david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第80节
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way he had of treating me like a plaything； was more agreeable to
me than any behaviour he could have adopted。 It reminded me of
our old acquaintance； it seemed the natural sequel of it； it showed
me that he was unchanged； it relieved me of any uneasiness I
might have felt； in comparing my merits with his； and measuring
my claims upon his friendship by any equal standard； above all； it
was a familiar； unrestrained； affectionate demeanour that he used
towards no one else。 As he had treated me at school differently
from all the rest； I joyfully believed that he treated me in life
unlike any other friend he had。 I believed that I was nearer to his
heart than any other friend； and my own heart warmed with
attachment to him。 He made up his mind to go with me into the
country； and the day arrived for our departure。 He had been
doubtful at first whether to take Littimer or not； but decided to
leave him at home。 The respectable creature； satisfied with his lot
whatever it was； arranged our portmanteaux on the little carriage
that was to take us into London； as if they were intended to defy
the shocks of ages； and received my modestly proffered donation
with perfect tranquillity。
We bade adieu to Mrs。 Steerforth and Miss Dartle； with many
thanks on my part； and much kindness on the devoted mother’s。
The last thing I saw was Littimer’s unruffled eye； fraught； as I
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David Copperfield
fancied； with the silent conviction that I was very young indeed。
What I felt； in returning so auspiciously to the old familiar
places； I shall not endeavour to describe。 We went down by the
Mail。 I was so concerned； I recollect； even for the honour of
Yarmouth； that when Steerforth said； as we drove through its dark
streets to the inn； that； as well as he could make out； it was a good；
queer； out…of…the…way kind of hole； I was highly pleased。 We went
to bed on our arrival （I observed a pair of dirty shoes and gaiters
in connexion with my old friend the Dolphin as we passed that
door）； and breakfasted late in the morning。 Steerforth； who was in
great spirits； had been strolling about the beach before I was up；
and had made acquaintance； he said； with half the boatmen in the
place。 Moreover； he had seen； in the distance； what he was sure
must be the identical house of Mr。 Peggotty； with smoke coming
out of the chimney； and had had a great mind； he told me； to walk
in and swear he was myself grown out of knowledge。
‘When do you propose to introduce me there； Daisy？’ he said。 ‘I
am at your disposal。 Make your own arrangements。’
‘Why； I was thinking that this evening would be a good time；
Steerforth； when they are all sitting round the fire。 I should like
you to see it when it’s snug； it’s such a curious place。’
‘So be it！’ returned Steerforth。 ‘This evening。’
‘I shall not give them any notice that we are here； you know；’
said I； delighted。 ‘We must take them by surprise。’
‘Oh； of course！ It’s no fun；’ said Steerforth； ‘unless we take them
by surprise。 Let us see the natives in their aboriginal condition。’
‘Though they are that sort of people that you mentioned；’ I
returned。
‘Aha！ What！ you recollect my skirmishes with Rosa； do you？’ he
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David Copperfield
exclaimed with a quick look。 ‘Confound the girl； I am half afraid of
her。 She’s like a goblin to me。 But never mind her。 Now what are
you going to do？ You are going to see your nurse； I suppose？’
‘Why； yes；’ I said； ‘I must see Peggotty first of all。’
‘Well；’ replied Steerforth； looking at his watch。 ‘Suppose I
deliver you up to be cried over for a couple of hours。 Is that long
enough？’
I answered； laughing； that I thought we might get through it in
that time； but that he must come also； for he would find that his
renown had preceded him； and that he was almost as great a
personage as I was。
‘I’ll come anywhere you like；’ said Steerforth； ‘or do anything
you like。 Tell me where to come to； and in two hours I’ll produce
myself in any state you please； sentimental or comical。’
I gave him minute directions for finding the residence of Mr。
Barkis； carrier to Blunderstone and elsewhere； and； on this
understanding； went out alone。 There was a sharp bracing air； the
ground was dry； the sea was crisp and clear； the sun was diffusing
abundance of light； if not much warmth； and everything was fresh
and lively。 I was so fresh and lively myself； in the pleasure of being
there； that I could have stopped the people in the streets and
shaken hands with them。
The streets looked small； of course。 The streets that we have
only seen as children always do； I believe； when we go back to
them。 But I had forgotten nothing in them； and found nothing
changed； until I came to Mr。 Omer’s shop。 OMER AND JORAM
was now written up； where OMER used to be； but the inscription；
DRAPER； TAILOR； HABERDASHER； FUNERAL FURNISHER；
&c。； remained as it was。
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David Copperfield
My footsteps seemed to tend so naturally to the shop door； after
I had read these words from over the way； that I went across the
road and looked in。 There was a pretty woman at the back of the
shop； dancing a little child in her arms； while another little fellow
clung to her apron。 I had no difficulty in recognizing either Minnie
or Minnie’s children。 The glass door of the parlour was not open；
but in the workshop across the yard I could faintly hear the old
tune playing； as if it had never left off。
‘Is Mr。 Omer at home？’ said I； entering。 ‘I should like to see
him； for a moment； if he is。’
‘Oh yes； sir； he is at home；’ said Minnie； ‘the weather don’t suit
his asthma out of doors。 Joe； call your grandfather！’
The little fellow； who was holding her apron； gave such a lusty
shout； that the sound of it made him bashful； and he buried his
face in her skirts； to her great admiration。 I heard a heavy puffing
and blowing coming towards us； and soon Mr。 Omer； shorter…
winded than of yore； but not much older…looking； stood before me。
‘Servant； sir；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘What can I do for you； sir？’
‘You can shake hands with me； Mr。 Omer； if you please；’ said I；
putting out my own。 ‘You were very good…natured to me once；
when I am afraid I didn’t show that I thought so。’
‘Was I though？’ returned the old man。 ‘I’m glad to hear it； but I
don’t remember when。 Are you sure it was me？’
‘Quite。’
‘I think my memory has got as short as my breath；’ said Mr。
Omer； looking at me and shaking his head； ‘for I don’t remember
you。’
‘Don’t you remember your coming to the coach to meet me； and
my having breakfast here； and our riding out to Blunderstone
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together： you； and I； and Mrs。 Joram； and Mr。 Joram too—who
wasn’t her husband then？’
‘Why； Lord bless my soul！’ exclaimed Mr。 Omer； after being
thrown by his surprise into a fit of coughing； ‘you don’t say so！
Minnie； my dear； you recollect？ Dear me； yes； the party was a lady；
I think？’
‘My mother；’ I rejoined。
‘To—be—sure；’ said Mr。 Omer； touching my waistcoat with his
forefinger； ‘and there was a little child too！ There was two parties。
The little party was laid along with the other party。 Over at
Blunderstone it was； of course。 Dear me！ And how have you been
since？’
Very well； I thanked him； as I hoped he had been too。
‘Oh！ nothing to grumble at； you know；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘I find
my breath gets short； but it seldom gets longer as a man gets older。
I take it as it comes； and make the most of it。 That’s the best way；
ain’t it？’
Mr。 Omer coughed again； in consequence of laughing； and was
assisted out of his fit by his daughter； who now stood close beside
us； dancing her smallest child on the counter。
‘Dear me！’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘Yes； to be sure。 Two parties！ Why； in
that very ride； if you’ll believe me； the day was named for my
Minnie to marry Joram。 “Do name it； sir；” says Joram。 “Yes； do；
father；” says Minnie。 And now he’s come into the business。 And
look here！ The youngest！’
Minnie laughed； and stroked her banded hair upon her
temples； as her father put one of his fat fingers into the hand of the
child she was dancing on the counter。
‘Two parties； of course！’ said Mr。 Omer； nodding his head
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David Copperfield
retrospectively。 ‘Ex…actly so！ And Joram’s at work； at this minute；
on a grey one with silver nails； not this measurement’—the
measurement of the dancing child upon the counter—‘by a good
two inches。—Will you take something？’
I thanked him； but declined。
‘Let me see；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘Barkis’s the carrier’s wife—
Peggotty’s the boatman’s sister—she had something to do with
your family？ She was in service there； sure？’
My answering in the affirmative gave him great satisfaction。
‘I believe my breath will get long next； my memory’s ge
