david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第101节

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took　possession　of　me。　

A　timely　observation　of　the　sense　of　power　that　there　was　in　his　
face；　did　more　to　bring　back　to　my　remembrance　the　entreaty　of　
Agnes；　in　its　full　force；　than　any　effort　I　could　have　made。　I　asked　
him；　with　a　better　appearance　of　composure　than　I　could　have　
thought　possible　a　minute　before；　whether　he　had　made　his　
feelings　known　to　Agnes。　

‘Oh　no；　Master　Copperfield！’　he　returned；　‘oh　dear；　no！　Not　to　
anyone　but　you。　You　see　I　am　only　just　emerging　from　my　lowly　
station。　I　rest　a　good　deal　of　hope　on　her　observing　how　useful　I　
am　to　her　father　（for　I　trust　to　be　very　useful　to　him　indeed；　Master　
Copperfield）；　and　how　I　smooth　the　way　for　him；　and　keep　him　
straight。　She’s　so　much　attached　to　her　father；　Master　Copperfield　
（oh；　what　a　lovely　thing　it　is　in　a　daughter！）；　that　I　think　she　may　
come；　on　his　account；　to　be　kind　to　me。’　

I　fathomed　the　depth　of　the　rascal’s　whole　scheme；　and　

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David　Copperfield　

understood　why　he　laid　it　bare。　

‘If　you’ll　have　the　goodness　to　keep　my　secret；　Master　
Copperfield；’　he　pursued；　‘and　not；　in　general；　to　go　against　me；　I　
shall　take　it　as　a　particular　favour。　You　wouldn’t　wish　to　make　
unpleasantness。　I　know　what　a　friendly　heart　you’ve　got；　but　
having　only　known　me　on　my　umble　footing　（on　my　umblest　I　
should　say；　for　I　am　very　umble　still）；　you　might；　unbeknown；　go　
against　me　rather；　with　my　Agnes。　I　call　her　mine；　you　see；　Master　
Copperfield。　There’s　a　song　that　says；　“I’d　crowns　resign；　to　call　
her　mine！”　I　hope　to　do　it；　one　of　these　days。’　

Dear　Agnes！　So　much　too　loving　and　too　good　for　anyone　that　I　
could　think　of；　was　it　possible　that　she　was　reserved　to　be　the　wife　
of　such　a　wretch　as　this！　

‘There’s　no　hurry　at　present；　you　know；　Master　Copperfield；’　
Uriah　proceeded；　in　his　slimy　way；　as　I　sat　gazing　at　him；　with　this　
thought　in　my　mind。　‘My　Agnes　is　very　young　still；　and　mother　and　
me　will　have　to　work　our　way　upwards；　and　make　a　good　many　
new　arrangements；　before　it　would　be　quite　convenient。　So　I　shall　
have　time　gradually　to　make　her　familiar　with　my　hopes；　as　
opportunities　offer。　Oh；　I’m　so　much　obliged　to　you　for　this　
confidence！　Oh；　it’s　such　a　relief；　you　can’t　think；　to　know　that　you　
understand　our　situation；　and　are　certain　（as　you　wouldn’t　wish　to　
make　unpleasantness　in　the　family）　not　to　go　against　me！’　

He　took　the　hand　which　I　dared　not　withhold；　and　having　given　
it　a　damp　squeeze；　referred　to　his　pale…faced　watch。　

‘Dear　me！’　he　said；　‘it’s　past　one。　The　moments　slip　away　so；　in　
the　confidence　of　old　times；　Master　Copperfield；　that　it’s　almost　
half　past　one！’　

I　answered　that　I　had　thought　it　was　later。　Not　that　I　had　really　

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David　Copperfield　

thought　so；　but　because　my　conversational　powers　were　
effectually　scattered。　

‘Dear　me！’　he　said；　considering。　‘The　ouse　that　I　am　stopping　
at—a　sort　of　a　private　hotel　and　boarding　ouse；　Master　
Copperfield；　near　the　New　River　ed—will　have　gone　to　bed　these　
two　hours。’　

‘I　am　sorry；’　I　returned；　‘that　there　is　only　one　bed　here；　and　
that　I—’　

‘Oh；　don’t　think　of　mentioning　beds；　Master　Copperfield！’　he　
rejoined　ecstatically；　drawing　up　one　leg。　‘But　would　you　have　any　
objections　to　my　laying　down　before　the　fire？’　

‘If　it　comes　to　that；’　I　said；　‘pray　take　my　bed；　and　I’ll　lie　down　
before　the　fire。’　

His　repudiation　of　this　offer　was　almost　shrill　enough；　in　the　
excess　of　its　surprise　and　humility；　to　have　penetrated　to　the　ears　
of　Mrs。　Crupp；　then　sleeping；　I　suppose；　in　a　distant　chamber；　
situated　at　about　the　level　of　low…water　mark；　soothed　in　her　
slumbers　by　the　ticking　of　an　incorrigible　clock；　to　which　she　
always　referred　me　when　we　had　any　little　difference　on　the　score　
of　punctuality；　and　which　was　never　less　than　three…quarters　of　an　
hour　too　slow；　and　had　always　been　put　right　in　the　morning　by　
the　best　authorities。　As　no　arguments　I　could　urge；　in　my　
bewildered　condition；　had　the　least　effect　upon　his　modesty　in　
inducing　him　to　accept　my　bedroom；　I　was　obliged　to　make　the　
best　arrangements　I　could；　for　his　repose　before　the　fire。　The　
mattress　of　the　sofa　（which　was　a　great　deal　too　short　for　his　lank　
figure）；　the　sofa　pillows；　a　blanket；　the　table…cover；　a　clean　
breakfast…cloth；　and　a　great…coat；　made　him　a　bed　and　covering；　
for　which　he　was　more　than　thankful。　Having　lent　him　a　night…cap；　

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David　Copperfield　

which　he　put　on　at　once；　and　in　which　he　made　such　an　awful　
figure；　that　I　have　never　worn　one　since；　I　left　him　to　his　rest。　

I　never　shall　forget　that　night。　I　never　shall　forget　how　I　turned　
and　tumbled；　how　I　wearied　myself　with　thinking　about　Agnes　and　
this　creature；　how　I　considered　what　could　I　do；　and　what　ought　I　
to　do；　how　I　could　come　to　no　other　conclusion　than　that　the　best　
course　for　her　peace　was　to　do　nothing；　and　to　keep　to　myself　what　
I　had　heard。　If　I　went　to　sleep　for　a　few　moments；　the　image　of　
Agnes　with　her　tender　eyes；　and　of　her　father　looking　fondly　on　
her；　as　I　had　so　often　seen　him　look；　arose　before　me　with　
appealing　faces；　and　filled　me　with　vague　terrors。　When　I　awoke；　
the　recollection　that　Uriah　was　lying　in　the　next　room；　sat　heavy　
on　me　like　a　waking　nightmare；　and　oppressed　me　with　a　leaden　
dread；　as　if　I　had　had　some　meaner　quality　of　devil　for　a　lodger。　

The　poker　got　into　my　dozing　thoughts　besides；　and　wouldn’t　
come　out。　I　thought；　between　sleeping　and　waking；　that　it　was　still　
red　hot；　and　I　had　snatched　it　out　of　the　fire；　and　run　him　through　
the　body。　I　was　so　haunted　at　last　by　the　idea；　though　I　knew　there　
was　nothing　in　it；　that　I　stole　into　the　next　room　to　look　at　him。　
There　I　saw　him；　lying　on　his　back；　with　his　legs　extending　to　I　
don’t　know　where；　gurglings　taking　place　in　his　throat；　stoppages　
in　his　nose；　and　his　mouth　open　like　a　post…office。　He　was　so　much　
worse　in　reality　than　in　my　distempered　fancy；　that　afterwards　I　
was　attracted　to　him　in　very　repulsion；　and　could　not　help　
wandering　in　and　out　every　half…hour　or　so；　and　taking　another　
look　at　him。　Still；　the　long；　long　night　seemed　heavy　and　hopeless　
as　ever；　and　no　promise　of　day　was　in　the　murky　sky。　

When　I　saw　him　going　downstairs　early　in　the　morning　（for；　
thank　Heaven！　he　would　not　stay　to　breakfast）；　it　appeared　to　me　

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David　Copperfield　

as　if　the　night　was　going　away　in　his　person。　When　I　went　out　to　
the　Commons；　I　charged　Mrs。　Crupp　with　particular　directions　to　
leave　the　windows　open；　that　my　sitting…room　might　be　aired；　and　
purged　of　his　presence。　

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David　Copperfield　

Chapter　26　

I　FALL　INTO　CAPTIVITY　

Isaw　no　more　of　Uriah　Heep；　until　the　day　when　Agnes　left　
town。　I　was　at　the　coach　office　to　take　leave　of　her　and　see　her　
go；　and　there　was　he；　returning　to　Canterbury　by　the　same　
conveyance。　It　was　some　small　satisfaction　to　me　to　observe　his　
spare；　short…waisted；　high…shouldered；　mulberry…coloured　greatcoat　perched　up；　in　company　with　an　umbrella　like　a　small　tent；　on　
the　edge　of　the　back　seat　on　the　roof；　while　Agnes　was；　of　course；　
inside；　but　what　I　underwent　in　my　efforts　to　be　friendly　with　him；　
while　Agnes　looked　on；　perhaps　deserved　that　little　recompense。　
At　the　coach　window；　as　at　the　dinner…party；　he　hovered　about　us　
without　a　moment’s　intermission；　like　a　great　vulture：　gorging　
himself　on　every　syllable　that　I　said　to　Agnes；　or　Agnes　said　to　me。　

In　the　state　of　trouble　into　which　his　disclosure　by　my　fire　had　
thrown　me；　I　had　thought　very　much　of　the　words　Agnes　had　used　
in　reference　to　the　partnership。　‘I　did　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。’　A　miserable　
foreboding　that　she　would　yield　to；　and　sustain　herself　by；　the　
same　feeling　in　reference　to　any　sacrifice　for　his　sake；　had　
oppressed　me　ever　since。　I　knew　how　she　loved　him。　I　knew　what　
the　devotion　of　her　nature　was。　I　knew　from　her　own　lips　that　she　
regarded　herself　as　the　innocent　cause　of　his　errors；　and　as　owing　
him　a　great　debt　she　ardently　desired　to　pay。　I　had　no　consolation　
in　seeing　how　different　she　was　from　this　detestable　Rufus　with　

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David　Copperfield　

the　mulberry…coloured　great…coat；　for　I　felt　that　in　the　very　
difference　between　them；　in　the　self…denial　of　her　pure　soul　and　
the　sordid　baseness　of　his；　the　greatest　danger　lay。　All　this；　
doubtless；　he　knew　thoroughly；　and　had；　in　his　cunning；　
considered　well。　

Yet　I　was　so　certain　that　the　prospect　of　such　a　sacrifice　afar　off；　
must　destroy　the　happiness　of　Agnes；　and　I　was　so　sure；　from　her　
manner；　of　its　being　unseen　by　her　then；　and　having　cast　no　
shadow　on　her　yet；　that　I　could　as　soon　have　injured　her；　as　given　
her　any　warning　of　what　impended。　Thus　it　was　that　we　parted　
without　explanation：　she　waving　her　hand　and　smiling　f