david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第9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！
David Copperfield
Chapter 3
I HAVE A CHANGE
The carrier’s horse was the laziest horse in the world； I
should hope； and shuffled along； with his head down； as if
he liked to keep people waiting to whom the packages
were directed。 I fancied； indeed； that he sometimes chuckled
audibly over this reflection； but the carrier said he was only
troubled with a cough。 The carrier had a way of keeping his head
down； like his horse； and of drooping sleepily forward as he drove；
with one of his arms on each of his knees。 I say ‘drove’； but it
struck me that the cart would have gone to Yarmouth quite as well
without him； for the horse did all that； and as to conversation； he
had no idea of it but whistling。
Peggotty had a basket of refreshments on her knee； which
would have lasted us out handsomely； if we had been going to
London by the same conveyance。 We ate a good deal； and slept a
good deal。 Peggotty always went to sleep with her chin upon the
handle of the basket； her hold of which never relaxed； and I could
not have believed unless I had heard her do it； that one
defenceless woman could have snored so much。
We made so many deviations up and down lanes； and were
such a long time delivering a bedstead at a public…house； and
calling at other places； that I was quite tired； and very glad； when
we saw Yarmouth。 It looked rather spongy and soppy； I thought；
as I carried my eye over the great dull waste that lay across the
river； and I could not help wondering； if the world were really as
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
round as my geography book said； how any part of it came to be so
flat。 But I reflected that Yarmouth might be situated at one of the
poles； which would account for it。
As we drew a little nearer； and saw the whole adjacent prospect
lying a straight low line under the sky； I hinted to Peggotty that a
mound or so might have improved it； and also that if the land had
been a little more separated from the sea； and the town and the
tide had not been quite so much mixed up； like toast and water； it
would have been nicer。 But Peggotty said； with greater emphasis
than usual； that we must take things as we found them； and that；
for her part； she was proud to call herself a Yarmouth Bloater。
When we got into the street （which was strange enough to me）
and smelt the fish； and pitch； and oakum； and tar； and saw the
sailors walking about； and the carts jingling up and down over the
stones； I felt that I had done so busy a place an injustice； and said
as much to Peggotty； who heard my expressions of delight with
great complacency； and told me it was well known （I suppose to
those who had the good fortune to be born Bloaters） that
Yarmouth was； upon the whole； the finest place in the universe。
‘Here’s my Am！’ screamed Peggotty； ‘growed out of knowledge！’
He was waiting for us； in fact； at the public…house； and asked
me how I found myself； like an old acquaintance。 I did not feel； at
first； that I knew him as well as he knew me； because he had never
come to our house since the night I was born； and naturally he had
the advantage of me。 But our intimacy was much advanced by his
taking me on his back to carry me home。 He was； now； a huge；
strong fellow of six feet high； broad in proportion； and round…
shouldered； but with a simpering boy’s face and curly light hair
that gave him quite a sheepish look。 He was dressed in a canvas
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
jacket； and a pair of such very stiff trousers that they would have
stood quite as well alone； without any legs in them。 And you
couldn’t so properly have said he wore a hat； as that he was
covered in a…top； like an old building； with something pitchy。
Ham carrying me on his back and a small box of ours under his
arm； and Peggotty carrying another small box of ours； we turned
down lanes bestrewn with bits of chips and little hillocks of sand；
and went past gas…works； rope…walks； boat…builders’ yards；
shipwrights’ yards； ship…breakers’ yards； caulkers’ yards； riggers’
lofts； smiths’ forges； and a great litter of such places； until we came
out upon the dull waste I had already seen at a distance； when
Ham said；
‘Yon’s our house； Mas’r Davy！’
I looked in all directions； as far as I could stare over the
wilderness； and away at the sea； and away at the river； but no
house could I make out。 There was a black barge； or some other
kind of superannuated boat； not far off； high and dry on the
ground； with an iron funnel sticking out of it for a chimney and
smoking very cosily； but nothing else in the way of a habitation
that was visible to me。
‘That’s not it？’ said I。 ‘That ship…looking thing？’
‘That’s it； Mas’r Davy；’ returned Ham。
If it had been Aladdin’s palace； roc’s egg and all； I suppose I
could not have been more charmed with the romantic idea of
living in it。 There was a delightful door cut in the side； and it was
roofed in； and there were little windows in it； but the wonderful
charm of it was； that it was a real boat which had no doubt been
upon the water hundreds of times； and which had never been
intended to be lived in； on dry land。 That was the captivation of it
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
to me。 If it had ever been meant to be lived in； I might have
thought it small； or inconvenient； or lonely； but never having been
designed for any such use； it became a perfect abode。
It was beautifully clean inside； and as tidy as possible。 There
was a table； and a Dutch clock； and a chest of drawers； and on the
chest of drawers there was a tea…tray with a painting on it of a lady
with a parasol； taking a walk with a military…looking child who was
trundling a hoop。 The tray was kept from tumbling down； by a
bible； and the tray； if it had tumbled down； would have smashed a
quantity of cups and saucers and a teapot that were grouped
around the book。 On the walls there were some common coloured
pictures； framed and glazed； of scripture subjects； such as I have
never seen since in the hands of pedlars； without seeing the whole
interior of Peggotty’s brother’s house again； at one view。 Abraham
in red going to sacrifice Isaac in blue； and Daniel in yellow cast
into a den of green lions； were the most prominent of these。 Over
the little mantelshelf； was a picture of the ‘Sarah Jane’ lugger；
built at Sunderland； with a real little wooden stern stuck on to it； a
work of art； combining composition with carpentry； which I
considered to be one of the most enviable possessions that the
world could afford。 There were some hooks in the beams of the
ceiling； the use of which I did not divine then； and some lockers
and boxes and conveniences of that sort； which served for seats
and eked out the chairs。
All this I saw in the first glance after I crossed the threshold—
child…like； according to my theory—and then Peggotty opened a
little door and showed me my bedroom。 It was the completest and
most desirable bedroom ever seen—in the stern of the vessel； with
a little window； where the rudder used to go through； a little
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
looking…glass； just the right height for me； nailed against the wall；
and framed with oyster…shells； a little bed； which there was just
room enough to get into； and a nosegay of seaweed in a blue mug
on the table。 The walls were whitewashed as white as milk； and
the patchwork counterpane made my eyes quite ache with its
brightness。 One thing I particularly noticed in this delightful
house； was the smell of fish； which was so searching； that when I
took out my pocket…handkerchief to wipe my nose； I found it smelt
exactly as if it had wrapped up a lobster。 On my imparting this
discovery in confidence to Peggotty； she informed me that her
brother dealt in lobsters； crabs； and crawfish； and I afterwards
found that a heap of these creatures； in a state of wonderful
conglomeration with one another； and never leaving off pinching
whatever they laid hold of； were usually to be found in a little
wooden outhouse where the pots and kettles were kept。
We were welcomed by a very civil woman in a white apron；
whom I had seen curtseying at the door when I was on Ham’s
back； about a quarter of a mile off。 Likewise by a most beautiful
little girl （or I thought her so） with a necklace of blue beads on；
who wouldn’t let me kiss her when I offered to； but ran away and
hid herself。 By and by； when we had dined in a sumptuous
manner off boiled dabs； melted butter； and potatoes； with a chop
for me； a hairy man with a very good…natured face came home。 As
he called Peggotty ‘Lass’； and gave her a hearty smack on the
cheek； I had no doubt； from the general propriety of her conduct；
that he was her brother； and so he turned out—being presently
introduced to me as Mr。 Peggotty； the master of the house。
‘Glad to see you； sir；’ said Mr。 Peggotty。 ‘You’ll find us rough；
sir； but you’ll find us ready。’
Charles Di
