　unable　to　endure　their　hungry　
lustre。　

All　day；　she　seemed　to　pervade　the　whole　house。　If　I　talked　to　
Steerforth　in　his　room；　I　heard　her　dress　rustle　in　the　little　gallery　
outside。　When　he　and　I　engaged　in　some　of　our　old　exercises　on　
the　lawn　behind　the　house；　I　saw　her　face　pass　from　window　to　
window；　like　a　wandering　light；　until　it　fixed　itself　in　one；　and　
watched　us。　When　we　all　four　went　out　walking　in　the　afternoon；　
she　closed　her　thin　hand　on　my　arm　like　a　spring；　to　keep　me　back；　
while　Steerforth　and　his　mother　went　on　out　of　hearing：　and　then　

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spoke　to　me。　

‘You　have　been　a　long　time；’　she　said；　‘without　coming　here。　Is　
your　profession　really　so　engaging　and　interesting　as　to　absorb　
your　whole　attention？　I　ask　because　I　always　want　to　be　informed；　
when　I　am　ignorant。　Is　it　really；　though？’　

I　replied　that　I　liked　it　well　enough；　but　that　I　certainly　could　
not　claim　so　much　for　it。　

‘Oh！　I　am　glad　to　know　that；　because　I　always　like　to　be　put　
right　when　I　am　wrong；’　said　Rosa　Dartle。　‘You　mean　it　is　a　little　
dry；　perhaps？’　

‘Well；’　I　replied；　‘perhaps　it　was　a　little　dry。’　

‘Oh！　and　that’s　a　reason　why　you　want　relief　and　change—　
excitement　and　all　that？’　said　she。　‘Ah！　very　true！　But　isn’t　it　a　
little—Eh？—for　him；　I　don’t　mean　you？’　

A　quick　glance　of　her　eye　towards　the　spot　where　Steerforth　
was　walking；　with　his　mother　leaning　on　his　arm；　showed　me　
whom　she　meant；　but　beyond　that；　I　was　quite　lost。　And　I　looked　
so；　I　have　no　doubt。　

‘Don’t　it—I　don’t　say　that　it　does；　mind　I　want　to　know—don’t　it　
rather　engross　him？　Don’t　it　make　him；　perhaps；　a　little　more　
remiss　than　usual　in　his　visits　to　his　blindly…doting—eh？’　With　
another　quick　glance　at　them；　and　such　a　glance　at　me　as　seemed　
to　look　into　my　innermost　thoughts。　

‘Miss　Dartle；’　I　returned；　‘pray　do　not　think—’　

‘I　don’t！’　she　said。　‘Oh　dear　me；　don’t　suppose　that　I　think　
anything！　I　am　not　suspicious。　I　only　ask　a　question。　I　don’t　state　
any　opinion。　I　want　to　found　an　opinion　on　what　you　tell　me。　Then；　
it’s　not　so？　Well！　I　am　very　glad　to　know　it。’　

‘It　certainly　is　not　the　fact；’　said　I；　perplexed；　‘that　I　am　

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accountable　for　Steerforth’s　having　been　away　from　home　longer　
than　usual—if　he　has　been：　which　I　really　don’t　know　at　this　
moment；　unless　I　understand　it　from　you。　I　have　not　seen　him　this　
long　while；　until　last　night。’　

‘No？’　

‘Indeed；　Miss　Dartle；　no！’　

As　she　looked　full　at　me；　I　saw　her　face　grow　sharper　and　paler；　
and　the　marks　of　the　old　wound　lengthen　out　until　it　cut　through　
the　disfigured　lip；　and　deep　into　the　nether　lip；　and　slanted　down　
the　face。　There　was　something　positively　awful　to　me　in　this；　and　
in　the　brightness　of　her　eyes；　as　she　said；　looking　fixedly　at　me：　

‘What　is　he　doing？’　

I　repeated　the　words；　more　to　myself　than　her；　being　so　
amazed。　

‘What　is　he　doing？’　she　said；　with　an　eagerness　that　seemed　
enough　to　consume　her　like　a　fire。　‘In　what　is　that　man　assisting　
him；　who　never　looks　at　me　without　an　inscrutable　falsehood　in　his　
eyes？　If　you　are　honourable　and　faithful；　I　don’t　ask　you　to　betray　
your　friend。　I　ask　you　only　to　tell　me；　is　it　anger；　is　it　hatred；　is　it　
pride；　is　it　restlessness；　is　it　some　wild　fancy；　is　it　love；　what　is　it；　
that　is　leading　him？’　

‘Miss　Dartle；’　I　returned；　‘how　shall　I　tell　you；　so　that　you　will　
believe　me；　that　I　know　of　nothing　in　Steerforth　different　from　
what　there　was　when　I　first　came　here？　I　can　think　of　nothing。　I　
firmly　believe　there　is　nothing。　I　hardly　understand　even　what　you　
mean。’　

As　she　still　stood　looking　fixedly　at　me；　a　twitching　or　
throbbing；　from　which　I　could　not　dissociate　the　idea　of　pain；　came　
into　that　cruel　mark；　and　lifted　up　the　corner　of　her　lip　as　if　with　

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scorn；　or　with　a　pity　that　despised　its　object。　She　put　her　hand　
upon　it　hurriedly—a　hand　so　thin　and　delicate；　that　when　I　had　
seen　her　hold　it　up　before　the　fire　to　shade　her　face；　I　had　
compared　it　in　my　thoughts　to　fine　porcelain—and　saying；　in　a　
quick；　fierce；　passionate　way；　‘I　swear　you　to　se