david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第76部分

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myself　whether　it　was　in　her　own　little　tormenting　way；　or　in　a　
maidenly　reserve　before　us；　that　she　kept　quite　close　to　the　wall；　
and　away　from　him；　but　I　observed　that　she　did　so；　all　the　evening。　

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As　I　remember；　it　was　almost　midnight　when　we　took　our　leave。　
We　had　had　some　biscuit　and　dried　fish　for　supper；　and　Steerforth　
had　produced　from　his　pocket　a　full　flask　of　Hollands；　which　we　
men　（I　may　say　we　men；　now；　without　a　blush）　had　emptied。　We　
parted　merrily；　and　as　they　all　stood　crowded　round　the　door　to　
light　us　as　far　as　they　could　upon　our　road；　I　saw　the　sweet　blue　
eyes　of　little　Em’ly　peeping　after　us；　from　behind　Ham；　and　heard　
her　soft　voice　calling　to　us　to　be　careful　how　we　went。　

‘A　most　engaging　little　Beauty！’　said　Steerforth；　taking　my　arm。　
‘Well！　It’s　a　quaint　place；　and　they　are　quaint　company；　and　it’s　
quite　a　new　sensation　to　mix　with　them。’　

‘How　fortunate　we　are；　too；’　I　returned；　‘to　have　arrived　to　
witness　their　happiness　in　that　intended　marriage！　I　never　saw　
people　so　happy。　How　delightful　to　see　it；　and　to　be　made　the　
sharers　in　their　honest　joy；　as　we　have　been！’　

‘That’s　rather　a　chuckle…headed　fellow　for　the　girl；　isn’t　he？’　
said　Steerforth。　

He　had　been　so　hearty　with　him；　and　with　them　all；　that　I　felt　a　
shock　in　this　unexpected　and　cold　reply。　But　turning　quickly　upon　
him；　and　seeing　a　laugh　in　his　eyes；　I　answered；　much　relieved：　

‘Ah；　Steerforth！　It’s　well　for　you　to　joke　about　the　poor！　You　
may　skirmish　with　Miss　Dartle；　or　try　to　hide　your　sympathies　in　
jest　from　me；　but　I　know　better。　When　I　see　how　perfectly　you　
understand　them；　how　exquisitely　you　can　enter　into　happiness　
like　this　plain　fisherman’s；　or　humour　a　love　like　my　old　nurse’s；　I　
know　that　there　is　not　a　joy　or　sorrow；　not　an　emotion；　of　such　
people；　that　can　be　indifferent　to　you。　And　I　admire　and　love　you　
for　it；　Steerforth；　twenty　times　the　more！’　

He　stopped；　and；　looking　in　my　face；　said；　‘Daisy；　I　believe　you　

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are　in　earnest；　and　are　good。　I　wish　we　all　were！’　Next　moment　he　
was　gaily　singing　Mr。　Peggotty’s　song；　as　we　walked　at　a　round　
pace　back　to　Yarmouth。　

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Chapter　22　

SOME　OLD　SCENES；　AND　SOME　NEW　PEOPLE　

Steerforth　and　I　stayed　for　more　than　a　fortnight　in　that　part　
of　the　country。　We　were　very　much　together；　I　need　not　
say；　but　occasionally　we　were　asunder　for　some　hours　at　a　
time。　He　was　a　good　sailor；　and　I　was　but　an　indifferent　one；　and　
when　he　went　out　boating　with　Mr。　Peggotty；　which　was　a　
favourite　amusement　of　his；　I　generally　remained　ashore。　My　
occupation　of　Peggotty’s　spare…room　put　a　constraint　upon　me；　
from　which　he　was　free：　for；　knowing　how　assiduously　she　
attended　on　Mr。　Barkis　all　day；　I　did　not　like　to　remain　out　late　at　
night；　whereas　Steerforth；　lying　at　the　Inn；　had　nothing　to　consult　
but　his　own　humour。　Thus　it　came　about；　that　I　heard　of　his　
making　little　treats　for　the　fishermen　at　Mr。　Peggotty’s　house　of　
call；　‘The　Willing　Mind’；　after　I　was　in　bed；　and　of　his　being　afloat；　
wrapped　in　fishermen’s　clothes；　whole　moonlight　nights；　and　
coming　back　when　the　morning　tide　was　at　flood。　By　this　time；　
however；　I　knew　that　his　restless　nature　and　bold　spirits　delighted　
to　find　a　vent　in　rough　toil　and　hard　weather；　as　in　any　other　
means　of　excitement　that　presented　itself　freshly　to　him；　so　none　
of　his　proceedings　surprised　me。　

Another　cause　of　our　being　sometimes　apart；　was；　that　I　had　
naturally　an　interest　in　going　over　to　Blunderstone；　and　revisiting　
the　old　familiar　scenes　of　my　childhood；　while　Steerforth；　after　
being　there　once；　had　naturally　no　great　interest　in　going　there　
again。　Hence；　on　three　or　four　days　that　I　can　at　once　recall；　we　

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went　our　several　ways　after　an　early　breakfast；　and　met　again　at　a　
late　dinner。　I　had　no　idea　how　he　employed　his　time　in　the　
interval；　beyond　a　general　knowledge　that　he　was　very　popular　in　
the　place；　and　had　twenty　means　of　actively　diverting　himself　
where　another　man　might　not　have　found　one。　

For　my　own　part；　my　occupation　in　my　solitary　pilgrimages　was　
to　recall　every　yard　of　the　old　road　as　I　went　along　it；　and　to　haunt　
the　old　spots；　of　which　I　never　tired。　I　haunted　them；　as　my　
memory　had　often　done；　and　lingered　among　them　as　my　younger　
thoughts　had　lingered　when　I　was　far　away。　The　grave　beneath　the　
tree；　where　both　my　parents　lay—on　which　I　had　looked　out；　when　
it　was　my　father’s　only；　with　such　curious　feelings　of　compassion；　
and　by　which　I　had　stood；　so　desolate；　when　it　was　opened　to　
receive　my　pretty　mother　and　her　baby—the　grave　which　
Peggotty’s　own　faithful　care　had　ever　since　kept　neat；　and　made　a　
garden　of；　I　walked　near；　by　the　hour。　It　lay　a　little　off　the　
churchyard　path；　in　a　quiet　corner；　not　so　far　removed　but　I　could　
read　the　names　upon　the　stone　as　I　walked　to　and　fro；　startled　by　
the　sound　of　the　church…bell　when　it　struck　the　hour；　for　it　was　like　
a　departed　voice　to　me。　My　reflections　at　these　times　were　always　
associated　with　the　figure　I　was　to　make　in　life；　and　the　
distinguished　things　I　was　to　do。　My　echoing　footsteps　went　to　no　
other　tune；　but　were　as　constant　to　that　as　if　I　had　come　home　to　
build　my　castles　in　the　air　at　a　living　mother’s　side。　

There　were　great　changes　in　my　old　home。　The　ragged　nests；　so　
long　deserted　by　the　rooks；　were　gone；　and　the　trees　were　lopped　
and　topped　out　of　their　remembered　shapes。　The　garden　had　run　
wild；　and　half　the　windows　of　the　house　were　shut　up。　It　was　
occupied；　but　only　by　a　poor　lunatic　gentleman；　and　the　people　

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who　took　care　of　him。　He　was　always　sitting　at　my　little　window；　
looking　out　into　the　churchyard；　and　I　wondered　whether　his　
rambling　thoughts　ever　went　upon　any　of　the　fancies　that　used　to　
occupy　mine；　on　the　rosy　mornings　when　I　peeped　out　of　that　
same　little　window　in　my　night…clothes；　and　saw　the　sheep　quietly　
feeding　in　the　light　of　the　rising　sun。　

Our　old　neighbours；　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Grayper；　were　gone　to　South　
America；　and　the　rain　had　made　its　way　through　the　roof　of　their　
empty　house；　and　stained　the　outer　walls。　Mr。　Chillip　was　married　
again　to　a　tall；　raw…boned；　high…nosed　wife；　and　they　had　a　weazen　
little　baby；　with　a　heavy　head　that　it　couldn’t　hold　up；　and　two　
weak　staring　eyes；　with　which　it　seemed　to　be　always　wondering　
why　it　had　ever　been　born。　

It　was　with　a　singular　jumble　of　sadness　and　pleasure　that　I　
used　to　linger　about　my　native　place；　until　the　reddening　winter　
sun　admonished　me　that　it　was　time　to　start　on　my　returning　walk。　
But；　when　the　place　was　left　behind；　and　especially　when　
Steerforth　and　I　were　happily　seated　over　our　dinner　by　a　blazing　
fire；　it　was　delicious　to　think　of　having　been　there。　So　it　was；　
though　in　a　softened　degree；　when　I　went　to　my　neat　room　at　
night；　and；　turning　over　the　leaves　of　the　crocodile…book　（which　
was　always　there；　upon　a　little　table）；　remembered　with　a　grateful　
heart　how　blest　I　was　in　having　such　a　friend　as　Steerforth；　such　a　
friend　as　Peggotty；　and　such　a　substitute　for　what　I　had　lost　as　my　
excellent　and　generous　aunt。　

My　nearest　way　to　Yarmouth；　in　coming　back　from　these　long　
walks；　was　by　a　ferry。　It　landed　me　on　the　flat　between　the　town　
and　the　sea；　which　I　could　make　straight　across；　and　so　save　
myself　a　considerable　circuit　by　the　high　road。　Mr。　Peggotty’s　

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house　being　on　that　waste…place；　and　not　a　hundred　yards　out　of　
my　track；　I　always　looked　in　as　I　went　by。　Steerforth　was　pretty　
sure　to　be　there　expecting　me；　and　we　went　on　together　through　
the　frosty　air　and　gathering　fog　towards　the　twinkling　lights　of　the　
town。　

One　dark　evening；　when　I　was　later　than　usual—for　I　had；　that　
day；　been　making　my　parting　visit　to　Blunderstone；　as　we　were　
now　about　to　return　home—I　found　him　alone　in　Mr。　Peggotty’s　
house；　sitting　thoughtfully　before　the　fire。　He　was　so　intent　upon　
his　own　reflections　that　he　was　quite　unconscious　of　my　approach。　
This；　indeed；　he　might　easily　have　been　if　he　had　been　less　
absorbed；　for　footsteps　fell　noiselessly　on　the　sandy　ground　
outside；　but　even　my　entrance　failed　to　rouse　him。　I　was　standing　
close　to　him；　looking　at　him；　and　still；　with　a　heavy　brow；　he　was　
lost　in　his　meditations。　

He　gave　such　a　start　when　I　put　my　hand　upon　his　shoulder；　
that　he　made　me　start　too。　

‘You　come　upon　me；’　he　said；　almost　angrily；　‘like　a　reproachful　
ghost！’　

‘I　was　obliged　to　announce　myself；　somehow；’　I　replied。　‘Have　I　
called　you　down　from　the　stars？’　

‘No；’　he　answered。　‘No。’　

‘Up　from　anywhere；　then？’　said　I；　taking　my　seat　near　him。　

‘I　was　looking　at　the　pictures　in　the　fire；’　he　returned。　

‘But　you　are　spoiling　them　for　me；’　said　I；　as　he　stirred　it　
quickly　with　a　piece　of　burning　wood；　striking　out　of　it　a　train　of　
red…hot　sparks　that　went　careering　up　the　little　chimney；　and　
roaring　out　into　the　air。　

‘You　would　not　have　seen　them；’　he　returned。　‘I　detest　this　

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mongrel　time；　neither　day　nor　night。　How　late　you　are！　Where　

have　you　been？’　

‘I　have　been　taking　leave　of　my　usual　walk；’　said　I。　

‘And　I　have　been　sitting　here；’　said　Steerforth；　glancing　round　
the　room；　‘thinking　that　all　the　people　we　found　so　glad　on　the　
night　of　our　coming　down；　might—to　judge　from　the　present　
wasted　air　of　the　place—be　dispersed；　or　dead；　or　come　to　I　don’t　
know　what　harm。　David；　I　wish　to　God　I　had　had　a　judicious　father　
these　last　twenty　years！’　

‘My　dear　Steerforth；　what　is　the　matter？’　

‘I　wish　with　all　my　soul　I　had　been　better　guided！’　he　exclaimed。　
‘I　wish　with　all　my　soul　I　could　guide　myself　better！’　

There　was　a　passionate　dejection　in　his　manner　that