第 129 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2021-05-04 17:23      字数:9246
  assurance of her lasting friendship; and spoke to us; generally; as
  became a Voice from the Cloister。
  What an idle time it was! What an insubstantial; happy; foolish
  Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
  David Copperfield
  time it was!
  When I measured Dora’s finger for a ring that was to be made
  of Forget…me…nots; and when the jeweller; to whom I took the
  measure; found me out; and laughed over his order…book; and
  charged me anything he liked for the pretty little toy; with its blue
  stones—so associated in my remembrance with Dora’s hand; that
  yesterday; when I saw such another; by chance; on the finger of
  my own daughter; there was a momentary stirring in my heart;
  like pain!
  When I walked about; exalted with my secret; and full of my
  own interest; and felt the dignity of loving Dora; and of being
  beloved; so much; that if I had walked the air; I could not have
  been more above the people not so situated; who were creeping on
  the earth!
  When we had those meetings in the garden of the square; and
  sat within the dingy summer…house; so happy; that I love the
  London sparrows to this hour; for nothing else; and see the
  plumage of the tropics in their smoky feathers! When we had our
  first great quarrel (within a week of our betrothal); and when Dora
  sent me back the ring; enclosed in a despairing cocked…hat note;
  wherein she used the terrible expression that ‘our love had begun
  in folly; and ended in madness!’ which dreadful words occasioned
  me to tear my hair; and cry that all was over!
  When; under cover of the night; I flew to Miss Mills; whom I
  saw by stealth in a back kitchen where there was a mangle; and
  implored Miss Mills to interpose between us and avert insanity。
  When Miss Mills undertook the office and returned with Dora;
  exhorting us; from the pulpit of her own bitter youth; to mutual
  concession; and the avoidance of the Desert of Sahara!
  Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
  David Copperfield
  When we cried; and made it up; and were so blest again; that
  the back kitchen; mangle and all; changed to Love’s own temple;
  where we arranged a plan of correspondence through Miss Mills;
  always to comprehend at least one letter on each side every day!
  What an idle time! What an insubstantial; happy; foolish time!
  Of all the times of mine that Time has in his grip; there is none
  that in one retrospect I can smile at half so much; and think of half
  so tenderly。
  Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
  David Copperfield
  Chapter 34
  MY AUNT ASTONISHES ME
  Iwrote to Agnes as soon as Dora and I were engaged。 I wrote
  her a long letter; in which I tried to make her comprehend
  how blest I was; and what a darling Dora was。 I entreated
  Agnes not to regard this as a thoughtless passion which could ever
  yield to any other; or had the least resemblance to the boyish
  fancies that we used to joke about。 I assured her that its
  profundity was quite unfathomable; and expressed my belief that
  nothing like it had ever been known。
  Somehow; as I wrote to Agnes on a fine evening by my open
  window; and the remembrance of her clear calm eyes and gentle
  face came stealing over me; it shed such a peaceful influence upon
  the hurry and agitation in which I had been living lately; and of
  which my very happiness partook in some degree; that it soothed
  me into tears。 I remember that I sat resting my head upon my
  hand; when the letter was half done; cherishing a general fancy as
  if Agnes were one of the elements of my natural home。 As if; in the
  retirement of the house made almost sacred to me by her
  presence; Dora and I must be happier than anywhere。 As if; in
  love; joy; sorrow; hope; or disappointment; in all emotions; my
  heart turned naturally there; and found its refuge and best friend。
  Of Steerforth I said nothing。 I only told her there had been sad
  grief at Yarmouth; on account of Emily’s flight; and that on me it
  made a double wound; by reason of the circumstances attending
  it。 I knew how quick she always was to divine the truth; and that
  Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
  David Copperfield
  she would never be the first to breathe his name。
  To this letter; I received an answer by return of post。 As I read
  it; I seemed to hear Agnes speaking to me。 It was like her cordial
  voice in my ears。 What can I say more!
  While I had been away from home lately; Traddles had called
  twice or thrice。 Finding Peggotty within; and being informed by
  Peggotty (who always volunteered that information to
  whomsoever would receive it); that she was my old nurse; he had
  established a good…humoured acquaintance with her; and had
  stayed to have a little chat with her about me。 So Peggotty said;
  but I am afraid the chat was all on her own side; and of
  immoderate length; as she was very difficult indeed to stop; God
  bless her! when she had me for her theme。
  This reminds me; not only that I expected Traddles on a certain
  afternoon of his own appointing; which was now come; but that
  Mrs。 Crupp had resigned everything appertaining to her office
  (the salary excepted) until Peggotty should cease to present
  herself。 Mrs。 Crupp; after holding divers conversations respecting
  Peggotty; in a very high…pitched voice; on the staircase—with
  some invisible Familiar it would appear; for corporeally speaking
  she was quite alone at those times—addressed a letter to me;
  developing her views。 Beginning it with that statement of
  universal application; which fitted every occurrence of her life;
  namely; that she was a mother herself; she went on to inform me
  that she had once seen very different days; but that at all periods
  of her existence she had had a constitutional objection to spies;
  intruders; and informers。 She named no names; she said; let them
  the cap fitted; wear it; but spies; intruders; and informers;
  especially in widders’ weeds (this clause was underlined); she had
  Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
  David Copperfield
  ever accustomed herself to look down upon。 If a gentleman was
  the victim of spies; intruders; and informers (but still naming no
  names); that was his own pleasure。 He had a right to please
  himself; so let him do。 All that she; Mrs。 Crupp; stipulated for;
  was; that she should not be ‘brought in contract’ with such
  persons。 Therefore she begged to be excused from any further
  attendance on the top set; until things were as they formerly was;
  and as they could be wished to be; and further mentioned that her
  little book would be found upon the breakfast…table every
  Saturday morning; when she requested an immediate settlement
  of the same; with the benevolent view of saving trouble ‘and an illconwenience’ to all parties。
  After this; Mrs。 Crupp confined herself to making pitfalls on the
  stairs; principally with pitchers; and endeavouring to delude
  Peggotty into breaking her legs。 I found it rather harassing to live
  in this state of siege; but was too much afraid of Mrs。 Crupp to see
  any way out of it。
  ‘My dear Copperfield;’ cried Traddles; punctually appearing at
  my door; in spite of all these obstacles; ‘how do you do?’
  ‘My dear Traddles;’ said I; ‘I am delighted to see you at last; and
  very sorry I have not been at home before。 But I have been so
  much engaged—’
  ‘Yes; yes; I know;’ said Traddles; ‘of course。 Yours lives in
  London; I think。’
  ‘What did you say?’
  ‘She—excuse me—Miss D。; you know;’ said Traddles; colouring
  in his great delicacy; ‘lives in London; I believe?’
  ‘Oh yes。 Near London。’
  ‘Mine; perhaps you recollect;’ said Traddles; with a serious look;
  Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
  David Copperfield
  ‘lives down in Devonshire—one of ten。 Consequently; I am not so
  much engaged as you—in that sense。’
  ‘I wonder you can bear;’ I returned; ‘to see her so seldom。’
  ‘Hah!’ said Traddles; thoughtfully。 ‘It does seem a wonder。
  suppose it is; Copperfield; because there is no help for it?’
  ‘I suppose so;’ I replied with a smile; and not without a blush。
  ‘And because you have so much constancy and patience;
  Traddles。’
  ‘Dear me!’ said Traddles; considering about it; ‘do I strike you
  in that way; Copperfield? Really I didn’t know that I had。 But she
  is such an extraordinarily dear girl herself; that it’s possible she
  may have imparted something of those virtues to me。 Now you
  mention it; Copperfield; I shouldn’t wonder at all。 I assure you she
  is always forgetting herself; and taking care of the other nine。’
  ‘Is she the eldest?’ I inquired。
  ‘Oh dear; no;’ said Traddles。 ‘The eldest is a Beauty。’
  He saw; I suppose; that I could not help smiling at the simplicity
  of this reply; and added; with a smile upon his own ingenuous
  face:
  ‘Not; of course; but that my Sophy—pretty name; Copperfield; I
  always think?’
  ‘Very pretty!’ said I。
  ‘Not; of course; but that Sophy is beautiful too in my eyes; and
  would be one of the dearest girls that ever was; in anybody’s eyes
  (I should think)。 But when I say the eldest is a Beauty; I mean she