david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第63节
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him long myself； though he was a friend of my aunt’s。
‘Oh； indeed； Master Copperfield；’ said Uriah。 ‘Your aunt is a
sweet lady； Master Copperfield！’
He had a way of writhing when he wanted to express
enthusiasm； which was very ugly； and which diverted my attention
from the compliment he had paid my relation； to the snaky
twistings of his throat and body。
‘A sweet lady； Master Copperfield！’ said Uriah Heep。 ‘She has a
great admiration for Miss Agnes； Master Copperfield； I believe？’
I said； ‘Yes；’ boldly； not that I knew anything about it； Heaven
forgive me！
‘I hope you have； too； Master Copperfield；’ said Uriah。 ‘But I am
sure you must have。’
‘Everybody must have；’ I returned。
‘Oh； thank you； Master Copperfield；’ said Uriah Heep； ‘for that
remark！ It is so true！ Umble as I am； I know it is so true！ Oh； thank
you； Master Copperfield！’ He writhed himself quite off his stool in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
the excitement of his feelings； and； being off； began to make
arrangements for going home。
‘Mother will be expecting me；’ he said； referring to a pale；
inexpressive…faced watch in his pocket； ‘and getting uneasy； for
though we are very umble； Master Copperfield； we are much
attached to one another。 If you would come and see us； any
afternoon； and take a cup of tea at our lowly dwelling； mother
would be as proud of your company as I should be。’
I said I should be glad to come。
‘Thank you； Master Copperfield；’ returned Uriah； putting his
book away upon the shelf—‘I suppose you stop here； some time；
Master Copperfield？’
I said I was going to be brought up there； I believed； as long as I
remained at school。
‘Oh； indeed！’ exclaimed Uriah。 ‘I should think you would come
into the business at last； Master Copperfield！’
I protested that I had no views of that sort； and that no such
scheme was entertained in my behalf by anybody； but Uriah
insisted on blandly replying to all my assurances； ‘Oh； yes； Master
Copperfield； I should think you would； indeed！’ and； ‘Oh； indeed；
Master Copperfield； I should think you would； certainly！’ over and
over again。 Being； at last； ready to leave the office for the night； he
asked me if it would suit my convenience to have the light put out；
and on my answering ‘Yes；’ instantly extinguished it。 After
shaking hands with me—his hand felt like a fish； in the dark—he
opened the door into the street a very little； and crept out； and
shut it； leaving me to grope my way back into the house： which
cost me some trouble and a fall over his stool。 This was the
proximate cause； I suppose； of my dreaming about him； for what
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
appeared to me to be half the night； and dreaming； among other
things； that he had launched Mr。 Peggotty’s house on a piratical
expedition； with a black flag at the masthead； bearing the
inscription ‘Tidd’s Practice’； under which diabolical ensign he was
carrying me and little Em’ly to the Spanish Main； to be drowned。
I got a little the better of my uneasiness when I went to school
next day； and a good deal the better next day； and so shook it off
by degrees； that in less than a fortnight I was quite at home； and
happy； among my new companions。 I was awkward enough in
their games； and backward enough in their studies； but custom
would improve me in the first respect； I hoped； and hard work in
the second。 Accordingly； I went to work very hard； both in play
and in earnest； and gained great commendation。 And； in a very
little while； the Murdstone and Grinby life became so strange to
me that I hardly believed in it； while my present life grew so
familiar； that I seemed to have been leading it a long time。
Doctor Strong’s was an excellent school； as different from Mr。
Creakle’s as good is from evil。 It was very gravely and decorously
ordered； and on a sound system； with an appeal； in everything； to
the honour and good faith of the boys； and an avowed intention to
rely on their possession of those qualities unless they proved
themselves unworthy of it； which worked wonders。 We all felt that
we had a part in the management of the place； and in sustaining
its character and dignity。 Hence； we soon became warmly attached
to it—I am sure I did for one； and I never knew； in all my time； of
any other boy being otherwise—and learnt with a good will；
desiring to do it credit。 We had noble games out of hours； and
plenty of liberty； but even then； as I remember； we were well
spoken of in the town； and rarely did any disgrace； by our
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
appearance or manner； to the reputation of Doctor Strong and
Doctor Strong’s boys。
Some of the higher scholars boarded in the Doctor’s house； and
through them I learned； at second hand； some particulars of the
Doctor’s history—as； how he had not yet been married twelve
months to the beautiful young lady I had seen in the study； whom
he had married for love； for she had not a sixpence； and had a
world of poor relations （so our fellows said） ready to swarm the
Doctor out of house and home。 Also； how the Doctor’s cogitating
manner was attributable to his being always engaged in looking
out for Greek roots； which； in my innocence and ignorance； I
supposed to be a botanical furor on the Doctor’s part； especially as
he always looked at the ground when he walked about； until I
understood that they were roots of words； with a view to a new
Dictionary which he had in contemplation。 Adams； our head…boy；
who had a turn for mathematics； had made a calculation； I was
informed； of the time this Dictionary would take in completing； on
the Doctor’s plan； and at the Doctor’s rate of going。 He considered
that it might be done in one thousand six hundred and forty…nine
years； counting from the Doctor’s last； or sixty…second； birthday。
But the Doctor himself was the idol of the whole school： and it
must have been a badly composed school if he had been anything
else； for he was the kindest of men； with a simple faith in him that
might have touched the stone hearts of the very urns upon the
wall。 As he walked up and down that part of the courtyard which
was at the side of the house； with the stray rooks and jackdaws
looking after him with their heads cocked slyly； as if they knew
how much more knowing they were in worldly affairs than he； if
any sort of vagabond could only get near enough to his creaking
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
shoes to attract his attention to one sentence of a tale of distress；
that vagabond was made for the next two days。 It was so notorious
in the house； that the masters and head…boys took pains to cut
these marauders off at angles； and to get out of windows； and turn
them out of the courtyard； before they could make the Doctor
aware of their presence； which was sometimes happily effected
within a few yards of him； without his knowing anything of the
matter； as he jogged to and fro。 Outside his own domain； and
unprotected； he was a very sheep for the shearers。 He would have
taken his gaiters off his legs； to give away。 In fact； there was a story
current among us （I have no idea； and never had； on what
authority； but I have believed it for so many years that I feel quite
certain it is true）； that on a frosty day； one winter…time； he actually
did bestow his gaiters on a beggar…woman； who occasioned some
scandal in the neighbourhood by exhibiting a fine infant from door
to door； wrapped in those garments； which were universally
recognized； being as well known in the vicinity as the Cathedral。
The legend added that the only person who did not identify them
was the Doctor himself； who； when they were shortly afterwards
displayed at the door of a little second…hand shop of no very good
repute； where such things were taken in exchange for gin； was
more than once observed to handle them approvingly； as if
admiring some curious novelty in the pattern； and considering
them an improvement on his own。
It was very pleasant to see the Doctor with his pretty young
wife。 He had a fatherly； benignant way of showing his fondness for
her； which seemed in itself to express a good man。 I often saw
them walking in the garden where the peaches were； and I
sometimes had a nearer observation of them in the study or the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
parlour。 She appeared to me to take great care of the Doctor； and
to like him very much； though I never thought her vitally
interested in the Dictionary： some cumbrous fragments of which
work the Doctor always carried in his pockets； and in the lining of
his hat； and generally seemed to be expounding to her as they
walked about。
I saw a good deal of Mrs。 Strong； both because she had taken a
liking for me on the morning of my introduction to the Doctor； and
was always afterwards kind to me； and interested in me； and
because she was very fond of Agnes； and was often back
