david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第78节
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conscientious gentleman； and if I had not implicit reliance on my
son； I should have reliance on him。’
‘Should you？’ said Miss Dartle。 ‘Dear me！ Conscientious； is he？
Really conscientious； now？’
‘Yes； I am convinced of it；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth。
‘How very nice！’ exclaimed Miss Dartle。 ‘What a comfort！ Really
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David Copperfield
conscientious？ Then he’s not—but of course he can’t be； if he’s
really conscientious。 Well； I shall be quite happy in my opinion of
him； from this time。 You can’t think how it elevates him in my
opinion； to know for certain that he’s really conscientious！’
Her own views of every question； and her correction of
everything that was said to which she was opposed； Miss Dartle
insinuated in the same way： sometimes； I could not conceal from
myself； with great power； though in contradiction even of
Steerforth。 An instance happened before dinner was done。 Mrs。
Steerforth speaking to me about my intention of going down into
Suffolk； I said at hazard how glad I should be； if Steerforth would
only go there with me； and explaining to him that I was going to
see my old nurse； and Mr。 Peggotty’s family； I reminded him of the
boatman whom he had seen at school。
‘Oh！ That bluff fellow！’ said Steerforth。 ‘He had a son with him；
hadn’t he？’
‘No。 That was his nephew；’ I replied； ‘whom he adopted；
though； as a son。 He has a very pretty little niece too； whom he
adopted as a daughter。 In short； his house—or rather his boat； for
he lives in one； on dry land—is full of people who are objects of his
generosity and kindness。 You would be delighted to see that
household。’
‘Should I？’ said Steerforth。 ‘Well； I think I should。 I must see
what can be done。 It would be worth a journey （not to mention the
pleasure of a journey with you； Daisy）； to see that sort of people
together； and to make one of ’em。’
My heart leaped with a new hope of pleasure。 But it was in
reference to the tone in which he had spoken of ‘that sort of
people’； that Miss Dartle； whose sparkling eyes had been watchful
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David Copperfield
of us； now broke in again。
‘Oh； but； really？ Do tell me。 Are they； though？’ she said。
‘Are they what？ And are who what？’ said Steerforth。
‘That sort of people。—Are they really animals and clods； and
beings of another order？ I want to know so much。’
‘Why； there’s a pretty wide separation between them and us；’
said Steerforth； with indifference。 ‘They are not to be expected to
be as sensitive as we are。 Their delicacy is not to be shocked； or
hurt easily。 They are wonderfully virtuous； I dare say—some
people contend for that； at least； and I am sure I don’t want to
contradict them—but they have not very fine natures； and they
may be thankful that； like their coarse rough skins； they are not
easily wounded。’
‘Really！’ said Miss Dartle。 ‘Well； I don’t know； now； when I have
been better pleased than to hear that。 It’s so consoling！ It’s such a
delight to know that； when they suffer； they don’t feel！ Sometimes
I have been quite uneasy for that sort of people； but now I shall
just dismiss the idea of them； altogether。 Live and learn。 I had my
doubts； I confess； but now they’re cleared up。 I didn’t know； and
now I do know； and that shows the advantage of asking—don’t it？’
I believed that Steerforth had said what he had； in jest； or to
draw Miss Dartle out； and I expected him to say as much when she
was gone； and we two were sitting before the fire。 But he merely
asked me what I thought of her。
‘She is very clever； is she not？’ I asked。
‘Clever！ She brings everything to a grindstone；’ said Steerforth；
and sharpens it； as she has sharpened her own face and figure
these years past。 She has worn herself away by constant
sharpening。 She is all edge。’
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David Copperfield
‘What a remarkable scar that is upon her lip！’ I said。
Steerforth’s face fell； and he paused a moment。
‘Why； the fact is；’ he returned； ‘I did that。’
‘By an unfortunate accident！’
‘No。 I was a young boy； and she exasperated me； and I threw a
hammer at her。 A promising young angel I must have been！’ I was
deeply sorry to have touched on such a painful theme； but that
was useless now。
‘She has borne the mark ever since； as you see；’ said Steerforth；
‘and she’ll bear it to her grave； if she ever rests in one—though I
can hardly believe she will ever rest anywhere。 She was the
motherless child of a sort of cousin of my father’s。 He died one day。
My mother； who was then a widow； brought her here to be
company to her。 She has a couple of thousand pounds of her own；
and saves the interest of it every year； to add to the principal。
There’s the history of Miss Rosa Dartle for you。’
‘And I have no doubt she loves you like a brother？’ said I。
‘Humph！’ retorted Steerforth； looking at the fire。 ‘Some
brothers are not loved over much； and some love—but help
yourself； Copperfield！ We’ll drink the daisies of the field； in
compliment to you； and the lilies of the valley that toil not； neither
do they spin； in compliment to me—the more shame for me！’ A
moody smile that had overspread his features cleared off as he
said this merrily； and he was his own frank； winning self again。
I could not help glancing at the scar with a painful interest
when we went in to tea。 It was not long before I observed that it
was the most susceptible part of her face； and that； when she
turned pale； that mark altered first； and became a dull； leadcoloured streak； lengthening out to its full extent； like a mark in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
invisible ink brought to the fire。 There was a little altercation
between her and Steerforth about a cast of the dice at back
gammon—when I thought her； for one moment； in a storm of rage；
and then I saw it start forth like the old writing on the wall。
It was no matter of wonder to me to find Mrs。 Steerforth
devoted to her son。 She seemed to be able to speak or think about
nothing else。 She showed me his picture as an infant； in a locket；
with some of his baby…hair in it； she showed me his picture as he
had been when I first knew him； and she wore at her breast his
picture as he was now。 All the letters he had ever written to her；
she kept in a cabinet near her own chair by the fire； and she would
have read me some of them； and I should have been very glad to
hear them too； if he had not interposed； and coaxed her out of the
design。
‘It was at Mr。 Creakle’s； my son tells me； that you first became
acquainted；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth； as she and I were talking at one
table； while they played backgammon at another。 ‘Indeed； I
recollect his speaking； at that time； of a pupil younger than himself
who had taken his fancy there； but your name； as you may
suppose； has not lived in my memory。’
‘He was very generous and noble to me in those days； I assure
you； ma’am；’ said I； ‘and I stood in need of such a friend。 I should
have been quite crushed without him。’
‘He is always generous and noble；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth；
proudly。
I subscribed to this with all my heart； God knows。 She knew I
did； for the stateliness of her manner already abated towards me；
except when she spoke in praise of him； and then her air was
always lofty。
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David Copperfield
‘It was not a fit school generally for my son；’ said she； ‘far from
it； but there were particular circumstances to be considered at the
time； of more importance even than that selection。 My son’s high
spirit made it desirable that he should be placed with some man
who felt its superiority； and would be content to bow himself
before it； and we found such a man there。’
I knew that； knowing the fellow。 And yet I did not despise him
the more for it； but thought it a redeeming quality in him if he
could be allowed any grace for not resisting one so irresistible as
Steerforth。
‘My son’s great capacity was tempted on； there； by a feeling of
voluntary emulation and conscious pride；’ the fond lady went on to
say。 ‘He would have risen against all constraint； but he found
himself the monarch of the place； and he haughtily determined to
be worthy of his station。 It was like himself。’
I echoed； with all my heart and soul； that it was like himself。
‘So my son took； of his own will； and on no compulsion； to the
course in which he can always； when it is his pleasure； outstrip
every competitor；’ she pursued。 ‘My son informs me； Mr。
Copperfield； that you were quite devoted to him； and that when
you met yesterday you made yourself known to him with tears of
joy。 I should be an affected woman if I made any pretence of being
surprised by my son’s inspiring such emotions； but I cannot be
indifferent to anyone who is so sensible of his merit； and I am very
glad to see you here； and can assure you that he
