david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第40部分
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‘With the exception of the heel of a Dutch cheese—which is not
adapted to the wants of a young family’—said Mrs。 Micawber；
‘there is really not a scrap of anything in the larder。 I was
accustomed to speak of the larder when I lived with papa and
mama； and I use the word almost unconsciously。 What I mean to
express is； that there is nothing to eat in the house。’
‘Dear me！’ I said； in great concern。
I had two or three shillings of my week’s money in my pocket—
from which I presume that it must have been on a Wednesday
night when we held this conversation—and I hastily produced
them； and with heartfelt emotion begged Mrs。 Micawber to accept
of them as a loan。 But that lady； kissing me； and making me put
them back in my pocket； replied that she couldn’t think of it。
‘No； my dear Master Copperfield；’ said she； ‘far be it from my
thoughts！ But you have a discretion beyond your years； and can
render me another kind of service； if you will； and a service I will
thankfully accept of。’
I begged Mrs。 Micawber to name it。
‘I have parted with the plate myself；’ said Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘Six
tea； two salt； and a pair of sugars； I have at different times
borrowed money on； in secret； with my own hands。 But the twins
are a great tie； and to me； with my recollections； of papa and
mama； these transactions are very painful。 There are still a few
trifles that we could part with。 Mr。 Micawber’s feelings would
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
never allow him to dispose of them； and Clickett’—this was the girl
from the workhouse—‘being of a vulgar mind； would take painful
liberties if so much confidence was reposed in her。 Master
Copperfield； if I might ask you—’
I understood Mrs。 Micawber now； and begged her to make use
of me to any extent。 I began to dispose of the more portable
articles of property that very evening； and went out on a similar
expedition almost every morning； before I went to Murdstone and
Grinby’s。
Mr。 Micawber had a few books on a little chiffonier； which he
called the library； and those went first。 I carried them； one after
another； to a bookstall in the City Road—one part of which； near
our house； was almost all bookstalls and bird shops then—and
sold them for whatever they would bring。 The keeper of this
bookstall； who lived in a little house behind it； used to get tipsy
every night； and to be violently scolded by his wife every morning。
More than once； when I went there early； I had audience of him in
a turn…up bedstead； with a cut in his forehead or a black eye；
bearing witness to his excesses over…night （I am afraid he was
quarrelsome in his drink）； and he； with a shaking hand；
endeavouring to find the needful shillings in one or other of the
pockets of his clothes； which lay upon the floor； while his wife；
with a baby in her arms and her shoes down at heel； never left off
rating him。 Sometimes he had lost his money； and then he would
ask me to call again； but his wife had always got some—had taken
his； I dare say； while he was drunk—and secretly completed the
bargain on the stairs； as we went down together。 At the
pawnbroker’s shop； too； I began to be very well known。 The
principal gentleman who officiated behind the counter； took a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
good deal of notice of me； and often got me； I recollect； to decline a
Latin noun or adjective； or to conjugate a Latin verb； in his ear；
while he transacted my business。 After all these occasions Mrs。
Micawber made a little treat； which was generally a supper； and
there was a peculiar relish in these meals which I well remember。
At last Mr。 Micawber’s difficulties came to a crisis； and he was
arrested early one morning； and carried over to the King’s Bench
Prison in the Borough。 He told me； as he went out of the house；
that the God of day had now gone down upon him—and I really
thought his heart was broken and mine too。 But I heard；
afterwards； that he was seen to play a lively game at skittles；
before noon。
On the first Sunday after he was taken there； I was to go and
see him； and have dinner with him。 I was to ask my way to such a
place； and just short of that place I should see such another place；
and just short of that I should see a yard； which I was to cross； and
keep straight on until I saw a turnkey。 All this I did； and when at
last I did see a turnkey （poor little fellow that I was！）； and thought
how； when Roderick Random was in a debtors’ prison； there was a
man there with nothing on him but an old rug； the turnkey swam
before my dimmed eyes and my beating heart。
Mr。 Micawber was waiting for me within the gate； and we went
up to his room （top story but one）； and cried very much。 He
solemnly conjured me； I remember； to take warning by his fate；
and to observe that if a man had twenty pounds a…year for his
income； and spent nineteen pounds nineteen shillings and
sixpence； he would be happy； but that if he spent twenty pounds
one he would be miserable。 After which he borrowed a shilling of
me for porter； gave me a written order on Mrs。 Micawber for the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
amount； and put away his pocket…handkerchief； and cheered up。
We sat before a little fire； with two bricks put within the rusted
grate； one on each side； to prevent its burning too many coals；
until another debtor； who shared the room with Mr。 Micawber；
came in from the bakehouse with the loin of mutton which was
our joint…stock repast。 Then I was sent up to ‘Captain Hopkins’ in
the room overhead； with Mr。 Micawber’s compliments； and I was
his young friend； and would Captain Hopkins lend me a knife and
fork。
Captain Hopkins lent me the knife and fork； with his
compliments to Mr。 Micawber。 There was a very dirty lady in his
little room； and two wan girls； his daughters； with shock heads of
hair。 I thought it was better to borrow Captain Hopkins’s knife and
fork； than Captain Hopkins’s comb。 The Captain himself was in
the last extremity of shabbiness； with large whiskers； and an old；
old brown great…coat with no other coat below it。 I saw his bed
rolled up in a corner； and what plates and dishes and pots he had；
on a shelf； and I divined （God knows how） that though the two
girls with the shock heads of hair were Captain Hopkins’s
children； the dirty lady was not married to Captain Hopkins。 My
timid station on his threshold was not occupied more than a
couple of minutes at most； but I came down again with all this in
my knowledge； as surely as the knife and fork were in my hand。
There was something gipsy…like and agreeable in the dinner；
after all。 I took back Captain Hopkins’s knife and fork early in the
afternoon； and went home to comfort Mrs。 Micawber with an
account of my visit。 She fainted when she saw me return； and
made a little jug of egg…hot afterwards to console us while we
talked it over。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I don’t know how the household furniture came to be sold for
the family benefit； or who sold it； except that I did not。 Sold it was；
however； and carried away in a van； except the bed； a few chairs；
and the kitchen table。 With these possessions we encamped； as it
were； in the two parlours of the emptied house in Windsor
Terrace； Mrs。 Micawber； the children； the Orfling； and myself； and
lived in those rooms night and day。 I have no idea for how long；
though it seems to me for a long time。 At last Mrs。 Micawber
resolved to move into the prison； where Mr。 Micawber had now
secured a room to himself。 So I took the key of the house to the
landlord； who was very glad to get it； and the beds were sent over
to the King’s Bench； except mine； for which a little room was hired
outside the walls in the neighbourhood of that Institution； very
much to my satisfaction； since the Micawbers and I had become
too used to one another； in our troubles； to part。 The Orfling was
likewise accommodated with an inexpensive lodging in the same
neighbourhood。 Mine was a quiet back…garret with a sloping roof；
commanding a pleasant prospect of a timberyard； and when I took
possession of it； with the reflection that Mr。 Micawber’s troubles
had come to a crisis at last； I thought it quite a paradise。
All this time I was working at Murdstone and Grinby’s in the
same common way； and with the same common companions； and
with the same sense of unmerited degradation as at first。 But I
never； happily for me no doubt； made a single acquaintance； or
spoke to any of the many boys whom I saw daily in going to the
warehouse； in coming from it； and in prowling about the streets at
meal…times。 I led the same secretly unhappy life； but I led it in the
same lonely； self…reliant manner。 The only changes I am conscious
of are； firstly； that I had grown more shabby； and secondly； that I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
was now relieved of much of the weight of Mr。 and Mrs。
Micawber’s cares； for some relatives or friends had engaged to
help them at their present pass； and they lived more comfortably
in the prison than they had lived for a long while out of it。 I used to
breakfast with them now； in virtue of some arrangement； of which
I have forgotten the details。 I forget； too； at what hour the gates
were opened in the morning； admitting of my going in； but I know
that I was often up at six o’clock； and that my favourite lounging…
place in the interval was old London Bridge； where I was wont to
sit in one of the stone recesses； watching the people going by； or to
look over the balustrades at the sun shining in the water； and
lighting up the golden flame on the top of the Monument。 The
Orfling met me here sometimes； to be told some astonishing
fictions respecting the wharves and the Tower； of which I can say
no more than that I hope I believed them myself。 In the evening I
used to go back to the prison； and walk up and down the parade
with Mr。 Micawber； or play casino with Mrs。 Mic
