david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第121部分

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into　adversity；　and　was　leaving　Dover　for　good；　but　had　quite　
made　up　her　mind　to　it；　and　was　so　well　that　nobody　need　be　
uncomfortable　about　her。　Agnes　had　come　to　London　to　see　my　
aunt；　between　whom　and　herself　there　had　been　a　mutual　liking　
these　many　years：　indeed；　it　dated　from　the　time　of　my　taking　up　
my　residence　in　Mr。　Wickfield’s　house。　She　was　not　alone；　she　
said。　Her　papa　was　with　her—and　Uriah　Heep。　

‘And　now　they　are　partners；’　said　I。　‘Confound　him！’　

‘Yes；’　said　Agnes。　‘They　have　some　business　here；　and　I　took　
advantage　of　their　coming；　to　come　too。　You　must　not　think　my　
visit　all　friendly　and　disinterested；　Trotwood；　for—I　am　afraid　I　
may　be　cruelly　prejudiced—I　do　not　like　to　let　papa　go　away　alone；　
with　him。’　

‘Does　he　exercise　the　same　influence　over　Mr。　Wickfield　still；　
Agnes？’　

Agnes　shook　her　head。　‘There　is　such　a　change　at　home；’　said　
she；　‘that　you　would　scarcely　know　the　dear　old　house。　They　live　
with　us　now。’　

‘They？’　said　I。　

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‘Mr。　Heep　and　his　mother。　He　sleeps　in　your　old　room；’　said　
Agnes；　looking　up　into　my　face。　

‘I　wish　I　had　the　ordering　of　his　dreams；’　said　I。　‘He　wouldn’t　
sleep　there　long。’　

‘I　keep　my　own　little　room；’　said　Agnes；　‘where　I　used　to　learn　
my　lessons。　How　the　time　goes！　You　remember？　The　little　
panelled　room　that　opens　from　the　drawing…room？’　

‘Remember；　Agnes？　When　I　saw　you；　for　the　first　time；　coming　
out　at　the　door；　with　your　quaint　little　basket　of　keys　hanging　at　
your　side？’　

‘It　is　just　the　same；’　said　Agnes；　smiling。　‘I　am　glad　you　think　of　
it　so　pleasantly。　We　were　very　happy。’　

‘We　were；　indeed；’　said　I。　

‘I　keep　that　room　to　myself　still；　but　I　cannot　always　desert　Mrs。　
Heep；　you　know。　And　so；’　said　Agnes；　quietly；　‘I　feel　obliged　to　
bear　her　company；　when　I　might　prefer　to　be　alone。　But　I　have　no　
other　reason　to　complain　of　her。　If　she　tires　me；　sometimes；　by　her　
praises　of　her　son；　it　is　only　natural　in　a　mother。　He　is　a　very　good　
son　to　her。’　

I　looked　at　Agnes　when　she　said　these　words；　without　detecting　
in　her　any　consciousness　of　Uriah’s　design。　Her　mild　but　earnest　
eyes　met　mine　with　their　own　beautiful　frankness；　and　there　was　
no　change　in　her　gentle　face。　

‘The　chief　evil　of　their　presence　in　the　house；’　said　Agnes；　‘is　
that　I　cannot　be　as　near　papa　as　I　could　wish—Uriah　Heep　being　
so　much　between　us—and　cannot　watch　over　him；　if　that　is　not　too　
bold　a　thing　to　say；　as　closely　as　I　would。　But　if　any　fraud　or　
treachery　is　practising　against　him；　I　hope　that　simple　love　and　
truth　will　be　strong　in　the　end。　I　hope　that　real　love　and　truth　are　

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stronger　in　the　end　than　any　evil　or　misfortune　in　the　world。’　

A　certain　bright　smile；　which　I　never　saw　on　any　other　face；　
died　away；　even　while　I　thought　how　good　it　was；　and　how　familiar　
it　had　once　been　to　me；　and　she　asked　me；　with　a　quick　change　of　
expression　（we　were　drawing　very　near　my　street）；　if　I　knew　how　
the　reverse　in　my　aunt’s　circumstances　had　been　brought　about。　
On　my　replying　no；　she　had　not　told　me　yet；　Agnes　became　
thoughtful；　and　I　fancied　I　felt　her　arm　tremble　in　mine。　

We　found　my　aunt　alone；　in　a　state　of　some　excitement。　A　
difference　of　opinion　had　arisen　between　herself　and　Mrs。　Crupp；　
on　an　abstract　question　（the　propriety　of　chambers　being　
inhabited　by　the　gentler　sex）；　and　my　aunt；　utterly　indifferent　to　
spasms　on　the　part　of　Mrs。　Crupp；　had　cut　the　dispute　short；　by　
informing　that　lady　that　she　smelt　of　my　brandy；　and　that　she　
would　trouble　her　to　walk　out。　Both　of　these　expressions　Mrs。　
Crupp　considered　actionable；　and　had　expressed　her　intention　of　
bringing　before　a　‘British　Judy’—meaning；　it　was　supposed；　the　
bulwark　of　our　national　liberties。　

My　aunt；　however；　having　had　time　to　cool；　while　Peggotty　was　
out　showing　Mr。　Dick　the　soldiers　at　the　Horse　Guards—and　
being；　besides；　greatly　pleased　to　see　Agnes—rather　plumed　
herself　on　the　affair　than　otherwise；　and　received　us　with　
unimpaired　good　humour。　When　Agnes　laid　her　bonnet　on　the　
table；　and　sat　down　beside　her；　I　could　not　but　think；　looking　on　
her　mild　eyes　and　her　radiant　forehead；　how　natural　it　seemed　to　
have　her　there；　how　trustfully；　although　she　was　so　young　and　
inexperienced；　my　aunt　confided　in　her；　how　strong　she　was；　
indeed；　in　simple　love　and　truth。　

We　began　to　talk　about　my　aunt’s　losses；　and　I　told　them　what　I　

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had　tried　to　do　that　morning。　

‘Which　was　injudicious；　Trot；’　said　my　aunt；　‘but　well　meant。　
You　are　a　generous　boy—I　suppose　I　must　say；　young　man；　now—　
and　I　am　proud　of　you；　my　dear。　So　far；　so　good。　Now；　Trot　and　
Agnes；　let　us　look　the　case　of　Betsey　Trotwood　in　the　face；　and　see　
how　it　stands。’　

I　observed　Agnes　turn　pale；　as　she　looked　very　attentively　at　my　
aunt。　My　aunt；　patting　her　cat；　looked　very　attentively　at　Agnes。　

‘Betsey　Trotwood；’　said　my　aunt；　who　had　always　kept　her　
money　matters　to　herself。　‘—I　don’t　mean　your　sister；　Trot；　my　
dear；　but　myself—had　a　certain　property。　It　don’t　matter　how　
much；　enough　to　live　on。　More；　for　she　had　saved　a　little；　and　
added　to　it。　Betsey　funded　her　property　for　some　time；　and　then；　
by　the　advice　of　her　man　of　business；　laid　it　out　on　landed　security。　
That　did　very　well；　and　returned　very　good　interest；　till　Betsey　was　
paid　off。　I　am　talking　of　Betsey　as　if　she　was　a　man…of…war。　Well！　
Then；　Betsey　had　to　look　about　her；　for　a　new　investment。　She　
thought　she　was　wiser；　now；　than　her　man　of　business；　who　was　
not　such　a　good　man　of　business　by　this　time；　as　he　used　to　be—I　
am　alluding　to　your　father；　Agnes—and　she　took　it　into　her　head　to　
lay　it　out　for　herself。　So　she　took　her　pigs；’　said　my　aunt；　‘to　a　
foreign　market；　and　a　very　bad　market　it　turned　out　to　be。　First；　
she　lost　in　the　mining　way；　and　then　she　lost　in　the　diving　way—　
fishing　up　treasure；　or　some　such　Tom　Tiddler　nonsense；’　
explained　my　aunt；　rubbing　her　nose；　‘and　then　she　lost　in　the　
mining　way　again；　and；　last　of　all；　to　set　the　thing　entirely　to　rights；　
she　lost　in　the　banking　way。　I　don’t　know　what　the　Bank　shares　
were　worth　for　a　little　while；’　said　my　aunt；　‘cent　per　cent　was　the　
lowest　of　it；　I　believe；　but　the　Bank　was　at　the　other　end　of　the　

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world；　and　tumbled　into　space；　for　what　I　know；　anyhow；　it　fell　to　
pieces；　and　never　will　and　never　can　pay　sixpence；　and　Betsey’s　
sixpences　were　all　there；　and　there’s　an　end　of　them。　Least　said；　
soonest　mended！’　

My　aunt　concluded　this　philosophical　summary；　by　fixing　her　
eyes　with　a　kind　of　triumph　on　Agnes；　whose　colour　was　gradually　
returning。　

‘Dear　Miss　Trotwood；　is　that　all　the　history？’　said　Agnes。　

‘I　hope　it’s　enough；　child；’　said　my　aunt。　‘If　there　had　been　more　
money　to　lose；　it　wouldn’t　have　been　all；　I　dare　say。　Betsey　would　
have　contrived　to　throw　that　after　the　rest；　and　make　another　
chapter；　I　have　little　doubt。　But　there　was　no　more　money；　and　
there’s　no　more　story。’　

Agnes　had　listened　at　first　with　suspended　breath。　Her　colour　
still　came　and　went；　but　she　breathed　more　freely。　I　thought　I　
knew　why。　I　thought　she　had　had　some　fear　that　her　unhappy　
father　might　be　in　some　way　to　blame　for　what　had　happened。　My　
aunt　took　her　hand　in　hers；　and　laughed。　

‘Is　that　all？’　repeated　my　aunt。　‘Why；　yes；　that’s　all；　except；　
“And　she　lived　happy　ever　afterwards。”　Perhaps　I　may　add　that　of　
Betsey　yet；　one　of　these　days。　Now；　Agnes；　you　have　a　wise　head。　
So　have　you；　Trot；　in　some　things；　though　I　can’t　compliment　you　
always’；　and　here　my　aunt　shook　her　own　at　me；　with　an　energy　
peculiar　to　herself。　‘What’s　to　be　done？　Here’s　the　cottage；　taking　
one　time　with　another；　will　produce　say　seventy　pounds　a　year。　I　
think　we　may　safely　put　it　down　at　that。　Well！—That’s　all　we’ve　
got；’　said　my　aunt；　with　whom　it　was　an　idiosyncrasy；　as　it　is　with　
some　horses；　to　stop　very　short　when　she　appeared　to　be　in　a　fair　
way　of　going　on　for　a　long　while。　

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‘Then；’　said　my　aunt；　after　a　rest；　‘there’s　Dick。　He’s　good　for　a　
hundred　a…year；　but　of　course　that　must　be　expended　on　himself。　I　
would　sooner　send　him　away；　though　I　know　I　am　the　only　person　
who　appreciates　him；　than　have　him；　and　not　spend　his　money　on　
himself。　How　can　Trot　and　I　do　best；　upon　our　means？　What　do　
you　say；　Agnes？’　

‘I　say；　aunt；’　I　interposed；　‘that　I　must　do　something！’　

‘Go　for　a　soldier；　do　you　mean？’　returned　my　aunt；　alarmed；　‘or　
go　to　sea？　I　won’t　hear　of　it。　You　are　to　be　a　proctor。　We’re　not　
going　to　have　any　knockings　on　the　head　in　this　family；　if　you　
please；　sir。’　

I　was　about　to　explain　that　I　was　not　desirous　of　introducing　
that　mode　of　provision　into　the　family；　when　Agnes　inquired　if　my　
rooms　were　held　for　any　long　term？　

‘You　come　to　the　point；　my　dear；’　said　my　aunt。　‘They　are　not　to　
be　got　rid　of；　for　six　months　at　least；　unless　they　could　be　underlet；　
and　that　I　don’t　believe。　The　last　man　died　here。　Five　people　out　of　
six　would　die—of　course—of　that　woman　in　nankeen　with　the　
flannel　petticoat。　I　have　a　little　ready　money；　and　I　agree　with　you；　
the　best　thing　we　can　do；　is；　to　live　the　term　out　here；　and　get　a　
bedroom　hard　by。’　

I　thought　it　my　duty　to　hint　at　the　discomfort　my　aunt　would　
sustain；　from　living　in　a　continual　state　of　guerilla　warfare　with　
Mrs。　Crupp；　but　she　disposed　of　that　objection　summarily　by　
declaring　that；　on　the　first　demonstration　of　hostilities；　she　was　
prepared　to　astonish　Mrs。　Crupp　for　the　whole　remainder　of　her　
natural　life。　

‘I　have　been　thinking；　Trotwood；’　said　Agnes；　diffidently；　‘that　if　
you　had　time—’　

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‘I　have　a　good　deal　of　time；　Agnes。　I　am　always　disengaged　after　
four　or　five　o’clock；