david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第50部分

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was　something　about　my　aunt；　notwithstanding　her　many　
eccentricities　and　odd　humours；　to　be　honoured　and　trusted　in。　
Though　she　was　just　as　sharp　that　day　as　on　the　day　before；　and　
was　in　and　out　about　the　donkeys　just　as　often；　and　was　thrown　
into　a　tremendous　state　of　indignation；　when　a　young　man；　going　
by；　ogled　Janet　at　a　window　（which　was　one　of　the　gravest　
misdemeanours　that　could　be　committed　against　my　aunt’s　
dignity）；　she　seemed　to　me　to　command　more　of　my　respect；　if　not　
less　of　my　fear。　

The　anxiety　I　underwent；　in　the　interval　which　necessarily　
elapsed　before　a　reply　could　be　received　to　her　letter　to　Mr。　
Murdstone；　was　extreme；　but　I　made　an　endeavour　to　suppress　it；　
and　to　be　as　agreeable　as　I　could　in　a　quiet　way；　both　to　my　aunt　
and　Mr。　Dick。　The　latter　and　I　would　have　gone　out　to　fly　the　great　
kite；　but　that　I　had　still　no　other　clothes　than　the　anything　but　

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ornamental　garments　with　which　I　had　been　decorated　on　the　first　
day；　and　which　confined　me　to　the　house；　except　for　an　hour　after　
dark；　when　my　aunt；　for　my　health’s　sake；　paraded　me　up　and　
down　on　the　cliff　outside；　before　going　to　bed。　At　length　the　reply　
from　Mr。　Murdstone　came；　and　my　aunt　informed　me；　to　my　
infinite　terror；　that　he　was　coming　to　speak　to　her　herself　on　the　
next　day。　On　the　next　day；　still　bundled　up　in　my　curious　
habiliments；　I　sat　counting　the　time；　flushed　and　heated　by　the　
conflict　of　sinking　hopes　and　rising　fears　within　me；　and　waiting　to　
be　startled　by　the　sight　of　the　gloomy　face；　whose　non…arrival　
startled　me　every　minute。　

My　aunt　was　a　little　more　imperious　and　stern　than　usual；　but　I　
observed　no　other　token　of　her　preparing　herself　to　receive　the　
visitor　so　much　dreaded　by　me。　She　sat　at　work　in　the　window；　
and　I　sat　by；　with　my　thoughts　running　astray　on　all　possible　and　
impossible　results　of　Mr。　Murdstone’s　visit；　until　pretty　late　in　the　
afternoon。　Our　dinner　had　been　indefinitely　postponed；　but　it　was　
growing　so　late；　that　my　aunt　had　ordered　it　to　be　got　ready；　when　
she　gave　a　sudden　alarm　of　donkeys；　and　to　my　consternation　and　
amazement；　I　beheld　Miss　Murdstone；　on　a　side…saddle；　ride　
deliberately　over　the　sacred　piece　of　green；　and　stop　in　front　of　the　
house；　looking　about　her。　

‘Go　along　with　you！’　cried　my　aunt；　shaking　her　head　and　her　
fist　at　the　window。　‘You　have　no　business　there。　How　dare　you　
trespass？　Go　along！　Oh！　you　bold…faced　thing！’　

My　aunt　was　so　exasperated　by　the　coolness　with　which　Miss　
Murdstone　looked　about　her；　that　I　really　believe　she　was　
motionless；　and　unable　for　the　moment　to　dart　out　according　to　
custom。　I　seized　the　opportunity　to　inform　her　who　it　was；　and　that　

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the　gentleman　now　coming　near　the　offender　（for　the　way　up　was　
very　steep；　and　he　had　dropped　behind）；　was　Mr。　Murdstone　
himself。　

‘I　don’t　care　who　it　is！’　cried　my　aunt；　still　shaking　her　head　and　
gesticulating　anything　but　welcome　from　the　bow…window。　‘I　won’t　
be　trespassed　upon。　I　won’t　allow　it。　Go　away！　Janet；　turn　him　
round。　Lead　him　off！’　and　I　saw；　from　behind　my　aunt；　a　sort　of　
hurried　battle…piece；　in　which　the　donkey　stood　resisting　
everybody；　with　all　his　four　legs　planted　different　ways；　while　
Janet　tried　to　pull　him　round　by　the　bridle；　Mr。　Murdstone　tried　to　
lead　him　on；　Miss　Murdstone　struck　at　Janet　with　a　parasol；　and　
several　boys；　who　had　come　to　see　the　engagement；　shouted　
vigorously。　But　my　aunt；　suddenly　descrying　among　them　the　
young　malefactor　who　was　the　donkey’s　guardian；　and　who　was　
one　of　the　most　inveterate　offenders　against　her；　though　hardly　in　
his　teens；　rushed　out　to　the　scene　of　action；　pounced　upon　him；　
captured　him；　dragged　him；　with　his　jacket　over　his　head；　and　his　
heels　grinding　the　ground；　into　the　garden；　and；　calling　upon　
Janet　to　fetch　the　constables　and　justices；　that　he　might　be　taken；　
tried；　and　executed　on　the　spot；　held　him　at　bay　there。　This　part　of　
the　business；　however；　did　not　last　long；　for　the　young　rascal；　
being　expert　at　a　variety　of　feints　and　dodges；　of　which　my　aunt　
had　no　conception；　soon　went　whooping　away；　leaving　some　deep　
impressions　of　his　nailed　boots　in　the　flower…beds；　and　taking　his　
donkey　in　triumph　with　him。　

Miss　Murdstone；　during　the　latter　portion　of　the　contest；　had　
dismounted；　and　was　now　waiting　with　her　brother　at　the　bottom　
of　the　steps；　until　my　aunt　should　be　at　leisure　to　receive　them。　My　
aunt；　a　little　ruffled　by　the　combat；　marched　past　them　into　the　

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house；　with　great　dignity；　and　took　no　notice　of　their　presence；　

until　they　were　announced　by　Janet。　

‘Shall　I　go　away；　aunt？’　I　asked；　trembling。　

‘No；　sir；’　said　my　aunt。　‘Certainly　not！’　With　which　she　pushed　
me　into　a　corner　near　her；　and　fenced　Me　in　with　a　chair；　as　if　it　
were　a　prison　or　a　bar　of　justice。　This　position　I　continued　to　
occupy　during　the　whole　interview；　and　from　it　I　now　saw　Mr。　and　
Miss　Murdstone　enter　the　room。　

‘Oh！’　said　my　aunt；　‘I　was　not　aware　at　first　to　whom　I　had　the　
pleasure　of　objecting。　But　I　don’t　allow　anybody　to　ride　over　that　
turf。　I　make　no　exceptions。　I　don’t　allow　anybody　to　do　it。’　

‘Your　regulation　is　rather　awkward　to　strangers；’　said　Miss　
Murdstone。　

‘Is　it！’　said　my　aunt。　

Mr。　Murdstone　seemed　afraid　of　a　renewal　of　hostilities；　and　
interposing　began：　

‘Miss　Trotwood！’　

‘I　beg　your　pardon；’　observed　my　aunt　with　a　keen　look。　‘You　
are　the　Mr。　Murdstone　who　married　the　widow　of　my　late　nephew；　
David　Copperfield；　of　Blunderstone　Rookery！—Though　why　
Rookery；　I　don’t　know！’　

‘I　am；’　said　Mr。　Murdstone。　

‘You’ll　excuse　my　saying；　sir；’　returned　my　aunt；　‘that　I　think　it　
would　have　been　a　much　better　and　happier　thing　if　you　had　left　
that　poor　child　alone。’　

‘I　so　far　agree　with　what　Miss　Trotwood　has　remarked；’　
observed　Miss　Murdstone；　bridling；　‘that　I　consider　our　lamented　
Clara　to　have　been；　in　all　essential　respects；　a　mere　child。’　

‘It　is　a　comfort　to　you　and　me；　ma’am；’　said　my　aunt；　‘who　are　

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getting　on　in　life；　and　are　not　likely　to　be　made　unhappy　by　our　
personal　attractions；　that　nobody　can　say　the　same　of　us。’　

‘No　doubt！’　returned　Miss　Murdstone；　though；　I　thought；　not　
with　a　very　ready　or　gracious　assent。　‘And　it　certainly　might　have　
been；　as　you　say；　a　better　and　happier　thing　for　my　brother　if　he　
had　never　entered　into　such　a　marriage。　I　have　always　been　of　that　
opinion。’　

‘I　have　no　doubt　you　have；’　said　my　aunt。　‘Janet；’　ringing　the　
bell；　‘my　compliments　to　Mr。　Dick；　and　beg　him　to　come　down。’　

Until　he　came；　my　aunt　sat　perfectly　upright　and　stiff；　frowning　
at　the　wall。　When　he　came；　my　aunt　performed　the　ceremony　of　
introduction。　

‘Mr。　Dick。　An　old　and　intimate　friend。　On　whose　judgement；’　
said　my　aunt；　with　emphasis；　as　an　admonition　to　Mr。　Dick；　who　
was　biting　his　forefinger　and　looking　rather　foolish；　‘I　rely。’　

Mr。　Dick　took　his　finger　out　of　his　mouth；　on　this　hint；　and　
stood　among　the　group；　with　a　grave　and　attentive　expression　of　
face。　

My　aunt　inclined　her　head　to　Mr。　Murdstone；　who　went　on：　

‘Miss　Trotwood：　on　the　receipt　of　your　letter；　I　considered　it　an　
act　of　greater　justice　to　myself；　and　perhaps　of　more　respect　to　
you—’　

‘Thank　you；’　said　my　aunt；　still　eyeing　him　keenly。　‘You　needn’t　
mind　me。’　

‘To　answer　it　in　person；　however　inconvenient　the　journey；’　
pursued　Mr。　Murdstone；　‘rather　than　by　letter。　This　unhappy　boy　
who　has　run　away　from　his　friends　and　his　occupation—’　

‘And　whose　appearance；’　interposed　his　sister；　directing　general　
attention　to　me　in　my　indefinable　costume；　‘is　perfectly　scandalous　

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and　disgraceful。’　

‘Jane　Murdstone；’　said　her　brother；　‘have　the　goodness　not　to　
interrupt　me。　This　unhappy　boy；　Miss　Trotwood；　has　been　the　
occasion　of　much　domestic　trouble　and　uneasiness；　both　during　
the　lifetime　of　my　late　dear　wife；　and　since。　He　has　a　sullen；　
rebellious　spirit；　a　violent　temper；　and　an　untoward；　intractable　
disposition。　Both　my　sister　and　myself　have　endeavoured　to　
correct　his　vices；　but　ineffectually。　And　I　have　felt—we　both　have　
felt；　I　may　say；　my　sister　being　fully　in　my　confidence—that　it　is　
right　you　should　receive　this　grave　and　dispassionate　assurance　
from　our　lips。’　

‘It　can　hardly　be　necessary　for　me　to　confirm　anything　stated　by　
my　brother；’　said　Miss　Murdstone；　‘but　I　beg　to　observe；　that；　of　all　
the　boys　in　the　world；　I　believe　this　is　the　worst　boy。’　

‘Strong！’　said　my　aunt；　shortly。　

‘But　not　at　all　too　strong　for　the　facts；’　returned　Miss　
Murdstone。　

‘Ha！’　said　my　aunt。　‘Well；　sir？’　

‘I　have　my　own　opinions；’　resumed　Mr。　Murdstone；　whose　face　
darkened　more　and　more；　the　more　he　and　my　aunt　observed　each　
other；　which　they　did　very　narrowly；　‘as　to　the　best　mode　of　
bringing　him　up；　they　are　founded；　in　part；　on　my　knowledge　of　
him；　and　in　part　on　my　knowledge　of　my　own　means　and　
resources。　I　am　responsible　for　them　to　myself；　I　act　upon　them；　
and　I　say　no　more　about　them。　It　is　enough　that　I　place　this　boy　
under　the　eye　of　a　friend　of　my　own；　in　a　respectable　business；　that　
it　does　not　please　him；　that　he　runs　away　from　it；　makes　himself　a　
common　vagabond　about　the　country；　and　comes　here；　in　rags；　to　
appeal　to　you；　Miss　Trotwood。　I　wish　to　set　before　you；　

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honourably；　the　exact　consequences—so　far　as　they　are　within　my　
knowledge—of　your　abetting　him　in　this　appeal。’　

‘But　about　the　respectable　business　first；’　said　my　aunt。　‘If　he　
had　been　your　own　boy；　you　would　have　put　him　to　it；　just　the　
same；　I　suppose？’　

‘If　he　had　been　my　brother’s　own　boy；’　returned　Miss　
Murdstone；　striking　in；　‘his　character；　I　trust；　would　have　been　
altogether　differ