david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第123部分

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He　would　have　looked　to　Uriah；　I　believe；　before　replying；　if　
that　worthy　had　not　anticipated　him。　

‘I　am　bespoke　myself；’　said　Uriah；　‘on　business；　otherwise　I　
should　have　been　appy　to　have　kept　with　my　friends。　But　I　leave　
my　partner　to　represent　the　firm。　Miss　Agnes；　ever　yours！　I　wish　
you　good…day；　Master　Copperfield；　and　leave　my　umble　respects　
for　Miss　Betsey　Trotwood。’　

With　those　words；　he　retired；　kissing　his　great　hand；　and　leering　
at　us　like　a　mask。　

We　sat　there；　talking　about　our　pleasant　old　Canterbury　days；　
an　hour　or　two。　Mr。　Wickfield；　left　to　Agnes；　soon　became　more　
like　his　former　self；　though　there　was　a　settled　depression　upon　

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him；　which　he　never　shook　off。　For　all　that；　he　brightened；　and　had　
an　evident　pleasure　in　hearing　us　recall　the　little　incidents　of　our　
old　life；　many　of　which　he　remembered　very　well。　He　said　it　was　
like　those　times；　to　be　alone　with　Agnes　and　me　again；　and　he　
wished　to　Heaven　they　had　never　changed。　I　am　sure　there　was　an　
influence　in　the　placid　face　of　Agnes；　and　in　the　very　touch　of　her　
hand　upon　his　arm；　that　did　wonders　for　him。　

My　aunt　（who　was　busy　nearly　all　this　while　with　Peggotty；　in　
the　inner　room）　would　not　accompany　us　to　the　place　where　they　
were　staying；　but　insisted　on　my　going；　and　I　went。　We　dined　
together。　After　dinner；　Agnes　sat　beside　him；　as　of　old；　and　poured　
out　his　wine。　He　took　what　she　gave　him；　and　no　more—like　a　
child—and　we　all　three　sat　together　at　a　window　as　the　evening　
gathered　in。　When　it　was　almost　dark；　he　lay　down　on　a　sofa；　
Agnes　pillowing　his　head　and　bending　over　him　a　little　while；　and　
when　she　came　back　to　the　window；　it　was　not　so　dark　but　I　could　
see　tears　glittering　in　her　eyes。　

I　pray　Heaven　that　I　never　may　forget　the　dear　girl　in　her　love　
and　truth；　at　that　time　of　my　life；　for　if　I　should；　I　must　be　drawing　
near　the　end；　and　then　I　would　desire　to　remember　her　best！　She　
filled　my　heart　with　such　good　resolutions；　strengthened　my　
weakness　so；　by　her　example；　so　directed—I　know　not　how；　she　
was　too　modest　and　gentle　to　advise　me　in　many　words—the　
wandering　ardour　and　unsettled　purpose　within　me；　that　all　the　
little　good　I　have　done；　and　all　the　harm　I　have　forborne；　I　
solemnly　believe　I　may　refer　to　her。　

And　how　she　spoke　to　me　of　Dora；　sitting　at　the　window　in　the　
dark；　listened　to　my　praises　of　her；　praised　again；　and　round　the　
little　fairy…figure　shed　some　glimpses　of　her　own　pure　light；　that　

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made　it　yet　more　precious　and　more　innocent　to　me！　Oh；　Agnes；　
sister　of　my　boyhood；　if　I　had　known　then；　what　I　knew　long　
afterwards！—　

There　was　a　beggar　in　the　street；　when　I　went　down；　and　as　I　
turned　my　head　towards　the　window；　thinking　of　her　calm　
seraphic　eyes；　he　made　me　start　by　muttering；　as　if　he　were　an　
echo　of　the　morning：　‘Blind！　Blind！　Blind！’　

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Chapter　36　

ENTHUSIASM　

Ibegan　the　next　day　with　another　dive　into　the　Roman　bath；　
and　then　started　for　Highgate。　I　was　not　dispirited　now。　I　was　
not　afraid　of　the　shabby　coat；　and　had　no　yearnings　after　
gallant　greys。　My　whole　manner　of　thinking　of　our　late　misfortune　
was　changed。　What　I　had　to　do；　was；　to　show　my　aunt　that　her　past　
goodness　to　me　had　not　been　thrown　away　on　an　insensible；　
ungrateful　object。　What　I　had　to　do；　was；　to　turn　the　painful　
discipline　of　my　younger　days　to　account；　by　going　to　work　with　a　
resolute　and　steady　heart。　What　I　had　to　do；　was；　to　take　my　
woodman’s　axe　in　my　hand；　and　clear　my　own　way　through　the　
forest　of　difficulty；　by　cutting　down　the　trees　until　I　came　to　Dora。　
And　I　went　on　at　a　mighty　rate；　as　if　it　could　be　done　by　walking。　

When　I　found　myself　on　the　familiar　Highgate　road；　pursuing　
such　a　different　errand　from　that　old　one　of　pleasure；　with　which　it　
was　associated；　it　seemed　as　if　a　complete　change　had　come　on　my　
whole　life。　But　that　did　not　discourage　me。　With　the　new　life；　came　
new　purpose；　new　intention。　Great　was　the　labour；　priceless　the　
reward。　Dora　was　the　reward；　and　Dora　must　be　won。　

I　got　into　such　a　transport；　that　I　felt　quite　sorry　my　coat　was　
not　a　little　shabby　already。　I　wanted　to　be　cutting　at　those　trees　in　
the　forest　of　difficulty；　under　circumstances　that　should　prove　my　
strength。　I　had　a　good　mind　to　ask　an　old　man；　in　wire　spectacles；　
who　was　breaking　stones　upon　the　road；　to　lend　me　his　hammer　
for　a　little　while；　and　let　me　begin　to　beat　a　path　to　Dora　out　of　

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granite。　I　stimulated　myself　into　such　a　heat；　and　got　so　out　of　
breath；　that　I　felt　as　if　I　had　been　earning　I　don’t　know　how　much。　

In　this　state；　I　went　into　a　cottage　that　I　saw　was　to　let；　and　
examined　it　narrowly；—for　I　felt　it　necessary　to　be　practical。　It　
would　do　for　me　and　Dora　admirably：　with　a　little　front　garden　for　
Jip　to　run　about　in；　and　bark　at　the　tradespeople　through　the　
railings；　and　a　capital　room　upstairs　for　my　aunt。　I　came　out　again；　
hotter　and　faster　than　ever；　and　dashed　up　to　Highgate；　at　such　a　
rate　that　I　was　there　an　hour　too　early；　and；　though　I　had　not　been；　
should　have　been　obliged　to　stroll　about　to　cool　myself；　before　I　
was　at　all　presentable。　

My　first　care；　after　putting　myself　under　this　necessary　course　
of　preparation；　was　to　find　the　Doctor’s　house。　It　was　not　in　that　
part　of　Highgate　where　Mrs。　Steerforth　lived；　but　quite　on　the　
opposite　side　of　the　little　town。　When　I　had　made　this　discovery；　I　
went　back；　in　an　attraction　I　could　not　resist；　to　a　lane　by　Mrs。　
Steerforth’s；　and　looked　over　the　corner　of　the　garden　wall。　His　
room　was　shut　up　close。　The　conservatory　doors　were　standing　
open；　and　Rosa　Dartle　was　walking；　bareheaded；　with　a　quick；　
impetuous　step；　up　and　down　a　gravel　walk　on　one　side　of　the　
lawn。　She　gave　me　the　idea　of　some　fierce　thing；　that　was　dragging　
the　length　of　its　chain　to　and　fro　upon　a　beaten　track；　and　wearing　
its　heart　out。　

I　came　softly　away　from　my　place　of　observation；　and　avoiding　
that　part　of　the　neighbourhood；　and　wishing　I　had　not　gone　near　
it；　strolled　about　until　it　was　ten　o’clock。　The　church　with　the　
slender　spire；　that　stands　on　the　top　of　the　hill　now；　was　not　there　
then　to　tell　me　the　time。　An　old　red…brick　mansion；　used　as　a　
school；　was　in　its　place；　and　a　fine　old　house　it　must　have　been　to　

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go　to　school　at；　as　I　recollect　it。　

When　I　approached　the　Doctor’s　cottage—a　pretty　old　place；　on　
which　he　seemed　to　have　expended　some　money；　if　I　might　judge　
from　the　embellishments　and　repairs　that　had　the　look　of　being　
just　completed—I　saw　him　walking　in　the　garden　at　the　side；　
gaiters　and　all；　as　if　he　had　never　left　off　walking　since　the　days　of　
my　pupilage。　He　had　his　old　companions　about　him；　too；　for　there　
were　plenty　of　high　trees　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　two　or　three　
rooks　were　on　the　grass；　looking　after　him；　as　if　they　had　been　
written　to　about　him　by　the　Canterbury　rooks；　and　were　observing　
him　closely　in　consequence。　

Knowing　the　utter　hopelessness　of　attracting　his　attention　from　
that　distance；　I　made　bold　to　open　the　gate；　and　walk　after　him；　so　
as　to　meet　him　when　he　should　turn　round。　When　he　did；　and　
came　towards　me；　he　looked　at　me　thoughtfully　for　a　few　
moments；　evidently　without　thinking　about　me　at　all；　and　then　his　
benevolent　face　expressed　extraordinary　pleasure；　and　he　took　me　
by　both　hands。　

‘Why；　my　dear　Copperfield；’　said　the　Doctor；　‘you　are　a　man！　
How　do　you　do？　I　am　delighted　to　see　you。　My　dear　Copperfield；　
how　very　much　you　have　improved！　You　are　quite—yes—dear　
me！’　

I　hoped　he　was　well；　and　Mrs。　Strong　too。　

‘Oh　dear；　yes！’　said　the　Doctor；　‘Annie’s　quite　well；　and　she’ll　be　
delighted　to　see　you。　You　were　always　her　favourite。　She　said　so；　
last　night；　when　I　showed　her　your　letter。　And—yes；　to　be　sure—　
you　recollect　Mr。　Jack　Maldon；　Copperfield？’　

‘Perfectly；　sir。’　

‘Of　course；’　said　the　Doctor。　‘To　be　sure。　He’s　pretty　well；　too。’　

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‘Has　he　come　home；　sir？’　I　inquired。　

‘From　India？’　said　the　Doctor。　‘Yes。　Mr。　Jack　Maldon　couldn’t　
bear　the　climate；　my　dear。　Mrs。　Markleham—you　have　not　
forgotten　Mrs。　Markleham？’　

Forgotten　the　Old　Soldier！　And　in　that　short　time！　

‘Mrs。　Markleham；’　said　the　Doctor；　‘was　quite　vexed　about　him；　
poor　thing；　so　we　have　got　him　at　home　again；　and　we　have　bought　
him　a　little　Patent　place；　which　agrees　with　him　much　better。’　I　
knew　enough　of　Mr。　Jack　Maldon　to　suspect　from　this　account　that　
it　was　a　place　where　there　was　not　much　to　do；　and　which　was　
pretty　well　paid。　The　Doctor；　walking　up　and　down　with　his　hand　
on　my　shoulder；　and　his　kind　face　turned　encouragingly　to　mine；　
went　on：　

‘Now；　my　dear　Copperfield；　in　reference　to　this　proposal　of　
yours。　It’s　very　gratifying　and　agreeable　to　me；　I　am　sure；　but　don’t　
you　think　you　could　do　better？　You　achieved　distinction；　you　
know；　when　you　were　with　us。　You　are　qualified　for　many　good　
things。　You　have　laid　a　foundation　that　any　edifice　may　be　raised　
upon；　and　is　it　not　a　pity　that　you　should　devote　the　spring…time　of　
your　life　to　such　a　poor　pursuit　as　I　can　offer？’　

I　became　very　glowing　again；　and；　expressing　myself　in　a　
rhapsodical　style；　I　am　afraid；　urged　my　request　strongly；　
reminding　the　Doctor　that　I　had　already　a　profession。　

‘Well；　well；’　said　the　Doctor；　‘that’s　true。　Certainly；　your　having　
a　profession；　and　being　actually　engaged　in　studying　it；　makes　a　
difference。　But；　my　good　young　friend；　what’s　seventy　pounds　a　
year？’　

‘It　doubles　our　income；　Doctor　Strong；’　said　I。　

‘Dear　me！’　replied　the　Doctor。　‘To　think　of　that！　Not　that　I　mean　

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to　say　it’s　rigidly　limited　to　seventy　pounds　a…year；　because　I　have　
always　contemplated　m