david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第138节
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Doctor took me into the house to present me to Mrs。 Strong； whom
we found in the Doctor’s new study； dusting his books；—a freedom
which he never permitted anybody else to take with those sacred
favourites。
They had postponed their breakfast on my account； and we sat
down to table together。 We had not been seated long； when I saw
an approaching arrival in Mrs。 Strong’s face； before I heard any
sound of it。 A gentleman on horseback came to the gate； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
leading his horse into the little court； with the bridle over his arm；
as if he were quite at home； tied him to a ring in the empty coach…
house wall； and came into the breakfast parlour； whip in hand。 It
was Mr。 Jack Maldon； and Mr。 Jack Maldon was not at all
improved by India； I thought。 I was in a state of ferocious virtue；
however； as to young men who were not cutting down trees in the
forest of difficulty； and my impression must be received with due
allowance。
‘Mr。 Jack！’ said the Doctor。 ‘Copperfield！’
Mr。 Jack Maldon shook hands with me； but not very warmly； I
believed； and with an air of languid patronage； at which I secretly
took great umbrage。 But his languor altogether was quite a
wonderful sight； except when he addressed himself to his cousin
Annie。 ‘Have you breakfasted this morning； Mr。 Jack？’ said the
Doctor。
‘I hardly ever take breakfast； sir；’ he replied； with his head
thrown back in an easy…chair。 ‘I find it bores me。’
‘Is there any news today？’ inquired the Doctor。
‘Nothing at all； sir；’ replied Mr。 Maldon。 ‘There’s an account
about the people being hungry and discontented down in the
North； but they are always being hungry and discontented
somewhere。’
The Doctor looked grave； and said； as though he wished to
change the subject； ‘Then there’s no news at all； and no news； they
say； is good news。’
‘There’s a long statement in the papers； sir； about a murder；’
observed Mr。 Maldon。 ‘But somebody is always being murdered；
and I didn’t read it。’
A display of indifference to all the actions and passions of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
mankind was not supposed to be such a distinguished quality at
that time； I think； as I have observed it to be considered since。 I
have known it very fashionable indeed。 I have seen it displayed
with such success； that I have encountered some fine ladies and
gentlemen who might as well have been born caterpillars。 Perhaps
it impressed me the more then； because it was new to me； but it
certainly did not tend to exalt my opinion of； or to strengthen my
confidence in； Mr。 Jack Maldon。
‘I came out to inquire whether Annie would like to go to the
opera tonight；’ said Mr。 Maldon； turning to her。 ‘It’s the last good
night there will be； this season； and there’s a singer there； whom
she really ought to hear。 She is perfectly exquisite。 Besides which；
she is so charmingly ugly；’ relapsing into languor。
The Doctor； ever pleased with what was likely to please his
young wife； turned to her and said：
‘You must go； Annie。 You must go。’
‘I would rather not；’ she said to the Doctor。 ‘I prefer to remain
at home。 I would much rather remain at home。’
Without looking at her cousin； she then addressed me； and
asked me about Agnes； and whether she should see her； and
whether she was not likely to come that day； and was so much
disturbed； that I wondered how even the Doctor； buttering his
toast； could be blind to what was so obvious。
But he saw nothing。 He told her； good…naturedly； that she was
young and ought to be amused and entertained； and must not
allow herself to be made dull by a dull old fellow。 Moreover； he
said； he wanted to hear her sing all the new singer’s songs to him；
and how could she do that well； unless she went？ So the Doctor
persisted in making the engagement for her； and Mr。 Jack Maldon
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
was to come back to dinner。 This concluded； he went to his Patent
place； I suppose； but at all events went away on his horse； looking
very idle。
I was curious to find out next morning； whether she had been。
She had not； but had sent into London to put her cousin off； and
had gone out in the afternoon to see Agnes； and had prevailed
upon the Doctor to go with her； and they had walked home by the
fields； the Doctor told me； the evening being delightful。 I
wondered then； whether she would have gone if Agnes had not
been in town； and whether Agnes had some good influence over
her too！
She did not look very happy； I thought； but it was a good face；
or a very false one。 I often glanced at it； for she sat in the window
all the time we were at work； and made our breakfast； which we
took by snatches as we were employed。 When I left； at nine
o’clock； she was kneeling on the ground at the Doctor’s feet；
putting on his shoes and gaiters for him。 There was a softened
shade upon her face； thrown from some green leaves overhanging
the open window of the low room； and I thought all the way to
Doctors’ Commons； of the night when I had seen it looking at him
as he read。
I was pretty busy now； up at five in the morning； and home at
nine or ten at night。 But I had infinite satisfaction in being so
closely engaged； and never walked slowly on any account； and felt
enthusiastically that the more I tired myself； the more I was doing
to deserve Dora。 I had not revealed myself in my altered character
to Dora yet； because she was coming to see Miss Mills in a few
days； and I deferred all I had to tell her until then； merely
informing her in my letters （all our communications were secretly
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
forwarded through Miss Mills）； that I had much to tell her。 In the
meantime； I put myself on a short allowance of bear’s grease；
wholly abandoned scented soap and lavender water； and sold off
three waistcoats at a prodigious sacrifice； as being too luxurious
for my stern career。
Not satisfied with all these proceedings； but burning with
impatience to do something more； I went to see Traddles； now
lodging up behind the parapet of a house in Castle Street；
Holborn。 Mr。 Dick； who had been with me to Highgate twice
already； and had resumed his companionship with the Doctor； I
took with me。
I took Mr。 Dick with me； because； acutely sensitive to my aunt’s
reverses； and sincerely believing that no galley…slave or convict
worked as I did； he had begun to fret and worry himself out of
spirits and appetite； as having nothing useful to do。 In this
condition； he felt more incapable of finishing the Memorial than
ever； and the harder he worked at it； the oftener that unlucky head
of King Charles the First got into it。 Seriously apprehending that
his malady would increase； unless we put some innocent
deception upon him and caused him to believe that he was useful；
or unless we could put him in the way of being really useful （which
would be better）； I made up my mind to try if Traddles could help
us。 Before we went； I wrote Traddles a full statement of all that
had happened； and Traddles wrote me back a capital answer；
expressive of his sympathy and friendship。
We found him hard at work with his inkstand and papers；
refreshed by the sight of the flower…pot stand and the little round
table in a corner of the small apartment。 He received us cordially；
and made friends with Mr。 Dick in a moment。 Mr。 Dick professed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
an absolute certainty of having seen him before； and we both said；
‘Very likely。’
The first subject on which I had to consult Traddles was this；—I
had heard that many men distinguished in various pursuits had
begun life by reporting the debates in Parliament。 Traddles having
mentioned newspapers to me； as one of his hopes； I had put the
two things together； and told Traddles in my letter that I wished to
know how I could qualify myself for this pursuit。 Traddles now
informed me； as the result of his inquiries； that the mere
mechanical acquisition necessary； except in rare cases； for
thorough excellence in it； that is to say； a perfect and entire
command of the mystery of short…hand writing and reading； was
about equal in difficulty to the mastery of six languages； and that it
might perhaps be attained； by dint of perseverance； in the course
of a few years。 Traddles reasonably supposed that this would settle
the business； but I； only feeling that here indeed were a few tall
trees to be hewn down； immediately resolved to work my way on
to Dora through this thicket； axe in hand。
‘I am very much obliged to you； my dear Traddles！’ said I。 ‘I’ll
begin tomorrow。’
Traddles looked astonished； as he well might； but he had no
notion as yet of my rapturous condition。
‘I’ll buy a book；’ said I； ‘with a good scheme of this art in it； I’ll
work at it at the Commons； where I haven’t half enough to do； I’ll
take down the speeches in our court for
