david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第67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！
he should have been hiding ever since （in the ground or
somewhere）； is the most extraordinary thing！’
‘Has he been hiding ever since？’ I asked。
‘To be sure he has；’ retorted Mr。 Dick； nodding his head
gravely。 ‘Never came out； till last night！ We were walking last
night； and he came up behind her again； and I knew him again。’
‘And did he frighten my aunt again？’
‘All of a shiver；’ said Mr。 Dick； counterfeiting that affection and
making his teeth chatter。 ‘Held by the palings。 Cried。 But；
Trotwood； come here；’ getting me close to him； that he might
whisper very softly； ‘why did she give him money； boy； in the
moonlight？’
‘He was a beggar； perhaps。’
Mr。 Dick shook his head； as utterly renouncing the suggestion；
and having replied a great many times； and with great confidence；
‘No beggar； no beggar； no beggar； sir！’ went on to say； that from
his window he had afterwards； and late at night； seen my aunt give
this person money outside the garden rails in the moonlight； who
then slunk away—into the ground again； as he thought probable—
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and was seen no more： while my aunt came hurriedly and secretly
back into the house； and had； even that morning； been quite
different from her usual self； which preyed on Mr。 Dick’s mind。
I had not the least belief； in the outset of this story； that the
unknown was anything but a delusion of Mr。 Dick’s； and one of the
line of that ill…fated Prince who occasioned him so much difficulty；
but after some reflection I began to entertain the question whether
an attempt； or threat of an attempt； might have been twice made
to take poor Mr。 Dick himself from under my aunt’s protection；
and whether my aunt； the strength of whose kind feeling towards
him I knew from herself； might have been induced to pay a price
for his peace and quiet。 As I was already much attached to Mr。
Dick； and very solicitous for his welfare； my fears favoured this
supposition； and for a long time his Wednesday hardly ever came
round； without my entertaining a misgiving that he would not be
on the coach…box as usual。 There he always appeared； however；
grey…headed； laughing； and happy； and he never had anything
more to tell of the man who could frighten my aunt。
These Wednesdays were the happiest days of Mr。 Dick’s life；
they were far from being the least happy of mine。 He soon became
known to every boy in the school； and though he never took an
active part in any game but kite…flying； was as deeply interested in
all our sports as anyone among us。 How often have I seen him；
intent upon a match at marbles or pegtop； looking on with a face
of unutterable interest； and hardly breathing at the critical times！
How often； at hare and hounds； have I seen him mounted on a
little knoll； cheering the whole field on to action； and waving his
hat above his grey head； oblivious of King Charles the Martyr’s
head； and all belonging to it！ How many a summer hour have I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
known to be but blissful minutes to him in the cricket…field！ How
many winter days have I seen him； standing blue…nosed； in the
snow and east wind； looking at the boys going down the long slide；
and clapping his worsted gloves in rapture！
He was an universal favourite； and his ingenuity in little things
was transcendent。 He could cut oranges into such devices as none
of us had an idea of。 He could make a boat out of anything； from a
skewer upwards。 He could turn cramp…bones into chessmen；
fashion Roman chariots from old court cards； make spoked wheels
out of cotton reels； and bird…cages of old wire。 But he was greatest
of all； perhaps； in the articles of string and straw； with which we
were all persuaded he could do anything that could be done by
hands。
Mr。 Dick’s renown was not long confined to us。 After a few
Wednesdays； Doctor Strong himself made some inquiries of me
about him； and I told him all my aunt had told me； which
interested the Doctor so much that he requested； on the occasion
of his next visit； to be presented to him。 This ceremony I
performed； and the Doctor begging Mr。 Dick； whensoever he
should not find me at the coach office； to come on there； and rest
himself until our morning’s work was over； it soon passed into a
custom for Mr。 Dick to come on as a matter of course； and； if we
were a little late； as often happened on a Wednesday； to walk
about the courtyard； waiting for me。 Here he made the
acquaintance of the Doctor’s beautiful young wife （paler than
formerly； all this time； more rarely seen by me or anyone； I think；
and not so gay； but not less beautiful）； and so became more and
more familiar by degrees； until； at last； he would come into the
school and wait。 He always sat in a particular corner； on a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
particular stool； which was called ‘Dick’； after him； here he would
sit； with his grey head bent forward； attentively listening to
whatever might be going on； with a profound veneration for the
learning he had never been able to acquire。
This veneration Mr。 Dick extended to the Doctor； whom he
thought the most subtle and accomplished philosopher of any age。
It was long before Mr。 Dick ever spoke to him otherwise than
bareheaded； and even when he and the Doctor had struck up
quite a friendship； and would walk together by the hour； on that
side of the courtyard which was known among us as The Doctor’s
Walk； Mr。 Dick would pull off his hat at intervals to show his
respect for wisdom and knowledge。 How it ever came about that
the Doctor began to read out scraps of the famous Dictionary； in
these walks； I never knew； perhaps he felt it all the same； at first；
as reading to himself。 However； it passed into a custom too； and
Mr。 Dick； listening with a face shining with pride and pleasure； in
his heart of hearts believed the Dictionary to be the most
delightful book in the world。
As I think of them going up and down before those schoolroom
windows—the Doctor reading with his complacent smile； an
occasional flourish of the manuscript； or grave motion of his head；
and Mr。 Dick listening； enchained by interest； with his poor wits
calmly wandering God knows where； upon the wings of hard
words—I think of it as one of the pleasantest things； in a quiet
way； that I have ever seen。 I feel as if they might go walking to and
fro for ever； and the world might somehow be the better for it—as
if a thousand things it makes a noise about； were not one half so
good for it； or me。
Agnes was one of Mr。 Dick’s friends； very soon； and in often
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
coming to the house； he made acquaintance with Uriah。 The
friendship between himself and me increased continually； and it
was maintained on this odd footing： that； while Mr。 Dick came
professedly to look after me as my guardian； he always consulted
me in any little matter of doubt that arose； and invariably guided
himself by my advice； not only having a high respect for my native
sagacity； but considering that I inherited a good deal from my
aunt。
One Thursday morning； when I was about to walk with Mr。
Dick from the hotel to the coach office before going back to school
（for we had an hour’s school before breakfast）； I met Uriah in the
street； who reminded me of the promise I had made to take tea
with himself and his mother： adding； with a writhe； ‘But I didn’t
expect you to keep it； Master Copperfield； we’re so very umble。’
I really had not yet been able to make up my mind whether I
liked Uriah or detested him； and I was very doubtful about it still；
as I stood looking him in the face in the street。 But I felt it quite an
affront to be supposed proud； and said I only wanted to be asked。
‘Oh； if that’s all； Master Copperfield；’ said Uriah； ‘and it really
isn’t our umbleness that prevents you； will you come this evening？
But if it is our umbleness； I hope you won’t mind owning to it；
Master Copperfield； for we are well aware of our condition。’
I said I would mention it to Mr。 Wickfield； and if he approved；
as I had no doubt he would； I would come with pleasure。 So； at six
o’clock that evening； which was one of the early office evenings； I
announced myself as ready； to Uriah。
‘Mother will be proud； indeed；’ he said； as we walked away
together。 ‘Or she would be proud； if it wasn’t sinful； Master
Copperfield。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Yet you didn’t mind supposing I was proud this morning；’ I
returned。
‘Oh dear； no； Master Copperfield！’ returned Uriah。 ‘Oh； believe
me； no！ Such a thought never came into my head！ I shouldn’t have
deemed it at all proud if you had thought us too umble for you。
Because we are so very umble。’
‘Have you been studying much law lately？’ I asked； to change
the subject。
‘Oh； Master Copperfield；’ he said； with an air of self…denial； ‘my
reading is hardly to be called
