david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第84部分

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David　Copperfield　

help　blushing；　this　looked　so　like　praising　myself—‘I　suppose　it　is　
not　the　custom；　in　the　later　years　of　his　time；　to　allow　him　any—’　

Mr。　Spenlow；　by　a　great　effort；　just　lifted　his　head　far　enough　
out　of　his　cravat　to　shake　it；　and　answered；　anticipating　the　word　
‘salary’：　

‘No。　I　will　not　say　what　consideration　I　might　give　to　that　point　
myself；　Mr。　Copperfield；　if　I　were　unfettered。　Mr。　Jorkins　is　
immovable。’　

I　was　quite　dismayed　by　the　idea　of　this　terrible　Jorkins。　But　I　
found　out　afterwards　that　he　was　a　mild　man　of　a　heavy　
temperament；　whose　place　in　the　business　was　to　keep　himself　in　
the　background；　and　be　constantly　exhibited　by　name　as　the　most　
obdurate　and　ruthless　of　men。　If　a　clerk　wanted　his　salary　raised；　
Mr。　Jorkins　wouldn’t　listen　to　such　a　proposition。　If　a　client　were　
slow　to　settle　his　bill　of　costs；　Mr。　Jorkins　was　resolved　to　have　it　
paid；　and　however　painful　these　things　might　be　（and　always　
were）　to　the　feelings　of　Mr。　Spenlow；　Mr。　Jorkins　would　have　his　
bond。　The　heart　and　hand　of　the　good　angel　Spenlow　would　have　
been　always　open；　but　for　the　restraining　demon　Jorkins。　As　I　
have　grown　older；　I　think　I　have　had　experience　of　some　other　
houses　doing　business　on　the　principle　of　Spenlow　and　Jorkins！　

It　was　settled　that　I　should　begin　my　month’s　probation　as　soon　
as　I　pleased；　and　that　my　aunt　need　neither　remain　in　town　nor　
return　at　its　expiration；　as　the　articles　of　agreement；　of　which　I　
was　to　be　the　subject；　could　easily　be　sent　to　her　at　home　for　her　
signature。　When　we　had　got　so　far；　Mr。　Spenlow　offered　to　take　me　
into　Court　then　and　there；　and　show　me　what　sort　of　place　it　was。　
As　I　was　willing　enough　to　know；　we　went　out　with　this　object；　
leaving　my　aunt　behind；　who　would　trust　herself；　she　said；　in　no　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

such　place；　and　who；　I　think；　regarded　all　Courts　of　Law　as　a　sort　
of　powder…mills　that　might　blow　up　at　any　time。　

Mr。　Spenlow　conducted　me　through　a　paved　courtyard　formed　
of　grave　brick　houses；　which　I　inferred；　from　the　Doctors’　names　
upon　the　doors；　to　be　the　official　abiding…places　of　the　learned　
advocates　of　whom　Steerforth　had　told　me；　and　into　a　large　dull　
room；　not　unlike　a　chapel　to　my　thinking；　on　the　left　hand。　The　
upper　part　of　this　room　was　fenced　off　from　the　rest；　and　there；　on　
the　two　sides　of　a　raised　platform　of　the　horse…shoe　form；　sitting　on　
easy　old…fashioned　dining…room　chairs；　were　sundry　gentlemen　in　
red　gowns　and　grey　wigs；　whom　I　found　to　be　the　Doctors　
aforesaid。　Blinking　over　a　little　desk　like　a　pulpit…desk；　in　the　
curve　of　the　horse…shoe；　was　an　old　gentleman；　whom；　if　I　had　seen　
him　in　an　aviary；　I　should　certainly　have　taken　for　an　owl；　but　who；　
I　learned；　was　the　presiding　judge。　In　the　space　within　the　horseshoe；　lower　than　these；　that　is　to　say；　on　about　the　level　of　the　
floor；　were　sundry　other　gentlemen；　of　Mr。　Spenlow’s　rank；　and　
dressed　like　him　in　black　gowns　with　white　fur　upon　them；　sitting　
at　a　long　green　table。　Their　cravats　were　in　general　stiff；　I　thought；　
and　their　looks　haughty；　but　in　this　last　respect　I　presently　
conceived　I　had　done　them　an　injustice；　for　when　two　or　three　of　
them　had　to　rise　and　answer　a　question　of　the　presiding　dignitary；　
I　never　saw　anything　more　sheepish。　The　public；　represented　by　a　
boy　with　a　comforter；　and　a　shabby…genteel　man　secretly　eating　
crumbs　out　of　his　coat　pockets；　was　warming　itself　at　a　stove　in　the　
centre　of　the　Court。　The　languid　stillness　of　the　place　was　only　
broken　by　the　chirping　of　this　fire　and　by　the　voice　of　one　of　the　
Doctors；　who　was　wandering　slowly　through　a　perfect　library　of　
evidence；　and　stopping　to　put　up；　from　time　to　time；　at　little　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

roadside　inns　of　argument　on　the　journey。　Altogether；　I　have　
never；　on　any　occasion；　made　one　at　such　a　cosey；　dosey；　old…
fashioned；　time…forgotten；　sleepy…headed　little　family…party　in　all　
my　life；　and　I　felt　it　would　be　quite　a　soothing　opiate　to　belong　to　it　
in　any　character—except　perhaps　as　a　suitor。　

Very　well　satisfied　with　the　dreamy　nature　of　this　retreat；　I　
informed　Mr。　Spenlow　that　I　had　seen　enough　for　that　time；　and　
we　rejoined　my　aunt；　in　company　with　whom　I　presently　departed　
from　the　Commons；　feeling　very　young　when　I　went　out　of　
Spenlow　and　Jorkins’s；　on　account　of　the　clerks　poking　one　
another　with　their　pens　to　point　me　out。　

We　arrived　at　Lincoln’s　Inn　Fields　without　any　new　adventures；　
except　encountering　an　unlucky　donkey　in　a　costermonger’s　cart；　
who　suggested　painful　associations　to　my　aunt。　We　had　another　
long　talk　about　my　plans；　when　we　were　safely　housed；　and　as　I　
knew　she　was　anxious　to　get　home；　and；　between　fire；　food；　and　
pickpockets；　could　never　be　considered　at　her　ease　for　half…anhour　in　London；　I　urged　her　not　to　be　uncomfortable　on　my　
account；　but　to　leave　me　to　take　care　of　myself。　

‘I　have　not　been　here　a　week　tomorrow；　without　considering　
that　too；　my　dear；’　she　returned。　‘There　is　a　furnished　little　set　of　
chambers　to　be　let　in　the　Adelphi；　Trot；　which　ought　to　suit　you　to　
a　marvel。’　

With　this　brief　introduction；　she　produced　from　her　pocket　an　
advertisement；　carefully　cut　out　of　a　newspaper；　setting　forth　that　
in　Buckingham　Street　in　the　Adelphi　there　was　to　be　let　furnished；　
with　a　view　of　the　river；　a　singularly　desirable；　and　compact　set　of　
chambers；　forming　a　genteel　residence　for　a　young　gentleman；　a　
member　of　one　of　the　Inns　of　Court；　or　otherwise；　with　immediate　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

possession。　Terms　moderate；　and　could　be　taken　for　a　month　only；　
if　required。　

‘Why；　this　is　the　very　thing；　aunt！’　said　I；　flushed　with　the　
possible　dignity　of　living　in　chambers。　

‘Then　come；’　replied　my　aunt；　immediately　resuming　the　
bonnet　she　had　a　minute　before　laid　aside。　‘We’ll　go　and　look　at　
’em。’　

Away　we　went。　The　advertisement　directed　us　to　apply　to　Mrs。　
Crupp　on　the　premises；　and　we　rung　the　area　bell；　which　we　
supposed　to　communicate　with　Mrs。　Crupp。　It　was　not　until　we　
had　rung　three　or　four　times　that　we　could　prevail　on　Mrs。　Crupp　
to　communicate　with　us；　but　at　last　she　appeared；　being　a　stout　
lady　with　a　flounce　of　flannel　petticoat　below　a　nankeen　gown。　

‘Let　us　see　these　chambers　of　yours；　if　you　please；　ma’am；’　said　
my　aunt。　

‘For　this　gentleman？’　said　Mrs。　Crupp；　feeling　in　her　pocket　for　
her　keys。　

‘Yes；　for　my　nephew；’　said　my　aunt。　

‘And　a　sweet　set　they　is　for　sich！’　said　Mrs。　Crupp。　

So　we　went　upstairs。　

They　were　on　the　top　of　the　house—a　great　point　with　my　aunt；　
being　near　the　fire…escape—and　consisted　of　a　little　half…blind　
entry　where　you　could　see　hardly　anything；　a　little　stone…blind　
pantry　where　you　could　see　nothing　at　all；　a　sitting…room；　and　a　
bedroom。　The　furniture　was　rather　faded；　but　quite　good　enough　
for　me；　and；　sure　enough；　the　river　was　outside　the　windows。　

As　I　was　delighted　with　the　place；　my　aunt　and　Mrs。　Crupp　
withdrew　into　the　pantry　to　discuss　the　terms；　while　I　remained　on　
the　sitting…room　sofa；　hardly　daring　to　think　it　possible　that　I　could　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

be　destined　to　live　in　such　a　noble　residence。　After　a　single　combat　
of　some　duration　they　returned；　and　I　saw；　to　my　joy；　both　in　Mrs。　
Crupp’s　countenance　and　in　my　aunt’s；　that　the　deed　was　done。　

‘Is　it　the　last　occupant’s　furniture？’　inquired　my　aunt。　

‘Yes；　it　is；　ma’am；’　said　Mrs。　Crupp。　

‘What’s　become　of　him？’　asked　my　aunt。　

Mrs。　Crupp　was　taken　with　a　troublesome　cough；　in　the　midst　
of　which　she　articulated　with　much　difficulty。　‘He　was　took　ill　here；　
ma’am；　and—ugh！　ugh！　ugh！　dear　me！—and　he　died！’　

‘Hey！　What　did　he　die　of？’　asked　my　aunt。　

‘Well；　ma’am；　he　died　of　drink；’　said　Mrs。　Crupp；　in　confidence。　
‘And　smoke。’　

‘Smoke？　You　don’t　mean　chimneys？’　said　my　aunt。　

‘No；　ma’am；’　returned　Mrs。　Crupp。　‘Cigars　and　pipes。’　

‘That’s　not　catching；　Trot；　at　any　rate；’　remarked　my　aunt；　
turning　to　me。　

‘No；　indeed；’　said　I。　

In　short；　my　aunt；　seeing　how　enraptured　I　was　with　the　
premises；　took　them　for　a　month；　with　leave　to　remain　for　twelve　
months　when　that　time　was　out。　Mrs。　Crupp　was　to　find　linen；　and　
to　cook；　every　other　necessary　was　already　provided；　and　Mrs。　
Crupp　expressly　intimated　that　she　should　always　yearn　towards　
me　as　a　son。　I　was　to　take　possession　the　day　after　tomorrow；　and　
Mrs。　Crupp　said；　thank　Heaven　she　had　now　found　summun　she　
could　care　for！　

On　our　way　back；　my　aunt　informed　me　how　she　confidently　
trusted　that　the　life　I　was　now　to　lead　would　make　me　firm　and　
self…reliant；　which　was　all　I　wanted。　She　repeated　this　several　
times　next　day；　in　the　intervals　of　our　arranging　for　the　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

transmission　of　my　clothes　and　books　from　Mr。　Wickfield’s；　
relative　to　which；　and　to　all　my　late　holiday；　I　wrote　a　long　letter　to　
Agnes；　of　which　my　aunt　took　charge；　as　she　was　to　leave　on　the　
succeeding　day。　Not　to　lengthen　these　particulars；　I　need　only　add；　
that　she　made　a　handsome　provision　for　all　my　possible　wants　
during　my　month　of　trial；　that　Steerforth；　to　my　great　
disappointment　and　hers　too；　did　not　make　his　appearance　before　
she　went　away；　that　I　saw　her　safely　seated　in　the　Dover　coach；　
exulting　in　the　coming　discomfiture　of　the　vagrant　donkeys；　with　
Janet　at　her　side；　and　that　when　the　coach　was　gone；　I　turned　my　
face　to　the　Adelphi；　pondering　on　the　old　days　when　I　used　to　
roam　about　its　subterranean　arches；　and　on　the　happy　changes　
which　had　brought　me　to　the　surface。　

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David　Copperfield　

Chapter　24　

MY　FIRST　DISSIPATION　

It　was　a　wonderfully　fine　thing　to　have　that　lofty　castle　to　
myself；　and　to　feel；　when　I　shut　my　outer　door；　like　Robinson　
Crusoe；　when　he　had　got　into　his　fortification；　and　pulled　his