david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第58节
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come of the Memorial； if it were completed； where he thought it
was to go； or what he thought it was to do； he knew no more than
anybody else； I believe。 Nor was it at all necessary that he should
trouble himself with such questions； for if anything were certain
under the sun； it was certain that the Memorial never would be
finished。 It was quite an affecting sight； I used to think； to see him
with the kite when it was up a great height in the air。 What he had
told me； in his room； about his belief in its disseminating the
statements pasted on it； which were nothing but old leaves of
abortive Memorials； might have been a fancy with him sometimes；
but not when he was out； looking up at the kite in the sky； and
feeling it pull and tug at his hand。 He never looked so serene as he
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
did then。 I used to fancy； as I sat by him of an evening； on a green
slope； and saw him watch the kite high in the quiet air； that it
lifted his mind out of its confusion； and bore it （such was my
boyish thought） into the skies。 As he wound the string in and it
came lower and lower down out of the beautiful light； until it
fluttered to the ground； and lay there like a dead thing； he seemed
to wake gradually out of a dream； and I remember to have seen
him take it up； and look about him in a lost way； as if they had
both come down together； so that I pitied him with all my heart。
While I advanced in friendship and intimacy with Mr。 Dick； I
did not go backward in the favour of his staunch friend； my aunt。
She took so kindly to me； that； in the course of a few weeks； she
shortened my adopted name of Trotwood into Trot； and even
encouraged me to hope； that if I went on as I had begun； I might
take equal rank in her affections with my sister Betsey Trotwood。
‘Trot；’ said my aunt one evening； when the backgammon…board
was placed as usual for herself and Mr。 Dick； ‘we must not forget
your education。’
This was my only subject of anxiety； and I felt quite delighted
by her referring to it。
‘Should you like to go to school at Canterbury？’ said my aunt。
I replied that I should like it very much； as it was so near her。
‘Good；’ said my aunt。 ‘Should you like to go tomorrow？’
Being already no stranger to the general rapidity of my aunt’s
evolutions； I was not surprised by the suddenness of the proposal；
and said： ‘Yes。’
‘Good；’ said my aunt again。 ‘Janet； hire the grey pony and
chaise tomorrow morning at ten o’clock； and pack up Master
Trotwood’s clothes tonight。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I was greatly elated by these orders； but my heart smote me for
my selfishness； when I witnessed their effect on Mr。 Dick； who was
so low…spirited at the prospect of our separation； and played so ill
in consequence； that my aunt； after giving him several admonitory
raps on the knuckles with her dice…box； shut up the board； and
declined to play with him any more。 But； on hearing from my aunt
that I should sometimes come over on a Saturday； and that he
could sometimes come and see me on a Wednesday； he revived；
and vowed to make another kite for those occasions； of
proportions greatly surpassing the present one。 In the morning he
was downhearted again； and would have sustained himself by
giving me all the money he had in his possession； gold and silver
too； if my aunt had not interposed； and limited the gift to five
shillings； which； at his earnest petition； were afterwards increased
to ten。 We parted at the garden…gate in a most affectionate
manner； and Mr。 Dick did not go into the house until my aunt had
driven me out of sight of it。
My aunt； who was perfectly indifferent to public opinion； drove
the grey pony through Dover in a masterly manner； sitting high
and stiff like a state coachman； keeping a steady eye upon him
wherever he went； and making a point of not letting him have his
own way in any respect。 When we came into the country road； she
permitted him to relax a little； however； and looking at me down in
a valley of cushion by her side； asked me whether I was happy？
‘Very happy indeed； thank you； aunt；’ I said。
She was much gratified； and both her hands being occupied；
patted me on the head with her whip。
‘Is it a large school； aunt？’ I asked。
‘Why； I don’t know；’ said my aunt。 ‘We are going to Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Wickfield’s first。’
‘Does he keep a school？’ I asked。
‘No； Trot；’ said my aunt。 ‘He keeps an office。’
I asked for no more information about Mr。 Wickfield； as she
offered none； and we conversed on other subjects until we came to
Canterbury； where； as it was market…day； my aunt had a great
opportunity of insinuating the grey pony among carts； baskets；
vegetables； and huckster’s goods。 The hair…breadth turns and
twists we made； drew down upon us a variety of speeches from the
people standing about； which were not always complimentary； but
my aunt drove on with perfect indifference； and I dare say would
have taken her own way with as much coolness through an
enemy’s country。
At length we stopped before a very old house bulging out over
the road； a house with long low lattice…windows bulging out still
farther； and beams with carved heads on the ends bulging out too；
so that I fancied the whole house was leaning forward； trying to
see who was passing on the narrow pavement below。 It was quite
spotless in its cleanliness。 The old…fashioned brass knocker on the
low arched door； ornamented with carved garlands of fruit and
flowers； twinkled like a star； the two stone steps descending to the
door were as white as if they had been covered with fair linen； and
all the angles and corners； and carvings and mouldings； and
quaint little panes of glass； and quainter little windows； though as
old as the hills； were as pure as any snow that ever fell upon the
hills。
When the pony…chaise stopped at the door； and my eyes were
intent upon the house； I saw a cadaverous face appear at a small
window on the ground floor （in a little round tower that formed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
one side of the house）； and quickly disappear。 The low arched door
then opened； and the face came out。 It was quite as cadaverous as
it had looked in the window； though in the grain of it there was
that tinge of red which is sometimes to be observed in the skins of
red…haired people。 It belonged to a red…haired person—a youth of
fifteen； as I take it now； but looking much older—whose hair was
cropped as close as the closest stubble； who had hardly any
eyebrows； and no eyelashes； and eyes of a red…brown； so
unsheltered and unshaded； that I remember wondering how he
went to sleep。 He was high…shouldered and bony； dressed in
decent black； with a white wisp of a neckcloth； buttoned up to the
throat； and had a long； lank； skeleton hand； which particularly
attracted my attention； as he stood at the pony’s head； rubbing his
chin with it； and looking up at us in the chaise。
‘Is Mr。 Wickfield at home； Uriah Heep？’ said my aunt。
‘Mr。 Wickfield’s at home； ma’am；’ said Uriah Heep； ‘if you’ll
please to walk in there’—pointing with his long hand to the room
he meant。
We got out； and leaving him to hold the pony； went into a long
low parlour looking towards the street； from the window of which
I caught a glimpse； as I went in； of Uriah Heep breathing into the
pony’s nostrils； and immediately covering them with his hand； as if
he were putting some spell upon him。 Opposite to the tall old
chimney…piece were two portraits： one of a gentleman with grey
hair （though not by any means an old man） and black eyebrows；
who was looking over some papers tied together with red tape； the
other； of a lady； with a very placid and sweet expression of face；
who was looking at me。
I believe I was turning about in search of Uriah’s picture； when；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
a door at the farther end of the room opening； a gentleman
entered； at sight of whom I turned to the first…mentioned portrait
again； to make quite sure that it had not come out of its frame。 But
it was stationary； and as the gentleman advanced into the light； I
saw that he was some years older than when he had had his
picture painted。
‘Miss Betsey Trotwood；’ said the gentleman； ‘pray walk in。 I was
engaged for a moment； but you’ll excuse my being busy。 You know
my motive。 I have but one in life。’
Miss Betsey thanked him； and we went into his room； which
was furnished as an office； with books； papers； tin boxes； and so
forth。 It looked into a garden； and had an iron safe let into the
wall； so immediately over the mantelshelf； that I wondered； as I sat
down； how the sweeps got round it when they swept the chimney。
‘Well； Miss Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； for I soon found that
it was he； and that he was a lawyer； and steward of the estates of a
rich gentleman of the county； ‘wh
