david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第84节
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and make it a brisk one！ and Mr。 Peggotty； unless you can induce
your gentle niece to come back （for whom I vacate this seat in the
corner）； I shall go。 Any gap at your fireside on such a night—such
a gap least of all—I wouldn’t make； for the wealth of the Indies！’
So Mr。 Peggotty went into my old room to fetch little Em’ly。 At
first little Em’ly didn’t like to come； and then Ham went。 Presently
they brought her to the fireside； very much confused； and very
shy；—but she soon became more assured when she found how
gently and respectfully Steerforth spoke to her； how skilfully he
avoided anything that would embarrass her； how he talked to Mr。
Peggotty of boats； and ships； and tides； and fish； how he referred
to me about the time when he had seen Mr。 Peggotty at Salem
House； how delighted he was with the boat and all belonging to it；
how lightly and easily he carried on； until he brought us； by
degrees； into a charmed circle； and we were all talking away
without any reserve。
Em’ly； indeed； said little all the evening； but she looked； and
listened； and her face got animated； and she was charming。
Steerforth told a story of a dismal shipwreck （which arose out of
his talk with Mr。 Peggotty）； as if he saw it all before him—and little
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Em’ly’s eyes were fastened on him all the time； as if she saw it too。
He told us a merry adventure of his own； as a relief to that； with as
much gaiety as if the narrative were as fresh to him as it was to
us—and little Em’ly laughed until the boat rang with the musical
sounds； and we all laughed （Steerforth too）； in irresistible
sympathy with what was so pleasant and light…hearted。 He got Mr。
Peggotty to sing； or rather to roar； ‘When the stormy winds do
blow； do blow； do blow’； and he sang a sailor’s song himself； so
pathetically and beautifully； that I could have almost fancied that
the real wind creeping sorrowfully round the house； and
murmuring low through our unbroken silence； was there to listen。
As to Mrs。 Gummidge； he roused that victim of despondency
with a success never attained by anyone else （so Mr。 Peggotty
informed me）； since the decease of the old one。 He left her so little
leisure for being miserable； that she said next day she thought she
must have been bewitched。
But he set up no monopoly of the general attention； or the
conversation。 When little Em’ly grew more courageous； and talked
（but still bashfully） across the fire to me； of our old wanderings
upon the beach； to pick up shells and pebbles； and when I asked
her if she recollected how I used to be devoted to her； and when
we both laughed and reddened； casting these looks back on the
pleasant old times； so unreal to look at now； he was silent and
attentive； and observed us thoughtfully。 She sat； at this time； and
all the evening； on the old locker in her old little corner by the
fire—Ham beside her； where I used to sit。 I could not satisfy
myself whether it was in her own little tormenting way； or in a
maidenly reserve before us； that she kept quite close to the wall；
and away from him； but I observed that she did so； all the evening。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
As I remember； it was almost midnight when we took our leave。
We had had some biscuit and dried fish for supper； and Steerforth
had produced from his pocket a full flask of Hollands； which we
men （I may say we men； now； without a blush） had emptied。 We
parted merrily； and as they all stood crowded round the door to
light us as far as they could upon our road； I saw the sweet blue
eyes of little Em’ly peeping after us； from behind Ham； and heard
her soft voice calling to us to be careful how we went。
‘A most engaging little Beauty！’ said Steerforth； taking my arm。
‘Well！ It’s a quaint place； and they are quaint company； and it’s
quite a new sensation to mix with them。’
‘How fortunate we are； too；’ I returned； ‘to have arrived to
witness their happiness in that intended marriage！ I never saw
people so happy。 How delightful to see it； and to be made the
sharers in their honest joy； as we have been！’
‘That’s rather a chuckle…headed fellow for the girl； isn’t he？’
said Steerforth。
He had been so hearty with him； and with them all； that I felt a
shock in this unexpected and cold reply。 But turning quickly upon
him； and seeing a laugh in his eyes； I answered； much relieved：
‘Ah； Steerforth！ It’s well for you to joke about the poor！ You
may skirmish with Miss Dartle； or try to hide your sympathies in
jest from me； but I know better。 When I see how perfectly you
understand them； how exquisitely you can enter into happiness
like this plain fisherman’s； or humour a love like my old nurse’s； I
know that there is not a joy or sorrow； not an emotion； of such
people； that can be indifferent to you。 And I admire and love you
for it； Steerforth； twenty times the more！’
He stopped； and； looking in my face； said； ‘Daisy； I believe you
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
are in earnest； and are good。 I wish we all were！’ Next moment he
was gaily singing Mr。 Peggotty’s song； as we walked at a round
pace back to Yarmouth。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 22
SOME OLD SCENES； AND SOME NEW PEOPLE
Steerforth and I stayed for more than a fortnight in that part
of the country。 We were very much together； I need not
say； but occasionally we were asunder for some hours at a
time。 He was a good sailor； and I was but an indifferent one； and
when he went out boating with Mr。 Peggotty； which was a
favourite amusement of his； I generally remained ashore。 My
occupation of Peggotty’s spare…room put a constraint upon me；
from which he was free： for； knowing how assiduously she
attended on Mr。 Barkis all day； I did not like to remain out late at
night； whereas Steerforth； lying at the Inn； had nothing to consult
but his own humour。 Thus it came about； that I heard of his
making little treats for the fishermen at Mr。 Peggotty’s house of
call； ‘The Willing Mind’； after I was in bed； and of his being afloat；
wrapped in fishermen’s clothes； whole moonlight nights； and
coming back when the morning tide was at flood。 By this time；
however； I knew that his restless nature and bold spirits delighted
to find a vent in rough toil and hard weather； as in any other
means of excitement that presented itself freshly to him； so none
of his proceedings surprised me。
Another cause of our being sometimes apart； was； that I had
naturally an interest in going over to Blunderstone； and revisiting
the old familiar scenes of my childhood； while Steerforth； after
being there once； had naturally no great interest in going there
again。 Hence； on three or four days that I can at once recall； we
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
went our several ways after an early breakfast； and met again at a
late dinner。 I had no idea how he employed his time in the
interval； beyond a general knowledge that he was very popular in
the place； and had twenty means of actively diverting himself
where another man might not have found one。
For my own part； my occupation in my solitary pilgrimages was
to recall every yard of the old road as I went along it； and to haunt
the old spots； of which I never tired。 I haunted them； as my
memory had often done； and lingered among them as my younger
thoughts had lingered when I was far away。 The grave beneath the
tree； where both my parents lay—on which I had looked out； when
it was my father’s only； with such curious feelings of compassion；
and by which I had stood； so desolate； when it was opened to
receive my pretty mother and her baby—the grave which
Peggotty’s own faithful care had ever since kept neat； and made a
garden of； I walked near； by the hour。 It lay a little off the
churchyard path； in a quiet corner； not so far removed but I could
read the names upon the stone as I walked to and fro； startled by
the sound of the church…bell when it struck the hour； for it was like
a departed voice to me。 My reflections at these times were always
associated with the figure I was to make in life； and the
distinguished things I was to do。 My echoing footsteps went to no
other tune； but were as constant to that as if I had come home to
build my castles in the air at a living mother’s side。
There were great changes in my old home。 The ragged nests； so
long deserted by the rooks； were gone； and the trees were lopped
and topped out of their remembered shapes。 The garden had run
wild； and half the windows of the house were shut up。 It was
occupied； but only by a poor lunatic gentleman； and the people
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David Copperfield
who took care of him。 He was always sitting at my little window；
looking out into the churchyard； and I wondered whether his
rambling thoughts ever went upon any of the fancies that used to
occupy mine； on the rosy mornings when
