david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第148节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
much for the sake of principle； I believe； as because she happened
not to like him。
Although it required an effort to leave Miss Mills； I fell rather
willingly into my aunt’s pretence； as a means of enabling me to
pass a few tranquil hours with Agnes。 I consulted the good Doctor
relative to an absence of three days； and the Doctor wishing me to
take that relaxation；—he wished me to take more； but my energy
could not bear that；—I made up my mind to go。
As to the Commons； I had no great occasion to be particular
about my duties in that quarter。 To say the truth； we were getting
in no very good odour among the tip…top proctors； and were
rapidly sliding down to but a doubtful position。 The business had
been indifferent under Mr。 Jorkins； before Mr。 Spenlow’s time；
and although it had been quickened by the infusion of new blood；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and by the display which Mr。 Spenlow made； still it was not
established on a sufficiently strong basis to bear； without being
shaken； such a blow as the sudden loss of its active manager。 It fell
off very much。 Mr。 Jorkins； notwithstanding his reputation in the
firm； was an easy…going； incapable sort of man； whose reputation
out of doors was not calculated to back it up。 I was turned over to
him now； and when I saw him take his snuff and let the business
go； I regretted my aunt’s thousand pounds more than ever。
But this was not the worst of it。 There were a number of
hangers…on and outsiders about the Commons； who； without being
proctors themselves； dabbled in common…form business； and got it
done by real proctors； who lent their names in consideration of a
share in the spoil；—and there were a good many of these too。 As
our house now wanted business on any terms； we joined this noble
band； and threw out lures to the hangers…on and outsiders； to
bring their business to us。 Marriage licences and small probates
were what we all looked for； and what paid us best； and the
competition for these ran very high indeed。 Kidnappers and
inveiglers were planted in all the avenues of entrance to the
Commons； with instructions to do their utmost to cut off all
persons in mourning； and all gentlemen with anything bashful in
their appearance； and entice them to the offices in which their
respective employers were interested； which instructions were so
well observed； that I myself； before I was known by sight； was
twice hustled into the premises of our principal opponent。 The
conflicting interests of these touting gentlemen being of a nature
to irritate their feelings； personal collisions took place； and the
Commons was even scandalized by our principal inveigler （who
had formerly been in the wine trade； and afterwards in the sworn
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
brokery line） walking about for some days with a black eye。 Any
one of these scouts used to think nothing of politely assisting an
old lady in black out of a vehicle； killing any proctor whom she
inquired for； representing his employer as the lawful successor
and representative of that proctor； and bearing the old lady off
（sometimes greatly affected） to his employer’s office。 Many
captives were brought to me in this way。 As to marriage licences；
the competition rose to such a pitch； that a shy gentleman in want
of one； had nothing to do but submit himself to the first inveigler；
or be fought for； and become the prey of the strongest。 One of our
clerks； who was an outsider； used； in the height of this contest； to
sit with his hat on； that he might be ready to rush out and swear
before a surrogate any victim who was brought in。 The system of
inveigling continues； I believe； to this day。 The last time I was in
the Commons； a civil able…bodied person in a white apron pounced
out upon me from a doorway； and whispering the word ‘Marriagelicence’ in my ear； was with great difficulty prevented from taking
me up in his arms and lifting me into a proctor’s。 From this
digression； let me proceed to Dover。
I found everything in a satisfactory state at the cottage； and was
enabled to gratify my aunt exceedingly by reporting that the
tenant inherited her feud； and waged incessant war against
donkeys。 Having settled the little business I had to transact there；
and slept there one night； I walked on to Canterbury early in the
morning。 It was now winter again； and the fresh； cold windy day；
and the sweeping downland； brightened up my hopes a little。
Coming into Canterbury； I loitered through the old streets with
a sober pleasure that calmed my spirits； and eased my heart。
There were the old signs； the old names over the shops； the old
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
people serving in them。 It appeared so long； since I had been a
schoolboy there； that I wondered the place was so little changed；
until I reflected how little I was changed myself。 Strange to say；
that quiet influence which was inseparable in my mind from
Agnes； seemed to pervade even the city where she dwelt。 The
venerable cathedral towers； and the old jackdaws and rooks whose
airy voices made them more retired than perfect silence would
have done； the battered gateways； one stuck full with statues； long
thrown down； and crumbled away； like the reverential pilgrims
who had gazed upon them； the still nooks； where the ivied growth
of centuries crept over gabled ends and ruined walls； the ancient
houses； the pastoral landscape of field； orchard； and garden；
everywhere—on everything—I felt the same serener air； the same
calm； thoughtful； softening spirit。
Arrived at Mr。 Wickfield’s house； I found； in the little lower
room on the ground floor； where Uriah Heep had been of old
accustomed to sit； Mr。 Micawber plying his pen with great
assiduity。 He was dressed in a legal…looking suit of black； and
loomed； burly and large； in that small office。
Mr。 Micawber was extremely glad to see me； but a little
confused too。 He would have conducted me immediately into the
presence of Uriah； but I declined。
‘I know the house of old； you recollect；’ said I； ‘and will find my
way upstairs。 How do you like the law； Mr。 Micawber？’
‘My dear Copperfield；’ he replied。 ‘To a man possessed of the
higher imaginative powers； the objection to legal studies is the
amount of detail which they involve。 Even in our professional
correspondence；’ said Mr。 Micawber； glancing at some letters he
was writing； ‘the mind is not at liberty to soar to any exalted form
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
of expression。 Still； it is a great pursuit。 A great pursuit！’
He then told me that he had become the tenant of Uriah Heep’s
old house； and that Mrs。 Micawber would be delighted to receive
me； once more； under her own roof。
‘It is humble；’ said Mr。 Micawber； ‘—to quote a favourite
expression of my friend Heep； but it may prove the stepping…stone
to more ambitious domiciliary accommodation。’
I asked him whether he had reason； so far； to be satisfied with
his friend Heep’s treatment of him？ He got up to ascertain if the
door were close shut； before he replied； in a lower voice：
‘My dear Copperfield； a man who labours under the pressure of
pecuniary embarrassments； is； with the generality of people； at a
disadvantage。 That disadvantage is not diminished； when that
pressure necessitates the drawing of stipendiary emoluments；
before those emoluments are strictly due and payable。 All I can
say is； that my friend Heep has responded to appeals to which I
need not more particularly refer； in a manner calculated to
redound equally to the honour of his head； and of his heart。’
‘I should not have supposed him to be very free with his money
either；’ I observed。
‘Pardon me！’ said Mr。 Micawber； with an air of constraint； ‘I
speak of my friend Heep as I have experience。’
‘I am glad your experience is so favourable；’ I returned。
‘You are very obliging； my dear Copperfield；’ said Mr。
Micawber； and hummed a tune。
‘Do you see much of Mr。 Wickfield？’ I asked； to change the
subject。
‘Not much；’ said Mr。 Micawber； slightingly。 ‘Mr。 Wickfield is； I
dare say； a man of very excellent intentions； but he is—in short； he
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
is obsolete。’
‘I am afraid his partner seeks to make him so；’ said I。
‘My dear Copperfield！’ returned Mr。 Micawber； after some
uneasy evolutions on his stool； ‘allow me to offer a remark！ I am
here； in a capacity of confidence。 I am here； in a position of trust。
The discussion of some topics； even with Mrs。 Micawber herself
（so long the partner of my various vicissitudes； and a woman of a
remarkable lucidity of intellect）； is； I am led to consider；
incompatible with the functions now devolving on me。 I would
therefore take the liberty of suggesting that in our friendly
intercourse—which I trust will never be disturbed！—we draw a
line。 On one side of this line；’ said Mr。 Micawber； representing it
