david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第31部分
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I preceded Mr。 Omer； in compliance with his request； and after
showing me a roll of cloth which he said was extra super； and too
good mourning for anything short of parents； he took my various
dimensions； and put them down in a book。 While he was recording
them he called my attention to his stock in trade； and to certain
fashions which he said had ‘just come up’； and to certain other
fashions which he said had ‘just gone out’。
‘And by that sort of thing we very often lose a little mint of
money；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘But fashions are like human beings。 They
come in； nobody knows when； why； or how； and they go out；
nobody knows when； why； or how。 Everything is like life； in my
opinion； if you look at it in that point of view。’
I was too sorrowful to discuss the question； which would
possibly have been beyond me under any circumstances； and Mr。
Omer took me back into the parlour； breathing with some
difficulty on the way。
He then called down a little break…neck range of steps behind a
door： ‘Bring up that tea and bread…and…butter！’ which； after some
time； during which I sat looking about me and thinking； and
listening to the stitching in the room and the tune that was being
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
hammered across the yard； appeared on a tray； and turned out to
be for me。
‘I have been acquainted with you；’ said Mr。 Omer； after
watching me for some minutes； during which I had not made
much impression on the breakfast； for the black things destroyed
my appetite； ‘I have been acquainted with you a long time； my
young friend。’
‘Have you； sir？’
‘All your life；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘I may say before it。 I knew your
father before you。 He was five foot nine and a half； and he lays in
five…and…twen…ty foot of ground。’
‘Rat—tat…tat； Rat—tat…tat； Rat—tat…tat；’ across the yard。
‘He lays in five and twen…ty foot of ground； if he lays in a
fraction；’ said Mr。 Omer； pleasantly。 ‘It was either his request or
her direction； I forget which。’
‘Do you know how my little brother is； sir？’ I inquired。
Mr。 Omer shook his head。
‘Rat—tat…tat； Rat—tat…tat； Rat—tat…tat。’
‘He is in his mother’s arms；’ said he。
‘Oh； poor little fellow！ Is he dead？’
‘Don’t mind it more than you can help；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘Yes。
The baby’s dead。’
My wounds broke out afresh at this intelligence。 I left the
scarcely…tasted breakfast； and went and rested my head on
another table； in a corner of the little room； which Minnie hastily
cleared； lest I should spot the mourning that was lying there with
my tears。 She was a pretty； good…natured girl； and put my hair
away from my eyes with a soft； kind touch； but she was very
cheerful at having nearly finished her work and being in good
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
time； and was so different from me！
Presently the tune left off； and a good…looking young fellow
came across the yard into the room。 He had a hammer in his hand；
and his mouth was full of little nails； which he was obliged to take
out before he could speak。
‘Well； Joram！’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘How do you get on？’
‘All right；’ said Joram。 ‘Done； sir。’
Minnie coloured a little； and the other two girls smiled at one
another。
‘What！ you were at it by candle…light last night； when I was at
the club； then？ Were you？’ said Mr。 Omer； shutting up one eye。
‘Yes；’ said Joram。 ‘As you said we could make a little trip of it；
and go over together； if it was done； Minnie and me—and you。’
‘Oh！ I thought you were going to leave me out altogether；’ said
Mr。 Omer； laughing till he coughed。
‘—As you was so good as to say that；’ resumed the young man；
‘why I turned to with a will； you see。 Will you give me your opinion
of it？’
‘I will；’ said Mr。 Omer； rising。 ‘My dear’； and he stopped and
turned to me： ‘would you like to see your—’
‘No； father；’ Minnie interposed。
‘I thought it might be agreeable； my dear；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘But
perhaps you’re right。’
I can’t say how I knew it was my dear； dear mother’s coffin that
they went to look at。 I had never heard one making； I had never
seen one that I know of。—but it came into my mind what the noise
was； while it was going on； and when the young man entered； I am
sure I knew what he had been doing。
The work being now finished； the two girls； whose names I had
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
not heard； brushed the shreds and threads from their dresses； and
went into the shop to put that to rights； and wait for customers。
Minnie stayed behind to fold up what they had made； and pack it
in two baskets。 This she did upon her knees； humming a lively
little tune the while。 Joram； who I had no doubt was her lover；
came in and stole a kiss from her while she was busy （he didn’t
appear to mind me； at all）； and said her father was gone for the
chaise； and he must make haste and get himself ready。 Then he
went out again； and then she put her thimble and scissors in her
pocket； and stuck a needle threaded with black thread neatly in
the bosom of her gown； and put on her outer clothing smartly； at a
little glass behind the door； in which I saw the reflection of her
pleased face。
All this I observed； sitting at the table in the corner with my
head leaning on my hand； and my thoughts running on very
different things。 The chaise soon came round to the front of the
shop； and the baskets being put in first； I was put in next； and
those three followed。 I remember it as a kind of half chaise…cart；
half pianoforte…van； painted of a sombre colour； and drawn by a
black horse with a long tail。 There was plenty of room for us all。
I do not think I have ever experienced so strange a feeling in
my life （I am wiser now； perhaps） as that of being with them；
remembering how they had been employed； and seeing them
enjoy the ride。 I was not angry with them； I was more afraid of
them； as if I were cast away among creatures with whom I had no
community of nature。 They were very cheerful。 The old man sat in
front to drive； and the two young people sat behind him； and
whenever he spoke to them leaned forward； the one on one side of
his chubby face and the other on the other； and made a great deal
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
of him。 They would have talked to me too； but I held back； and
moped in my corner； scared by their love…making and hilarity；
though it was far from boisterous； and almost wondering that no
judgement came upon them for their hardness of heart。
So； when they stopped to bait the horse； and ate and drank and
enjoyed themselves； I could touch nothing that they touched； but
kept my fast unbroken。 So； when we reached home； I dropped out
of the chaise behind； as quickly as possible； that I might not be in
their company before those solemn windows； looking blindly on
me like closed eyes once bright。 And oh； how little need I had had
to think what would move me to tears when I came back—seeing
the window of my mother’s room； and next it that which； in the
better time； was mine！
I was in Peggotty’s arms before I got to the door； and she took
me into the house。 Her grief burst out when she first saw me； but
she controlled it soon； and spoke in whispers； and walked softly； as
if the dead could be disturbed。 She had not been in bed； I found；
for a long time。 She sat up at night still； and watched。 As long as
her poor dear pretty was above the ground； she said； she would
never desert her。
Mr。 Murdstone took no heed of me when I went into the parlour
where he was； but sat by the fireside； weeping silently； and
pondering in his elbow…chair。 Miss Murdstone； who was busy at
her writing…desk； which was covered with letters and papers； gave
me her cold finger…nails； and asked me； in an iron whisper； if I had
been measured for my mourning。
I said： ‘Yes。’
‘And your shirts；’ said Miss Murdstone； ‘have you brought ’em
home？’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Yes； ma’am。 I have brought home all my clothes。’
This was all the consolation that her firmness administered to
me。 I do not doubt that she had a choice pleasure in exhibiting
what she called her self…command； and her firmness； and her
strength of mind； and her common sense； and the whole diabolical
catalogue of her unamiable qualities； on such an occasion。 She was
particularly proud of her turn for business； and she showed it now
in reducing everything to pen and ink； and being moved by
nothing。 All the rest of that day； and from morning to night
afterwards； she sat at that desk； scratching composedly with a
hard pen； speaking in the same imperturbable whisper to
everybody； never relaxing a muscle of her face； or softening a tone
of her voice； or appearing with an atom of her dress astray。
Her brother took a book sometimes； but never read it that I
saw。 He would open it and look at it as if he were reading； but
would remain for a whole hour without turning the leaf； and then
put it down and walk to and fro in the room。 I used to sit with
folded hands watching him； and counting his footsteps； hour after
hour。 He very seldom spoke to her； and never to me。 He seemed to
be the only restless thing； except the clocks； in the whole
motionless house。
In these days before the funeral； I saw but little of Peggotty；
except that； in passing up or down stairs； I always found her close
to the room where my mother and her baby lay； and except that
she came to me every night； and sat by my bed’s head while I went
to sleep。 A day or two before the burial—I think it was a day or two
before； but I am conscious of confusion in my mind about that
heavy time； with nothing to mark its progress—she took me into
the room。 I only recollect that underneath some white covering on
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
the bed； with a beautiful cleanliness and freshness all around it；
there seemed to
