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第104节

david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第104节

小说: david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔) 字数: 每页4000字

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agree in what you propose。’ 

Miss Murdstone shut her eyes again; and bent her head。 Then; 
just touching the back of my hand with the tips of her cold; stiff 
fingers; she walked away; arranging the little fetters on her wrists 
and round her neck; which seemed to be the same set; in exactly 
the same state; as when I had seen her last。 These reminded me; in 
reference to Miss Murdstone’s nature; of the fetters over a jail 
door; suggesting on the outside; to all beholders; what was to be 
expected within。 

All I know of the rest of the evening is; that I heard the empress 
of my heart sing enchanted ballads in the French language; 
generally to the effect that; whatever was the matter; we ought 
always to dance; Ta ra la; Ta ra la! accompanying herself on a 
glorified instrument; resembling a guitar。 That I was lost in 
blissful delirium。 That I refused refreshment。 That my soul 
recoiled from punch particularly。 That when Miss Murdstone took 
her into custody and led her away; she smiled and gave me her 
delicious hand。 That I caught a view of myself in a mirror; looking 
perfectly imbecile and idiotic。 That I retired to bed in a most 
maudlin state of mind; and got up in a crisis of feeble infatuation。 

It was a fine morning; and early; and I thought I would go and 
take a stroll down one of those wire…arched walks; and indulge my 
passion by dwelling on her image。 On my way through the hall; I 
encountered her little dog; who was called Jip—short for Gipsy。 I 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


David Copperfield 

approached him tenderly; for I loved even him; but he showed his 
whole set of teeth; got under a chair expressly to snarl; and 
wouldn’t hear of the least familiarity。 

The garden was cool and solitary。 I walked about; wondering 
what my feelings of happiness would be; if I could ever become 
engaged to this dear wonder。 As to marriage; and fortune; and all 
that; I believe I was almost as innocently undesigning then; as 
when I loved little Em’ly。 To be allowed to call her ‘Dora’; to write 
to her; to dote upon and worship her; to have reason to think that 
when she was with other people she was yet mindful of me; 
seemed to me the summit of human ambition—I am sure it was 
the summit of mine。 There is no doubt whatever that I was a 
lackadaisical young spooney; but there was a purity of heart in all 
this; that prevents my having quite a contemptuous recollection of 
it; let me laugh as I may。 

I had not been walking long; when I turned a corner; and met 
her。 I tingle again from head to foot as my recollection turns that 
corner; and my pen shakes in my hand。 

‘You—are—out early; Miss Spenlow;’ said I。 

‘It’s so stupid at home;’ she replied; ‘and Miss Murdstone is so 
absurd! She talks such nonsense about its being necessary for the 
day to be aired; before I come out。 Aired!’ (She laughed; here; in 
the most melodious manner。) ‘On a Sunday morning; when I don’t 
practise; I must do something。 So I told papa last night I must 
come out。 Besides; it’s the brightest time of the whole day。 Don’t 
you think so?’ 

I hazarded a bold flight; and said (not without stammering) that 
it was very bright to me then; though it had been very dark to me a 
minute before。 

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David Copperfield 

‘Do you mean a compliment?’ said Dora; ‘or that the weather 
has really changed?’ 

I stammered worse than before; in replying that I meant no 
compliment; but the plain truth; though I was not aware of any 
change having taken place in the weather。 It was in the state of my 
own feelings; I added bashfully: to clench the explanation。 

I never saw such curls—how could I; for there never were such 
curls!—as those she shook out to hide her blushes。 As to the straw 
hat and blue ribbons which was on the top of the curls; if I could 
only have hung it up in my room in Buckingham Street; what a 
priceless possession it would have been! 

‘You have just come home from Paris;’ said I。 

‘Yes;’ said she。 ‘Have you ever been there?’ 

‘No。’ 

‘Oh! I hope you’ll go soon! You would like it so much!’ 

Traces of deep…seated anguish appeared in my countenance。 
That she should hope I would go; that she should think it possible 
I could go; was insupportable。 I depreciated Paris; I depreciated 
France。 I said I wouldn’t leave England; under existing 
circumstances; for any earthly consideration。 Nothing should 
induce me。 In short; she was shaking the curls again; when the 
little dog came running along the walk to our relief。 

He was mortally jealous of me; and persisted in barking at me。 
She took him up in her arms—oh my goodness!—and caressed 
him; but he persisted upon barking still。 He wouldn’t let me touch 
him; when I tried; and then she beat him。 It increased my 
sufferings greatly to see the pats she gave him for punishment on 
the bridge of his blunt nose; while he winked his eyes; and licked 
her hand; and still growled within himself like a little double…bass。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


David Copperfield 

At length he was quiet—well he might be with her dimpled chin 
upon his head!—and we walked away to look at a greenhouse。 

‘You are not very intimate with Miss Murdstone; are you?’ said 
Dora。— ‘My pet。’ 

(The two last words were to the dog。 Oh; if they had only been 
to me!) 

‘No;’ I replied。 ‘Not at all so。’ 

‘She is a tiresome creature;’ said Dora; pouting。 ‘I can’t think 
what papa can have been about; when he chose such a vexatious 
thing to be my companion。 Who wants a protector? I am sure I 
don’t want a protector。 Jip can protect me a great deal better than 
Miss Murdstone;—can’t you; Jip; dear?’ 

He only winked lazily; when she kissed his ball of a head。 

‘Papa calls her my confidential friend; but I am sure she is no 
such thing—is she; Jip? We are not going to confide in any such 
cross people; Jip and I。 We mean to bestow our confidence where 
we like; and to find out our own friends; instead of having them 
found out for us—don’t we; Jip?’ 

jip made a comfortable noise; in answer; a little like a tea…kettle 
when it sings。 As for me; every word was a new heap of fetters; 
riveted above the last。 

‘It is very hard; because we have not a kind Mama; that we are 
to have; instead; a sulky; gloomy old thing like Miss Murdstone; 
always following us about—isn’t it; Jip? Never mind; Jip。 We won’t 
be confidential; and we’ll make ourselves as happy as we can in 
spite of her; and we’ll tease her; and not please her—won’t we; 
Jip?’ 

If it had lasted any longer; I think I must have gone down on my 
knees on the gravel; with the probability before me of grazing 

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David Copperfield 

them; and of being presently ejected from the premises besides。 
But; by good fortune the greenhouse was not far off; and these 
words brought us to it。 

It contained quite a show of beautiful geraniums。 We loitered 
along in front of them; and Dora often stopped to admire this one 
or that one; and I stopped to admire the same one; and Dora; 
laughing; held the dog up childishly; to smell the flowers; and if we 
were not all three in Fairyland; certainly I was。 The scent of a 
geranium leaf; at this day; strikes me with a half comical half 
serious wonder as to what change has come over me in a moment; 
and then I see a straw hat and blue ribbons; and a quantity of 
curls; and a little black dog being held up; in two slender arms; 
against a bank of blossoms and bright leaves。 

Miss Murdstone had been looking for us。 She found us here; 
and presented her uncongenial cheek; the little wrinkles in it filled 
with hair powder; to Dora to be kissed。 Then she took Dora’s arm 
in hers; and marched us into breakfast as if it were a soldier’s 
funeral。 

How many cups of tea I drank; because Dora made it; I don’t 
know。 But; I perfectly remember that I sat swilling tea until my 
whole nervous system; if I had had any in those days; must have 
gone by the board。 By and by we went to church。 Miss Murdstone 
was between Dora and me in the pew; but I heard her sing; and 
the congregation vanished。 A sermon was delivered—about Dora; 
of course—and I am afraid that is all I know of the service。 

We had a quiet day。 No company; a walk; a family dinner of 
four; and an evening of looking over books and pictures; Miss 
Murdstone with a homily before her; and her eye upon us; keeping 
guard vigilantly。 Ah! little did Mr。 Spenlow imagine; when he sat 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


David Copperfield 

opposite to me after dinner that day; with his pocket…handkerchief 
over his head; how fervently I was embracing him; in my fancy; as 
his son…in…law! Little did he think; when I took leave of him at 
night; that he had just given his full consent to my being engaged 
to Dora; and that I was invoking blessings on his head! 

We departed early in the morning; for we had a Salvage case 
coming on in the Admiralty Court; requiring a rather accurate 
knowledge of the whole science of n

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