david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第6部分
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a gentleman with beautiful black hair and whiskers； who had
walked home with us from church last Sunday。
As my mother stooped down on the threshold to take me in her
arms and kiss me； the gentleman said I was a more highly
privileged little fellow than a monarch—or something like that； for
my later understanding comes； I am sensible； to my aid here。
‘What does that mean？’ I asked him； over her shoulder。
He patted me on the head； but somehow； I didn’t like him or his
deep voice； and I was jealous that his hand should touch my
mother’s in touching me—which it did。 I put it away； as well as I
could。
‘Oh； Davy！’ remonstrated my mother。
‘Dear boy！’ said the gentleman。 ‘I cannot wonder at his
devotion！’
I never saw such a beautiful colour on my mother’s face before。
She gently chid me for being rude； and； keeping me close to her
shawl； turned to thank the gentleman for taking so much trouble
as to bring her home。 She put out her hand to him as she spoke；
and； as he met it with his own； she glanced； I thought； at me。
‘Let us say “good night”； my fine boy；’ said the gentleman；
when he had bent his head—I saw him！—over my mother’s little
glove。
‘Good night！’ said I。
‘Come！ Let us be the best friends in the world！’ said the
gentleman； laughing。 ‘Shake hands！’
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David Copperfield
My right hand was in my mother’s left； so I gave him the other。
‘Why； that’s the wrong hand； Davy！’ laughed the gentleman。
My mother drew my right hand forward； but I was resolved； for
my former reason； not to give it him； and I did not。 I gave him the
other； and he shook it heartily； and said I was a brave fellow； and
went away。
At this minute I see him turn round in the garden； and give us a
last look with his ill…omened black eyes； before the door was shut。
Peggotty； who had not said a word or moved a finger； secured
the fastenings instantly； and we all went into the parlour。 My
mother； contrary to her usual habit； instead of coming to the
elbow…chair by the fire； remained at the other end of the room； and
sat singing to herself。
—‘Hope you have had a pleasant evening； ma’am；’ said
Peggotty； standing as stiff as a barrel in the centre of the room；
with a candlestick in her hand。
‘Much obliged to you； Peggotty；’ returned my mother； in a
cheerful voice； ‘I have had a very pleasant evening。’
‘A stranger or so makes an agreeable change；’ suggested
Peggotty。
‘A very agreeable change； indeed；’ returned my mother。
Peggotty continuing to stand motionless in the middle of the
room； and my mother resuming her singing； I fell asleep； though I
was not so sound asleep but that I could hear voices； without
hearing what they said。 When I half awoke from this
uncomfortable doze； I found Peggotty and my mother both in
tears； and both talking。 ‘Not such a one as this； Mr。 Copperfield
wouldn’t have liked；’ said Peggotty。 ‘That I say； and that I swear！’
‘Good Heavens！’ cried my mother； ‘you’ll drive me mad！ Was
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David Copperfield
ever any poor girl so ill…used by her servants as I am！ Why do I do
myself the injustice of calling myself a girl？ Have I never been
married； Peggotty？’
‘God knows you have； ma’am；’ returned Peggotty。 ‘Then； how
can you dare；’ said my mother—‘you know I don’t mean how can
you dare； Peggotty； but how can you have the heart—to make me
so uncomfortable and say such bitter things to me； when you are
well aware that I haven’t； out of this place； a single friend to turn
to？’
‘The more’s the reason；’ returned Peggotty； ‘for saying that it
won’t do。 No！ That it won’t do。 No！ No price could make it do。
No！’—I thought Peggotty would have thrown the candlestick
away； she was so emphatic with it。
‘How can you be so aggravating；’ said my mother； shedding
more tears than before； ‘as to talk in such an unjust manner！ How
can you go on as if it was all settled and arranged； Peggotty； when
I tell you over and over again； you cruel thing； that beyond the
commonest civilities nothing has passed！ You talk of admiration。
What am I to do？ If people are so silly as to indulge the sentiment；
is it my fault？ What am I to do； I ask you？ Would you wish me to
shave my head and black my face； or disfigure myself with a burn；
or a scald； or something of that sort？ I dare say you would；
Peggotty。 I dare say you’d quite enjoy it。’
Peggotty seemed to take this aspersion very much to heart； I
thought。
‘And my dear boy；’ cried my mother； coming to the elbow…chair
in which I was； and caressing me； ‘my own little Davy！ Is it to be
hinted to me that I am wanting in affection for my precious
treasure； the dearest little fellow that ever was！’
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David Copperfield
‘Nobody never went and hinted no such a thing；’ said Peggotty。
‘You did； Peggotty！’ returned my mother。 ‘You know you did。
What else was it possible to infer from what you said； you unkind
creature； when you know as well as I do； that on his account only
last quarter I wouldn’t buy myself a new parasol； though that old
green one is frayed the whole way up； and the fringe is perfectly
mangy？ You know it is； Peggotty。 You can’t deny it。’ Then； turning
affectionately to me； with her cheek against mine； ‘Am I a naughty
mama to you； Davy？ Am I a nasty； cruel； selfish； bad mama？ Say I
am； my child； say “yes”； dear boy； and Peggotty will love you； and
Peggotty’s love is a great deal better than mine； Davy。 I don’t love
you at all； do I？’
At this； we all fell a…crying together。 I think I was the loudest of
the party； but I am sure we were all sincere about it。 I was quite
heart…broken myself； and am afraid that in the first transports of
wounded tenderness I called Peggotty a ‘Beast’。 That honest
creature was in deep affliction； I remember； and must have
become quite buttonless on the occasion； for a little volley of those
explosives went off； when； after having made it up with my
mother； she kneeled down by the elbow…chair； and made it up with
me。
We went to bed greatly dejected。 My sobs kept waking me； for a
long time； and when one very strong sob quite hoisted me up in
bed； I found my mother sitting on the coverlet； and leaning over
me。 I fell asleep in her arms； after that； and slept soundly。
Whether it was the following Sunday when I saw the gentleman
again； or whether there was any greater lapse of time before he
reappeared； I cannot recall。 I don’t profess to be clear about dates。
But there he was； in church； and he walked home with us
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
afterwards。 He came in； too； to look at a famous geranium we had；
in the parlour…window。 It did not appear to me that he took much
notice of it； but before he went he asked my mother to give him a
bit of the blossom。 She begged him to choose it for himself； but he
refused to do that—I could not understand why—so she plucked it
for him； and gave it into his hand。 He said he would never； never
part with it any more； and I thought he must be quite a fool not to
know that it would fall to pieces in a day or two。
Peggotty began to be less with us； of an evening； than she had
always been。 My mother deferred to her very much—more than
usual； it occurred to me—and we were all three excellent friends；
still we were different from what we used to be； and were not so
comfortable among ourselves。 Sometimes I fancied that Peggotty
perhaps objected to my mother’s wearing all the pretty dresses she
had in her drawers； or to her going so often to visit at that
neighbour’s； but I couldn’t； to my satisfaction； make out how it
was。
Gradually； I became used to seeing the gentleman with the
black whiskers。 I liked him no better than at first； and had the
same uneasy jealousy of him； but if I had any reason for it beyond
a child’s instinctive dislike； and a general idea that Peggotty and I
could make much of my mother without any help； it certainly was
not the reason that I might have found if I had been older。 No such
thing came into my mind； or near it。 I could observe； in little
pieces； as it were； but as to making a net of a number of these
pieces； and catching anybody in it； that was； as yet； beyond me。
One autumn morning I was with my mother in the front
garden； when Mr。 Murdstone—I knew him by that name now—
came by； on horseback。 He reined up his horse to salute my
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David Copperfield
mother； and said he was going to Lowestoft to see some friends
who were there with a yacht； and merrily proposed to take me on
the saddle before him if I would like the ride。
The air was so clear and pleasant； and the horse seemed to like
the idea of the ride so much himself； as he stood snorting and
pawing at the garden…gate； that I had a great desire to go。 So I was
sent upstairs to Peggotty to be made spruce； and in the meantime
Mr。 Murdstone dismounted； and； with his horse’s bridle drawn
over his arm； walked slowly up and down on the outer side of the
sweetbriar fence； while my mother walked slowly up and down on
the inner to keep him company。 I recollect Peggotty and I peeping
out at them from my little window； I recollect how closely they
seemed to be examining the sweetbriar between them； as they
strolled along； and how； from being in a perfectly angelic temper；
Peggotty turned cross in a moment； and brushed my hair the
wrong way； excessively hard。
Mr。 Murdstone and I were soon off； and trotting along on the
green turf by the side of the road。 He held me quite easily with one
arm； and I don’t think I was restless usually； but I could not make
up my mind to sit in front of him without turning my head
sometimes； and looking up in his face。 He had that kind of shallow
black eye—I want a better word to express an eye that has no
depth in it to be looked into—which； when it is abstracted； seems
from some peculiari
