david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第92节
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would not be better to try that course？ Are you certain that you
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David Copperfield
can afford to part with so much money； and that it is right that it
should be so expended？ I only ask you； my second mother； to
consider。 Are you certain？’
My aunt finished eating the piece of toast on which she was
then engaged； looking me full in the face all the while； and then
setting her glass on the chimney…piece； and folding her hands
upon her folded skirts； replied as follows：
‘Trot； my child； if I have any object in life； it is to provide for
your being a good； a sensible； and a happy man。 I am bent upon
it—so is Dick。 I should like some people that I know to hear Dick’s
conversation on the subject。 Its sagacity is wonderful。 But no one
knows the resources of that man’s intellect； except myself！’
She stopped for a moment to take my hand between hers； and
went on：
‘It’s in vain； Trot； to recall the past； unless it works some
influence upon the present。 Perhaps I might have been better
friends with your poor father。 Perhaps I might have been better
friends with that poor child your mother； even after your sister
Betsey Trotwood disappointed me。 When you came to me； a little
runaway boy； all dusty and way…worn； perhaps I thought so。 From
that time until now； Trot； you have ever been a credit to me and a
pride and a pleasure。 I have no other claim upon my means； at
least’—here to my surprise she hesitated； and was confused—‘no； I
have no other claim upon my means—and you are my adopted
child。 Only be a loving child to me in my age； and bear with my
whims and fancies； and you will do more for an old woman whose
prime of life was not so happy or conciliating as it might have
been； than ever that old woman did for you。’
It was the first time I had heard my aunt refer to her past
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David Copperfield
history。 There was a magnanimity in her quiet way of doing so；
and of dismissing it； which would have exalted her in my respect
and affection； if anything could。
‘All is agreed and understood between us； now； Trot；’ said my
aunt； ‘and we need talk of this no more。 Give me a kiss； and we’ll
go to the Commons after breakfast tomorrow。’
We had a long chat by the fire before we went to bed。 I slept in a
room on the same floor with my aunt’s； and was a little disturbed
in the course of the night by her knocking at my door as often as
she was agitated by a distant sound of hackney…coaches or market…
carts； and inquiring； ‘if I heard the engines？’ But towards morning
she slept better； and suffered me to do so too。
At about mid…day； we set out for the office of Messrs Spenlow
and Jorkins； in Doctors’ Commons。 My aunt； who had this other
general opinion in reference to London； that every man she saw
was a pickpocket； gave me her purse to carry for her； which had
ten guineas in it and some silver。
We made a pause at the toy shop in Fleet Street； to see the
giants of Saint Dunstan’s strike upon the bells—we had timed our
going； so as to catch them at it； at twelve o’clock—and then went
on towards Ludgate Hill； and St。 Paul’s Churchyard。 We were
crossing to the former place； when I found that my aunt greatly
accelerated her speed； and looked frightened。 I observed； at the
same time； that a lowering ill…dressed man who had stopped and
stared at us in passing； a little before； was coming so close after us
as to brush against her。
‘Trot！ My dear Trot！’ cried my aunt； in a terrified whisper； and
pressing my arm。 ‘I don’t know what I am to do。’
‘Don’t be alarmed；’ said I。 ‘There’s nothing to be afraid of。 Step
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David Copperfield
into a shop； and I’ll soon get rid of this fellow。’
‘No； no； child！’ she returned。 ‘Don’t speak to him for the world。 I
entreat； I order you！’
‘Good Heaven； aunt！’ said I。 ‘He is nothing but a sturdy beggar。’
‘You don’t know what he is！’ replied my aunt。 ‘You don’t know
who he is！ You don’t know what you say！’
We had stopped in an empty door…way； while this was passing；
and he had stopped too。
‘Don’t look at him！’ said my aunt； as I turned my head
indignantly； ‘but get me a coach； my dear； and wait for me in St。
Paul’s Churchyard。’
‘Wait for you？’ I replied。
‘Yes；’ rejoined my aunt。 ‘I must go alone。 I must go with him。’
‘With him； aunt？ This man？’
‘I am in my senses；’ she replied； ‘and I tell you I must。 Get mea
coach！’
However much astonished I might be； I was sensible that I had
no right to refuse compliance with such a peremptory command。 I
hurried away a few paces； and called a hackney…chariot which was
passing empty。 Almost before I could let down the steps； my aunt
sprang in； I don’t know how； and the man followed。 She waved her
hand to me to go away； so earnestly； that； all confounded as I was；
I turned from them at once。 In doing so； I heard her say to the
coachman； ‘Drive anywhere！ Drive straight on！’ and presently the
chariot passed me； going up the hill。
What Mr。 Dick had told me； and what I had supposed to be a
delusion of his； now came into my mind。 I could not doubt that this
person was the person of whom he had made such mysterious
mention； though what the nature of his hold upon my aunt could
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David Copperfield
possibly be； I was quite unable to imagine。 After half an hour’s
cooling in the churchyard； I saw the chariot coming back。 The
driver stopped beside me； and my aunt was sitting in it alone。
She had not yet sufficiently recovered from her agitation to be
quite prepared for the visit we had to make。 She desired me to get
into the chariot； and to tell the coachman to drive slowly up and
down a little while。 She said no more； except； ‘My dear child；
never ask me what it was； and don’t refer to it；’ until she had
perfectly regained her composure； when she told me she was quite
herself now； and we might get out。 On her giving me her purse to
pay the driver； I found that all the guineas were gone； and only the
loose silver remained。
Doctors’ Commons was approached by a little low archway。
Before we had taken many paces down the street beyond it； the
noise of the city seemed to melt； as if by magic； into a softened
distance。 A few dull courts and narrow ways brought us to the skylighted offices of Spenlow and Jorkins； in the vestibule of which
temple； accessible to pilgrims without the ceremony of knocking；
three or four clerks were at work as copyists。 One of these； a little
dry man； sitting by himself； who wore a stiff brown wig that looked
as if it were made of gingerbread； rose to receive my aunt； and
show us into Mr。 Spenlow’s room。
‘Mr。 Spenlow’s in Court； ma’am；’ said the dry man； ‘it’s an
Arches day； but it’s close by； and I’ll send for him directly。’
As we were left to look about us while Mr。 Spenlow was fetched；
I availed myself of the opportunity。 The furniture of the room was
old…fashioned and dusty； and the green baize on the top of the
writing…table had lost all its colour； and was as withered and pale
as an old pauper。 There were a great many bundles of papers on it；
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David Copperfield
some endorsed as Allegations； and some （to my surprise） as Libels；
and some as being in the Consistory Court； and some in the
Arches Court； and some in the Prerogative Court； and some in the
Admiralty Court； and some in the Delegates’ Court； giving me
occasion to wonder much； how many Courts there might be in the
gross； and how long it would take to understand them all。 Besides
these； there were sundry immense manuscript Books of Evidence
taken on affidavit； strongly bound； and tied together in massive
sets； a set to each cause； as if every cause were a history in ten or
twenty volumes。 All this looked tolerably expensive； I thought； and
gave me an agreeable notion of a proctor’s business。 I was casting
my eyes with increasing complacency over these and many similar
objects； when hasty footsteps were heard in the room outside； and
Mr。 Spenlow； in a black gown trimmed with white fur； came
hurrying in； taking off his hat as he came。
He was a little light…haired gentleman； with undeniable boots；
and the stiffest of white cravats and shirt…collars。 He was buttoned
up； mighty trim and tight； and must have taken a great deal of
pains with his whiskers； which were accurately curled。 His gold
watch…chain was so massive； that a fancy came across me； that he
ought to have a sinewy golden arm； to draw it out with； like those
which are put up over the goldbeaters’ shops。 He was got up with
such care； and was so stiff； that he could hardly bend himself；
being obliged； when he glanced at some papers on his desk； after
sitting down in his chair； to move his whole body； from the bottom
of his spine； like Punch。
I had previously been presented by my aunt； and had been
courteously received。 He now said：
