david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第69部分

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decision　to　speak　to　him；　and　might　have　put　it　off　until　next　day；　
and　might　have　lost　him。　But；　in　the　then　condition　of　my　mind；　
where　the　play　was　still　running　high；　his　former　protection　of　me　
appeared　so　deserving　of　my　gratitude；　and　my　old　love　for　him　
overflowed　my　breast　so　freshly　and　spontaneously；　that　I　went　up　
to　him　at　once；　with　a　fast…beating　heart；　and　said：　

‘Steerforth！　won’t　you　speak　to　me？’　

He　looked　at　me—just　as　he　used　to　look；　sometimes—but　I　saw　
no　recognition　in　his　face。　

‘You　don’t　remember　me；　I　am　afraid；’　said　I。　

‘My　God！’　he　suddenly　exclaimed。　‘It’s　little　Copperfield！’　

I　grasped　him　by　both　hands；　and　could　not　let　them　go。　But　for　
very　shame；　and　the　fear　that　it　might　displease　him；　I　could　have　
held　him　round　the　neck　and　cried。　

‘I　never；　never；　never　was　so　glad！　My　dear　Steerforth；　I　am　so　
overjoyed　to　see　you！’　

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David　Copperfield　

‘And　I　am　rejoiced　to　see　you；　too！’　he　said；　shaking　my　hands　
heartily。　‘Why；　Copperfield；　old　boy；　don’t　be　overpowered！’　And　
yet　he　was　glad；　too；　I　thought；　to　see　how　the　delight　I　had　in　
meeting　him　affected　me。　

I　brushed　away　the　tears　that　my　utmost　resolution　had　not　
been　able　to　keep　back；　and　I　made　a　clumsy　laugh　of　it；　and　we　
sat　down　together；　side　by　side。　

‘Why；　how　do　you　come　to　be　here？’　said　Steerforth；　clapping　
me　on　the　shoulder。　

‘I　came　here　by　the　Canterbury　coach；　today。　I　have　been　
adopted　by　an　aunt　down　in　that　part　of　the　country；　and　have　just　
finished　my　education　there。　How　do　you　come　to　be　here；　
Steerforth？’　

‘Well；　I　am　what　they　call　an　Oxford　man；’　he　returned；　‘that　is　
to　say；　I　get　bored　to　death　down　there；　periodically—and　I　am　on　
my　way　now　to　my　mother’s。　You’re　a　devilish　amiable…looking　
fellow；　Copperfield。　just　what　you　used　to　be；　now　I　look　at　you！　
Not　altered　in　the　least！’　

‘I　knew　you　immediately；’　I　said；　‘but　you　are　more　easily　
remembered。’　

He　laughed　as　he　ran　his　hand　through　the　clustering　curls　of　
his　hair；　and　said　gaily：　

‘Yes；　I　am　on　an　expedition　of　duty。　My　mother　lives　a　little　way　
out　of　town；　and　the　roads　being　in　a　beastly　condition；　and　our　
house　tedious　enough；　I　remained　here　tonight　instead　of　going　
on。　I　have　not　been　in　town　half…a…dozen　hours；　and　those　I　have　
been　dozing　and　grumbling　away　at　the　play。’　

‘I　have　been　at　the　play；　too；’　said　I。　‘At　Covent　Garden。　What　a　
delightful　and　magnificent　entertainment；　Steerforth！’　

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Steerforth　laughed　heartily。　

‘My　dear　young　Davy；’　he　said；　clapping　me　on　the　shoulder　
again；　‘you　are　a　very　Daisy。　The　daisy　of　the　field；　at　sunrise；　is　
not　fresher　than　you　are。　I　have　been　at　Covent　Garden；　too；　and　
there　never　was　a　more　miserable　business。　Holloa；　you　sir！’　

This　was　addressed　to　the　waiter；　who　had　been　very　attentive　
to　our　recognition；　at　a　distance；　and　now　came　forward　
deferentially。　

‘Where　have　you　put　my　friend；　Mr。　Copperfield？’　said　
Steerforth。　

‘Beg　your　pardon；　sir？’　

‘Where　does　he　sleep？　What’s　his　number？　You　know　what　I　
mean；’　said　Steerforth。　

‘Well；　sir；’　said　the　waiter；　with　an　apologetic　air。　‘Mr。　
Copperfield　is　at　present　in　forty…four；　sir。’　

‘And　what　the　devil　do　you　mean；’　retorted　Steerforth；　‘by　
putting　Mr。　Copperfield　into　a　little　loft　over　a　stable？’　

‘Why；　you　see　we　wasn’t　aware；　sir；’　returned　the　waiter；　still　
apologetically；　‘as　Mr。　Copperfield　was　anyways　particular。　We　can　
give　Mr。　Copperfield　seventy…two；　sir；　if　it　would　be　preferred。　
Next　you；　sir。’　

‘Of　course　it　would　be　preferred；’　said　Steerforth。　‘And　do　it　at　
once。’　The　waiter　immediately　withdrew　to　make　the　exchange。　
Steerforth；　very　much　amused　at　my　having　been　put　into　forty…
four；　laughed　again；　and　clapped　me　on　the　shoulder　again；　and　
invited　me　to　breakfast　with　him　next　morning　at　ten　o’clock—an　
invitation　I　was　only　too　proud　and　happy　to　accept。　It　being　now　
pretty　late；　we　took　our　candles　and　went　upstairs；　where　we　
parted　with　friendly　heartiness　at　his　door；　and　where　I　found　my　

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new　room　a　great　improvement　on　my　old　one；　it　not　being　at　all　
musty；　and　having　an　immense　four…post　bedstead　in　it；　which　was　
quite　a　little　landed　estate。　Here；　among　pillows　enough　for　six；　I　
soon　fell　asleep　in　a　blissful　condition；　and　dreamed　of　ancient　
Rome；　Steerforth；　and　friendship；　until　the　early　morning　coaches；　
rumbling　out　of　the　archway　underneath；　made　me　dream　of　
thunder　and　the　gods。　

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David　Copperfield　

Chapter　20　

STEERFORTH’S　HOME　

When　the　chambermaid　tapped　at　my　door　at　eight　
o’clock；　and　informed　me　that　my　shaving…water　was　
outside；　I　felt　severely　the　having　no　occasion　for　it；　
and　blushed　in　my　bed。　The　suspicion　that　she　laughed　too；　when　
she　said　it；　preyed　upon　my　mind　all　the　time　I　was　dressing；　and　
gave　me；　I　was　conscious；　a　sneaking　and　guilty　air　when　I　passed　
her　on　the　staircase；　as　I　was　going　down　to　breakfast。　I　was　so　
sensitively　aware；　indeed；　of　being　younger　than　I　could　have　
wished；　that　for　some　time　I　could　not　make　up　my　mind　to　pass　
her　at　all；　under　the　ignoble　circumstances　of　the　case；　but；　
hearing　her　there　with　a　broom；　stood　peeping　out　of　window　at　
King　Charles　on　horseback；　surrounded　by　a　maze　of　hackney…
coaches；　and　looking　anything　but　regal　in　a　drizzling　rain　and　a　
dark…brown　fog；　until　I　was　admonished　by　the　waiter　that　the　
gentleman　was　waiting　for　me。　

It　was　not　in　the　coffee…room　that　I　found　Steerforth　expecting　
me；　but　in　a　snug　private　apartment；　red…curtained　and　Turkey…
carpeted；　where　the　fire　burnt　bright；　and　a　fine　hot　breakfast　was　
set　forth　on　a　table　covered　with　a　clean　cloth；　and　a　cheerful　
miniature　of　the　room；　the　fire；　the　breakfast；　Steerforth；　and　all；　
was　shining　in　the　little　round　mirror　over　the　sideboard。　I　was　
rather　bashful　at　first；　Steerforth　being　so　self…possessed；　and　
elegant；　and　superior　to　me　in　all　respects　（age　included）；　but　his　
easy　patronage　soon　put　that　to　rights；　and　made　me　quite　at　

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home。　I　could　not　enough　admire　the　change　he　had　wrought　in　
the　Golden　Cross；　or　compare　the　dull　forlorn　state　I　had　held　
yesterday；　with　this　morning’s　comfort　and　this　morning’s　
entertainment。　As　to　the　waiter’s　familiarity；　it　was　quenched　as　if　
it　had　never　been。　He　attended　on　us；　as　I　may　say；　in　sackcloth　
and　ashes。　

‘Now；　Copperfield；’　said　Steerforth；　when　we　were　alone；　‘I　
should　like　to　hear　what　you　are　doing；　and　where　you　are　going；　
and　all　about　you。　I　feel　as　if　you　were　my　property。’　Glowing　with　
pleasure　to　find　that　he　had　still　this　interest　in　me；　I　told　him　how　
my　aunt　had　proposed　the　little　expedition　that　I　had　before　me；　
and　whither　it　tended。　

‘As　you　are　in　no　hurry；　then；’　said　Steerforth；　‘come　home　with　
me　to　Highgate；　and　stay　a　day　or　two。　You　will　be　pleased　with　my　
mother—she　is　a　little　vain　and　prosy　about　me；　but　that　you　can　
forgive　her—and　she　will　be　pleased　with　you。’　

‘I　should　like　to　be　as　sure　of　that；　as　you　are　kind　enough　to　say　
you　are；’　I　answered；　smiling。　

‘Oh！’　said　Steerforth；　’everyone　who　likes　me；　has　a　claim　on　
her　that　is　sure　to　be　acknowledged。’　

‘Then　I　think　I　shall　be　a　favourite；’　said　I。　

‘Good！’　said　Steerforth。　‘Come　and　prove　it。　We　will　go　and　see　
the　lions　for　an　hour　or　two—it’s　something　to　have　a　fresh　fellow　
like　you　to　show　them　to；　Copperfield—and　then　we’ll　journey　out　
to　Highgate　by　the　coach。’　

I　could　hardly　believe　but　that　I　was　in　a　dream；　and　that　I　
should　wake　presently　in　number　forty…four；　to　the　solitary　box　in　
the　coffee…room　and　the　familiar　waiter　again。　After　I　had　written　
to　my　aunt　and　told　her　of　my　fortunate　meeting　with　my　admired　

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old　schoolfellow；　and　my　acceptance　of　his　invitation；　we　went　out　
in　a　hackney…chariot；　and　saw　a　Panorama　and　some　other　sights；　
and　took　a　walk　through　the　Museum；　where　I　could　not　help　
observing　how　much　Steerforth　knew；　on　an　infinite　variety　of　
subjects；　and　of　how　little　account　he　seemed　to　make　his　
knowledge。　

‘You’ll　take　a　high　degree　at　college；　Steerforth；’　said　I；　‘if　you　
have　not　done　so　already；　and　they　will　have　good　reason　to　be　
proud　of　you。’　

‘I　take　a　degree！’　cried　Steerforth。　‘Not　I！　my　dear　Daisy—will　
you　mind　my　calling　you　Daisy？’　

‘Not　at　all！’　said　I。　

‘That’s　a　good　fellow！　My　dear　Daisy；’　said　Steerforth；　laughing。　
‘I　have　not　the　least　desire　or　intention　to　distinguish　myself　in　
that　way。　I　have　done　quite　sufficient　for　my　purpose。　I　find　that　I　
am　heavy　company　enough　for　myself　as　I　am。’　

‘But　the　fame—’　I　was　beginning。　

‘You　romantic　Daisy！’　said　Steerforth；　laughing　still　more　
heartily：　‘why　should　I　trouble　myself；　that　a　parcel　of　heavy…
headed　fellows　may　gape　and　hold　up　their　hands？　Let　them　do　it　
at　some　other　man。　There’s　fame　for　him；　and　he’s　welcome　to　it。’　

I　was　abashed　at　having　made　so　great　a　mistake；　and　was　glad　
to　change　the　subject。　Fortunately　it　was　not　difficult　to　do；　for　
Steerforth　could　always　pass　from　one　subject　to　another　with　a　
carelessness　and　lightness　that　were　his　own。　

Lunch　succeeded　to　our　sight…seeing；　and　the　short　winter　day　
wore　away　so　fast；　that　it　was　dusk　when　the　stage…coach　stopped　
with　us　at　an　old　brick　house　at　Highgate　on　the　summit　of　the　hill。　
An　elderly　lady；　though　not　very　far　advanced　in　years；　with　a　

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David　Copperfield　

proud　carriage　and　a　handsome　face；　was　in　the　doorway　as　we　
alighted；　and　greeting　Steerforth　as　‘My　dearest　James；’　folded　
him　in　her　arms。　To　this　lady　he　presented　me　as　his　mother；　and　
she　gave　me　a　stately　welcome。　

It　was　a　genteel　old…fa