david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第75节
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thoughtful frown； upon the Doctor； or his wife； or both。
The Doctor was very fond of music。 Agnes sang with great
sweetness and expression； and so did Mrs。 Strong。 They sang
together； and played duets together； and we had quite a little
concert。 But I remarked two things： first； that though Annie soon
recovered her composure； and was quite herself； there was a blank
between her and Mr。 Wickfield which separated them wholly from
each other； secondly； that Mr。 Wickfield seemed to dislike the
intimacy between her and Agnes； and to watch it with uneasiness。
And now； I must confess； the recollection of what I had seen on
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David Copperfield
that night when Mr。 Maldon went away； first began to return upon
me with a meaning it had never had； and to trouble me。 The
innocent beauty of her face was not as innocent to me as it had
been； I mistrusted the natural grace and charm of her manner；
and when I looked at Agnes by her side； and thought how good
and true Agnes was； suspicions arose within me that it was an ill…
assorted friendship。
She was so happy in it herself； however； and the other was so
happy too； that they made the evening fly away as if it were but an
hour。 It closed in an incident which I well remember。 They were
taking leave of each other； and Agnes was going to embrace her
and kiss her； when Mr。 Wickfield stepped between them； as if by
accident； and drew Agnes quickly away。 Then I saw； as though all
the intervening time had been cancelled； and I were still standing
in the doorway on the night of the departure； the expression of
that night in the face of Mrs。 Strong； as it confronted his。
I cannot say what an impression this made upon me； or how
impossible I found it； when I thought of her afterwards； to
separate her from this look； and remember her face in its innocent
loveliness again。 It haunted me when I got home。 I seemed to have
left the Doctor’s roof with a dark cloud lowering on it。 The
reverence that I had for his grey head； was mingled with
commiseration for his faith in those who were treacherous to him；
and with resentment against those who injured him。 The
impending shadow of a great affliction； and a great disgrace that
had no distinct form in it yet； fell like a stain upon the quiet place
where I had worked and played as a boy； and did it a cruel wrong。
I had no pleasure in thinking； any more； of the grave old broad…
leaved aloe…trees； which remained shut up in themselves a
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David Copperfield
hundred years together； and of the trim smooth grass…plot； and the
stone urns； and the Doctor’s walk； and the congenial sound of the
Cathedral bell hovering above them all。 It was as if the tranquil
sanctuary of my boyhood had been sacked before my face； and its
peace and honour given to the winds。
But morning brought with it my parting from the old house；
which Agnes had filled with her influence； and that occupied my
mind sufficiently。 I should be there again soon； no doubt； I might
sleep again—perhaps often—in my old room； but the days of my
inhabiting there were gone； and the old time was past。 I was
heavier at heart when I packed up such of my books and clothes as
still remained there to be sent to Dover； than I cared to show to
Uriah Heep； who was so officious to help me； that I uncharitably
thought him mighty glad that I was going。
I got away from Agnes and her father； somehow； with an
indifferent show of being very manly； and took my seat upon the
box of the London coach。 I was so softened and forgiving； going
through the town； that I had half a mind to nod to my old enemy
the butcher； and throw him five shillings to drink。 But he looked
such a very obdurate butcher as he stood scraping the great block
in the shop； and moreover； his appearance was so little improved
by the loss of a front tooth which I had knocked out； that I thought
it best to make no advances。
The main object on my mind； I remember； when we got fairly
on the road； was to appear as old as possible to the coachman； and
to speak extremely gruff。 The latter point I achieved at great
personal inconvenience； but I stuck to it； because I felt it was a
grown…up sort of thing。
‘You are going through； sir？’ said the coachman。
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David Copperfield
‘Yes； William；’ I said； condescendingly （I knew him）； ‘I am going
to London。 I shall go down into Suffolk afterwards。’
‘Shooting； sir？’ said the coachman。
He knew as well as I did that it was just as likely； at that time of
year； I was going down there whaling； but I felt complimented；
too。
‘I don’t know；’ I said； pretending to be undecided； ‘whether I
shall take a shot or not。’
‘Birds is got wery shy； I’m told；’ said William。
‘So I understand；’ said I。
‘Is Suffolk your county； sir？’ asked William。
‘Yes；’ I said； with some importance。 ‘Suffolk’s my county。’
‘I’m told the dumplings is uncommon fine down there；’ said
William。
I was not aware of it myself； but I felt it necessary to uphold the
institutions of my county； and to evince a familiarity with them； so
I shook my head； as much as to say； ‘I believe you！’
‘And the Punches；’ said William。 ‘There’s cattle！ A Suffolk
Punch； when he’s a good un； is worth his weight in gold。 Did you
ever breed any Suffolk Punches yourself； sir？’
‘N…no；’ I said； ‘not exactly。’
‘Here’s a gen’lm’n behind me； I’ll pound it；’ said William； ‘as has
bred ’em by wholesale。’
The gentleman spoken of was a gentleman with a very
unpromising squint； and a prominent chin； who had a tall white
hat on with a narrow flat brim； and whose close…fitting drab
trousers seemed to button all the way up outside his legs from his
boots to his hips。 His chin was cocked over the coachman’s
shoulder； so near to me； that his breath quite tickled the back of
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David Copperfield
my head； and as I looked at him； he leered at the leaders with the
eye with which he didn’t squint； in a very knowing manner。
‘Ain’t you？’ asked William。
‘Ain’t I what？’ said the gentleman behind。
‘Bred them Suffolk Punches by wholesale？’
‘I should think so；’ said the gentleman。 ‘There ain’t no sort of
orse that I ain’t bred； and no sort of dorg。 Orses and dorgs is some
men’s fancy。 They’re wittles and drink to me—lodging； wife； and
children—reading； writing； and ’rithmetic—snuff； tobacker； and
sleep。’
‘That ain’t a sort of man to see sitting behind a coach…box； is it
though？’ said William in my ear； as he handled the reins。
I construed this remark into an indication of a wish that he
should have my place； so I blushingly offered to resign it。
‘Well； if you don’t mind； sir；’ said William； ‘I think it would be
more correct。’
I have always considered this as the first fall I had in life。 When
I booked my place at the coach office I had had ‘Box Seat’ written
against the entry； and had given the book…keeper half…a…crown。 I
was got up in a special great…coat and shawl； expressly to do
honour to that distinguished eminence； had glorified myself upon
it a good deal； and had felt that I was a credit to the coach。 And
here； in the very first stage； I was supplanted by a shabby man
with a squint； who had no other merit than smelling like a livery…
stables； and being able to walk across me； more like a fly than a
human being； while the horses were at a canter！
A distrust of myself； which has often beset me in life on small
occasions； when it would have been better away； was assuredly
not stopped in its growth by this little incident outside the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Canterbury coach。 It was in vain to take refuge in gruffness of
speech。 I spoke from the pit of my stomach for the rest of the
journey； but I felt completely extinguished； and dreadfully young。
It was curious and interesting； nevertheless； to be sitting up
there behind four horses： well educated； well dressed； and with
plenty of money in my pocket； and to look out for the places where
I had slept on my weary journey。 I had abundant occupation for
my thoughts； in every conspicuous landmark on the road。 When I
looked down at the trampers whom we passed； and saw that well…
remembered style of face turned up； I felt as if the tinker’s
blackened hand were in the bosom of my shirt again。 When we
clattered through the narrow street of Chatham； and I caught a
glimpse； in passing； of the lane where the old monster lived who
had bought my jacket； I stretched my neck eagerly to look for the
place where I had sat； in the sun and in the shade； waiting for my
money。 When we came； at last； within a stage of London； and
passed the veritable Salem House where Mr。 Creakle had laid
about him with a heavy hand； I would have given all I had； for
lawful permission to get down and thrash him； and let all the boys
out like so many caged sparrows。
We went to the Golden
