david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第51节
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places which had been mentioned； when a fly…driver； coming by
with his carriage； dropped a horsecloth。 Something good…natured
in the man’s face； as I handed it up； encouraged me to ask him if
he could tell me where Miss Trotwood lived； though I had asked
the question so often； that it almost died upon my lips。
‘Trotwood；’ said he。 ‘Let me see。 I know the name； too。 Old
lady？’
‘Yes；’ I said； ‘rather。’
‘Pretty stiff in the back？’ said he； making himself upright。
‘Yes；’ I said。 ‘I should think it very likely。’
‘Carries a bag？’ said he—‘bag with a good deal of room in it—is
gruffish； and comes down upon you； sharp？’
My heart sank within me as I acknowledged the undoubted
accuracy of this description。
‘Why then； I tell you what；’ said he。 ‘If you go up there；’ pointing
with his whip towards the heights； ‘and keep right on till you come
to some houses facing the sea； I think you’ll hear of her。 My
opinion is she won’t stand anything； so here’s a penny for you。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I accepted the gift thankfully； and bought a loaf with it。
Dispatching this refreshment by the way； I went in the direction
my friend had indicated； and walked on a good distance without
coming to the houses he had mentioned。 At length I saw some
before me； and approaching them； went into a little shop （it was
what we used to call a general shop； at home）； and inquired if they
could have the goodness to tell me where Miss Trotwood lived。 I
addressed myself to a man behind the counter； who was weighing
some rice for a young woman； but the latter； taking the inquiry to
herself； turned round quickly。
‘My mistress？’ she said。 ‘What do you want with her； boy？’
‘I want；’ I replied； ‘to speak to her； if you please。’
‘To beg of her； you mean；’ retorted the damsel。
‘No；’ I said； ‘indeed。’ But suddenly remembering that in truth I
came for no other purpose； I held my peace in confusion； and felt
my face burn。
My aunt’s handmaid； as I supposed she was from what she had
said； put her rice in a little basket and walked out of the shop；
telling me that I could follow her； if I wanted to know where Miss
Trotwood lived。 I needed no second permission； though I was by
this time in such a state of consternation and agitation； that my
legs shook under me。 I followed the young woman； and we soon
came to a very neat little cottage with cheerful bow…windows： in
front of it； a small square gravelled court or garden full of flowers；
carefully tended； and smelling deliciously。
‘This is Miss Trotwood’s；’ said the young woman。 ‘Now you
know； and that’s all I have got to say。’ With which words she
hurried into the house； as if to shake off the responsibility of my
appearance； and left me standing at the garden…gate； looking
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
disconsolately over the top of it towards the parlour window；
where a muslin curtain partly undrawn in the middle； a large
round green screen or fan fastened on to the windowsill； a small
table； and a great chair； suggested to me that my aunt might be at
that moment seated in awful state。
My shoes were by this time in a woeful condition。 The soles had
shed themselves bit by bit； and the upper leathers had broken and
burst until the very shape and form of shoes had departed from
them。 My hat （which had served me for a night…cap； too） was so
crushed and bent； that no old battered handleless saucepan on a
dunghill need have been ashamed to vie with it。 My shirt and
trousers； stained with heat； dew； grass； and the Kentish soil on
which I had slept—and torn besides—might have frightened the
birds from my aunt’s garden； as I stood at the gate。 My hair had
known no comb or brush since I left London。 My face； neck； and
hands； from unaccustomed exposure to the air and sun； were
burnt to a berry…brown。 From head to foot I was powdered almost
as white with chalk and dust； as if I had come out of a lime…kiln。 In
this plight； and with a strong consciousness of it； I waited to
introduce myself to； and make my first impression on； my
formidable aunt。
The unbroken stillness of the parlour window leading me to
infer； after a while； that she was not there； I lifted up my eyes to
the window above it； where I saw a florid； pleasant…looking
gentleman； with a grey head； who shut up one eye in a grotesque
manner； nodded his head at me several times； shook it at me as
often； laughed； and went away。
I had been discomposed enough before； but I was so much the
more discomposed by this unexpected behaviour； that I was on the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
point of slinking off； to think how I had best proceed； when there
came out of the house a lady with her handkerchief tied over her
cap； and a pair of gardening gloves on her hands； wearing a
gardening pocket like a toll…man’s apron； and carrying a great
knife。 I knew her immediately to be Miss Betsey； for she came
stalking out of the house exactly as my poor mother had so often
described her stalking up our garden at Blunderstone Rookery。
‘Go away！’ said Miss Betsey； shaking her head； and making a
distant chop in the air with her knife。 ‘Go along！ No boys here！’
I watched her； with my heart at my lips； as she marched to a
corner of her garden； and stooped to dig up some little root there。
Then； without a scrap of courage； but with a great deal of
desperation； I went softly in and stood beside her； touching her
with my finger。
‘If you please； ma’am；’ I began。
She started and looked up。
‘If you please； aunt。’
‘Eh？’ exclaimed Miss Betsey； in a tone of amazement I have
never heard approached。
‘If you please； aunt； I am your nephew。’
‘Oh； Lord！’ said my aunt。 And sat flat down in the garden…path。
‘I am David Copperfield； of Blunderstone； in Suffolk—where
you came； on the night when I was born； and saw my dear mama。 I
have been very unhappy since she died。 I have been slighted； and
taught nothing； and thrown upon myself； and put to work not fit
for me。 It made me run away to you。 I was robbed at first setting
out； and have walked all the way； and have never slept in a bed
since I began the journey。’ Here my self…support gave way all at
once； and with a movement of my hands； intended to show her my
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
ragged state； and call it to witness that I had suffered something； I
broke into a passion of crying； which I suppose had been pent up
within me all the week。
My aunt； with every sort of expression but wonder discharged
from her countenance； sat on the gravel； staring at me； until I
began to cry； when she got up in a great hurry； collared me； and
took me into the parlour。 Her first proceeding there was to unlock
a tall press； bring out several bottles； and pour some of the
contents of each into my mouth。 I think they must have been taken
out at random； for I am sure I tasted aniseed water； anchovy
sauce； and salad dressing。 When she had administered these
restoratives； as I was still quite hysterical； and unable to control
my sobs； she put me on the sofa； with a shawl under my head； and
the handkerchief from her own head under my feet； lest I should
sully the cover； and then； sitting herself down behind the green
fan or screen I have already mentioned； so that I could not see her
face； ejaculated at intervals； ‘Mercy on us！’ letting those
exclamations off like minute guns。
After a time she rang the bell。 ‘Janet；’ said my aunt； when her
servant came in。 ‘Go upstairs； give my compliments to Mr。 Dick；
and say I wish to speak to him。’
Janet looked a little surprised to see me lying stiffly on the sofa
（I was afraid to move lest it should be displeasing to my aunt）； but
went on her errand。 My aunt； with her hands behind her； walked
up and down the room； until the gentleman who had squinted at
me from the upper window came in laughing。
‘Mr。 Dick；’ said my aunt； ‘don’t be a fool； because nobody can be
more discreet than you can； when you choose。 We all know that。
So don’t be a fool； whatever you are。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
The gentleman was serious immediately； and looked at me； I
thought； as if he would entreat me to say nothing about the
window。
‘Mr。 Dick；’ said my aunt； ‘you have heard me mention David
Copperfield？ Now don’t pretend not to have a memory； because
you and I know better。’
‘David Copperfield？’ said Mr。 Dick； who did not appear to me to
remember much about it。 ‘David Copperfield？ Oh yes； to be sure。
David； certainly。’
‘Well；’ said my aunt； ‘this is his boy—his son。 He would be as
like his father as it’s possible to be； if he was not so like his mother；
too。’
‘His son？’ said Mr。 Dick。 ‘David’s son？ Indeed！’
‘Yes；’ pursued my aunt； ‘and he has done a pretty piece of
business。 He has run away。 Ah！ His sister； Betsey Trotwood； never
would have run aw
