david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第44节
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foreman of the packers； and another named Tipp； who was the
carman； and wore a red jacket； used to address me sometimes as
‘David’： but I think it was mostly when we were very confidential；
and when I had made some efforts to entertain them； over our
work； with some results of the old readings； which were fast
perishing out of my remembrance。 Mealy Potatoes uprose once；
and rebelled against my being so distinguished； but Mick Walker
settled him in no time。
My rescue from this kind of existence I considered quite
hopeless； and abandoned； as such； altogether。 I am solemnly
convinced that I never for one hour was reconciled to it； or was
otherwise than miserably unhappy； but I bore it； and even to
Peggotty； partly for the love of her and partly for shame； never in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
any letter （though many passed between us） revealed the truth。
Mr。 Micawber’s difficulties were an addition to the distressed
state of my mind。 In my forlorn state I became quite attached to
the family； and used to walk about； busy with Mrs。 Micawber’s
calculations of ways and means； and heavy with the weight of Mr。
Micawber’s debts。 On a Saturday night； which was my grand
treat；—partly because it was a great thing to walk home with six or
seven shillings in my pocket； looking into the shops and thinking
what such a sum would buy； and partly because I went home
early；—Mrs。 Micawber would make the most heart…rending
confidences to me； also on a Sunday morning； when I mixed the
portion of tea or coffee I had bought over…night； in a little shaving…
pot； and sat late at my breakfast。 It was nothing at all unusual for
Mr。 Micawber to sob violently at the beginning of one of these
Saturday night conversations； and sing about jack’s delight being
his lovely Nan； towards the end of it。 I have known him come
home to supper with a flood of tears； and a declaration that
nothing was now left but a jail； and go to bed making a calculation
of the expense of putting bow…windows to the house； ‘in case
anything turned up’； which was his favourite expression。 And Mrs。
Micawber was just the same。
A curious equality of friendship； originating； I suppose； in our
respective circumstances； sprung up between me and these
people； notwithstanding the ludicrous disparity in our years。 But I
never allowed myself to be prevailed upon to accept any invitation
to eat and drink with them out of their stock （knowing that they
got on badly with the butcher and baker； and had often not too
much for themselves）； until Mrs。 Micawber took me into her entire
confidence。 This she did one evening as follows：
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Master Copperfield；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘I make no stranger
of you； and therefore do not hesitate to say that Mr。 Micawber’s
difficulties are coming to a crisis。’
It made me very miserable to hear it； and I looked at Mrs。
Micawber’s red eyes with the utmost sympathy。
‘With the exception of the heel of a Dutch cheese—which is not
adapted to the wants of a young family’—said Mrs。 Micawber；
‘there is really not a scrap of anything in the larder。 I was
accustomed to speak of the larder when I lived with papa and
mama； and I use the word almost unconsciously。 What I mean to
express is； that there is nothing to eat in the house。’
‘Dear me！’ I said； in great concern。
I had two or three shillings of my week’s money in my pocket—
from which I presume that it must have been on a Wednesday
night when we held this conversation—and I hastily produced
them； and with heartfelt emotion begged Mrs。 Micawber to accept
of them as a loan。 But that lady； kissing me； and making me put
them back in my pocket； replied that she couldn’t think of it。
‘No； my dear Master Copperfield；’ said she； ‘far be it from my
thoughts！ But you have a discretion beyond your years； and can
render me another kind of service； if you will； and a service I will
thankfully accept of。’
I begged Mrs。 Micawber to name it。
‘I have parted with the plate myself；’ said Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘Six
tea； two salt； and a pair of sugars； I have at different times
borrowed money on； in secret； with my own hands。 But the twins
are a great tie； and to me； with my recollections； of papa and
mama； these transactions are very painful。 There are still a few
trifles that we could part with。 Mr。 Micawber’s feelings would
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
never allow him to dispose of them； and Clickett’—this was the girl
from the workhouse—‘being of a vulgar mind； would take painful
liberties if so much confidence was reposed in her。 Master
Copperfield； if I might ask you—’
I understood Mrs。 Micawber now； and begged her to make use
of me to any extent。 I began to dispose of the more portable
articles of property that very evening； and went out on a similar
expedition almost every morning； before I went to Murdstone and
Grinby’s。
Mr。 Micawber had a few books on a little chiffonier； which he
called the library； and those went first。 I carried them； one after
another； to a bookstall in the City Road—one part of which； near
our house； was almost all bookstalls and bird shops then—and
sold them for whatever they would bring。 The keeper of this
bookstall； who lived in a little house behind it； used to get tipsy
every night； and to be violently scolded by his wife every morning。
More than once； when I went there early； I had audience of him in
a turn…up bedstead； with a cut in his forehead or a black eye；
bearing witness to his excesses over…night （I am afraid he was
quarrelsome in his drink）； and he； with a shaking hand；
endeavouring to find the needful shillings in one or other of the
pockets of his clothes； which lay upon the floor； while his wife；
with a baby in her arms and her shoes down at heel； never left off
rating him。 Sometimes he had lost his money； and then he would
ask me to call again； but his wife had always got some—had taken
his； I dare say； while he was drunk—and secretly completed the
bargain on the stairs； as we went down together。 At the
pawnbroker’s shop； too； I began to be very well known。 The
principal gentleman who officiated behind the counter； took a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
good deal of notice of me； and often got me； I recollect； to decline a
Latin noun or adjective； or to conjugate a Latin verb； in his ear；
while he transacted my business。 After all these occasions Mrs。
Micawber made a little treat； which was generally a supper； and
there was a peculiar relish in these meals which I well remember。
At last Mr。 Micawber’s difficulties came to a crisis； and he was
arrested early one morning； and carried over to the King’s Bench
Prison in the Borough。 He told me； as he went out of the house；
that the God of day had now gone down upon him—and I really
thought his heart was broken and mine too。 But I heard；
afterwards； that he was seen to play a lively game at skittles；
before noon。
On the first Sunday after he was taken there； I was to go and
see him； and have dinner with him。 I was to ask my way to such a
place； and just short of that place I should see such another place；
and just short of that I should see a yard； which I was to cross； and
keep straight on until I saw a turnkey。 All this I did； and when at
last I did see a turnkey （poor little fellow that I was！）； and thought
how； when Roderick Random was in a debtors’ prison； there was a
man there with nothing on him but an old rug； the turnkey swam
before my dimmed eyes and my beating heart。
Mr。 Micawber was waiting for me within the gate； and we went
up to his room （top story but one）； and cried very much。 He
solemnly conjured me； I remember； to take warning by his fate；
and to observe that if a man had twenty pounds a…year for his
income； and spent nineteen pounds nineteen shillings and
sixpence； he would be happy； but that if he spent twenty pounds
one he would be miserable。 After which he borrowed a shilling of
me for porter； gave me a written order on Mrs。 Micawber for the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
amount； and put away his pocket…handkerchief； and cheered up。
We sat before a little fire； with two bricks put within the rusted
grate； one on each side； to prevent its burning too many coals；
until another debtor； who shared the room with Mr。 Micawber；
came in from the bakehouse with the loin of mutton which was
our joint…stock repast。 Then I was sent up to ‘Captain Hopkins’ in
the room overhead； with Mr。 Micawber’s compliments； and I was
his young friend； and would Captain Hopkins lend me a knife and
fork。
Captain Hopkins lent me the knife and fork； with his
compliments to Mr。 Micawber。 There was a very dirty lady in his
little room； and two wan girls； his daughters； with shock heads of
hair。 I thought it was better to borrow Captain Hopkins’s knife and
fork； than Captain Hopkins’s comb。 The Captain himself was in
