david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第109节
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David Copperfield
desert you； Micawber！’
‘My love；’ said Mr。 Micawber； much affected； ‘you will forgive；
and our old and tried friend Copperfield will； I am sure； forgive；
the momentary laceration of a wounded spirit； made sensitive by a
recent collision with the Minion of Power—in other words； with a
ribald Turncock attached to the water…works—and will pity； not
condemn； its excesses。’
Mr。 Micawber then embraced Mrs。 Micawber； and pressed my
hand； leaving me to infer from this broken allusion that his
domestic supply of water had been cut off that afternoon； in
consequence of default in the payment of the company’s rates。
To divert his thoughts from this melancholy subject； I informed
Mr。 Micawber that I relied upon him for a bowl of punch； and led
him to the lemons。 His recent despondency； not to say despair；
was gone in a moment。 I never saw a man so thoroughly enjoy
himself amid the fragrance of lemon…peel and sugar； the odour of
burning rum； and the steam of boiling water； as Mr。 Micawber did
that afternoon。 It was wonderful to see his face shining at us out of
a thin cloud of these delicate fumes； as he stirred； and mixed； and
tasted； and looked as if he were making； instead of punch； a
fortune for his family down to the latest posterity。 As to Mrs。
Micawber； I don’t know whether it was the effect of the cap； or the
lavender…water； or the pins； or the fire； or the wax…candles； but she
came out of my room； comparatively speaking； lovely。 And the lark
was never gayer than that excellent woman。
I suppose—I never ventured to inquire； but I suppose—that
Mrs。 Crupp； after frying the soles； was taken ill。 Because we broke
down at that point。 The leg of mutton came up very red within；
and very pale without： besides having a foreign substance of a
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David Copperfield
gritty nature sprinkled over it； as if it had had a fall into the ashes
of that remarkable kitchen fireplace。 But we were not in condition
to judge of this fact from the appearance of the gravy； forasmuch
as the ‘young gal’ had dropped it all upon the stairs—where it
remained； by the by； in a long train； until it was worn out。 The
pigeon…pie was not bad； but it was a delusive pie： the crust being
like a disappointing head； phrenologically speaking： full of lumps
and bumps； with nothing particular underneath。 In short； the
banquet was such a failure that I should have been quite
unhappy—about the failure； I mean； for I was always unhappy
about Dora—if I had not been relieved by the great good humour
of my company； and by a bright suggestion from Mr。 Micawber。
‘My dear friend Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘accidents will
occur in the best…regulated families； and in families not regulated
by that pervading influence which sanctifies while it enhances
the—a—I would say； in short； by the influence of Woman； in the
lofty character of Wife； they may be expected with confidence； and
must be borne with philosophy。 If you will allow me to take the
liberty of remarking that there are few comestibles better； in their
way； than a Devil； and that I believe； with a little division of labour；
we could accomplish a good one if the young person in attendance
could produce a gridiron； I would put it to you； that this little
misfortune may be easily repaired。’
There was a gridiron in the pantry； on which my morning
rasher of bacon was cooked。 We had it in； in a twinkling； and
immediately applied ourselves to carrying Mr。 Micawber’s idea
into effect。 The division of labour to which he had referred was
this：—Traddles cut the mutton into slices； Mr。 Micawber （who
could do anything of this sort to perfection） covered them with
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
pepper； mustard； salt； and cayenne； I put them on the gridiron；
turned them with a fork； and took them off； under Mr。 Micawber’s
direction； and Mrs。 Micawber heated； and continually stirred；
some mushroom ketchup in a little saucepan。 When we had slices
enough done to begin upon； we fell…to； with our sleeves still tucked
up at the wrist； more slices sputtering and blazing on the fire； and
our attention divided between the mutton on our plates； and the
mutton then preparing。
What with the novelty of this cookery； the excellence of it； the
bustle of it； the frequent starting up to look after it； the frequent
sitting down to dispose of it as the crisp slices came off the
gridiron hot and hot； the being so busy； so flushed with the fire； so
amused； and in the midst of such a tempting noise and savour； we
reduced the leg of mutton to the bone。 My own appetite came back
miraculously。 I am ashamed to record it； but I really believe I
forgot Dora for a little while。 I am satisfied that Mr。 and Mrs。
Micawber could not have enjoyed the feast more； if they had sold a
bed to provide it。 Traddles laughed as heartily； almost the whole
time； as he ate and worked。 Indeed we all did； all at once； and I
dare say there was never a greater success。
We were at the height of our enjoyment； and were all busily
engaged； in our several departments； endeavouring to bring the
last batch of slices to a state of perfection that should crown the
feast； when I was aware of a strange presence in the room； and my
eyes encountered those of the staid Littimer； standing hat in hand
before me。
‘What’s the matter？’ I involuntarily asked。
‘I beg your pardon； sir； I was directed to come in。 Is my master
not here； sir？’
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David Copperfield
‘No。’
‘Have you not seen him； sir？’
‘No； don’t you come from him？’
‘Not immediately so； sir。’
‘Did he tell you you would find him here？’
‘Not exactly so； sir。 But I should think he might be here
tomorrow； as he has not been here today。’
‘Is he coming up from Oxford？’
‘I beg； sir；’ he returned respectfully； ‘that you will be seated；
and allow me to do this。’ With which he took the fork from my
unresisting hand； and bent over the gridiron； as if his whole
attention were concentrated on it。
We should not have been much discomposed； I dare say； by the
appearance of Steerforth himself； but we became in a moment the
meekest of the meek before his respectable serving…man。 Mr。
Micawber； humming a tune； to show that he was quite at ease；
subsided into his chair； with the handle of a hastily concealed fork
sticking out of the bosom of his coat； as if he had stabbed himself。
Mrs。 Micawber put on her brown gloves； and assumed a genteel
languor。 Traddles ran his greasy hands through his hair； and stood
it bolt upright； and stared in confusion on the table…cloth。 As for
me； I was a mere infant at the head of my own table； and hardly
ventured to glance at the respectable phenomenon； who had come
from Heaven knows where； to put my establishment to rights。
Meanwhile he took the mutton off the gridiron； and gravely
handed it round。 We all took some； but our appreciation of it was
gone； and we merely made a show of eating it。 As we severally
pushed away our plates； he noiselessly removed them； and set on
the cheese。 He took that off； too； when it was done with； cleared
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David Copperfield
the table； piled everything on the dumb…waiter； gave us our wineglasses； and； of his own accord； wheeled the dumb…waiter into the
pantry。 All this was done in a perfect manner； and he never raised
his eyes from what he was about。 Yet his very elbows； when he
had his back towards me； seemed to teem with the expression of
his fixed opinion that I was extremely young。
‘Can I do anything more； sir？’
I thanked him and said； No； but would he take no dinner
himself？
‘None； I am obliged to you； sir。’
‘Is Mr。 Steerforth coming from Oxford？’
‘I beg your pardon； sir？’
‘Is Mr。 Steerforth coming from Oxford？’
‘I should imagine that he might be here tomorrow； sir。 I rather
thought he might have been here today； sir。 The mistake is mine；
no doubt； sir。’
‘If you should see him first—’ said I。
‘If you’ll excuse me； sir； I don’t think I shall see him first。’
‘In case you do；’ said I； ‘pray say that I am sorry he was not here
today； as an old schoolfellow of his was here。’
‘Indeed； sir！’ and he divided a bow between me and Traddles；
with a glance at the latter。
He was moving softly to the door； when； in a forlorn hope of
saying something naturally—which I never could； to this man—I
said：
‘Oh！ Littimer！’
‘Sir！’
‘Did you remain long at Yarmouth； that time？’
‘Not particularly so； sir。’
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David Copperfield
‘You saw the boat completed？’
‘Yes； sir。 I remained behind on purpose to see the boat
completed。’
‘I know！’ He raised his eyes to mine respectfully。
‘Mr。 Steerforth has not seen it yet； I suppose？’
‘I really can’t say； sir。 I think—but I really can’t say； sir。 I wish
you good night； sir。’
He comprehended everybody pre
