david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第91节
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hundred years ago。 I can tell you best what he is； by telling you
what Doctors’ Commons is。 It’s a little out…of…the…way place； where
they administer what is called ecclesiastical law； and play all kinds
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
of tricks with obsolete old monsters of acts of Parliament； which
three…fourths of the world know nothing about； and the other
fourth supposes to have been dug up； in a fossil state； in the days
of the Edwards。 It’s a place that has an ancient monopoly in suits
about people’s wills and people’s marriages； and disputes among
ships and boats。’
‘Nonsense； Steerforth！’ I exclaimed。 ‘You don’t mean to say that
there is any affinity between nautical matters and ecclesiastical
matters？’
‘I don’t； indeed； my dear boy；’ he returned； ‘but I mean to say
that they are managed and decided by the same set of people；
down in that same Doctors’ Commons。 You shall go there one day；
and find them blundering through half the nautical terms in
Young’s Dictionary； apropos of the “Nancy” having run down the
“Sarah Jane”； or Mr。 Peggotty and the Yarmouth boatmen having
put off in a gale of wind with an anchor and cable to the “Nelson”
Indiaman in distress； and you shall go there another day； and find
them deep in the evidence； pro and con； respecting a clergyman
who has misbehaved himself； and you shall find the judge in the
nautical case； the advocate in the clergyman’s case； or
contrariwise。 They are like actors： now a man’s a judge； and now
he is not a judge； now he’s one thing； now he’s another； now he’s
something else； change and change about； but it’s always a very
pleasant； profitable little affair of private theatricals； presented to
an uncommonly select audience。’
‘But advocates and proctors are not one and the same？’ said I； a
little puzzled。 ‘Are they？’
‘No；’ returned Steerforth； ‘the advocates are civilians—men
who have taken a doctor’s degree at college—which is the first
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David Copperfield
reason of my knowing anything about it。 The proctors employ the
advocates。 Both get very comfortable fees； and altogether they
make a mighty snug little party。 On the whole； I would
recommend you to take to Doctors’ Commons kindly； David。 They
plume themselves on their gentility there； I can tell you； if that’s
any satisfaction。’
I made allowance for Steerforth’s light way of treating the
subject； and； considering it with reference to the staid air of
gravity and antiquity which I associated with that ‘lazy old nook
near St。 Paul’s Churchyard’； did not feel indisposed towards my
aunt’s suggestion； which she left to my free decision； making no
scruple of telling me that it had occurred to her； on her lately
visiting her own proctor in Doctors’ Commons for the purpose of
settling her will in my favour。
‘That’s a laudable proceeding on the part of our aunt； at all
events；’ said Steerforth； when I mentioned it； ‘and one deserving
of all encouragement。 Daisy； my advice is that you take kindly to
Doctors’ Commons。’
I quite made up my mind to do so。 I then told Steerforth that
my aunt was in town awaiting me （as I found from her letter）； and
that she had taken lodgings for a week at a kind of private hotel at
Lincoln’s Inn Fields； where there was a stone staircase； and a
convenient door in the roof； my aunt being firmly persuaded that
every house in London was going to be burnt down every night。
We achieved the rest of our journey pleasantly； sometimes
recurring to Doctors’ Commons； and anticipating the distant days
when I should be a proctor there； which Steerforth pictured in a
variety of humorous and whimsical lights； that made us both
merry。 When we came to our journey’s end； he went home；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
engaging to call upon me next day but one； and I drove to
Lincoln’s Inn Fields； where I found my aunt up； and waiting
supper。
If I had been round the world since we parted； we could hardly
have been better pleased to meet again。 My aunt cried outright as
she embraced me； and said； pretending to laugh； that if my poor
mother had been alive； that silly little creature would have shed
tears； she had no doubt。
‘So you have left Mr。 Dick behind； aunt？’ said I。 ‘I am sorry for
that。 Ah； Janet； how do you do？’
As Janet curtsied； hoping I was well； I observed my aunt’s
visage lengthen very much。
‘I am sorry for it； too；’ said my aunt； rubbing her nose。 ‘I have
had no peace of mind； Trot； since I have been here。’ Before I could
ask why； she told me。
‘I am convinced；’ said my aunt； laying her hand with
melancholy firmness on the table； ‘that Dick’s character is not a
character to keep the donkeys off。 I am confident he wants
strength of purpose。 I ought to have left Janet at home； instead；
and then my mind might perhaps have been at ease。 If ever there
was a donkey trespassing on my green；’ said my aunt； with
emphasis； ‘there was one this afternoon at four o’clock。 A cold
feeling came over me from head to foot； and I know it was a
donkey！’
I tried to comfort her on this point； but she rejected consolation。
‘It was a donkey；’ said my aunt； ‘and it was the one with the
stumpy tail which that Murdering sister of a woman rode； when
she came to my house。’ This had been； ever since； the only name
my aunt knew for Miss Murdstone。 ‘If there is any Donkey in
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David Copperfield
Dover； whose audacity it is harder to me to bear than another’s；
that；’ said my aunt； striking the table； ‘is the animal！’
Janet ventured to suggest that my aunt might be disturbing
herself unnecessarily； and that she believed the donkey in
question was then engaged in the sand…and…gravel line of business；
and was not available for purposes of trespass。 But my aunt
wouldn’t hear of it。
Supper was comfortably served and hot； though my aunt’s
rooms were very high up—whether that she might have more
stone stairs for her money； or might be nearer to the door in the
roof； I don’t know—and consisted of a roast fowl； a steak； and
some vegetables； to all of which I did ample justice； and which
were all excellent。 But my aunt had her own ideas concerning
London provision； and ate but little。
‘I suppose this unfortunate fowl was born and brought up in a
cellar；’ said my aunt； ‘and never took the air except on a hackney
coach…stand。 I hope the steak may be beef； but I don’t believe it。
Nothing’s genuine in the place； in my opinion； but the dirt。’
‘Don’t you think the fowl may have come out of the country；
aunt？’ I hinted。
‘Certainly not；’ returned my aunt。 ‘It would be no pleasure to a
London tradesman to sell anything which was what he pretended
it was。’
I did not venture to controvert this opinion； but I made a good
supper； which it greatly satisfied her to see me do。 When the table
was cleared； Janet assisted her to arrange her hair； to put on her
nightcap； which was of a smarter construction than usual （‘in case
of fire’； my aunt said）； and to fold her gown back over her knees；
these being her usual preparations for warming herself before
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
going to bed。 I then made her； according to certain established
regulations from which no deviation； however slight； could ever be
permitted； a glass of hot wine and water； and a slice of toast cut
into long thin strips。 With these accompaniments we were left
alone to finish the evening； my aunt sitting opposite to me
drinking her wine and water； soaking her strips of toast in it； one
by one； before eating them； and looking benignantly on me； from
among the borders of her nightcap。
‘Well； Trot；’ she began； ‘what do you think of the proctor plan？
Or have you not begun to think about it yet？’
‘I have thought a good deal about it； my dear aunt； and I have
talked a good deal about it with Steerforth。 I like it very much
indeed。 I like it exceedingly。’
‘Come！’ said my aunt。 ‘That’s cheering！’
‘I have only one difficulty； aunt。’
‘Say what it is； Trot；’ she returned。
‘Why； I want to ask； aunt； as this seems； from what I
understand； to be a limited profession； whether my entrance into
it would not be very expensive？’
‘It will cost；’ returned my aunt； ‘to article you； just a thousand
pounds。’
‘Now； my dear aunt；’ said I； drawing my chair nearer； ‘I am
uneasy in my mind about that。 It’s a large sum of money。 You have
expended a great deal on my education； and have always been as
liberal to me in all things as it was possible to be。 You have been
the soul of generosity。 Surely there are some ways in which I
might begin life with hardly any outlay； and yet begin with a good
hope of getting on by resolution and exertion。 Are you sure that it
would not be better to try that course？ Are you certain that you
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David C
