david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第88部分
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‘What？ Uriah？ That mean； fawning fellow； worm himself into
such promotion！’ I cried； indignantly。 ‘Have you made no
remonstrance about it； Agnes？ Consider what a connexion it is
likely to be。 You must speak out。 You must not allow your father to
take such a mad step。 You must prevent it； Agnes； while there’s
time。’
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David Copperfield
Still looking at me； Agnes shook her head while I was speaking；
with a faint smile at my warmth： and then replied：
‘You remember our last conversation about papa？ It was not
long after that—not more than two or three days—when he gave
me the first intimation of what I tell you。 It was sad to see him
struggling between his desire to represent it to me as a matter of
choice on his part； and his inability to conceal that it was forced
upon him。 I felt very sorry。’
‘Forced upon him； Agnes！ Who forces it upon him？’
‘Uriah；’ she replied； after a moment’s hesitation； ‘has made
himself indispensable to papa。 He is subtle and watchful。 He has
mastered papa’s weaknesses； fostered them； and taken advantage
of them； until—to say all that I mean in a word； Trotwood；—until
papa is afraid of him。’
There was more that she might have said； more that she knew；
or that she suspected； I clearly saw。 I could not give her pain by
asking what it was； for I knew that she withheld it from me； to
spare her father。 It had long been going on to this； I was sensible：
yes； I could not but feel； on the least reflection； that it had been
going on to this for a long time。 I remained silent。
‘His ascendancy over papa；’ said Agnes； ‘is very great。 He
professes humility and gratitude—with truth； perhaps： I hope so—
but his position is really one of power； and I fear he makes a hard
use of his power。’
I said he was a hound； which； at the moment； was a great
satisfaction to me。
‘At the time I speak of； as the time when papa spoke to me；’
pursued Agnes； ‘he had told papa that he was going away； that he
was very sorry； and unwilling to leave； but that he had better
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David Copperfield
prospects。 Papa was very much depressed then； and more bowed
down by care than ever you or I have seen him； but he seemed
relieved by this expedient of the partnership； though at the same
time he seemed hurt by it and ashamed of it。’
‘And how did you receive it； Agnes？’
‘I did； Trotwood；’ she replied； ‘what I hope was right。 Feeling
sure that it was necessary for papa’s peace that the sacrifice
should be made； I entreated him to make it。 I said it would lighten
the load of his life—I hope it will！—and that it would give me
increased opportunities of being his companion。 Oh； Trotwood！’
cried Agnes； putting her hands before her face； as her tears started
on it； ‘I almost feel as if I had been papa’s enemy； instead of his
loving child。 For I know how he has altered； in his devotion to me。
I know how he has narrowed the circle of his sympathies and
duties； in the concentration of his whole mind upon me。 I know
what a multitude of things he has shut out for my sake； and how
his anxious thoughts of me have shadowed his life； and weakened
his strength and energy； by turning them always upon one idea。 If
I could ever set this right！ If I could ever work out his restoration；
as I have so innocently been the cause of his decline！’
I had never before seen Agnes cry。 I had seen tears in her eyes
when I had brought new honours home from school； and I had
seen them there when we last spoke about her father； and I had
seen her turn her gentle head aside when we took leave of one
another； but I had never seen her grieve like this。 It made me so
sorry that I could only say； in a foolish； helpless manner； ‘Pray；
Agnes； don’t！ Don’t； my dear sister！’
But Agnes was too superior to me in character and purpose； as
I know well now； whatever I might know or not know then； to be
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David Copperfield
long in need of my entreaties。 The beautiful； calm manner； which
makes her so different in my remembrance from everybody else；
came back again； as if a cloud had passed from a serene sky。
‘We are not likely to remain alone much longer；’ said Agnes；
‘and while I have an opportunity； let me earnestly entreat you；
Trotwood； to be friendly to Uriah。 Don’t repel him。 Don’t resent
（as I think you have a general disposition to do） what may be
uncongenial to you in him。 He may not deserve it； for we know no
certain ill of him。 In any case； think first of papa and me！’
Agnes had no time to say more； for the room door opened； and
Mrs。 Waterbrook； who was a large lady—or who wore a large
dress： I don’t exactly know which； for I don’t know which was
dress and which was lady—came sailing in。 I had a dim
recollection of having seen her at the theatre； as if I had seen her
in a pale magic lantern； but she appeared to remember me
perfectly； and still to suspect me of being in a state of intoxication。
Finding by degrees； however； that I was sober； and （I hope） that
I was a modest young gentleman； Mrs。 Waterbrook softened
towards me considerably； and inquired； firstly； if I went much into
the parks； and secondly； if I went much into society。 On my
replying to both these questions in the negative； it occurred to me
that I fell again in her good opinion； but she concealed the fact
gracefully； and invited me to dinner next day。 I accepted the
invitation； and took my leave； making a call on Uriah in the office
as I went out； and leaving a card for him in his absence。
When I went to dinner next day； and on the street door being
opened； plunged into a vapour…bath of haunch of mutton； I divined
that I was not the only guest； for I immediately identified the
ticket…porter in disguise； assisting the family servant； and waiting
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
at the foot of the stairs to carry up my name。 He looked； to the best
of his ability； when he asked me for it confidentially； as if he had
never seen me before； but well did I know him； and well did he
know me。 Conscience made cowards of us both。
I found Mr。 Waterbrook to be a middle…aged gentleman； with a
short throat； and a good deal of shirt…collar； who only wanted a
black nose to be the portrait of a pug…dog。 He told me he was
happy to have the honour of making my acquaintance； and when I
had paid my homage to Mrs。 Waterbrook； presented me； with
much ceremony； to a very awful lady in a black velvet dress； and a
great black velvet hat； whom I remember as looking like a near
relation of Hamlet’s—say his aunt。
Mrs。 Henry Spiker was this lady’s name； and her husband was
there too： so cold a man； that his head； instead of being grey；
seemed to be sprinkled with hoar…frost。 Immense deference was
shown to the Henry Spikers； male and female； which Agnes told
me was on account of Mr。 Henry Spiker being solicitor to
something Or to Somebody； I forget what or which； remotely
connected with the Treasury。
I found Uriah Heep among the company； in a suit of black； and
in deep humility。 He told me； when I shook hands with him； that
he was proud to be noticed by me； and that he really felt obliged to
me for my condescension。 I could have wished he had been less
obliged to me； for he hovered about me in his gratitude all the rest
of the evening； and whenever I said a word to Agnes； was sure；
with his shadowless eyes and cadaverous face； to be looking
gauntly down upon us from behind。
There were other guests—all iced for the occasion； as it struck
me； like the wine。 But there was one who attracted my attention
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
before he came in； on account of my hearing him announced as
Mr。 Traddles！ My mind flew back to Salem House； and could it be
Tommy； I thought； who used to draw the skeletons！
I looked for Mr。 Traddles with unusual interest。 He was a sober；
steady…looking young man of retiring manners； with a comic head
of hair； and eyes that were rather wide open； and he got into an
obscure corner so soon； that I had some difficulty in making him
out。 At length I had a good view of him； and either my vision
deceived me； or it was the old unfortunate Tommy。
I made my way to Mr。 Waterbrook； and said； that I believed I
had the pleasure of seeing an old schoolfellow there。
‘Indeed！’ said Mr。 Waterbrook； surprised。 ‘You are too young to
have been at school with Mr。 Henry Spiker？’
‘Oh； I don’t mean him！’ I returned。 ‘I mean the gentleman
named Traddles。’
‘Oh！ Aye； aye！ Indeed！’ said my host； with much diminished
interest。 ‘Possibly。’
‘If it’s really the same person；’ said I； glancing towards him； ‘it
was at a place called Salem House where we were together； and he
was an excellent fellow。’
‘Oh yes。 Traddles is a good fellow；’ returned my host nodding
his head with an air of toleration。 ‘Traddles is quite a good fellow。’
‘It’s a curious coincidence；’ said I。
‘It is really；’ returned my host； ‘quite a coincidence； that
Traddles should be here at all： as Traddles was only invited this
morning； when the place at table； intended to be occupied by Mrs。
Henry Spiker’s brother； became vacant； in consequence of his
indisposition。 A very gentlemanly man； Mrs。 Henry Spiker’s
brother； Mr。 Copperfield。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I murmured an assent； which was full of feeling； considering
that I knew nothing at all about him； and I inquired what Mr。
Traddles was by profession。
‘Traddles；’ returned Mr。 Waterbrook； ‘is a young man reading
for the bar。 Yes。 He is quite a good fellow—nobody’s enemy but his
own。’
‘Is he his own enemy？’ said I； sorry to hear this。
‘Well；’ returned Mr。 Waterbrook； pursing up his mouth； and
playing with his watch…chain； in a comfortable； prosperous sort of
way。 ‘I should say he was one of those men who stand in their own
light。 Yes； I should say he
