david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第93节
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I had previously been presented by my aunt； and had been
courteously received。 He now said：
‘And so； Mr。 Copperfield； you think of entering into our
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
profession？ I casually mentioned to Miss Trotwood； when I had
the pleasure of an interview with her the other day；’—with
another inclination of his body—Punch again—‘that there was a
vacancy here。 Miss Trotwood was good enough to mention that
she had a nephew who was her peculiar care； and for whom she
was seeking to provide genteelly in life。 That nephew； I believe； I
have now the pleasure of’—Punch again。 I bowed my
acknowledgements； and said； my aunt had mentioned to me that
there was that opening； and that I believed I should like it very
much。 That I was strongly inclined to like it； and had taken
immediately to the proposal。 That I could not absolutely pledge
myself to like it； until I knew something more about it。 That
although it was little else than a matter of form； I presumed I
should have an opportunity of trying how I liked it； before I bound
myself to it irrevocably。
‘Oh surely！ surely！’ said Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘We always； in this house；
propose a month—an initiatory month。 I should be happy； myself；
to propose two months—three—an indefinite period； in fact—but I
have a partner。 Mr。 Jorkins。’
‘And the premium； sir；’ I returned； ‘is a thousand pounds？’
‘And the premium； Stamp included； is a thousand pounds；’ said
Mr。 Spenlow。 ‘As I have mentioned to Miss Trotwood； I am
actuated by no mercenary considerations； few men are less so； I
believe； but Mr。 Jorkins has his opinions on these subjects； and I
am bound to respect Mr。 Jorkins’s opinions。 Mr。 Jorkins thinks a
thousand pounds too little； in short。’
‘I suppose； sir；’ said I； still desiring to spare my aunt； ‘that it is
not the custom here； if an articled clerk were particularly useful；
and made himself a perfect master of his profession’—I could not
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
help blushing； this looked so like praising myself—‘I suppose it is
not the custom； in the later years of his time； to allow him any—’
Mr。 Spenlow； by a great effort； just lifted his head far enough
out of his cravat to shake it； and answered； anticipating the word
‘salary’：
‘No。 I will not say what consideration I might give to that point
myself； Mr。 Copperfield； if I were unfettered。 Mr。 Jorkins is
immovable。’
I was quite dismayed by the idea of this terrible Jorkins。 But I
found out afterwards that he was a mild man of a heavy
temperament； whose place in the business was to keep himself in
the background； and be constantly exhibited by name as the most
obdurate and ruthless of men。 If a clerk wanted his salary raised；
Mr。 Jorkins wouldn’t listen to such a proposition。 If a client were
slow to settle his bill of costs； Mr。 Jorkins was resolved to have it
paid； and however painful these things might be （and always
were） to the feelings of Mr。 Spenlow； Mr。 Jorkins would have his
bond。 The heart and hand of the good angel Spenlow would have
been always open； but for the restraining demon Jorkins。 As I
have grown older； I think I have had experience of some other
houses doing business on the principle of Spenlow and Jorkins！
It was settled that I should begin my month’s probation as soon
as I pleased； and that my aunt need neither remain in town nor
return at its expiration； as the articles of agreement； of which I
was to be the subject； could easily be sent to her at home for her
signature。 When we had got so far； Mr。 Spenlow offered to take me
into Court then and there； and show me what sort of place it was。
As I was willing enough to know； we went out with this object；
leaving my aunt behind； who would trust herself； she said； in no
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
such place； and who； I think； regarded all Courts of Law as a sort
of powder…mills that might blow up at any time。
Mr。 Spenlow conducted me through a paved courtyard formed
of grave brick houses； which I inferred； from the Doctors’ names
upon the doors； to be the official abiding…places of the learned
advocates of whom Steerforth had told me； and into a large dull
room； not unlike a chapel to my thinking； on the left hand。 The
upper part of this room was fenced off from the rest； and there； on
the two sides of a raised platform of the horse…shoe form； sitting on
easy old…fashioned dining…room chairs； were sundry gentlemen in
red gowns and grey wigs； whom I found to be the Doctors
aforesaid。 Blinking over a little desk like a pulpit…desk； in the
curve of the horse…shoe； was an old gentleman； whom； if I had seen
him in an aviary； I should certainly have taken for an owl； but who；
I learned； was the presiding judge。 In the space within the horseshoe； lower than these； that is to say； on about the level of the
floor； were sundry other gentlemen； of Mr。 Spenlow’s rank； and
dressed like him in black gowns with white fur upon them； sitting
at a long green table。 Their cravats were in general stiff； I thought；
and their looks haughty； but in this last respect I presently
conceived I had done them an injustice； for when two or three of
them had to rise and answer a question of the presiding dignitary；
I never saw anything more sheepish。 The public； represented by a
boy with a comforter； and a shabby…genteel man secretly eating
crumbs out of his coat pockets； was warming itself at a stove in the
centre of the Court。 The languid stillness of the place was only
broken by the chirping of this fire and by the voice of one of the
Doctors； who was wandering slowly through a perfect library of
evidence； and stopping to put up； from time to time； at little
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
roadside inns of argument on the journey。 Altogether； I have
never； on any occasion； made one at such a cosey； dosey； old…
fashioned； time…forgotten； sleepy…headed little family…party in all
my life； and I felt it would be quite a soothing opiate to belong to it
in any character—except perhaps as a suitor。
Very well satisfied with the dreamy nature of this retreat； I
informed Mr。 Spenlow that I had seen enough for that time； and
we rejoined my aunt； in company with whom I presently departed
from the Commons； feeling very young when I went out of
Spenlow and Jorkins’s； on account of the clerks poking one
another with their pens to point me out。
We arrived at Lincoln’s Inn Fields without any new adventures；
except encountering an unlucky donkey in a costermonger’s cart；
who suggested painful associations to my aunt。 We had another
long talk about my plans； when we were safely housed； and as I
knew she was anxious to get home； and； between fire； food； and
pickpockets； could never be considered at her ease for half…anhour in London； I urged her not to be uncomfortable on my
account； but to leave me to take care of myself。
‘I have not been here a week tomorrow； without considering
that too； my dear；’ she returned。 ‘There is a furnished little set of
chambers to be let in the Adelphi； Trot； which ought to suit you to
a marvel。’
With this brief introduction； she produced from her pocket an
advertisement； carefully cut out of a newspaper； setting forth that
in Buckingham Street in the Adelphi there was to be let furnished；
with a view of the river； a singularly desirable； and compact set of
chambers； forming a genteel residence for a young gentleman； a
member of one of the Inns of Court； or otherwise； with immediate
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
possession。 Terms moderate； and could be taken for a month only；
if required。
‘Why； this is the very thing； aunt！’ said I； flushed with the
possible dignity of living in chambers。
‘Then come；’ replied my aunt； immediately resuming the
bonnet she had a minute before laid aside。 ‘We’ll go and look at
’em。’
Away we went。 The advertisement directed us to apply to Mrs。
Crupp on the premises； and we rung the area bell； which we
supposed to communicate with Mrs。 Crupp。 It was not until we
had rung three or four times that we could prevail on Mrs。 Crupp
to communicate with us； but at last she appeared； being a stout
lady with a flounce of flannel petticoat below a nankeen gown。
‘Let us see these chambers of yours； if you please； ma’am；’ said
my aunt。
‘For this gentleman？’ said Mrs。 Crupp； feeling in her pocket for
her keys。
‘Yes； for my nephew；’ said my aunt。
‘And a sweet set they is for sich！’ said Mrs。 Crupp。
So we went upstairs。
They were on the top of the house—a great point with my aunt；
being near the fire…escape—and consisted of a little half…blind
entry where you could see hardly anything； a little stone…blind
pantry where you could see nothing at all； a sitting…room； and a
bedroom。 The furniture was rather faded； but quite good enough
for me； and； sure enough； the river was outside the windows。
As I was del
