david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第123节
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Reminding him of the fact； that Mr。 Peggotty derived a steady；
though certainly a very moderate income from the bequest of his
late brother…in…law； I promised to do so。 We then took leave of
each other。 I cannot leave him even now； without remembering
with a pang； at once his modest fortitude and his great sorrow。
As to Mrs。 Gummidge； if I were to endeavour to describe how
she ran down the street by the side of the coach； seeing nothing
but Mr。 Peggotty on the roof； through the tears she tried to
repress； and dashing herself against the people who were coming
in the opposite direction； I should enter on a task of some
difficulty。 Therefore I had better leave her sitting on a baker’s
door…step； out of breath； with no shape at all remaining in her
bonnet； and one of her shoes off； lying on the pavement at a
considerable distance。
When we got to our journey’s end； our first pursuit was to look
about for a little lodging for Peggotty； where her brother could
have a bed。 We were so fortunate as to find one； of a very clean
and cheap description； over a chandler’s shop； only two streets
removed from me。 When we had engaged this domicile； I bought
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David Copperfield
some cold meat at an eating…house； and took my fellow…travellers
home to tea； a proceeding； I regret to state； which did not meet
with Mrs。 Crupp’s approval； but quite the contrary。 I ought to
observe； however； in explanation of that lady’s state of mind； that
she was much offended by Peggotty’s tucking up her widow’s
gown before she had been ten minutes in the place； and setting to
work to dust my bedroom。 This Mrs。 Crupp regarded in the light
of a liberty； and a liberty； she said； was a thing she never allowed。
Mr。 Peggotty had made a communication to me on the way to
London for which I was not unprepared。 It was； that he purposed
first seeing Mrs。 Steerforth。 As I felt bound to assist him in this；
and also to mediate between them； with the view of sparing the
mother’s feelings as much as possible； I wrote to her that night。 I
told her as mildly as I could what his wrong was； and what my own
share in his injury。 I said he was a man in very common life； but of
a most gentle and upright character； and that I ventured to
express a hope that she would not refuse to see him in his heavy
trouble。 I mentioned two o’clock in the afternoon as the hour of
our coming； and I sent the letter myself by the first coach in the
morning。
At the appointed time； we stood at the door—the door of that
house where I had been； a few days since； so happy： where my
youthful confidence and warmth of heart had been yielded up so
freely： which was closed against me henceforth： which was now a
waste； a ruin。
No Littimer appeared。 The pleasanter face which had replaced
his； on the occasion of my last visit； answered to our summons；
and went before us to the drawing…room。 Mrs。 Steerforth was
sitting there。 Rosa Dartle glided； as we went in； from another part
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David Copperfield
of the room and stood behind her chair。
I saw； directly； in his mother’s face； that she knew from himself
what he had done。 It was very pale； and bore the traces of deeper
emotion than my letter alone； weakened by the doubts her
fondness would have raised upon it； would have been likely to
create。 I thought her more like him than ever I had thought her；
and I felt； rather than saw； that the resemblance was not lost on
my companion。
She sat upright in her arm…chair； with a stately； immovable；
passionless air； that it seemed as if nothing could disturb。 She
looked very steadfastly at Mr。 Peggotty when he stood before her；
and he looked quite as steadfastly at her。 Rosa Dartle’s keen
glance comprehended all of us。 For some moments not a word was
spoken。
She motioned to Mr。 Peggotty to be seated。 He said； in a low
voice； ‘I shouldn’t feel it nat’ral； ma’am； to sit down in this house。
I’d sooner stand。’ And this was succeeded by another silence；
which she broke thus：
‘I know； with deep regret； what has brought you here。 What do
you want of me？ What do you ask me to do？’
He put his hat under his arm； and feeling in his breast for
Emily’s letter； took it out； unfolded it； and gave it to her。 ‘Please to
read that； ma’am。 That’s my niece’s hand！’
She read it； in the same stately and impassive way；—untouched
by its contents； as far as I could see；—and returned it to him。
‘“Unless he brings me back a lady；”’ said Mr。 Peggotty； tracing
out that part with his finger。 ‘I come to know； ma’am； whether he
will keep his wured？’
‘No；’ she returned。
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David Copperfield
‘Why not？’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘It is impossible。 He would disgrace himself。 You cannot fail to
know that she is far below him。’
‘Raise her up！’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘She is uneducated and ignorant。’
‘Maybe she’s not； maybe she is；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘I think not；
ma’am； but I’m no judge of them things。 Teach her better！’
‘Since you oblige me to speak more plainly； which I am very
unwilling to do； her humble connexions would render such a thing
impossible； if nothing else did。’
‘Hark to this； ma’am；’ he returned； slowly and quietly。 ‘You
know what it is to love your child。 So do I。 If she was a hundred
times my child； I couldn’t love her more。 You doen’t know what it
is to lose your child。 I do。 All the heaps of riches in the wureld
would be nowt to me （if they was mine） to buy her back！ But； save
her from this disgrace； and she shall never be disgraced by us。 Not
one of us that she’s growed up among； not one of us that’s lived
along with her and had her for their all in all； these many year； will
ever look upon her pritty face again。 We’ll be content to let her be；
we’ll be content to think of her； far off； as if she was underneath
another sun and sky； we’ll be content to trust her to her
husband；—to her little children； p’raps；—and bide the time when
all of us shall be alike in quality afore our God！’
The rugged eloquence with which he spoke； was not devoid of
all effect。 She still preserved her proud manner； but there was a
touch of softness in her voice； as she answered：
‘I justify nothing。 I make no counter…accusations。 But I am sorry
to repeat； it is impossible。 Such a marriage would irretrievably
blight my son’s career； and ruin his prospects。 Nothing is more
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David Copperfield
certain than that it never can take place； and never will。 If there is
any other compensation—’
‘I am looking at the likeness of the face；’ interrupted Mr。
Peggotty； with a steady but a kindling eye； ‘that has looked at me；
in my home； at my fireside； in my boat—wheer not？—smiling and
friendly； when it was so treacherous； that I go half wild when I
think of it。 If the likeness of that face don’t turn to burning fire； at
the thought of offering money to me for my child’s blight and ruin；
it’s as bad。 I doen’t know； being a lady’s； but what it’s worse。’
She changed now； in a moment。 An angry flush overspread her
features； and she said； in an intolerant manner； grasping the armchair tightly with her hands：
‘What compensation can you make to me for opening such a pit
between me and my son？ What is your love to mine？ What is your
separation to ours？’
Miss Dartle softly touched her； and bent down her head to
whisper； but she would not hear a word。
‘No； Rosa； not a word！ Let the man listen to what I say！ My son；
who has been the object of my life； to whom its every thought has
been devoted； whom I have gratified from a child in every wish；
from whom I have had no separate existence since his birth；—to
take up in a moment with a miserable girl； and avoid me！ To repay
my confidence with systematic deception； for her sake； and quit
me for her！ To set this wretched fancy； against his mother’s claims
upon his duty； love； respect； gratitude—claims that every day and
hour of his life should have strengthened into ties that nothing
could be proof against！ Is this no injury？’
Again Rosa Dartle tried to soothe her； again ineffectually。
‘I say； Rosa； not a word！ If he can stake his all upon the lightest
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David Copperfield
object； I can stake my all upon a greater purpose。 Let him go
where he will； with the means that my love has secured to him！
Does he think to reduce me by long absence？ He knows his
mother very little if he does。 Let him put away his whim now； and
he is welcome back。 Let him not put her away now； and he never
shall come near me； living or dying； while I can raise my hand to
make a sign against it； unless； being rid of her for ever； he comes
humbly to me and begs for my forgiveness。 This is my right。 This
is the acknowledgement I will have。 This is the separation that
there is between us！ And is this；’ she added； looking at her visitor
with the proud intolerant
