david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第115部分

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merry；　I　know；　but　it　was　hollow　merriment。　I　attached　myself　to　a　
young　creature　in　pink；　with　little　eyes；　and　flirted　with　her　
desperately。　She　received　my　attentions　with　favour；　but　whether　
on　my　account　solely；　or　because　she　had　any　designs　on　Red　
Whisker；　I　can’t　say。　Dora’s　health　was　drunk。　When　I　drank　it；　I　
affected　to　interrupt　my　conversation　for　that　purpose；　and　to　
resume　it　immediately　afterwards。　I　caught　Dora’s　eye　as　I　bowed　
to　her；　and　I　thought　it　looked　appealing。　But　it　looked　at　me　over　
the　head　of　Red　Whisker；　and　I　was　adamant。　

The　young　creature　in　pink　had　a　mother　in　green；　and　I　rather　
think　the　latter　separated　us　from　motives　of　policy。　Howbeit；　
there　was　a　general　breaking　up　of　the　party；　while　the　remnants　
of　the　dinner　were　being　put　away；　and　I　strolled　off　by　myself　
among　the　trees；　in　a　raging　and　remorseful　state。　I　was　debating　
whether　I　should　pretend　that　I　was　not　well；　and　fly—I　don’t　
know　where—upon　my　gallant　grey；　when　Dora　and　Miss　Mills　
met　me。　

‘Mr。　Copperfield；’　said　Miss　Mills；　‘you　are　dull。’　

I　begged　her　pardon。　Not　at　all。　

‘And　Dora；’　said　Miss　Mills；　‘you　are　dull。’　

Oh　dear　no！　Not　in　the　least。　

‘Mr。　Copperfield　and　Dora；’　said　Miss　Mills；　with　an　almost　
venerable　air。　‘Enough　of　this。　Do　not　allow　a　trivial　
misunderstanding　to　wither　the　blossoms　of　spring；　which；　once　
put　forth　and　blighted；　cannot　be　renewed。　I　speak；’　said　Miss　

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David　Copperfield　

Mills；　‘from　experience　of　the　past—the　remote；　irrevocable　past。　
The　gushing　fountains　which　sparkle　in　the　sun；　must　not　be　
stopped　in　mere　caprice；　the　oasis　in　the　desert　of　Sahara　must　not　
be　plucked　up　idly。’　

I　hardly　knew　what　I　did；　I　was　burning　all　over　to　that　
extraordinary　extent；　but　I　took　Dora’s　little　hand　and　kissed　it—　
and　she　let　me！　I　kissed　Miss　Mills’s　hand；　and　we　all　seemed；　to　
my　thinking；　to　go　straight　up　to　the　seventh　heaven。　We　did　not　
come　down　again。　We　stayed　up　there　all　the　evening。　At　first　we　
strayed　to　and　fro　among　the　trees：　I　with　Dora’s　shy　arm　drawn　
through　mine：　and　Heaven　knows；　folly　as　it　all　was；　it　would　have　
been　a　happy　fate　to　have　been　struck　immortal　with　those　foolish　
feelings；　and　have　stayed　among　the　trees　for　ever！　

But；　much　too　soon；　we　heard　the　others　laughing　and　talking；　
and　calling　‘where’s　Dora？’　So　we　went　back；　and　they　wanted　
Dora　to　sing。　Red　Whisker　would　have　got　the　guitar…case　out　of　
the　carriage；　but　Dora　told　him　nobody　knew　where　it　was；　but　I。　
So　Red　Whisker　was　done　for　in　a　moment；　and　I　got　it；　and　I　
unlocked　it；　and　I　took　the　guitar　out；　and　I　sat　by　her；　and　I　held　
her　handkerchief　and　gloves；　and　I　drank　in　every　note　of　her　dear　
voice；　and　she　sang　to　me　who　loved　her；　and　all　the　others　might　
applaud　as　much　as　they　liked；　but　they　had　nothing　to　do　with　it！　

I　was　intoxicated　with　joy。　I　was　afraid　it　was　too　happy　to　be　
real；　and　that　I　should　wake　in　Buckingham　Street　presently；　and　
hear　Mrs。　Crupp　clinking　the　teacups　in　getting　breakfast　ready。　
But　Dora　sang；　and　others　sang；　and　Miss　Mills　sang—about　the　
slumbering　echoes　in　the　caverns　of　Memory；　as　if　she　were　a　
hundred　years　old—and　the　evening　came　on；　and　we　had　tea；　
with　the　kettle　boiling　gipsy…fashion；　and　I　was　still　as　happy　as　

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David　Copperfield　

ever。　

I　was　happier　than　ever　when　the　party　broke　up；　and　the　other　
people；　defeated　Red　Whisker　and　all；　went　their　several　ways；　
and　we　went　ours　through　the　still　evening　and　the　dying　light；　
with　sweet　scents　rising　up　around　us。　Mr。　Spenlow　being　a　little　
drowsy　after　the　champagne—honour　to　the　soil　that　grew　the　
grape；　to　the　grape　that　made　the　wine；　to　the　sun　that　ripened　it；　
and　to　the　merchant　who　adulterated　it！—and　being　fast　asleep　in　
a　corner　of　the　carriage；　I　rode　by　the　side　and　talked　to　Dora。　She　
admired　my　horse　and　patted　him—oh；　what　a　dear　little　hand　it　
looked　upon　a　horse！—and　her　shawl　would　not　keep　right；　and　
now　and　then　I　drew　it　round　her　with　my　arm；　and　I　even　fancied　
that　Jip　began　to　see　how　it　was；　and　to　understand　that　he　must　
make　up　his　mind　to　be　friends　with　me。　

That　sagacious　Miss　Mills；　too；　that　amiable；　though　quite　used　
up；　recluse；　that　little　patriarch　of　something　less　than　twenty；　
who　had　done　with　the　world；　and　mustn’t　on　any　account　have　
the　slumbering　echoes　in　the　caverns　of　Memory　awakened；　what　
a　kind　thing　she　did！　

‘Mr。　Copperfield；’　said　Miss　Mills；　‘come　to　this　side　of　the　
carriage　a　moment—if　you　can　spare　a　moment。　I　want　to　speak　to　
you。’　

Behold　me；　on　my　gallant　grey；　bending　at　the　side　of　Miss　
Mills；　with　my　hand　upon　the　carriage　door！　

‘Dora　is　coming　to　stay　with　me。　She　is　coming　home　with　me　
the　day　after　tomorrow。　If　you　would　like　to　call；　I　am　sure　papa　
would　be　happy　to　see　you。’　What　could　I　do　but　invoke　a　silent　
blessing　on　Miss　Mills’s　head；　and　store　Miss　Mills’s　address　in　the　
securest　corner　of　my　memory！　What　could　I　do　but　tell　Miss　Mills；　

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with　grateful　looks　and　fervent　words；　how　much　I　appreciated　her　
good　offices；　and　what　an　inestimable　value　I　set　upon　her　
friendship！　

Then　Miss　Mills　benignantly　dismissed　me；　saying；　‘Go　back　to　
Dora！’　and　I　went；　and　Dora　leaned　out　of　the　carriage　to　talk　to　
me；　and　we　talked　all　the　rest　of　the　way；　and　I　rode　my　gallant　
grey　so　close　to　the　wheel　that　I　grazed　his　near　fore　leg　against　it；　
and　‘took　the　bark　off’；　as　his　owner　told　me；　‘to　the　tune　of　three　
pun’　sivin’—which　I　paid；　and　thought　extremely　cheap　for　so　
much　joy。　What　time　Miss　Mills　sat　looking　at　the　moon；　
murmuring　verses—and　recalling；　I　suppose；　the　ancient　days　
when　she　and　earth　had　anything　in　common。　

Norwood　was　many　miles　too　near；　and　we　reached　it　many　
hours　too　soon；　but　Mr。　Spenlow　came　to　himself　a　little　short　of　it；　
and　said；　‘You　must　come　in；　Copperfield；　and　rest！’　and　I　
consenting；　we　had　sandwiches　and　wine…and…water。　In　the　light　
room；　Dora　blushing　looked　so　lovely；　that　I　could　not　tear　myself　
away；　but　sat　there　staring；　in　a　dream；　until　the　snoring　of　Mr。　
Spenlow　inspired　me　with　sufficient　consciousness　to　take　my　
leave。　So　we　parted；　I　riding　all　the　way　to　London　with　the　
farewell　touch　of　Dora’s　hand　still　light　on　mine；　recalling　every　
incident　and　word　ten　thousand　times；　lying　down　in　my　own　bed　
at　last；　as　enraptured　a　young　noodle　as　ever　was　carried　out　of　his　
five　wits　by　love。　

When　I　awoke　next　morning；　I　was　resolute　to　declare　my　
passion　to　Dora；　and　know　my　fate。　Happiness　or　misery　was　now　
the　question。　There　was　no　other　question　that　I　knew　of　in　the　
world；　and　only　Dora　could　give　the　answer　to　it。　I　passed　three　
days　in　a　luxury　of　wretchedness；　torturing　myself　by　putting　

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every　conceivable　variety　of　discouraging　construction　on　all　that　
ever　had　taken　place　between　Dora　and　me。　At　last；　arrayed　for　
the　purpose　at　a　vast　expense；　I　went　to　Miss　Mills’s；　fraught　with　
a　declaration。　

How　many　times　I　went　up　and　down　the　street；　and　round　the　
square—painfully　aware　of　being　a　much　better　answer　to　the　old　
riddle　than　the　original　one—before　I　could　persuade　myself　to　go　
up　the　steps　and　knock；　is　no　matter　now。　Even　when；　at　last；　I　had　
knocked；　and　was　waiting　at　the　door；　I　had　some　flurried　thought　
of　asking　if　that　were　Mr。　Blackboy’s　（in　imitation　of　poor　Barkis）；　
begging　pardon；　and　retreating。　But　I　kept　my　ground。　

Mr。　Mills　was　not　at　home。　I　did　not　expect　he　would　be。　
Nobody　wanted　him。　Miss　Mills　was　at　home。　Miss　Mills　would　do。　

I　was　shown　into　a　room　upstairs；　where　Miss　Mills　and　Dora　
were。　Jip　was　there。　Miss　Mills　was　copying　music　（I　recollect；　it　
was　a　new　song；　called　‘Affection’s　Dirge’）；　and　Dora　was　painting　
flowers。　What　were　my　feelings；　when　I　recognized　my　own　
flowers；　the　identical　Covent　Garden　Market　purchase！　I　cannot　
say　that　they　were　very　like；　or　that　they　particularly　resembled　
any　flowers　that　have　ever　come　under　my　observation；　but　I　knew　
from　the　paper　round　them　which　was　accurately　copied；　what　the　
composition　was。　

Miss　Mills　was　very　glad　to　see　me；　and　very　sorry　her　papa　was　
not　at　home：　though　I　thought　we　all　bore　that　with　fortitude。　Miss　
Mills　was　conversational　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then；　laying　down　
her　pen　upon　‘Affection’s　Dirge’；　got　up；　and　left　the　room。　

I　began　to　think　I　would　put　it　off　till　tomorrow。　

‘I　hope　your　poor　horse　was　not　tired；　when　he　got　home　at　
night；’　said　Dora；　lifting　up　her　beautiful　eyes。　‘It　was　a　long　way　

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for　him。’　

I　began　to　think　I　would　do　it　today。　

‘It　was　a　long　way　for　him；’　said　I；　‘for　he　had　nothing　to　uphold　
him　on　the　journey。’　

‘Wasn’t　he　fed；　poor　thing？’　asked　Dora。　

I　began　to　think　I　would　put　it　off　till　tomorrow。　

‘Ye…yes；’　I　said；　‘he　was　well　taken　care　of。　I　mean　he　had　not　
the　unutterable　happiness　that　I　had　in　being　so　near　you。’　

Dora　bent　her　head　over　her　drawing　and　said；　after　a　little　
while—I　had　sat；　in　the　interval；　in　a　burning　fever；　and　with　my　
legs　in　a　very　rigid　state—　

‘You　didn’t　seem　to　be　sensible　of　that　happiness　yourself；　at　
one　time　of　the　day。’　

I　saw　now　that　I　was　in　for　it；　and　it　must　be　done　on　the　spot。　

‘You　didn’t　care　for　that　happiness　in　the　least；’　said　Dora；　
slightly　raising　her　eyebrows；　and　shaking　her　head；　‘when　you　
were　sitting　by　Miss　Kitt。’　

Kitt；　I　should　observe；　was　the　name　of　the　creature　in　pink；　
with　the　little　eyes。　

‘Though　certainly　I　don’t　know　why　you　should；’　said　Dora；　or　
why　you　should　call　it　a　happiness　at　all。　But　of　course　you　don’t　
mean　what　you　say。　And　I　am　sure　no　one　doubts　your　being　at　
liberty　to　do　whatever　you　like。　Jip；　you　naughty　boy；　come　here！’　

I　don’t　know　how　I　did　it。　I