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第71节

david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第71节

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

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insert Miss Shepherd’s name—I put her in among the Royal 
Family。 At home; in my own room; I am sometimes moved to cry 
out; ‘Oh; Miss Shepherd!’ in a transport of love。 

For some time; I am doubtful of Miss Shepherd’s feelings; but; 
at length; Fate being propitious; we meet at the dancing…school。 I 
have Miss Shepherd for my partner。 I touch Miss Shepherd’s 
glove; and feel a thrill go up the right arm of my jacket; and come 
out at my hair。 I say nothing to Miss Shepherd; but we understand 
each other。 Miss Shepherd and myself live but to be united。 

Why do I secretly give Miss Shepherd twelve Brazil nuts for a 
present; I wonder? They are not expressive of affection; they are 
difficult to pack into a parcel of any regular shape; they are hard to 
crack; even in room doors; and they are oily when cracked; yet I 
feel that they are appropriate to Miss Shepherd。 Soft; seedy 
biscuits; also; I bestow upon Miss Shepherd; and oranges 
innumerable。 Once; I kiss Miss Shepherd in the cloak…room。 
Ecstasy! What are my agony and indignation next day; when I 
hear a flying rumour that the Misses Nettingall have stood Miss 
Shepherd in the stocks for turning in her toes! 

Miss Shepherd being the one pervading theme and vision of my 
life; how do I ever come to break with her? I can’t conceive。 And 
yet a coolness grows between Miss Shepherd and myself。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


David Copperfield 

Whispers reach me of Miss Shepherd having said she wished I 
wouldn’t stare so; and having avowed a preference for Master 
Jones—for Jones! a boy of no merit whatever! The gulf between 
me and Miss Shepherd widens。 At last; one day; I meet the Misses 
Nettingalls’ establishment out walking。 Miss Shepherd makes a 
face as she goes by; and laughs to her companion。 All is over。 The 
devotion of a life—it seems a life; it is all the same—is at an end; 
Miss Shepherd comes out of the morning service; and the Royal 
Family know her no more。 

I am higher in the school; and no one breaks my peace。 I am not 
at all polite; now; to the Misses Nettingalls’ young ladies; and 
shouldn’t dote on any of them; if they were twice as many and 
twenty times as beautiful。 I think the dancing…school a tiresome 
affair; and wonder why the girls can’t dance by themselves and 
leave us alone。 I am growing great in Latin verses; and neglect the 
laces of my boots。 Doctor Strong refers to me in public as a 
promising young scholar。 Mr。 Dick is wild with joy; and my aunt 
remits me a guinea by the next post。 

The shade of a young butcher rises; like the apparition of an 
armed head in Macbeth。 Who is this young butcher? He is the 
terror of the youth of Canterbury。 There is a vague belief abroad; 
that the beef suet with which he anoints his hair gives him 
unnatural strength; and that he is a match for a man。 He is a 
broad…faced; bull…necked; young butcher; with rough red cheeks; 
an ill…conditioned mind; and an injurious tongue。 His main use of 
this tongue; is; to disparage Doctor Strong’s young gentlemen。 He 
says; publicly; that if they want anything he’ll give it ’em。 He 
names individuals among them (myself included); whom he could 
undertake to settle with one hand; and the other tied behind him。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


David Copperfield 

He waylays the smaller boys to punch their unprotected heads; 
and calls challenges after me in the open streets。 For these 
sufficient reasons I resolve to fight the butcher。 

It is a summer evening; down in a green hollow; at the corner of 
a wall。 I meet the butcher by appointment。 I am attended by a 
select body of our boys; the butcher; by two other butchers; a 
young publican; and a sweep。 The preliminaries are adjusted; and 
the butcher and myself stand face to face。 In a moment the 
butcher lights ten thousand candles out of my left eyebrow。 In 
another moment; I don’t know where the wall is; or where I am; or 
where anybody is。 I hardly know which is myself and which the 
butcher; we are always in such a tangle and tussle; knocking about 
upon the trodden grass。 Sometimes I see the butcher; bloody but 
confident; sometimes I see nothing; and sit gasping on my 
second’s knee; sometimes I go in at the butcher madly; and cut my 
knuckles open against his face; without appearing to discompose 
him at all。 At last I awake; very queer about the head; as from a 
giddy sleep; and see the butcher walking off; congratulated by the 
two other butchers and the sweep and publican; and putting on 
his coat as he goes; from which I augur; justly; that the victory is 
his。 

I am taken home in a sad plight; and I have beef…steaks put to 
my eyes; and am rubbed with vinegar and brandy; and find a great 
puffy place bursting out on my upper lip; which swells 
immoderately。 For three or four days I remain at home; a very ill…
looking subject; with a green shade over my eyes; and I should be 
very dull; but that Agnes is a sister to me; and condoles with me; 
and reads to me; and makes the time light and happy。 Agnes has 
my confidence completely; always; I tell her all about the butcher; 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


David Copperfield 

and the wrongs he has heaped upon me; she thinks I couldn’t have 
done otherwise than fight the butcher; while she shrinks and 
trembles at my having fought him。 

Time has stolen on unobserved; for Adams is not the head…boy 
in the days that are come now; nor has he been this many and 
many a day。 Adams has left the school so long; that when he comes 
back; on a visit to Doctor Strong; there are not many there; besides 
myself; who know him。 Adams is going to be called to the bar 
almost directly; and is to be an advocate; and to wear a wig。 I am 
surprised to find him a meeker man than I had thought; and less 
imposing in appearance。 He has not staggered the world yet; 
either; for it goes on (as well as I can make out) pretty much the 
same as if he had never joined it。 

A blank; through which the warriors of poetry and history 
march on in stately hosts that seem to have no end—and what 
comes next! I am the head…boy; now! I look down on the line of 
boys below me; with a condescending interest in such of them as 
bring to my mind the boy I was myself; when I first came there。 
That little fellow seems to be no part of me; I remember him as 
something left behind upon the road of life—as something I have 
passed; rather than have actually been—and almost think of him 
as of someone else。 

And the little girl I saw on that first day at Mr。 Wickfield’s; 
where is she? Gone also。 In her stead; the perfect likeness of the 
picture; a child likeness no more; moves about the house; and 
Agnes—my sweet sister; as I call her in my thoughts; my 
counsellor and friend; the better angel of the lives of all who come 
within her calm; good; self…denying influence—is quite a woman。 

What other changes have come upon me; besides the changes 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


David Copperfield 

in my growth and looks; and in the knowledge I have garnered all 
this while? I wear a gold watch and chain; a ring upon my little 
finger; and a long…tailed coat; and I use a great deal of bear’s 
grease—which; taken in conjunction with the ring; looks bad。 Am I 
in love again? I am。 I worship the eldest Miss Larkins。 

The eldest Miss Larkins is not a little girl。 She is a tall; dark; 
black…eyed; fine figure of a woman。 The eldest Miss Larkins is not 
a chicken; for the youngest Miss Larkins is not that; and the eldest 
must be three or four years older。 Perhaps the eldest Miss Larkins 
may be about thirty。 My passion for her is beyond all bounds。 

The eldest Miss Larkins knows officers。 It is an awful thing to 
bear。 I see them speaking to her in the street。 I see them cross the 
way to meet her; when her bonnet (she has a bright taste in 
bonnets) is seen coming down the pavement; accompanied by her 
sister’s bonnet。 She laughs and talks; and seems to like it。 I spend 
a good deal of my own spare time in walking up and down to meet 
her。 If I can bow to her once in the day (I know her to bow to; 
knowing Mr。 Larkins); I am happier。 I deserve a bow now and 
then。 The raging agonies I suffer on the night of the Race Ball; 
where I know the eldest Miss Larkins will be dancing with the 
military; ought to have some compensation; if there be evenhanded justice in the world。 

My passion takes away my appetite; and makes me wear my 
newest silk neckerchief continually。 I have no relief but in putting 
on my best clothes; and having my boots cleaned over and over 
again。 I seem; then; to be worthier of the eldest Miss Larkins。 
Everything that belongs to her; or is connected with her; is 
precious to me。 Mr。 Larkins (a gruff old gentleman with a double 
chin; and one of his eyes immovable in his head) is fraught with 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


David Copperfield 

interest to me。 When I can’t meet his daughter; I go where I am 
likely to meet him。 To say ‘How do you do; Mr。 Larkins? Are the 
young ladies and all the family quite well?’ seems so pointed; that

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