第 132 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2021-05-04 17:23      字数:9180
  which was a lesson to all of us—to me; I am sure。 She was
  extremely gracious to Peggotty; except when I inadvertently called
  her by that name; and; strange as I knew she felt in London;
  appeared quite at home。 She was to have my bed; and I was to lie
  in the sitting…room; to keep guard over her。 She made a great
  point of being so near the river; in case of a conflagration; and I
  suppose really did find some satisfaction in that circumstance。
  ‘Trot; my dear;’ said my aunt; when she saw me making
  preparations for compounding her usual night…draught; ‘No!’
  ‘Nothing; aunt?’
  ‘Not wine; my dear。 Ale。’
  ‘But there is wine here; aunt。 And you always have it made of
  wine。’
  ‘Keep that; in case of sickness;’ said my aunt。 ‘We mustn’t use it
  carelessly; Trot。 Ale for me。 Half a pint。’
  I thought Mr。 Dick would have fallen; insensible。 My aunt
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  being resolute; I went out and got the ale myself。 As it was
  growing late; Peggotty and Mr。 Dick took that opportunity of
  repairing to the chandler’s shop together。 I parted from him; poor
  fellow; at the corner of the street; with his great kite at his back; a
  very monument of human misery。
  My aunt was walking up and down the room when I returned;
  crimping the borders of her nightcap with her fingers。 I warmed
  the ale and made the toast on the usual infallible principles。 When
  it was ready for her; she was ready for it; with her nightcap on;
  and the skirt of her gown turned back on her knees。
  ‘My dear;’ said my aunt; after taking a spoonful of it; ‘it’s a great
  deal better than wine。 Not half so bilious。’
  I suppose I looked doubtful; for she added:
  ‘Tut; tut; child。 If nothing worse than Ale happens to us; we are
  well off。’
  ‘I should think so myself; aunt; I am sure;’ said I。
  ‘Well; then; why don’t you think so?’ said my aunt。
  ‘Because you and I are very different people;’ I returned。
  ‘Stuff and nonsense; Trot!’ replied my aunt。
  My aunt went on with a quiet enjoyment; in which there was
  very little affectation; if any; drinking the warm ale with a teaspoon; and soaking her strips of toast in it。
  ‘Trot;’ said she; ‘I don’t care for strange faces in general; but I
  rather like that Barkis of yours; do you know!’
  ‘It’s better than a hundred pounds to hear you say so!’ said I。
  ‘It’s a most extraordinary world;’ observed my aunt; rubbing
  her nose; ‘how that woman ever got into it with that name; is
  unaccountable to me。 It would be much more easy to be born a
  Jackson; or something of that sort; one would think。’
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  ‘Perhaps she thinks so; too; it’s not her fault;’ said I。
  ‘I suppose not;’ returned my aunt; rather grudging the
  admission; ‘but it’s very aggravating。 However; she’s Barkis now。
  That’s some comfort。 Barkis is uncommonly fond of you; Trot。’
  ‘There is nothing she would leave undone to prove it;’ said I。
  ‘Nothing; I believe;’ returned my aunt。 ‘Here; the poor fool has
  been begging and praying about handing over some of her
  money—because she has got too much of it。 A simpleton!’
  My aunt’s tears of pleasure were positively trickling down into
  the warm ale。
  ‘She’s the most ridiculous creature that ever was born;’ said my
  aunt。 ‘I knew; from the first moment when I saw her with that
  poor dear blessed baby of a mother of yours; that she was the most
  ridiculous of mortals。 But there are good points in Barkis!’
  Affecting to laugh; she got an opportunity of putting her hand
  to her eyes。 Having availed herself of it; she resumed her toast
  and her discourse together。
  ‘Ah! Mercy upon us!’ sighed my aunt。 ‘I know all about it; Trot!
  Barkis and myself had quite a gossip while you were out with
  Dick。 I know all about it。 I don’t know where these wretched girls
  expect to go to; for my part。 I wonder they don’t knock out their
  brains against—against mantelpieces;’ said my aunt; an idea
  which was probably suggested to her by her contemplation of
  mine。
  ‘Poor Emily!’ said I。
  ‘Oh; don’t talk to me about poor;’ returned my aunt。 ‘She
  should have thought of that; before she caused so much misery!
  Give me a kiss; Trot。 I am sorry for your early experience。’
  As I bent forward; she put her tumbler on my knee to detain
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  me; and said:
  ‘Oh; Trot; Trot! And so you fancy yourself in love! Do you?’
  ‘Fancy; aunt!’ I exclaimed; as red as I could be。 ‘I adore her
  with my whole soul!’
  ‘Dora; indeed!’ returned my aunt。 ‘And you mean to say the
  little thing is very fascinating; I suppose?’
  ‘My dear aunt;’ I replied; ‘no one can form the least idea what
  she is!’
  ‘Ah! And not silly?’ said my aunt。
  ‘Silly; aunt!’
  I seriously believe it had never once entered my head for a
  single moment; to consider whether she was or not。 I resented the
  idea; of course; but I was in a manner struck by it; as a new one
  altogether。
  ‘Not light…headed?’ said my aunt。
  ‘Light…headed; aunt!’ I could only repeat this daring speculation
  with the same kind of feeling with which I had repeated the
  preceding question。
  ‘Well; well!’ said my aunt。 ‘I only ask。 I don’t depreciate her。
  Poor little couple! And so you think you were formed for one
  another; and are to go through a party…supper…table kind of life;
  like two pretty pieces of confectionery; do you; Trot?’
  She asked me this so kindly; and with such a gentle air; half
  playful and half sorrowful; that I was quite touched。
  ‘We are young and inexperienced; aunt; I know;’ I replied; ‘and
  I dare say we say and think a good deal that is rather foolish。 But
  we love one another truly; I am sure。 If I thought Dora could ever
  love anybody else; or cease to love me; or that I could ever love
  anybody else; or cease to love her; I don’t know what I should do—
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  go out of my mind; I think!’
  ‘Ah; Trot!’ said my aunt; shaking her head; and smiling gravely;
  ‘blind; blind; blind!’
  ‘Someone that I know; Trot;’ my aunt pursued; after a pause;
  ‘though of a very pliant disposition; has an earnestness of affection
  in him that reminds me of poor Baby。 Earnestness is what that
  Somebody must look for; to sustain him and improve him; Trot。
  Deep; downright; faithful earnestness。’
  ‘If you only knew the earnestness of Dora; aunt!’ I cried。
  ‘Oh; Trot!’ she said again; ‘blind; blind!’ and without knowing
  why; I felt a vague unhappy loss or want of something overshadow
  me like a cloud。
  ‘However;’ said my aunt; ‘I don’t want to put two young
  creatures out of conceit with themselves; or to make them
  unhappy; so; though it is a girl and boy attachment; and girl and
  boy attachments very often—mind! I don’t say always!—come to
  nothing; still we’ll be serious about it; and hope for a prosperous
  issue one of these days。 There’s time enough for it to come to
  anything!’
  This was not upon the whole very comforting to a rapturous
  lover; but I was glad to have my aunt in my confidence; and I was
  mindful of her being fatigued。 So I thanked her ardently for this
  mark of her affection; and for all her other kindnesses towards me;
  and after a tender good night; she took her nightcap into my
  bedroom。
  How miserable I was; when I lay down! How I thought and
  thought about my being poor; in Mr。 Spenlow’s eyes; about my not
  being what I thought I was; when I proposed to Dora; about the
  chivalrous necessity of telling Dora what my worldly condition
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  was; and releasing her from her engagement if she thought fit;
  about how I should contrive to live; during the long term of my
  articles; when I was earning nothing; about doing something to
  assist my aunt; and seeing no way of doing anything; about coming
  down to have no money in my pocket; and to wear a shabby coat;
  and to be able to carry Dora no little presents; and to ride no
  gallant greys; and to show myself in no agreeable light! Sordid
  and selfish as I knew it was; and as I tortured myself by knowing
  that it was; to let my mind run on my own distress so much; I was
  so devoted to Dora that I could not help it。 I knew that it was base
  in me not to think more of my aunt; and less of myself; but; so far;
  selfishness was inseparable from Dora; and I could not put Dora
  on one side for any mortal creature。 How exceedingly miserable I
  was; that night!
  As to sleep; I had dreams of poverty in all sorts of shapes; but I
  seemed to dream without the previous ceremony of going to sleep。
  Now I was ragged; wanting to sell Dora matches; six bundles for a
  halfpenny; now I was at the office in a nightgown and boots;
  remonstrated with by Mr。 Spenlow on appearing before the clients
  in that airy attire; now I was hungrily picking up the crumbs that
  fell from old Tiffey’s daily biscuit; regularly eaten when St。