david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第76节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
out like so many caged sparrows。
We went to the Golden Cross at Charing Cross； then a mouldy
sort of establishment in a close neighbourhood。 A waiter showed
me into the coffee…room； and a chambermaid introduced me to my
small bedchamber； which smelt like a hackney…coach； and was
shut up like a family vault。 I was still painfully conscious of my
youth； for nobody stood in any awe of me at all： the chambermaid
being utterly indifferent to my opinions on any subject； and the
waiter being familiar with me； and offering advice to my
inexperience。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Well now；’ said the waiter； in a tone of confidence； ‘what would
you like for dinner？ Young gentlemen likes poultry in general：
have a fowl！’
I told him； as majestically as I could； that I wasn’t in the
humour for a fowl。
‘Ain’t you？’ said the waiter。 ‘Young gentlemen is generally tired
of beef and mutton： have a weal cutlet！’
I assented to this proposal； in default of being able to suggest
anything else。
‘Do you care for taters？’ said the waiter； with an insinuating
smile； and his head on one side。 ‘Young gentlemen generally has
been overdosed with taters。’
I commanded him； in my deepest voice； to order a veal cutlet
and potatoes； and all things fitting； and to inquire at the bar if
there were any letters for Trotwood Copperfield； Esquire—which I
knew there were not； and couldn’t be； but thought it manly to
appear to expect。
He soon came back to say that there were none （at which I was
much surprised） and began to lay the cloth for my dinner in a box
by the fire。 While he was so engaged； he asked me what I would
take with it； and on my replying ‘Half a pint of sherry；’ thought it a
favourable opportunity； I am afraid； to extract that measure of
wine from the stale leavings at the bottoms of several small
decanters。 I am of this opinion； because； while I was reading the
newspaper； I observed him behind a low wooden partition； which
was his private apartment； very busy pouring out of a number of
those vessels into one； like a chemist and druggist making up a
prescription。 When the wine came； too； I thought it flat； and it
certainly had more English crumbs in it； than were to be expected
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
in a foreign wine in anything like a pure state； but I was bashful
enough to drink it； and say nothing。
Being then in a pleasant frame of mind （from which I infer that
poisoning is not always disagreeable in some stages of the
process）； I resolved to go to the play。 It was Covent Garden
Theatre that I chose； and there； from the back of a centre box； I
saw Julius Caesar and the new Pantomime。 To have all those
noble Romans alive before me； and walking in and out for my
entertainment； instead of being the stern taskmasters they had
been at school； was a most novel and delightful effect。 But the
mingled reality and mystery of the whole show； the influence upon
me of the poetry； the lights； the music； the company； the smooth
stupendous changes of glittering and brilliant scenery； were so
dazzling； and opened up such illimitable regions of delight； that
when I came out into the rainy street； at twelve o’clock at night； I
felt as if I had come from the clouds； where I had been leading a
romantic life for ages； to a bawling； splashing； link…lighted；
umbrella…struggling； hackney…coach…jostling； patten…clinking；
muddy； miserable world。
I had emerged by another door； and stood in the street for a
little while； as if I really were a stranger upon earth： but the
unceremonious pushing and hustling that I received； soon recalled
me to myself； and put me in the road back to the hotel； whither I
went； revolving the glorious vision all the way； and where； after
some porter and oysters； I sat revolving it still； at past one o’clock；
with my eyes on the coffee…room fire。
I was so filled with the play； and with the past—for it was； in a
manner； like a shining transparency； through which I saw my
earlier life moving along—that I don’t know when the figure of a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
handsome well…formed young man dressed with a tasteful easy
negligence which I have reason to remember very well； became a
real presence to me。 But I recollect being conscious of his
company without having noticed his coming in—and my still
sitting； musing； over the coffee…room fire。
At last I rose to go to bed； much to the relief of the sleepy
waiter； who had got the fidgets in his legs； and was twisting them；
and hitting them； and putting them through all kinds of
contortions in his small pantry。 In going towards the door； I
passed the person who had come in； and saw him plainly。 I turned
directly； came back； and looked again。 He did not know me； but I
knew him in a moment。
At another time I might have wanted the confidence or the
decision to speak to him； and might have put it off until next day；
and might have lost him。 But； in the then condition of my mind；
where the play was still running high； his former protection of me
appeared so deserving of my gratitude； and my old love for him
overflowed my breast so freshly and spontaneously； that I went up
to him at once； with a fast…beating heart； and said：
‘Steerforth！ won’t you speak to me？’
He looked at me—just as he used to look； sometimes—but I saw
no recognition in his face。
‘You don’t remember me； I am afraid；’ said I。
‘My God！’ he suddenly exclaimed。 ‘It’s little Copperfield！’
I grasped him by both hands； and could not let them go。 But for
very shame； and the fear that it might displease him； I could have
held him round the neck and cried。
‘I never； never； never was so glad！ My dear Steerforth； I am so
overjoyed to see you！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘And I am rejoiced to see you； too！’ he said； shaking my hands
heartily。 ‘Why； Copperfield； old boy； don’t be overpowered！’ And
yet he was glad； too； I thought； to see how the delight I had in
meeting him affected me。
I brushed away the tears that my utmost resolution had not
been able to keep back； and I made a clumsy laugh of it； and we
sat down together； side by side。
‘Why； how do you come to be here？’ said Steerforth； clapping
me on the shoulder。
‘I came here by the Canterbury coach； today。 I have been
adopted by an aunt down in that part of the country； and have just
finished my education there。 How do you come to be here；
Steerforth？’
‘Well； I am what they call an Oxford man；’ he returned； ‘that is
to say； I get bored to death down there； periodically—and I am on
my way now to my mother’s。 You’re a devilish amiable…looking
fellow； Copperfield。 just what you used to be； now I look at you！
Not altered in the least！’
‘I knew you immediately；’ I said； ‘but you are more easily
remembered。’
He laughed as he ran his hand through the clustering curls of
his hair； and said gaily：
‘Yes； I am on an expedition of duty。 My mother lives a little way
out of town； and the roads being in a beastly condition； and our
house tedious enough； I remained here tonight instead of going
on。 I have not been in town half…a…dozen hours； and those I have
been dozing and grumbling away at the play。’
‘I have been at the play； too；’ said I。 ‘At Covent Garden。 What a
delightful and magnificent entertainment； Steerforth！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Steerforth laughed heartily。
‘My dear young Davy；’ he said； clapping me on the shoulder
again； ‘you are a very Daisy。 The daisy of the field； at sunrise； is
not fresher than you are。 I have been at Covent Garden； too； and
there never was a more miserable business。 Holloa； you sir！’
This was addressed to the waiter； who had been very attentive
to our recognition； at a distance； and now came forward
deferentially。
‘Where have you put my friend； Mr。 Copperfield？’ said
Steerforth。
‘Beg your pardon； sir？’
‘Where does he sleep？ What’s his number？ You know what I
mean；’ said Steerforth。
‘Well； sir；’ said the waiter； with an apologetic air。 ‘Mr。
Copperfield is at present in forty…four； sir。’
‘And what the devil do you mean；’ retorted Steerforth； ‘by
putting Mr。 Copperfield into a little loft over a stable？’
‘Why； you see we wasn’t aware； sir；’ returned the waiter； still
apologetically； ‘as Mr。 Copperfield was anyways particular。 We can
give Mr。 Copperfield seventy…two； sir； if it would be preferred。
Next you； sir。’
‘Of course it would be preferred；’ said Steerforth。 ‘And do it at
once。’ The waiter immediately withdrew to make the exchange。
Steerforth； very much amused at my having been put into forty…
four； laughed again； and clapped me on the shoulder again； and
invited me to breakfast with him next morning at ten o’clock—an
invitation I was only too proud and happy to accept。 It being now
pretty late； we took our candles and went upstairs； whe
