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第111节

david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第111节

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

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‘Exactly so!’ said Mrs。 Micawber; preserving the same logical 
air。 ‘Quite true; my dear Mr。 Copperfield! I have made the 
identical observation to Mr。 Micawber。 It is for that reason 
especially; that I think Mr。 Micawber ought (as I have already said; 
in justice to himself; in justice to his family; and in justice to 
society) to raise a certain sum of money—on a bill。’ 

Mr。 Micawber; leaning back in his chair; trifled with his eyeglass and cast his eyes up at the ceiling; but I thought him 
observant of Traddles; too; who was looking at the fire。 

‘If no member of my family;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; ‘is possessed 
of sufficient natural feeling to negotiate that bill—I believe there is 
a better business…term to express what I mean—’ 

Mr。 Micawber; with his eyes still cast up at the ceiling; 
suggested ‘Discount。’ 

‘To discount that bill;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; ‘then my opinion is; 
that Mr。 Micawber should go into the City; should take that bill 
into the Money Market; and should dispose of it for what he can 
get。 If the individuals in the Money Market oblige Mr。 Micawber to 
sustain a great sacrifice; that is between themselves and their 
consciences。 I view it; steadily; as an investment。 I recommend Mr。 

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David Copperfield 

Micawber; my dear Mr。 Copperfield; to do the same; to regard it as 
an investment which is sure of return; and to make up his mind to 
any sacrifice。’ 

I felt; but I am sure I don’t know why; that this was self…denying 
and devoted in Mrs。 Micawber; and I uttered a murmur to that 
effect。 Traddles; who took his tone from me; did likewise; still 
looking at the fire。 

‘I will not;’ said Mrs。 Micawber; finishing her punch; and 
gathering her scarf about her shoulders; preparatory to her 
withdrawal to my bedroom: ‘I will not protract these remarks on 
the subject of Mr。 Micawber’s pecuniary affairs。 At your fireside; 
my dear Mr。 Copperfield; and in the presence of Mr。 Traddles; 
who; though not so old a friend; is quite one of ourselves; I could 
not refrain from making you acquainted with the course I advise 
Mr。 Micawber to take。 I feel that the time is arrived when Mr。 
Micawber should exert himself and—I will add—assert himself; 
and it appears to me that these are the means。 I am aware that I 
am merely a female; and that a masculine judgement is usually 
considered more competent to the discussion of such questions; 
still I must not forget that; when I lived at home with my papa and 
mama; my papa was in the habit of saying; “Emma’s form is 
fragile; but her grasp of a subject is inferior to none。” That my 
papa was too partial; I well know; but that he was an observer of 
character in some degree; my duty and my reason equally forbid 
me to doubt。’ 

With these words; and resisting our entreaties that she would 
grace the remaining circulation of the punch with her presence; 
Mrs。 Micawber retired to my bedroom。 And really I felt that she 
was a noble woman—the sort of woman who might have been a 

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David Copperfield 

Roman matron; and done all manner of heroic things; in times of 
public trouble。 

In the fervour of this impression; I congratulated Mr。 Micawber 
on the treasure he possessed。 So did Traddles。 Mr。 Micawber 
extended his hand to each of us in succession; and then covered 
his face with his pocket…handkerchief; which I think had more 
snuff upon it than he was aware of。 He then returned to the punch; 
in the highest state of exhilaration。 

He was full of eloquence。 He gave us to understand that in our 
children we lived again; and that; under the pressure of pecuniary 
difficulties; any accession to their number was doubly welcome。 
He said that Mrs。 Micawber had latterly had her doubts on this 
point; but that he had dispelled them; and reassured her。 As to her 
family; they were totally unworthy of her; and their sentiments 
were utterly indifferent to him; and they might—I quote his own 
expression—go to the Devil。 

Mr。 Micawber then delivered a warm eulogy on Traddles。 He 
said Traddles’s was a character; to the steady virtues of which he 
(Mr。 Micawber) could lay no claim; but which; he thanked Heaven; 
he could admire。 He feelingly alluded to the young lady; unknown; 
whom Traddles had honoured with his affection; and who had 
reciprocated that affection by honouring and blessing Traddles 
with her affection。 Mr。 Micawber pledged her。 So did I。 Traddles 
thanked us both; by saying; with a simplicity and honesty I had 
sense enough to be quite charmed with; ‘I am very much obliged 
to you indeed。 And I do assure you; she’s the dearest girl!—’ 

Mr。 Micawber took an early opportunity; after that; of hinting; 
with the utmost delicacy and ceremony; at the state of my 
affections。 Nothing but the serious assurance of his friend 

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David Copperfield 

Copperfield to the contrary; he observed; could deprive him of the 
impression that his friend Copperfield loved and was beloved。 
After feeling very hot and uncomfortable for some time; and after 
a good deal of blushing; stammering; and denying; I said; having 
my glass in my hand; ‘Well! I would give them D。!’ which so 
excited and gratified Mr。 Micawber; that he ran with a glass of 
punch into my bedroom; in order that Mrs。 Micawber might drink 
D。; who drank it with enthusiasm; crying from within; in a shrill 
voice; ‘Hear; hear! My dear Mr。 Copperfield; I am delighted。 Hear!’ 
and tapping at the wall; by way of applause。 

Our conversation; afterwards; took a more worldly turn; Mr。 
Micawber telling us that he found Camden Town inconvenient; 
and that the first thing he contemplated doing; when the 
advertisement should have been the cause of something 
satisfactory turning up; was to move。 He mentioned a terrace at 
the western end of Oxford Street; fronting Hyde Park; on which he 
had always had his eye; but which he did not expect to attain 
immediately; as it would require a large establishment。 There 
would probably be an interval; he explained; in which he should 
content himself with the upper part of a house; over some 
respectable place of business—say in Piccadilly;—which would be 
a cheerful situation for Mrs。 Micawber; and where; by throwing 
out a bow…window; or carrying up the roof another story; or 
making some little alteration of that sort; they might live; 
comfortably and reputably; for a few years。 Whatever was 
reserved for him; he expressly said; or wherever his abode might 
be; we might rely on this—there would always be a room for 
Traddles; and a knife and fork for me。 We acknowledged his 
kindness; and he begged us to forgive his having launched into 

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David Copperfield 

these practical and business…like details; and to excuse it as 
natural in one who was making entirely new arrangements in life。 

Mrs。 Micawber; tapping at the wall again to know if tea were 
ready; broke up this particular phase of our friendly conversation。 
She made tea for us in a most agreeable manner; and; whenever I 
went near her; in handing about the tea…cups and bread…andbutter; asked me; in a whisper; whether D。 was fair; or dark; or 
whether she was short; or tall: or something of that kind; which I 
think I liked。 After tea; we discussed a variety of topics before the 
fire; and Mrs。 Micawber was good enough to sing us (in a small; 
thin; flat voice; which I remembered to have considered; when I 
first knew her; the very table…beer of acoustics) the favourite 
ballads of ‘The Dashing White Sergeant’; and ‘Little Tafflin’。 For 
both of these songs Mrs。 Micawber had been famous when she 
lived at home with her papa and mama。 Mr。 Micawber told us; that 
when he heard her sing the first one; on the first occasion of his 
seeing her beneath the parental roof; she had attracted his 
attention in an extraordinary degree; but that when it came to 
Little Tafflin; he had resolved to win that woman or perish in the 
attempt。 

It was between ten and eleven o’clock when Mrs。 Micawber 
rose to replace her cap in the whitey…brown paper parcel; and to 
put on her bonnet。 Mr。 Micawber took the opportunity of Traddles 
putting on his great…coat; to slip a letter into my hand; with a 
whispered request that I would read it at my leisure。 I also took 
the opportunity of my holding a candle over the banisters to light 
them down; when Mr。 Micawber was going first; leading Mrs。 
Micawber; and Traddles was following with the cap; to detain 
Traddles for a moment on the top of the stairs。 

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David Copperfield 

‘Traddles;’ said I; ‘Mr。 Micawber don’t mean any harm; poor 
fellow: but; if I were you; I wouldn’t lend him anything。’ 

‘My dear Copperfield;’ returned Traddles; smiling; ‘I haven’t got 
anything to lend。’ 

‘You have got a name; you know;’ said I。 

‘Oh! You call that something to lend?’ returned Traddles; with a 
thoughtful look。 

‘Certainly。’ 

‘Oh!’ said Traddles。 ‘Yes; to be sure! I am very mu

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