david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第161节

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like　brother　and　sister。’　

‘I　wonder　why　you　ever　fell　in　love　with　me？’　said　Dora；　

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David　Copperfield　

beginning　on　another　button　of　my　coat。　

‘Perhaps　because　I　couldn’t　see　you；　and　not　love　you；　Dora！’　

‘Suppose　you　had　never　seen　me　at　all；’　said　Dora；　going　to　
another　button。　

‘Suppose　we　had　never　been　born！’　said　I；　gaily。　

I　wondered　what　she　was　thinking　about；　as　I　glanced　in　
admiring　silence　at　the　little　soft　hand　travelling　up　the　row　of　
buttons　on　my　coat；　and　at　the　clustering　hair　that　lay　against　my　
breast；　and　at　the　lashes　of　her　downcast　eyes；　slightly　rising　as　
they　followed　her　idle　fingers。　At　length　her　eyes　were　lifted　up　to　
mine；　and　she　stood　on　tiptoe　to　give　me；　more　thoughtfully　than　
usual；　that　precious　little　kiss—once；　twice；　three　times—and　went　
out　of　the　room。　

They　all　came　back　together　within　five　minutes　afterwards；　
and　Dora’s　unusual　thoughtfulness　was　quite　gone　then。　She　was　
laughingly　resolved　to　put　Jip　through　the　whole　of　his　
performances；　before　the　coach　came。　They　took　some　time　（not　so　
much　on　account　of　their　variety；　as　Jip’s　reluctance）；　and　were　
still　unfinished　when　it　was　heard　at　the　door。　There　was　a　hurried　
but　affectionate　parting　between　Agnes　and　herself；　and　Dora　was　
to　write　to　Agnes　（who　was　not　to　mind　her　letters　being　foolish；　
she　said）；　and　Agnes　was　to　write　to　Dora；　and　they　had　a　second　
parting　at　the　coach　door；　and　a　third　when　Dora；　in　spite　of　the　
remonstrances　of　Miss　Lavinia；　would　come　running　out　once　
more　to　remind　Agnes　at　the　coach　window　about　writing；　and　to　
shake　her　curls　at　me　on　the　box。　

The　stage…coach　was　to　put　us　down　near　Covent　Garden；　
where　we　were　to　take　another　stage…coach　for　Highgate。　I　was　
impatient　for　the　short　walk　in　the　interval；　that　Agnes　might　

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David　Copperfield　

praise　Dora　to　me。　Ah！　what　praise　it　was！　How　lovingly　and　
fervently　did　it　commend　the　pretty　creature　I　had　won；　with　all　
her　artless　graces　best　displayed；　to　my　most　gentle　care！　How　
thoughtfully　remind　me；　yet　with　no　pretence　of　doing　so；　of　the　
trust　in　which　I　held　the　orphan　child！　

Never；　never；　had　I　loved　Dora　so　deeply　and　truly；　as　I　loved　
her　that　night。　When　we　had　again　alighted；　and　were　walking　in　
the　starlight　along　the　quiet　road　that　led　to　the　Doctor’s　house；　I　
told　Agnes　it　was　her　doing。　

‘When　you　were　sitting　by　her；’　said　I；　‘you　seemed　to　be　no　less　
her　guardian　angel　than　mine；　and　you　seem　so　now；　Agnes。’　

‘A　poor　angel；’　she　returned；　‘but　faithful。’　

The　clear　tone　of　her　voice；　going　straight　to　my　heart；　made　it　
natural　to　me　to　say：　

‘The　cheerfulness　that　belongs　to　you；　Agnes　（and　to　no　one　else　
that　ever　I　have　seen）；　is　so　restored；　I　have　observed　today；　that　I　
have　begun　to　hope　you　are　happier　at　home？’　

‘I　am　happier　in　myself；’　she　said；　‘I　am　quite　cheerful　and　lighthearted。’　

I　glanced　at　the　serene　face　looking　upward；　and　thought　it　was　
the　stars　that　made　it　seem　so　noble。　

‘There　has　been　no　change　at　home；’　said　Agnes；　after　a　few　
moments。　

‘No　fresh　reference；’　said　I；　‘to—I　wouldn’t　distress　you；　Agnes；　
but　I　cannot　help　asking—to　what　we　spoke　of；　when　we　parted　
last？’　

‘No；　none；’　she　answered。　

‘I　have　thought　so　much　about　it。’　

‘You　must　think　less　about　it。　Remember　that　I　confide　in　

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David　Copperfield　

simple　love　and　truth　at　last。　Have　no　apprehensions　for　me；　
Trotwood；’　she　added；　after　a　moment；　‘the　step　you　dread　my　
taking；　I　shall　never　take。’　

Although　I　think　I　had　never　really　feared　it；　in　any　season　of　
cool　reflection；　it　was　an　unspeakable　relief　to　me　to　have　this　
assurance　from　her　own　truthful　lips。　I　told　her　so；　earnestly。　

‘And　when　this　visit　is　over；’　said　I；—‘for　we　may　not　be　alone　
another　time；—how　long　is　it　likely　to　be；　my　dear　Agnes；　before　
you　come　to　London　again？’　

‘Probably　a　long　time；’　she　replied；　‘I　think　it　will　be　best—for　
papa’s　sake—to　remain　at　home。　We　are　not　likely　to　meet　often；　
for　some　time　to　come；　but　I　shall　be　a　good　correspondent　of　
Dora’s；　and　we　shall　frequently　hear　of　one　another　that　way。’　

We　were　now　within　the　little　courtyard　of　the　Doctor’s　cottage。　
It　was　growing　late。　There　was　a　light　in　the　window　of　Mrs。　
Strong’s　chamber；　and　Agnes；　pointing　to　it；　bade　me　good　night。　

‘Do　not　be　troubled；’　she　said；　giving　me　her　hand；　‘by　our　
misfortunes　and　anxieties。　I　can　be　happier　in　nothing　than　in　
your　happiness。　If　you　can　ever　give　me　help；　rely　upon　it　I　will　ask　
you　for　it。　God　bless　you　always！’　In　her　beaming　smile；　and　in　
these　last　tones　of　her　cheerful　voice；　I　seemed　again　to　see　and　
hear　my　little　Dora　in　her　company。　I　stood　awhile；　looking　
through　the　porch　at　the　stars；　with　a　heart　full　of　love　and　
gratitude；　and　then　walked　slowly　forth。　I　had　engaged　a　bed　at　a　
decent　alehouse　close　by；　and　was　going　out　at　the　gate；　when；　
happening　to　turn　my　head；　I　saw　a　light　in　the　Doctor’s　study。　A　
half…reproachful　fancy　came　into　my　mind；　that　he　had　been　
working　at　the　Dictionary　without　my　help。　With　the　view　of　
seeing　if　this　were　so；　and；　in　any　case；　of　bidding　him　good　night；　

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if　he　were　yet　sitting　among　his　books；　I　turned　back；　and　going　
softly　across　the　hall；　and　gently　opening　the　door；　looked　in。　

The　first　person　whom　I　saw；　to　my　surprise；　by　the　sober　light　
of　the　shaded　lamp；　was　Uriah。　He　was　standing　close　beside　it；　
with　one　of　his　skeleton　hands　over　his　mouth；　and　the　other　
resting　on　the　Doctor’s　table。　The　Doctor　sat　in　his　study　chair；　
covering　his　face　with　his　hands。　Mr。　Wickfield；　sorely　troubled　
and　distressed；　was　leaning　forward；　irresolutely　touching　the　
Doctor’s　arm。　

For　an　instant；　I　supposed　that　the　Doctor　was　ill。　I　hastily　
advanced　a　step　under　that　impression；　when　I　met　Uriah’s　eye；　
and　saw　what　was　the　matter。　I　would　have　withdrawn；　but　the　
Doctor　made　a　gesture　to　detain　me；　and　I　remained。　

‘At　any　rate；’　observed　Uriah；　with　a　writhe　of　his　ungainly　
person；　‘we　may　keep　the　door　shut。　We　needn’t　make　it　known　to　
all　the　town。’　

Saying　which；　he　went　on　his　toes　to　the　door；　which　I　had　left　
open；　and　carefully　closed　it。　He　then　came　back；　and　took　up　his　
former　position。　There　was　an　obtrusive　show　of　compassionate　
zeal　in　his　voice　and　manner；　more　intolerable—at　least　to　me—　
than　any　demeanour　he　could　have　assumed。　

‘I　have　felt　it　incumbent　upon　me；　Master　Copperfield；’　said　
Uriah；　‘to　point　out　to　Doctor　Strong　what　you　and　me　have　
already　talked　about。　You　didn’t　exactly　understand　me；　though？’　

I　gave　him　a　look；　but　no　other　answer；　and；　going　to　my　good　
old　master；　said　a　few　words　that　I　meant　to　be　words　of　comfort　
and　encouragement。　He　put　his　hand　upon　my　shoulder；　as　it　had　
been　his　custom　to　do　when　I　was　quite　a　little　fellow；　but　did　not　
lift　his　grey　head。　

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‘As　you　didn’t　understand　me；　Master　Copperfield；’　resumed　
Uriah　in　the　same　officious　manner；　‘I　may　take　the　liberty　of　
umbly　mentioning；　being　among　friends；　that　I　have　called　Doctor　
Strong’s　attention　to　the　goings…on　of　Mrs。　Strong。　It’s　much　
against　the　grain　with　me；　I　assure　you；　Copperfield；　to　be　
concerned　in　anything　so　unpleasant；　but　really；　as　it　is；　we’re　all　
mixing　ourselves　up　with　what　oughtn’t　to　be。　That　was　what　my　
meaning　was；　sir；　when　you　didn’t　understand　me。’　I　wonder　now；　
when　I　recall　his　leer；　that　I　did　not　collar　him；　and　try　to　shake　the　
breath　out　of　his　body。　

‘I　dare　say　I　didn’t　make　myself　very　clear；’　he　went　on；　‘nor　you　
neither。　Naturally；　we　was　both　of　us　inclined　to　give　such　a　
subject　a　wide　berth。　Hows’ever；　at　last　I　have　made　up　my　mind　
to　speak　plain；　and　I　have　mentioned　to　Doctor　Strong　that—did　
you　speak；　sir？’　

This　was　to　the　Doctor；　who　had　moaned。　The　sound　might　
have　touched　any　heart；　I　thought；　but　it　had　no　effect　upon　
Uriah’s。　

‘—mentioned　to　Doctor　Strong；’　he　proceeded；　‘that　anyone　
may　see　that　Mr。　Maldon；　and　the　lovely　and　agreeable　lady　as　is　
Doctor　Strong’s　wife；　are　too　sweet　on　one　another。　Really　the　
time　is　come　（we　being　at　present　all　mixing　ourselves　up　with　
what　oughtn’t　to　be）；　when　Doctor　Strong　must　be　told　that　this　
was　full　as　plain　to　everybody　as　the　sun；　before　Mr。　Maldon　went　
to　India；　that　Mr。　Maldon　made　excuses　to　come　back；　for　nothing　
else；　and　that　he’s　always　here；　for　nothing　else。　When　you　come　
in；　sir；　I　was　just　putting　it　to　my　fellow…partner；’　towards　whom　he　
turned；　‘to　say　to　Doctor　Strong　upon　his　word　and　honour；　
whether　he’d　ever　been　of　this　opinion　long　ago；　or　not。　Come；　Mr。　

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David　Copperfield　

Wickfield；　sir！　Would　you　be　so　good　as　tell　us？　Yes　or　no；　sir？　
Come；　partner！’　

‘For　God’s