david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第111部分

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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　
share　in　his　injury。　I　said　he　was　a　man　in　very　common　life；　but　of　
a　most　gentle　and　upright　character；　and　that　I　ventured　to　
express　a　hope　that　she　would　not　refuse　to　see　him　in　his　heavy　
trouble。　I　mentioned　two　o’clock　in　the　afternoon　as　the　hour　of　
our　coming；　and　I　sent　the　letter　myself　by　the　first　coach　in　the　
morning。　

At　the　appointed　time；　we　stood　at　the　door—the　door　of　that　
house　where　I　had　been；　a　few　days　since；　so　happy：　where　my　
youthful　confidence　and　warmth　of　heart　had　been　yielded　up　so　
freely：　which　was　closed　against　me　henceforth：　which　was　now　a　
waste；　a　ruin。　

No　Littimer　appeared。　The　pleasanter　face　which　had　replaced　
his；　on　the　occasion　of　my　last　visit；　answered　to　our　summons；　
and　went　before　us　to　the　drawing…room。　Mrs。　Steerforth　was　
sitting　there。　Rosa　Dartle　glided；　as　we　went　in；　from　another　part　

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of　the　room　and　stood　behind　her　chair。　

I　saw；　directly；　in　his　mother’s　face；　that　she　knew　from　himself　
what　he　had　done。　It　was　very　pale；　and　bore　the　traces　of　deeper　
emotion　than　my　letter　alone；　weakened　by　the　doubts　her　
fondness　would　have　raised　upon　it；　would　have　been　likely　to　
create。　I　thought　her　more　like　him　than　ever　I　had　thought　her；　
and　I　felt；　rather　than　saw；　that　the　resemblance　was　not　lost　on　
my　companion。　

She　sat　upright　in　her　arm…chair；　with　a　stately；　immovable；　
passionless　air；　that　it　seemed　as　if　nothing　could　disturb。　She　
looked　very　steadfastly　at　Mr。　Peggotty　when　he　stood　before　her；　
and　he　looked　quite　as　steadfastly　at　her。　Rosa　Dartle’s　keen　
glance　comprehended　all　of　us。　For　some　moments　not　a　word　was　
spoken。　

She　motioned　to　Mr。　Peggotty　to　be　seated。　He　said；　in　a　low　
voice；　‘I　shouldn’t　feel　it　nat’ral；　ma’am；　to　sit　down　in　this　house。　
I’d　sooner　stand。’　And　this　was　succeeded　by　another　silence；　
which　she　broke　thus：　

‘I　know；　with　deep　regret；　what　has　brought　you　here。　What　do　
you　want　of　me？　What　do　you　ask　me　to　do？’　

He　put　his　hat　under　his　arm；　and　feeling　in　his　breast　for　
Emily’s　letter；　took　it　out；　unfolded　it；　and　gave　it　to　her。　‘Please　to　
read　that；　ma’am。　That’s　my　niece’s　hand！’　

She　read　it；　in　the　same　stately　and　impassive　way；—untouched　
by　its　contents；　as　far　as　I　could　see；—and　returned　it　to　him。　

‘“Unless　he　brings　me　back　a　lady；”’　said　Mr。　Peggotty；　tracing　
out　that　part　with　his　finger。　‘I　come　to　know；　ma’am；　whether　he　
will　keep　his　wured？’　

‘No；’　she　returned。　

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‘Why　not？’　said　Mr。　Peggotty。　

‘It　is　impossible。　He　would　disgrace　himself。　You　cannot　fail　to　
know　that　she　is　far　below　him。’　

‘Raise　her　up！’　said　Mr。　Peggotty。　

‘She　is　uneducated　and　ignorant。’　

‘Maybe　she’s　not；　maybe　she　is；’　said　Mr。　Peggotty。　‘I　think　not；　
ma’am；　but　I’m　no　judge　of　them　things。　Teach　her　better！’　

‘Since　you　oblige　me　to　speak　more　plainly；　which　I　am　very　
unwilling　to　do；　her　humble　connexions　would　render　such　a　thing　
impossible；　if　nothing　else　did。’　

‘Hark　to　this；　ma’am；’　he　returned；　slowly　and　quietly。　‘You　
know　what　it　is　to　love　your　child。　So　do　I。　If　she　was　a　hundred　
times　my　child；　I　couldn’t　love　her　more。　You　doen’t　know　what　it　
is　to　lose　your　child。　I　do。　All　the　heaps　of　riches　in　the　wureld　
would　be　nowt　to　me　（if　they　was　mine）　to　buy　her　back！　But；　save　
her　from　this　disgrace；　and　she　shall　never　be　disgraced　by　us。　Not　
one　of　us　that　she’s　growed　up　among；　not　one　of　us　that’s　lived　
along　with　her　and　had　her　for　their　all　in　all；　these　many　year；　will　
ever　look　upon　her　pritty　face　again。　We’ll　be　content　to　let　her　be；　
we’ll　be　content　to　think　of　her；　far　off；　as　if　she　was　underneath　
another　sun　and　sky；　we’ll　be　content　to　trust　her　to　her　
husband；—to　her　little　children；　p’raps；—and　bide　the　time　when　
all　of　us　shall　be　alike　in　quality　afore　our　God！’　

The　rugged　eloquence　with　which　he　spoke；　was　not　devoid　of　
all　effect。　She　still　preserved　her　proud　manner；　but　there　was　a　
touch　of　softness　in　her　voice；　as　she　answered：　

‘I　justify　nothing。　I　make　no　counter…accusations。　But　I　am　sorry　
to　repeat；　it　is　impossible。　Such　a　marriage　would　irretrievably　
blight　my　son’s　career；　and　ruin　his　prospects。　Nothing　is　more　

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certain　than　that　it　never　can　take　place；　and　never　will。　If　there　is　
any　other　compensation—’　

‘I　am　looking　at　the　likeness　of　the　face；’　interrupted　Mr。　
Peggotty；　with　a　steady　but　a　kindling　eye；　‘that　has　looked　at　me；　
in　my　home；　at　my　fireside；　in　my　boat—wheer　not？—smiling　and　
friendly；　when　it　was　so　treacherous；　that　I　go　half　wild　when　I　
think　of　it。　If　the　likeness　of　that　face　don’t　turn　to　burning　fire；　at　
the　thought　of　offering　money　to　me　for　my　child’s　blight　and　ruin；　
it’s　as　bad。　I　doen’t　know；　being　a　lady’s；　but　what　it’s　worse。’　

She　changed　now；　in　a　moment。　An　angry　flush　overspread　her　
features；　and　she　said；　in　an　intolerant　manner；　grasping　the　armchair　tightly　with　her　hands：　

‘What　compensation　can　you　make　to　me　for　opening　such　a　pit　
between　me　and　my　son？　What　is　your　love　to　mine？　What　is　your　
separation　to　ours？’　

Miss　Dartle　softly　touched　her；　and　bent　down　her　head　to　
whisper；　but　she　would　not　hear　a　word。　

‘No；　Rosa；　not　a　word！　Let　the　man　listen　to　what　I　say！　My　son；　
who　has　been　the　object　of　my　life；　to　whom　its　every　thought　has　
been　devoted；　whom　I　have　gratified　from　a　child　in　every　wish；　
from　whom　I　have　had　no　separate　existence　since　his　birth；—to　
take　up　in　a　moment　with　a　miserable　girl；　and　avoid　me！　To　repay　
my　confidence　with　systematic　deception；　for　her　sake；　and　quit　
me　for　her！　To　set　this　wretched　fancy；　against　his　mother’s　claims　
upon　his　duty；　love；　respect；　gratitude—claims　that　every　day　and　
hour　of　his　life　should　have　strengthened　into　ties　that　nothing　
could　be　proof　against！　Is　this　no　injury？’　

Again　Rosa　Dartle　tried　to　soothe　her；　again　ineffectually。　

‘I　say；　Rosa；　not　a　word！　If　he　can　stake　his　all　upon　the　lightest　

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object；　I　can　stake　my　all　upon　a　greater　purpose。　Let　him　go　
where　he　will；　with　the　means　that　my　love　has　secured　to　him！　
Does　he　think　to　reduce　me　by　long　absence？　He　knows　his　
mother　very　little　if　he　does。　Let　him　put　away　his　whim　now；　and　
he　is　welcome　back。　Let　him　not　put　her　away　now；　and　he　never　
shall　come　near　me；　living　or　dying；　while　I　can　raise　my　hand　to　
make　a　sign　against　it；　unless；　being　rid　of　her　for　ever；　he　comes　
humbly　to　me　and　begs　for　my　forgiveness。　This　is　my　right。　This　
is　the　acknowledgement　I　will　have。　This　is　the　separation　that　
there　is　between　us！　And　is　this；’　she　added；　looking　at　her　visitor　
with　the　proud　intolerant　air　with　which　she　had　begun；　‘no　
injury？’　

While　I　heard　and　saw　the　mother　as　she　said　these　words；　I　
seemed　to　hear　and　see　the　son；　defying　them。　All　that　I　had　ever　
seen　in　him　of　an　unyielding；　wilful　spirit；　I　saw　in　her。　All　the　
understanding　that　I　had　now　of　his　misdirected　energy；　became　
an　understanding　of　her　character　too；　and　a　perception　that　it　
was；　in　its　strongest　springs；　the　same。　

She　now　observed　to　me；　aloud；　resuming　her　former　restraint；　
that　it　was　useless　to　hear　more；　or　to　say　more；　and　that　she　
begged　to　put　an　end　to　the　interview。　She　rose　with　an　air　of　
dignity　to　leave　the　room；　when　Mr。　Peggotty　signified　that　it　was　
needless。　

‘Doen’t　fear　me　being　any　hindrance　to　you；　I　have　no　more　to　
say；　ma’am；’　he　remarked；　as　he　moved　towards　the　door。　‘I　come　
beer　with　no　hope；　and　I　take　away　no　hope。　I　have　done　what　I　
thowt　should　be　done；　but　I　never　looked　fur　any　good　to　come　of　
my　stan’ning　where　I　do。　This　has　been　too　evil　a　house　fur　me　and　
mine；　fur　me　to　be　in　my　right　senses　and　expect　it。’　

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With　this；　we　departed；　leaving　her　standing　by　her　elbow…
chair；　a　picture　of　a　noble　presence　and　a　handsome　face。　

We　had；　on　our　way　out；　to　cross　a　paved　hall；　with　glass　sides　
and　roof；　over　which　a　vine　was　trained。　Its　leaves　and　shoots　were　
green　then；　and　the　day　being　sunny；　a　pair　of　glass　doors　leading　
to　the　garden　were　thrown　open。　Rosa　Dartle；　entering　this　way　
with　a　noiseless　step；　when　we　were　close　to　them；　addressed　
herself　to　me：　

‘You　do　well；’　she　said；　‘indeed；　to　bring　this　fellow　here！’　

Such　a　concentration　of　rage　and　scorn　as　darkened　her　face；　
and　flashed　in　her　jet…black　eyes；　I　could　not　have　thought　
compressible　even　into　that　face。　The　scar　made　by　the　hammer　
was；　as　usual　in　this　excited　state　of　her　features；　strongly　marked。　
When　the　throbbing　I　had　seen　before；　came　into　it　as　I　looked　at　
her；　she　absolutely　lifted　up　her　hand；　and　struck　it。　

‘This　is　a　fellow；’　she　said；　‘to　champion　and　bring　here；　is　he　
not？　You　are　a　true　man！’　

‘Miss　Dartle；’　I　returned；　‘you　are　surely　not　so　unjust　as　to　
condemn　me！’　

‘Why　do　you　bring　division　between　these　two　mad　creatures？’　
she　returned。　‘Don’t　you　know　that　they　are　both　mad　with　their　
own　self…will　and　pride？’　

‘Is　it　my　doing？’　I　returned。　

‘Is　it　your　doing！’　she　retorted。　‘Why　do　you　bring　this　man　
here？’　

‘He　is　a　deeply…injured　man；　Miss　Dartle；’　I　replied。　‘You　may　
not　know　it。’　

‘I　know　that　James　Steerforth；’　she　said；　with　her　hand　on　her　
bosom；　as　if　to　prevent　the　storm　that　was　raging　there；　from　being　

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loud；　‘has　a　false；　corrupt　heart；　and　is　a　traitor。　But　what　need　I　
know　or　care　about　this　fellow；　and　his　common　niece？’　

‘Miss　Dartle；’　I　returned；　‘you　deepen　the　injury。　It　is　sufficient　
already。　I　will　only　say；　at　parting；　that　yo