david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第74部分
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praise that anyone can give to C。 P。 Barkis； she deserves； and
more！ My dear； you’ll get a dinner today； for company； something
good to eat and drink； will you？’
I should have protested against this unnecessary demonstration
in my honour； but that I saw Peggotty； on the opposite side of the
bed； extremely anxious I should not。 So I held my peace。
‘I have got a trifle of money somewhere about me； my dear；’
said Mr。 Barkis； ‘but I’m a little tired。 If you and Mr。 David will
leave me for a short nap； I’ll try and find it when I wake。’
We left the room； in compliance with this request。 When we got
outside the door； Peggotty informed me that Mr。 Barkis； being
now ‘a little nearer’ than he used to be； always resorted to this
same device before producing a single coin from his store； and
that he endured unheard…of agonies in crawling out of bed alone；
and taking it from that unlucky box。 In effect； we presently heard
him uttering suppressed groans of the most dismal nature； as this
magpie proceeding racked him in every joint； but while Peggotty’s
eyes were full of compassion for him； she said his generous
impulse would do him good； and it was better not to check it。 So
he groaned on； until he had got into bed again； suffering； I have no
doubt； a martyrdom； and then called us in； pretending to have just
woke up from a refreshing sleep； and to produce a guinea from
under his pillow。 His satisfaction in which happy imposition on us；
and in having preserved the impenetrable secret of the box；
appeared to be a sufficient compensation to him for all his
tortures。
I prepared Peggotty for Steerforth’s arrival and it was not long
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David Copperfield
before he came。 I am persuaded she knew no difference between
his having been a personal benefactor of hers； and a kind friend to
me； and that she would have received him with the utmost
gratitude and devotion in any case。 But his easy； spirited good
humour； his genial manner； his handsome looks； his natural gift of
adapting himself to whomsoever he pleased； and making direct；
when he cared to do it； to the main point of interest in anybody’s
heart； bound her to him wholly in five minutes。 His manner to me；
alone； would have won her。 But； through all these causes
combined； I sincerely believe she had a kind of adoration for him
before he left the house that night。
He stayed there with me to dinner—if I were to say willingly； I
should not half express how readily and gaily。 He went into Mr。
Barkis’s room like light and air； brightening and refreshing it as if
he were healthy weather。 There was no noise； no effort； no
consciousness； in anything he did； but in everything an
indescribable lightness； a seeming impossibility of doing anything
else； or doing anything better； which was so graceful； so natural；
and agreeable； that it overcomes me； even now； in the
remembrance。
We made merry in the little parlour； where the Book of
Martyrs； unthumbed since my time； was laid out upon the desk as
of old； and where I now turned over its terrific pictures；
remembering the old sensations they had awakened； but not
feeling them。 When Peggotty spoke of what she called my room；
and of its being ready for me at night； and of her hoping I would
occupy it； before I could so much as look at Steerforth； hesitating；
he was possessed of the whole case。
‘Of course；’ he said。 ‘You’ll sleep here； while we stay； and I shall
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David Copperfield
sleep at the hotel。’
‘But to bring you so far；’ I returned； ‘and to separate； seems bad
companionship； Steerforth。’
‘Why； in the name of Heaven； where do you naturally belong？’
he said。 ‘What is “seems”； compared to that？’ It was settled at
once。
He maintained all his delightful qualities to the last； until we
started forth； at eight o’clock； for Mr。 Peggotty’s boat。 Indeed； they
were more and more brightly exhibited as the hours went on； for I
thought even then； and I have no doubt now； that the
consciousness of success in his determination to please； inspired
him with a new delicacy of perception； and made it； subtle as it
was； more easy to him。 If anyone had told me； then； that all this
was a brilliant game； played for the excitement of the moment； for
the employment of high spirits； in the thoughtless love of
superiority； in a mere wasteful careless course of winning what
was worthless to him； and next minute thrown away—I say； if
anyone had told me such a lie that night； I wonder in what manner
of receiving it my indignation would have found a vent！ Probably
only in an increase； had that been possible； of the romantic
feelings of fidelity and friendship with which I walked beside him；
over the dark wintry sands towards the old boat； the wind sighing
around us even more mournfully； than it had sighed and moaned
upon the night when I first darkened Mr。 Peggotty’s door。
‘This is a wild kind of place； Steerforth； is it not？’
‘Dismal enough in the dark；’ he said： ‘and the sea roars as if it
were hungry for us。 Is that the boat； where I see a light yonder？’
‘That’s the boat；’ said I。
‘And it’s the same I saw this morning；’ he returned。 ‘I came
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straight to it； by instinct； I suppose。’
We said no more as we approached the light； but made softly
for the door。 I laid my hand upon the latch； and whispering
Steerforth to keep close to me； went in。
A murmur of voices had been audible on the outside； and； at the
moment of our entrance； a clapping of hands： which latter noise； I
was surprised to see； proceeded from the generally disconsolate
Mrs。 Gummidge。 But Mrs。 Gummidge was not the only person
there who was unusually excited。 Mr。 Peggotty； his face lighted up
with uncommon satisfaction； and laughing with all his might； held
his rough arms wide open； as if for little Em’ly to run into them；
Ham； with a mixed expression in his face of admiration；
exultation； and a lumbering sort of bashfulness that sat upon him
very well； held little Em’ly by the hand； as if he were presenting
her to Mr。 Peggotty； little Em’ly herself； blushing and shy； but
delighted with Mr。 Peggotty’s delight； as her joyous eyes
expressed； was stopped by our entrance （for she saw us first） in
the very act of springing from Ham to nestle in Mr。 Peggotty’s
embrace。 In the first glimpse we had of them all； and at the
moment of our passing from the dark cold night into the warm
light room； this was the way in which they were all employed： Mrs。
Gummidge in the background； clapping her hands like a
madwoman。
The little picture was so instantaneously dissolved by our going
in； that one might have doubted whether it had ever been。 I was in
the midst of the astonished family； face to face with Mr。 Peggotty；
and holding out my hand to him； when Ham shouted：
‘Mas’r Davy！ It’s Mas’r Davy！’
In a moment we were all shaking hands with one another； and
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asking one another how we did； and telling one another how glad
we were to meet； and all talking at once。 Mr。 Peggotty was so
proud and overjoyed to see us； that he did not know what to say or
do； but kept over and over again shaking hands with me； and then
with Steerforth； and then with me； and then ruffling his shaggy
hair all over his head； and laughing with such glee and triumph；
that it was a treat to see him。
‘Why； that you two gent’lmen—gent’lmen growed—should
come to this here roof tonight； of all nights in my life；’ said Mr。
Peggotty； ‘is such a thing as never happened afore； I do rightly
believe！ Em’ly； my darling； come here！ Come here； my little witch！
There’s Mas’r Davy’s friend； my dear！ There’s the gent’lman as
you’ve heerd on； Em’ly。 He comes to see you； along with Mas’r
Davy； on the brightest night of your uncle’s life as ever was or will
be； Gorm the t’other one； and horroar for it！’
After delivering this speech all in a breath； and with
extraordinary animation and pleasure； Mr。 Peggotty put one of his
large hands rapturously on each side of his niece’s face； and
kissing it a dozen times； laid it with a gentle pride and love upon
his broad chest； and patted it as if his hand had been a lady’s。
Then he let her go； and as she ran into the little chamber where I
used to sleep； looked round upon us； quite hot and out of breath
with his uncommon satisfaction。
‘If you two gent’lmen—gent’lmen growed now； and such
gent’lmen—’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘So th’ are； so th’ are！’ cried Ham。 ‘Well said！ So th’ are。 Mas’r
Davy bor’—gent’lmen growed—so th’ are！’
‘If you two gent’lmen； gent’lmen growed；’ said Mr。 Peggotty；
‘don’t ex…cuse me for being in a state of mind； when you
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understand matters； I’ll arks your pardon。 Em’ly； my dear！—She
knows I’m a going to tell；’ here his delight broke out again； ‘and
has made off。 Would you be so good as look arter her； Mawther； for
a minute？’
Mrs。 Gummidge nodded and disappeared。
‘If this ain’t；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； sitting down among us by the
fire； ‘the brightest night o’ my life； I’m a shellfish—biled too—and
more I can’t say。 This here little Em’ly； sir；’ in a low voice to
Steerforth； ‘—her as you see a blushing here just now—’
Steerforth only nodded； but with such a pleased expression of
interest； and of participation in Mr。 Peggotty’s feelings； that the
latter answered him as if he had spoken。
‘To be sure；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘That’s her； and so she is。
Thankee； sir。’
Ham nodded to me several times； as if he would have said so
too。
‘This here little Em’ly of ours；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ‘has been； in
our house； what I suppose （I’m a ignorant man； but that’s my
belief） no one but a little bright…eyed creetur can be in a house。
She ain’t my child； I never had one； but I couldn’t
