david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第130节
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would be one of the dearest girls that ever was； in anybody’s eyes
（I should think）。 But when I say the eldest is a Beauty； I mean she
really is a—’ he seemed to be describing clouds about himself； with
both hands： ‘Splendid； you know；’ said Traddles； energetically。
‘Indeed！’ said I。
‘Oh； I assure you；’ said Traddles； ‘something very uncommon；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
indeed！ Then； you know； being formed for society and admiration；
and not being able to enjoy much of it in consequence of their
limited means； she naturally gets a little irritable and exacting；
sometimes。 Sophy puts her in good humour！’
‘Is Sophy the youngest？’ I hazarded。
‘Oh dear； no！’ said Traddles； stroking his chin。 ‘The two
youngest are only nine and ten。 Sophy educates ’em。’
‘The second daughter； perhaps？’ I hazarded。
‘No；’ said Traddles。 ‘Sarah’s the second。 Sarah has something
the matter with her spine； poor girl。 The malady will wear out by
and by； the doctors say； but in the meantime she has to lie down
for a twelvemonth。 Sophy nurses her。 Sophy’s the fourth。’
‘Is the mother living？’ I inquired。
‘Oh yes；’ said Traddles； ‘she is alive。 She is a very superior
woman indeed； but the damp country is not adapted to her
constitution； and—in fact； she has lost the use of her limbs。’
‘Dear me！’ said I。
‘Very sad； is it not？’ returned Traddles。 ‘But in a merely
domestic view it is not so bad as it might be； because Sophy takes
her place。 She is quite as much a mother to her mother； as she is
to the other nine。’
I felt the greatest admiration for the virtues of this young lady；
and； honestly with the view of doing my best to prevent the good…
nature of Traddles from being imposed upon； to the detriment of
their joint prospects in life； inquired how Mr。 Micawber was？
‘He is quite well； Copperfield； thank you；’ said Traddles。 ‘I am
not living with him at present。’
‘No？’
‘No。 You see the truth is；’ said Traddles； in a whisper； ‘he had
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
changed his name to Mortimer； in consequence of his temporary
embarrassments； and he don’t come out till after dark—and then
in spectacles。 There was an execution put into our house； for rent。
Mrs。 Micawber was in such a dreadful state that I really couldn’t
resist giving my name to that second bill we spoke of here。 You
may imagine how delightful it was to my feelings； Copperfield； to
see the matter settled with it； and Mrs。 Micawber recover her
spirits。’
‘Hum！’ said I。 ‘Not that her happiness was of long duration；’
pursued Traddles； ‘for； unfortunately； within a week another
execution came in。 It broke up the establishment。 I have been
living in a furnished apartment since then； and the Mortimers
have been very private indeed。 I hope you won’t think it selfish；
Copperfield； if I mention that the broker carried off my little round
table with the marble top； and Sophy’s flower…pot and stand？’
‘What a hard thing！’ I exclaimed indignantly。
‘It was a—it was a pull；’ said Traddles； with his usual wince at
that expression。 ‘I don’t mention it reproachfully； however； but
with a motive。 The fact is； Copperfield； I was unable to repurchase
them at the time of their seizure； in the first place； because the
broker； having an idea that I wanted them； ran the price up to an
extravagant extent； and； in the second place； because I—hadn’t
any money。 Now； I have kept my eye since； upon the broker’s
shop；’ said Traddles； with a great enjoyment of his mystery； ‘which
is up at the top of Tottenham Court Road； and； at last； today I find
them put out for sale。 I have only noticed them from over the way；
because if the broker saw me； bless you； he’d ask any price for
them！ What has occurred to me； having now the money； is； that
perhaps you wouldn’t object to ask that good nurse of yours to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
come with me to the shop—I can show it her from round the
corner of the next street—and make the best bargain for them； as
if they were for herself； that she can！’
The delight with which Traddles propounded this plan to me；
and the sense he had of its uncommon artfulness； are among the
freshest things in my remembrance。
I told him that my old nurse would be delighted to assist him；
and that we would all three take the field together； but on one
condition。 That condition was； that he should make a solemn
resolution to grant no more loans of his name； or anything else； to
Mr。 Micawber。
‘My dear Copperfield；’ said Traddles； ‘I have already done so；
because I begin to feel that I have not only been inconsiderate； but
that I have been positively unjust to Sophy。 My word being passed
to myself； there is no longer any apprehension； but I pledge it to
you； too； with the greatest readiness。 That first unlucky
obligation； I have paid。 I have no doubt Mr。 Micawber would have
paid it if he could； but he could not。 One thing I ought to mention；
which I like very much in Mr。 Micawber； Copperfield。 It refers to
the second obligation； which is not yet due。 He don’t tell me that it
is provided for； but he says it will be。 Now； I think there is
something very fair and honest about that！’
I was unwilling to damp my good friend’s confidence； and
therefore assented。 After a little further conversation； we went
round to the chandler’s shop； to enlist Peggotty； Traddles
declining to pass the evening with me； both because he endured
the liveliest apprehensions that his property would be bought by
somebody else before he could re…purchase it； and because it was
the evening he always devoted to writing to the dearest girl in the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
world。
I never shall forget him peeping round the corner of the street
in Tottenham Court Road； while Peggotty was bargaining for the
precious articles； or his agitation when she came slowly towards
us after vainly offering a price； and was hailed by the relenting
broker； and went back again。 The end of the negotiation was； that
she bought the property on tolerably easy terms； and Traddles was
transported with pleasure。
‘I am very much obliged to you； indeed；’ said Traddles； on
hearing it was to be sent to where he lived； that night。 ‘If I might
ask one other favour； I hope you would not think it absurd；
Copperfield？’
I said beforehand； certainly not。
‘Then if you would be good enough；’ said Traddles to Peggotty；
‘to get the flower…pot now； I think I should like （it being Sophy’s；
Copperfield） to carry it home myself！’
Peggotty was glad to get it for him； and he overwhelmed her
with thanks； and went his way up Tottenham Court Road；
carrying the flower…pot affectionately in his arms； with one of the
most delighted expressions of countenance I ever saw。
We then turned back towards my chambers。 As the shops had
charms for Peggotty which I never knew them possess in the same
degree for anybody else； I sauntered easily along； amused by her
staring in at the windows； and waiting for her as often as she
chose。 We were thus a good while in getting to the Adelphi。
On our way upstairs； I called her attention to the sudden
disappearance of Mrs。 Crupp’s pitfalls； and also to the prints of
recent footsteps。 We were both very much surprised； coming
higher up； to find my outer door standing open （which I had shut）
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and to hear voices inside。
We looked at one another； without knowing what to make of
this； and went into the sitting…room。 What was my amazement to
find； of all people upon earth； my aunt there； and Mr。 Dick！ My
aunt sitting on a quantity of luggage； with her two birds before
her； and her cat on her knee； like a female Robinson Crusoe；
drinking tea。 Mr。 Dick leaning thoughtfully on a great kite； such
as we had often been out together to fly； with more luggage piled
about him！
‘My dear aunt！’ cried I。 ‘Why； what an unexpected pleasure！’
We cordially embraced； and Mr。 Dick and I cordially shook
hands； and Mrs。 Crupp； who was busy making tea； and could not
be too attentive； cordially said she had knowed well as Mr。
Copperfull would have his heart in his mouth； when he see his
dear relations。
‘Holloa！’ said my aunt to Peggotty； who quailed before her
awful presence。 ‘How are you？’
‘You remember my aunt； Peggotty？’ said I。
‘For the love of goodness； child；’ exclaimed my aunt； ‘don’t call
the woman by that South Sea Island name！ If she married and got
rid of it； which was the best thing she could do； why don’t you give
her the benefit of the change？ What’s your name now；—P？’ said
my aunt； as a compromise for the obnoxious appellation。
‘Barkis； ma’am；’ said Peggotty； with a curtsey。
‘Well！ That’s human；’ said my aunt。 ‘It sounds less as if you
wanted a missionary。 How d’ye do； Barkis？ I hope you’re well？’
Encouraged by th
