david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第8节
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applause； and such hearty laughter that it made me laugh too； at
which they laughed the more。 In short； we quite enjoyed
ourselves。
We walked about on the cliff after that； and sat on the grass；
and looked at things through a telescope—I could make out
nothing myself when it was put to my eye； but I pretended I
could—and then we came back to the hotel to an early dinner。 All
the time we were out； the two gentlemen smoked incessantly—
which； I thought； if I might judge from the smell of their rough
coats； they must have been doing； ever since the coats had first
come home from the tailor’s。 I must not forget that we went on
board the yacht； where they all three descended into the cabin；
and were busy with some papers。 I saw them quite hard at work；
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David Copperfield
when I looked down through the open skylight。 They left me；
during this time； with a very nice man with a very large head of
red hair and a very small shiny hat upon it； who had got a cross…
barred shirt or waistcoat on； with ‘Skylark’ in capital letters across
the chest。 I thought it was his name； and that as he lived on board
ship and hadn’t a street door to put his name on； he put it there
instead； but when I called him Mr。 Skylark； he said it meant the
vessel。
I observed all day that Mr。 Murdstone was graver and steadier
than the two gentlemen。 They were very gay and careless。 They
joked freely with one another； but seldom with him。 It appeared to
me that he was more clever and cold than they were； and that they
regarded him with something of my own feeling。 I remarked that；
once or twice when Mr。 Quinion was talking； he looked at Mr。
Murdstone sideways； as if to make sure of his not being
displeased； and that once when Mr。 Passnidge （the other
gentleman） was in high spirits； he trod upon his foot； and gave him
a secret caution with his eyes； to observe Mr。 Murdstone； who was
sitting stern and silent。 Nor do I recollect that Mr。 Murdstone
laughed at all that day； except at the Sheffield joke—and that； by
the by； was his own。
We went home early in the evening。 It was a very fine evening；
and my mother and he had another stroll by the sweetbriar； while
I was sent in to get my tea。 When he was gone； my mother asked
me all about the day I had had； and what they had said and done。 I
mentioned what they had said about her； and she laughed； and
told me they were impudent fellows who talked nonsense—but I
knew it pleased her。 I knew it quite as well as I know it now。 I took
the opportunity of asking if she was at all acquainted with Mr。
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David Copperfield
Brooks of Sheffield； but she answered No； only she supposed he
must be a manufacturer in the knife and fork way。
Can I say of her face—altered as I have reason to remember it；
perished as I know it is—that it is gone； when here it comes before
me at this instant； as distinct as any face that I may choose to look
on in a crowded street？ Can I say of her innocent and girlish
beauty； that it faded； and was no more； when its breath falls on my
cheek now； as it fell that night？ Can I say she ever changed； when
my remembrance brings her back to life； thus only； and； truer to
its loving youth than I have been； or man ever is； still holds fast
what it cherished then？
I write of her just as she was when I had gone to bed after this
talk； and she came to bid me good night。 She kneeled down
playfully by the side of the bed； and laying her chin upon her
hands； and laughing； said：
‘What was it they said； Davy？ Tell me again。 I can’t believe it。’
‘“Bewitching—”’ I began。
My mother put her hands upon my lips to stop me。
‘It was never bewitching；’ she said； laughing。 ‘It never could
have been bewitching； Davy。 Now I know it wasn’t！’
‘Yes； it was。 “Bewitching Mrs。 Copperfield”；’ I repeated stoutly。
‘And； “pretty。”’
‘No； no； it was never pretty。 Not pretty；’ interposed my mother；
laying her fingers on my lips again。
‘Yes it was。 “Pretty little widow。”’
‘What foolish； impudent creatures！’ cried my mother； laughing
and covering her face。 ‘What ridiculous men！ An’t they？ Davy
dear—’
‘Well； Ma。’
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David Copperfield
‘Don’t tell Peggotty； she might be angry with them。 I am
dreadfully angry with them myself； but I would rather Peggotty
didn’t know。’
I promised； of course； and we kissed one another over and over
again； and I soon fell fast asleep。
It seems to me； at this distance of time； as if it were the next day
when Peggotty broached the striking and adventurous proposition
I am about to mention； but it was probably about two months
afterwards。
We were sitting as before； one evening （when my mother was
out as before）； in company with the stocking and the yard…
measure； and the bit of wax； and the box with St。 Paul’s on the lid；
and the crocodile book； when Peggotty； after looking at me several
times； and opening her mouth as if she were going to speak；
without doing it—which I thought was merely gaping； or I should
have been rather alarmed—said coaxingly：
‘Master Davy； how should you like to go along with me and
spend a fortnight at my brother’s at Yarmouth？ Wouldn’t that be a
treat？’
‘Is your brother an agreeable man； Peggotty？’ I inquired；
provisionally。
‘Oh； what an agreeable man he is！’ cried Peggotty； holding up
her hands。 ‘Then there’s the sea； and the boats and ships； and the
fishermen； and the beach； and Am to play with—’
Peggotty meant her nephew Ham； mentioned in my first
chapter； but she spoke of him as a morsel of English Grammar。
I was flushed by her summary of delights； and replied that it
would indeed be a treat； but what would my mother say？
‘Why then I’ll as good as bet a guinea；’ said Peggotty； intent
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David Copperfield
upon my face； ‘that she’ll let us go。 I’ll ask her； if you like； as soon
as ever she comes home。 There now！’
‘But what’s she to do while we’re away？’ said I； putting my
small elbows on the table to argue the point。 ‘She can’t live by
herself。’
If Peggotty were looking for a hole； all of a sudden； in the heel
of that stocking； it must have been a very little one indeed； and not
worth darning。
‘I say！ Peggotty！ She can’t live by herself； you know。’
‘Oh； bless you！’ said Peggotty； looking at me again at last。 ‘Don’t
you know？ She’s going to stay for a fortnight with Mrs。 Grayper。
Mrs。 Grayper’s going to have a lot of company。’
Oh！ If that was it； I was quite ready to go。 I waited； in the
utmost impatience； until my mother came home from Mrs。
Grayper’s （for it was that identical neighbour）； to ascertain if we
could get leave to carry out this great idea。 Without being nearly
so much surprised as I had expected； my mother entered into it
readily； and it was all arranged that night； and my board and
lodging during the visit were to be paid for。
The day soon came for our going。 It was such an early day that
it came soon； even to me； who was in a fever of expectation； and
half afraid that an earthquake or a fiery mountain； or some other
great convulsion of nature； might interpose to stop the expedition。
We were to go in a carrier’s cart； which departed in the morning
after breakfast。 I would have given any money to have been
allowed to wrap myself up over…night； and sleep in my hat and
boots。
It touches me nearly now； although I tell it lightly； to recollect
how eager I was to leave my happy home； to think how little I
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David Copperfield
suspected what I did leave for ever。
I am glad to recollect that when the carrier’s cart was at the
gate； and my mother stood there kissing me； a grateful fondness
for her and for the old place I had never turned my back upon
before； made me cry。 I am glad to know that my mother cried too；
and that I felt her heart beat against mine。
I am glad to recollect that when the carrier began to move； my
mother ran out at the gate； and called to him to stop； that she
might kiss me once more。 I am glad to dwell upon the earnestness
and love with which she lifted up her face to mine； and did so。
As we left her standing in the road； Mr。 Murdstone came up to
where she was； and seemed to expostulate with her for being so
moved。 I was looking back round the awning of the cart； and
wondered what business it was of his。 Peggotty； who was also
looking back on the other side； seemed anything but satisfied； as
the face she brought back in the cart denoted。
I sat looking at Peggotty for some time； in a reverie on this
supposititious case： whether； if she were employed to lose me like
the boy in the fairy tale； I should be able to track my way home
again by the buttons she would shed。
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David Copperfield
Chapter 3
I HAVE A CHANGE
The carrier’s horse was the laziest horse in the world； I
