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第39节

david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第39节

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

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had been otherwise。 Wild and full of childish whims as Em’ly was; 
she was more of a little woman than I had supposed。 She seemed 
to have got a great distance away from me; in little more than a 
year。 She liked me; but she laughed at me; and tormented me; and 
when I went to meet her; stole home another way; and was 
laughing at the door when I came back; disappointed。 The best 
times were when she sat quietly at work in the doorway; and I sat 
on the wooden step at her feet; reading to her。 It seems to me; at 
this hour; that I have never seen such sunlight as on those bright 
April afternoons; that I have never seen such a sunny little figure 

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David Copperfield 203 

as I used to see; sitting in the doorway of the old boat; that I have 
never beheld such sky; such water; such glorified ships sailing 
away into golden air。 

On the very first evening after our arrival; Mr。 Barkis appeared 
in an exceedingly vacant and awkward condition; and with a 
bundle of oranges tied up in a handkerchief。 As he made no 
allusion of any kind to this property; he was supposed to have left 
it behind him by accident when he went away; until Ham; running 
after him to restore it; came back with the information that it was 
intended for Peggotty。 After that occasion he appeared every 
evening at exactly the same hour; and always with a little bundle; 
to which he never alluded; and which he regularly put behind the 
door and left there。 These offerings of affection were of a most 
various and eccentric description。 Among them I remember a 
double set of pigs’ trotters; a huge pin…cushion; half a bushel or so 
of apples; a pair of jet earrings; some Spanish onions; a box of 
dominoes; a canary bird and cage; and a leg of pickled pork。 

Mr。 Barkis’s wooing; as I remember it; was altogether of a 
peculiar kind。 He very seldom said anything; but would sit by the 
fire in much the same attitude as he sat in his cart; and stare 
heavily at Peggotty; who was opposite。 One night; being; as I 
suppose; inspired by love; he made a dart at the bit of wax…candle 
she kept for her thread; and put it in his waistcoat…pocket and 
carried it off。 After that; his great delight was to produce it when it 
was wanted; sticking to the lining of his pocket; in a partially 
melted state; and pocket it again when it was done with。 He 
seemed to enjoy himself very much; and not to feel at all called 
upon to talk。 Even when he took Peggotty out for a walk on the 
flats; he had no uneasiness on that head; I believe; contenting 

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David Copperfield 

himself with now and then asking her if she was pretty 
comfortable; and I remember that sometimes; after he was gone; 
Peggotty would throw her apron over her face; and laugh for half…
an…hour。 Indeed; we were all more or less amused; except that 
miserable Mrs。 Gummidge; whose courtship would appear to have 
been of an exactly parallel nature; she was so continually 
reminded by these transactions of the old one。 

At length; when the term of my visit was nearly expired; it was 
given out that Peggotty and Mr。 Barkis were going to make a day’s 
holiday together; and that little Em’ly and I were to accompany 
them。 I had but a broken sleep the night before; in anticipation of 
the pleasure of a whole day with Em’ly。 We were all astir betimes 
in the morning; and while we were yet at breakfast; Mr。 Barkis 
appeared in the distance; driving a chaise…cart towards the object 
of his affections。 

Peggotty was dressed as usual; in her neat and quiet mourning; 
but Mr。 Barkis bloomed in a new blue coat; of which the tailor had 
given him such good measure; that the cuffs would have rendered 
gloves unnecessary in the coldest weather; while the collar was so 
high that it pushed his hair up on end on the top of his head。 His 
bright buttons; too; were of the largest size。 Rendered complete by 
drab pantaloons and a buff waistcoat; I thought Mr。 Barkis a 
phenomenon of respectability。 

When we were all in a bustle outside the door; I found that Mr。 
Peggotty was prepared with an old shoe; which was to be thrown 
after us for luck; and which he offered to Mrs。 Gummidge for that 
purpose。 

‘No。 It had better be done by somebody else; Dan’l;’ said Mrs。 
Gummidge。 ‘I’m a lone lorn creetur’ myself; and everythink that 

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David Copperfield 

reminds me of creetur’s that ain’t lone and lorn; goes contrary 

with me。’ 

‘Come; old gal!’ cried Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘Take and heave it。’ 

‘No; Dan’l;’ returned Mrs。 Gummidge; whimpering and shaking 
her head。 ‘If I felt less; I could do more。 You don’t feel like me; 
Dan’l; thinks don’t go contrary with you; nor you with them; you 
had better do it yourself。’ 

But here Peggotty; who had been going about from one to 
another in a hurried way; kissing everybody; called out from the 
cart; in which we all were by this time (Em’ly and I on two little 
chairs; side by side); that Mrs。 Gummidge must do it。 So Mrs。 
Gummidge did it; and; I am sorry to relate; cast a damp upon the 
festive character of our departure; by immediately bursting into 
tears; and sinking subdued into the arms of Ham; with the 
declaration that she knowed she was a burden; and had better be 
carried to the House at once。 Which I really thought was a sensible 
idea; that Ham might have acted on。 

Away we went; however; on our holiday excursion; and the first 
thing we did was to stop at a church; where Mr。 Barkis tied the 
horse to some rails; and went in with Peggotty; leaving little Em’ly 
and me alone in the chaise。 I took that occasion to put my arm 
round Em’ly’s waist; and propose that as I was going away so very 
soon now; we should determine to be very affectionate to one 
another; and very happy; all day。 Little Em’ly consenting; and 
allowing me to kiss her; I became desperate; informing her; I 
recollect; that I never could love another; and that I was prepared 
to shed the blood of anybody who should aspire to her affections。 

How merry little Em’ly made herself about it! With what a 
demure assumption of being immensely older and wiser than I; 

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David Copperfield 

the fairy little woman said I was ‘a silly boy’; and then laughed so 
charmingly that I forgot the pain of being called by that 
disparaging name; in the pleasure of looking at her。 

Mr。 Barkis and Peggotty were a good while in the church; but 
came out at last; and then we drove away into the country。 As we 
were going along; Mr。 Barkis turned to me; and said; with a 
wink;—by the by; I should hardly have thought; before; that he 
could wink: 

‘What name was it as I wrote up in the cart?’ 

‘Clara Peggotty;’ I answered。 

‘What name would it be as I should write up now; if there was a 
tilt here?’ 

‘Clara Peggotty; again?’ I suggested。 

‘Clara Peggotty Barkis!’ he returned; and burst into a roar of 
laughter that shook the chaise。 

In a word; they were married; and had gone into the church for 
no other purpose。 Peggotty was resolved that it should be quietly 
done; and the clerk had given her away; and there had been no 
witnesses of the ceremony。 She was a little confused when Mr。 
Barkis made this abrupt announcement of their union; and could 
not hug me enough in token of her unimpaired affection; but she 
soon became herself again; and said she was very glad it was over。 

We drove to a little inn in a by…road; where we were expected; 
and where we had a very comfortable dinner; and passed the day 
with great satisfaction。 If Peggotty had been married every day for 
the last ten years; she could hardly have been more at her ease 
about it; it made no sort of difference in her: she was just the same 
as ever; and went out for a stroll with little Em’ly and me before 
tea; while Mr。 Barkis philosophically smoked his pipe; and enjoyed 

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David Copperfield 

himself; I suppose; with the contemplation of his happiness。 If so; 
it sharpened his appetite; for I distinctly call to mind that; 
although he had eaten a good deal of pork and greens at dinner; 
and had finished off with a fowl or two; he was obliged to have cold 
boiled bacon for tea; and disposed of a large quantity without any 
emotion。 

I have often thought; since; what an odd; innocent; out…of…theway kind of wedding it must have been! We got into the chaise 
again soon after dark; and drove cosily back; looking up at the 
stars; and talking about them。 I was their chief exponent; and 
opened Mr。 Barkis’s mind to an amazing extent。 I told him all I 
knew; but he would have believed anything I might have taken it 
into my head to impart to him; for he had a profound veneration 
for my abilities; and informed his wife in my hearing; on that very 
occasion; that I was ‘a young Roeshus’—by which I think he meant 
prodigy。 

When we had exhausted the subject of the stars; or rather when 
I had exhausted the mental faculties of Mr。 Barkis; little Em’ly and 
I made a cloak 

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