david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第62部分

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I　had　begun　to　be　a　little　uncomfortable；　and　to　wish　myself　well　
out　of　the　visit；　when　a　figure　coming　down　the　street　passed　the　
door—it　stood　open　to　air　the　room；　which　was　warm；　the　weather　
being　close　for　the　time　of　year—came　back　again；　looked　in；　and　
walked　in；　exclaiming　loudly；　‘Copperfield！　Is　it　possible？’　

It　was　Mr。　Micawber！　It　was　Mr。　Micawber；　with　his　eye…glass；　
and　his　walking…stick；　and　his　shirt…collar；　and　his　genteel　air；　and　
the　condescending　roll　in　his　voice；　all　complete！　

‘My　dear　Copperfield；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　putting　out　his　hand；　
‘this　is　indeed　a　meeting　which　is　calculated　to　impress　the　mind　
with　a　sense　of　the　instability　and　uncertainty　of　all　human—in　
short；　it　is　a　most　extraordinary　meeting。　Walking　along　the　street；　
reflecting　upon　the　probability　of　something　turning　up　（of　which　I　
am　at　present　rather　sanguine）；　I　find　a　young　but　valued　friend　
turn　up；　who　is　connected　with　the　most　eventful　period　of　my　life；　
I　may　say；　with　the　turning…point　of　my　existence。　Copperfield；　my　
dear　fellow；　how　do　you　do？’　

I　cannot　say—I　really　cannot　say—that　I　was　glad　to　see　Mr。　
Micawber　there；　but　I　was　glad　to　see　him　too；　and　shook　hands　
with　him；　heartily；　inquiring　how　Mrs。　Micawber　was。　

‘Thank　you；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　waving　his　hand　as　of　old；　and　
settling　his　chin　in　his　shirt…collar。　‘She　is　tolerably　convalescent。　
The　twins　no　longer　derive　their　sustenance　from　Nature’s　
founts—in　short；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　in　one　of　his　bursts　of　

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David　Copperfield　

confidence；　‘they　are　weaned—and　Mrs。　Micawber　is；　at　present；　
my　travelling　companion。　She　will　be　rejoiced；　Copperfield；　to　
renew　her　acquaintance　with　one　who　has　proved　himself　in　all　
respects　a　worthy　minister　at　the　sacred　altar　of　friendship。’　

I　said　I　should　be　delighted　to　see　her。　

‘You　are　very　good；’　said　Mr。　Micawber。　

Mr。　Micawber　then　smiled；　settled　his　chin　again；　and　looked　
about　him。　

‘I　have　discovered　my　friend　Copperfield；’　said　Mr。　Micawber　
genteelly；　and　without　addressing　himself　particularly　to　anyone；　
‘not　in　solitude；　but　partaking　of　a　social　meal　in　company　with　a　
widow　lady；　and　one　who　is　apparently　her　offspring—in　short；’　
said　Mr。　Micawber；　in　another　of　his　bursts　of　confidence；　‘her　son。　
I　shall　esteem　it　an　honour　to　be　presented。’　

I　could　do　no　less；　under　these　circumstances；　than　make　Mr。　
Micawber　known　to　Uriah　Heep　and　his　mother；　which　I　
accordingly　did。　As　they　abased　themselves　before　him；　Mr。　
Micawber　took　a　seat；　and　waved　his　hand　in　his　most　courtly　
manner。　

‘Any　friend　of　my　friend　Copperfield’s；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　‘has　
a　personal　claim　upon　myself。’　

‘We　are　too　umble；　sir；’　said　Mrs。　Heep；　‘my　son　and　me；　to　be　
the　friends　of　Master　Copperfield。　He　has　been　so　good　as　take　his　
tea　with　us；　and　we　are　thankful　to　him　for　his　company；　also　to　
you；　sir；　for　your　notice。’　

‘Ma’am；’　returned　Mr。　Micawber；　with　a　bow；　‘you　are　very　
obliging：　and　what　are　you　doing；　Copperfield？　Still　in　the　wine　
trade？’　I　was　excessively　anxious　to　get　Mr。　Micawber　away；　and　
replied；　with　my　hat　in　my　hand；　and　a　very　red　face；　I　have　no　

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David　Copperfield　

doubt；　that　I　was　a　pupil　at　Doctor　Strong’s。　

‘A　pupil？’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　raising　his　eyebrows。　‘I　am　
extremely　happy　to　hear　it。　Although　a　mind　like　my　friend　
Copperfield’s’—to　Uriah　and　Mrs。　Heep—‘does　not　require　that　
cultivation　which；　without　his　knowledge　of　men　and　things；　it　
would　require；　still　it　is　a　rich　soil　teeming　with　latent　vegetation—　
in　short；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　smiling；　in　another　burst　of　
confidence；　‘it　is　an　intellect　capable　of　getting　up　the　classics　to　
any　extent。’　

Uriah；　with　his　long　hands　slowly　twining　over　one　another；　
made　a　ghastly　writhe　from　the　waist　upwards；　to　express　his　
concurrence　in　this　estimation　of　me。　

‘Shall　we　go　and　see　Mrs。　Micawber；　sir？’　I　said；　to　get　Mr。　
Micawber　away。　

‘If　you　will　do　her　that　favour；　Copperfield；’　replied　Mr。　
Micawber；　rising。　‘I　have　no　scruple　in　saying；　in　the　presence　of　
our　friends　here；　that　I　am　a　man　who　has；　for　some　years；　
contended　against　the　pressure　of　pecuniary　difficulties。’　I　knew　
he　was　certain　to　say　something　of　this　kind；　he　always　would　be　
so　boastful　about　his　difficulties。　‘Sometimes　I　have　risen　superior　
to　my　difficulties。　Sometimes　my　difficulties　have—in　short；　have　
floored　me。　There　have　been　times　when　I　have　administered　a　
succession　of　facers　to　them；　there　have　been　times　when　they　
have　been　too　many　for　me；　and　I　have　given　in；　and　said　to　Mrs。　
Micawber；　in　the　words　of　Cato；　“Plato；　thou　reasonest　well。　It’s　all　
up　now。　I　can　show　fight　no　more。”　But　at　no　time　of　my　life；’　said　
Mr。　Micawber；　‘have　I　enjoyed　a　higher　degree　of　satisfaction　than　
in　pouring　my　griefs　（if　I　may　describe　difficulties；　chiefly　arising　
out　of　warrants　of　attorney　and　promissory　notes　at　two　and　four　

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David　Copperfield　

months；　by　that　word）　into　the　bosom　of　my　friend　Copperfield。’　

Mr。　Micawber　closed　this　handsome　tribute　by　saying；　‘Mr。　
Heep！　Good　evening。　Mrs。　Heep！　Your　servant；’　and　then　walking　
out　with　me　in　his　most　fashionable　manner；　making　a　good　deal　
of　noise　on　the　pavement　with　his　shoes；　and　humming　a　tune　as　
we　went。　

It　was　a　little　inn　where　Mr。　Micawber　put　up；　and　he　occupied　
a　little　room　in　it；　partitioned　off　from　the　commercial　room；　and　
strongly　flavoured　with　tobacco…smoke。　I　think　it　was　over　the　
kitchen；　because　a　warm　greasy　smell　appeared　to　come　up　
through　the　chinks　in　the　floor；　and　there　was　a　flabby　
perspiration　on　the　walls。　I　know　it　was　near　the　bar；　on　account　of　
the　smell　of　spirits　and　jingling　of　glasses。　Here；　recumbent　on　a　
small　sofa；　underneath　a　picture　of　a　race…horse；　with　her　head　
close　to　the　fire；　and　her　feet　pushing　the　mustard　off　the　dumbwaiter　at　the　other　end　of　the　room；　was　Mrs。　Micawber；　to　whom　
Mr。　Micawber　entered　first；　saying；　‘My　dear；　allow　me　to　
introduce　to　you　a　pupil　of　Doctor　Strong’s。’　

I　noticed；　by　the　by；　that　although　Mr。　Micawber　was　just　as　
much　confused　as　ever　about　my　age　and　standing；　he　always　
remembered；　as　a　genteel　thing；　that　I　was　a　pupil　of　Doctor　
Strong’s。　

Mrs。　Micawber　was　amazed；　but　very　glad　to　see　me。　I　was　very　
glad　to　see　her　too；　and；　after　an　affectionate　greeting　on　both　
sides；　sat　down　on　the　small　sofa　near　her。　

‘My　dear；’　said　Mr。　Micawber；　‘if　you　will　mention　to　
Copperfield　what　our　present　position　is；　which　I　have　no　doubt　he　
will　like　to　know；　I　will　go　and　look　at　the　paper　the　while；　and　see　
whether　anything　turns　up　among　the　advertisements。’　

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David　Copperfield　

‘I　thought　you　were　at　Plymouth；　ma’am；’　I　said　to　Mrs。　
Micawber；　as　he　went　out。　

‘My　dear　Master　Copperfield；’　she　replied；　‘we　went　to　
Plymouth。’　

‘To　be　on　the　spot；’　I　hinted。　

‘Just　so；’　said　Mrs。　Micawber。　‘To　be　on　the　spot。　But；　the　truth　
is；　talent　is　not　wanted　in　the　Custom　House。　The　local　influence　of　
my　family　was　quite　unavailing　to　obtain　any　employment　in　that　
department；　for　a　man　of　Mr。　Micawber’s　abilities。　They　would　
rather　not　have　a　man　of　Mr。　Micawber’s　abilities。　He　would　only　
show　the　deficiency　of　the　others。　Apart　from　which；’　said　Mrs。　
Micawber；　‘I　will　not　disguise　from　you；　my　dear　Master　
Copperfield；　that　when　that　branch　of　my　family　which　is　settled　in　
Plymouth；　became　aware　that　Mr。　Micawber　was　accompanied　by　
myself；　and　by　little　Wilkins　and　his　sister；　and　by　the　twins；　they　
did　not　receive　him　with　that　ardour　which　he　might　have　
expected；　being　so　newly　released　from　captivity。　In　fact；’　said　
Mrs。　Micawber；　lowering　her　voice；—‘this　is　between　ourselves—　
our　reception　was　cool。’　

‘Dear　me！’　I　said。　

‘Yes；’　said　Mrs。　Micawber。　‘It　is　truly　painful　to　contemplate　
mankind　in　such　an　aspect；　Master　Copperfield；　but　our　reception　
was；　decidedly；　cool。　There　is　no　doubt　about　it。　In　fact；　that　
branch　of　my　family　which　is　settled　in　Plymouth　became　quite　
personal　to　Mr。　Micawber；　before　we　had　been　there　a　week。’　

I　said；　and　thought；　that　they　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　
themselves。　

‘Still；　so　it　was；’　continued　Mrs。　Micawber。　‘Under　such　
circumstances；　what　could　a　man　of　Mr。　Micawber’s　spirit　do？　But　

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David　Copperfield　

one　obvious　course　was　left。　To　borrow；　of　that　branch　of　my　
family；　the　money　to　return　to　London；　and　to　return　at　any　
sacrifice。’　

‘Then　you　all　came　back　again；　ma’am？’　I　said。　

‘We　all　came　back　again；’　replied　Mrs。　Micawber。　‘Since　then；　I　
have　consulted　other　branches　of　my　family　on　the　course　which　it　
is　most　expedient　for　Mr。　Micawber　to　take—for　I　maintain　that　he　
must　take　some　course；　Master　Copperfield；’　said　Mrs。　Micawber；　
argumentatively。　‘It　is　clear　that　a　family　of　six；　not　including　a　
domestic；　cannot　live　upon　air。’　

‘Certainly；　ma’am；’　said　I。　

‘The　opinion　of　those　other　branches　of　my　family；’　pursued　
Mrs。　Micawber；　‘is；　that　Mr。　Micawber　should　immediately　turn　
his　attention　to　coals。’　

‘To　what；　ma’am？’　

‘To　coals；’　said　Mrs。　Micawber。　‘To　the　coal　trade。　Mr。　Micawber　
was　induced　to　think；　on　inquiry；　that　there　might　be　an　opening　
for　a　man　of　his　talent　in　the　Medway　Coal　Trade。　Then；　as　Mr。　
Micawber　very　properly　said；　the　first　step　to　be　taken　clearly　was；　
to　come　and　see　the　Medway。　Which　we　came　and　saw。　I　say　“we”；　
Master　Copperfield；　for　I　never　will；’　said　Mrs。　Micawber　with　
emotion；　‘I　never　will　desert　Mr。　Micawber。’　

I　murmured　my　admiration　and　approbation。　

‘We　came；’　repeated　Mrs。　Micawber；　‘and　saw　the　Medway。　My　
opinion　of　the　coal　trade　on　that　river　is；　that　it　may　require　talent；　
but　that　it　certainly　requires　capital。　Talent；　Mr。　Micawber　has；　
capital；　Mr。　Micawber　has　not。　We　saw；　I　think；　t