david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第110部分
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
you who had a boyish passion for her！’
‘I？’ I repeated。
‘Child； child！ In the name of blind ill…fortune；’ cried Miss
Mowcher； wringing her hands impatiently； as she went to and fro
again upon the fender； ‘why did you praise her so； and blush； and
look disturbed？ ‘
I could not conceal from myself that I had done this； though for
a reason very different from her supposition。
‘What did I know？’ said Miss Mowcher； taking out her
handkerchief again； and giving one little stamp on the ground
whenever； at short intervals； she applied it to her eyes with both
hands at once。 ‘He was crossing you and wheedling you； I saw； and
you were soft wax in his hands； I saw。 Had I left the room a
minute； when his man told me that “Young Innocence” （so he
called you； and you may call him “Old Guilt” all the days of your
life） had set his heart upon her； and she was giddy and liked him；
but his master was resolved that no harm should come of it—more
for your sake than for hers—and that that was their business
here？ How could I but believe him？ I saw Steerforth soothe and
please you by his praise of her！ You were the first to mention her
name。 You owned to an old admiration of her。 You were hot and
cold； and red and white； all at once when I spoke to you of her。
What could I think—what did I think—but that you were a young
libertine in everything but experience； and had fallen into hands
that had experience enough； and could manage you （having the
fancy） for your own good？ Oh！ oh！ oh！ They were afraid of my
finding out the truth；’ exclaimed Miss Mowcher； getting off the
fender； and trotting up and down the kitchen with her two short
arms distressfully lifted up； ‘because I am a sharp little thing—I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
need be； to get through the world at all！—and they deceived me
altogether； and I gave the poor unfortunate girl a letter； which I
fully believe was the beginning of her ever speaking to Littimer；
who was left behind on purpose！’
I stood amazed at the revelation of all this perfidy； looking at
Miss Mowcher as she walked up and down the kitchen until she
was out of breath： when she sat upon the fender again； and； drying
her face with her handkerchief； shook her head for a long time；
without otherwise moving； and without breaking silence。
‘My country rounds；’ she added at length； ‘brought me to
Norwich； Mr。 Copperfield； the night before last。 What I happened
to find there； about their secret way of coming and going； without
you—which was strange—led to my suspecting something wrong。
I got into the coach from London last night； as it came through
Norwich； and was here this morning。 Oh； oh； oh！ too late！’
Poor little Mowcher turned so chilly after all her crying and
fretting； that she turned round on the fender； putting her poor
little wet feet in among the ashes to warm them； and sat looking at
the fire； like a large doll。 I sat in a chair on the other side of the
hearth； lost in unhappy reflections； and looking at the fire too； and
sometimes at her。
‘I must go；’ she said at last； rising as she spoke。 ‘It’s late。 You
don’t mistrust me？’
Meeting her sharp glance； which was as sharp as ever when she
asked me； I could not on that short challenge answer no； quite
frankly。
‘Come！’ said she； accepting the offer of my hand to help her
over the fender； and looking wistfully up into my face； ‘you know
you wouldn’t mistrust me； if I was a full…sized woman！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I felt that there was much truth in this； and I felt rather
ashamed of myself。
‘You are a young man；’ she said； nodding。 ‘Take a word of
advice； even from three foot nothing。 Try not to associate bodily
defects with mental； my good friend； except for a solid reason。’
She had got over the fender now； and I had got over my
suspicion。 I told her that I believed she had given me a faithful
account of herself； and that we had both been hapless instruments
in designing hands。 She thanked me； and said I was a good fellow。
‘Now； mind！’ she exclaimed； turning back on her way to the
door； and looking shrewdly at me； with her forefinger up again。—‘I
have some reason to suspect； from what I have heard—my ears
are always open； I can’t afford to spare what powers I have—that
they are gone abroad。 But if ever they return； if ever any one of
them returns； while I am alive； I am more likely than another；
going about as I do； to find it out soon。 Whatever I know； you shall
know。 If ever I can do anything to serve the poor betrayed girl； I
will do it faithfully； please Heaven！ And Littimer had better have a
bloodhound at his back； than little Mowcher！’
I placed implicit faith in this last statement； when I marked the
look with which it was accompanied。
‘Trust me no more； but trust me no less； than you would trust a
full…sized woman；’ said the little creature； touching me appealingly
on the wrist。 ‘If ever you see me again； unlike what I am now； and
like what I was when you first saw me； observe what company I
am in。 Call to mind that I am a very helpless and defenceless little
thing。 Think of me at home with my brother like myself and sister
like myself； when my day’s work is done。 Perhaps you won’t； then；
be very hard upon me； or surprised if I can be distressed and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
serious。 Good night！’
I gave Miss Mowcher my hand； with a very different opinion of
her from that which I had hitherto entertained； and opened the
door to let her out。 It was not a trifling business to get the great
umbrella up； and properly balanced in her grasp； but at last I
successfully accomplished this； and saw it go bobbing down the
street through the rain； without the least appearance of having
anybody underneath it； except when a heavier fall than usual from
some over…charged water…spout sent it toppling over； on one side；
and discovered Miss Mowcher struggling violently to get it right。
After making one or two sallies to her relief； which were rendered
futile by the umbrella’s hopping on again； like an immense bird；
before I could reach it； I came in； went to bed； and slept till
morning。
In the morning I was joined by Mr。 Peggotty and by my old
nurse； and we went at an early hour to the coach office； where
Mrs。 Gummidge and Ham were waiting to take leave of us。
‘Mas’r Davy；’ Ham whispered； drawing me aside； while Mr。
Peggotty was stowing his bag among the luggage； ‘his life is quite
broke up。 He doen’t know wheer he’s going； he doen’t know—
what’s afore him； he’s bound upon a voyage that’ll last； on and off；
all the rest of his days； take my wured for ‘t； unless he finds what
he’s a seeking of。 I am sure you’ll be a friend to him； Mas’r Davy？’
‘Trust me； I will indeed；’ said I； shaking hands with Ham
earnestly。
‘Thankee。 Thankee； very kind； sir。 One thing furder。 I’m in
good employ； you know； Mas’r Davy； and I han’t no way now of
spending what I gets。 Money’s of no use to me no more； except to
live。 If you can lay it out for him； I shall do my work with a better
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
art。 Though as to that； sir；’ and he spoke very steadily and mildly；
‘you’re not to think but I shall work at all times； like a man； and act
the best that lays in my power！’
I told him I was well convinced of it； and I hinted that I hoped
the time might even come； when he would cease to lead the lonely
life he naturally contemplated now。
‘No； sir；’ he said； shaking his head； ‘all that’s past and over with
me； sir。 No one can never fill the place that’s empty。 But you’ll
bear in mind about the money； as theer’s at all times some laying
by for him？’
Reminding him of the fact； that Mr。 Peggotty derived a steady；
though certainly a very moderate income from the bequest of his
late brother…in…law； I promised to do so。 We then took leave of
each other。 I cannot leave him even now； without remembering
with a pang； at once his modest fortitude and his great sorrow。
As to Mrs。 Gummidge； if I were to endeavour to describe how
she ran down the street by the side of the coach； seeing nothing
but Mr。 Peggotty on the roof； through the tears she tried to
repress； and dashing herself against the people who were coming
in the opposite direction； I should enter on a task of some
difficulty。 Therefore I had better leave her sitting on a baker’s
door…step； out of breath； with no shape at all remaining in her
bonnet； and one of her shoes off； lying on the pavement at a
considerable distance。
When we got to our journey’s end； our first pursuit was to look
about for a little lodging for Peggotty； where her brother could
have a bed。 We were so fortunate as to find one； of a very clean
and cheap description； over a chandler’s shop； only two streets
removed from me。 When we had engaged this domicile； I bought
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
some cold meat at an eating…house； and took my fellow…travellers
home to tea； a proceeding； I regret to state； which did not meet
with Mrs。 Crupp’s approval； but quite the contrary。 I ought to
observe； however； in explanation of that lady’s state of mind； that
she was much offended by Peggotty’s tucking up her widow’s
gown before she had been ten minutes in the place； and setting to
work to dust my bedroom。 This Mrs。 Crupp regarded in the light
of a liberty； and a liberty； she said； was a thing she never allowed。
Mr。 Peggotty had made a communication to me on the way to
London for which I was not unprepared。 It was； that he purposed
first seeing Mrs。 Steerforth。 As I felt bound to assist him in this；
and also to mediate between them； with the view of sparing the
mother’s feelings as much as possible； I wrote to her that night。 I
told her as mildly as I could what his wrong was； and what my own
sh
