david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第6节
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likes to look so well； and is proud of being so pretty。
That is among my very earliest impressions。 That； and a sense
that we were both a little afraid of Peggotty； and submitted
ourselves in most things to her direction； were among the first
opinions—if they may be so called—that I ever derived from what
I saw。
Peggotty and I were sitting one night by the parlour fire； alone。
I had been reading to Peggotty about crocodiles。 I must have read
very perspicuously； or the poor soul must have been deeply
interested； for I remember she had a cloudy impression； after I
had done； that they were a sort of vegetable。 I was tired of reading；
and dead sleepy； but having leave； as a high treat； to sit up until
my mother came home from spending the evening at a
neighbour’s； I would rather have died upon my post （of course）
than have gone to bed。 I had reached that stage of sleepiness when
Peggotty seemed to swell and grow immensely large。 I propped
my eyelids open with my two forefingers； and looked
perseveringly at her as she sat at work； at the little bit of wax…
candle she kept for her thread—how old it looked； being so
wrinkled in all directions！—at the little house with a thatched roof；
where the yard…measure lived； at her work…box with a sliding lid；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
with a view of St。 Paul’s Cathedral （with a pink dome） painted on
the top； at the brass thimble on her finger； at herself； whom I
thought lovely。 I felt so sleepy； that I knew if I lost sight of
anything for a moment； I was gone。
‘Peggotty；’ says I； suddenly； ‘were you ever married？’
‘Lord； Master Davy；’ replied Peggotty。 ‘What’s put marriage in
your head？’
She answered with such a start； that it quite awoke me。 And
then she stopped in her work； and looked at me； with her needle
drawn out to its thread’s length。
‘But were you ever married； Peggotty？’ says I。 ‘You are a very
handsome woman； an’t you？’
I thought her in a different style from my mother； certainly； but
of another school of beauty； I considered her a perfect example。
There was a red velvet footstool in the best parlour； on which my
mother had painted a nosegay。 The ground…work of that stool； and
Peggotty’s complexion appeared to me to be one and the same
thing。 The stool was smooth； and Peggotty was rough； but that
made no difference。
‘Me handsome； Davy！’ said Peggotty。 ‘Lawk； no； my dear！ But
what put marriage in your head？’
‘I don’t know！—You mustn’t marry more than one person at a
time； may you； Peggotty？’
‘Certainly not；’ says Peggotty； with the promptest decision。
‘But if you marry a person； and the person dies； why then you
may marry another person； mayn’t you； Peggotty？’
‘You may；’ says Peggotty； ‘if you choose； my dear。 That’s a
matter of opinion。’
‘But what is your opinion； Peggotty？’ said I。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I asked her； and looked curiously at her； because she looked so
curiously at me。
‘My opinion is；’ said Peggotty； taking her eyes from me； after a
little indecision and going on with her work； ‘that I never was
married myself； Master Davy； and that I don’t expect to be。 That’s
all I know about the subject。’
‘You an’t cross； I suppose； Peggotty； are you？’ said I； after
sitting quiet for a minute。
I really thought she was； she had been so short with me； but I
was quite mistaken： for she laid aside her work （which was a
stocking of her own）； and opening her arms wide； took my curly
head within them； and gave it a good squeeze。 I know it was a
good squeeze； because； being very plump； whenever she made any
little exertion after she was dressed； some of the buttons on the
back of her gown flew off。 And I recollect two bursting to the
opposite side of the parlour； while she was hugging me。
‘Now let me hear some more about the Crorkindills；’ said
Peggotty； who was not quite right in the name yet； ‘for I an’t heard
half enough。’
I couldn’t quite understand why Peggotty looked so queer； or
why she was so ready to go back to the crocodiles。 However； we
returned to those monsters； with fresh wakefulness on my part；
and we left their eggs in the sand for the sun to hatch； and we ran
away from them； and baffled them by constantly turning； which
they were unable to do quickly； on account of their unwieldy
make； and we went into the water after them； as natives； and put
sharp pieces of timber down their throats； and in short we ran the
whole crocodile gauntlet。 I did； at least； but I had my doubts of
Peggotty； who was thoughtfully sticking her needle into various
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
parts of her face and arms； all the time。
We had exhausted the crocodiles； and begun with the alligators；
when the garden…bell rang。 We went out to the door； and there
was my mother； looking unusually pretty； I thought； and with her
a gentleman with beautiful black hair and whiskers； who had
walked home with us from church last Sunday。
As my mother stooped down on the threshold to take me in her
arms and kiss me； the gentleman said I was a more highly
privileged little fellow than a monarch—or something like that； for
my later understanding comes； I am sensible； to my aid here。
‘What does that mean？’ I asked him； over her shoulder。
He patted me on the head； but somehow； I didn’t like him or his
deep voice； and I was jealous that his hand should touch my
mother’s in touching me—which it did。 I put it away； as well as I
could。
‘Oh； Davy！’ remonstrated my mother。
‘Dear boy！’ said the gentleman。 ‘I cannot wonder at his
devotion！’
I never saw such a beautiful colour on my mother’s face before。
She gently chid me for being rude； and； keeping me close to her
shawl； turned to thank the gentleman for taking so much trouble
as to bring her home。 She put out her hand to him as she spoke；
and； as he met it with his own； she glanced； I thought； at me。
‘Let us say “good night”； my fine boy；’ said the gentleman；
when he had bent his head—I saw him！—over my mother’s little
glove。
‘Good night！’ said I。
‘Come！ Let us be the best friends in the world！’ said the
gentleman； laughing。 ‘Shake hands！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
My right hand was in my mother’s left； so I gave him the other。
‘Why； that’s the wrong hand； Davy！’ laughed the gentleman。
My mother drew my right hand forward； but I was resolved； for
my former reason； not to give it him； and I did not。 I gave him the
other； and he shook it heartily； and said I was a brave fellow； and
went away。
At this minute I see him turn round in the garden； and give us a
last look with his ill…omened black eyes； before the door was shut。
Peggotty； who had not said a word or moved a finger； secured
the fastenings instantly； and we all went into the parlour。 My
mother； contrary to her usual habit； instead of coming to the
elbow…chair by the fire； remained at the other end of the room； and
sat singing to herself。
—‘Hope you have had a pleasant evening； ma’am；’ said
Peggotty； standing as stiff as a barrel in the centre of the room；
with a candlestick in her hand。
‘Much obliged to you； Peggotty；’ returned my mother； in a
cheerful voice； ‘I have had a very pleasant evening。’
‘A stranger or so makes an agreeable change；’ suggested
Peggotty。
‘A very agreeable change； indeed；’ returned my mother。
Peggotty continuing to stand motionless in the middle of the
room； and my mother resuming her singing； I fell asleep； though I
was not so sound asleep but that I could hear voices； without
hearing what they said。 When I half awoke from this
uncomfortable doze； I found Peggotty and my mother both in
tears； and both talking。 ‘Not such a one as this； Mr。 Copperfield
wouldn’t have liked；’ said Peggotty。 ‘That I say； and that I swear！’
‘Good Heavens！’ cried my mother； ‘you’ll drive me mad！ Was
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
ever any poor girl so ill…used by her servants as I am！ Why do I do
myself the injustice of calling myself a girl？ Have I never been
married； Peggotty？’
‘God knows you have； ma’am；’ returned Peggotty。 ‘Then； how
can you dare；’ said my mother—‘you know I don’t mean how can
you dare； Peggotty； but how can you have the heart—to make me
so uncomfortable and say such bitter things to me； when you are
well aware that I haven’t； out of this place； a single friend to turn
to？’
‘The more’s the reason；’ returned Peggotty； ‘for saying that it
won’t do。 No！ That it won’t do。 No！ No price could make it do。
No！’—I thought Peggotty would have thrown the candlestick
away； she was so emphatic with it。
‘How can you be so aggravating；’ said my mother； shedding
more tears than before； ‘as to talk in such an unjust manner！ How
can you go on as if it was all settled and arranged； Peggotty； when
I tell you over and over again； you
