第 155 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2021-05-04 17:23      字数:9219
  He gathered up the letters thoughtfully; smoothing them with
  his hand; put them into their little bundle; and placed it tenderly
  in his breast again。 The face was gone from the door。 I still saw the
  snow drifting in; but nothing else was there。
  ‘Well!’ he said; looking to his bag; ‘having seen you tonight;
  Mas’r Davy (and that doos me good!); I shall away betimes
  tomorrow morning。 You have seen what I’ve got heer’; putting his
  hand on where the little packet lay; ‘all that troubles me is; to
  think that any harm might come to me; afore that money was give
  back。 If I was to die; and it was lost; or stole; or elseways made
  away with; and it was never know’d by him but what I’d took it; I
  believe the t’other wureld wouldn’t hold me! I believe I must come
  back!’
  He rose; and I rose too; we grasped each other by the hand
  again; before going out。
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  David Copperfield
  ‘I’d go ten thousand mile;’ he said; ‘I’d go till I dropped dead; to
  lay that money down afore him。 If I do that; and find my Em’ly; I’m
  content。 If I doen’t find her; maybe she’ll come to hear; sometime;
  as her loving uncle only ended his search for her when he ended
  his life; and if I know her; even that will turn her home at last!’
  As he went out into the rigorous night; I saw the lonely figure
  flit away before us。 I turned him hastily on some pretence; and
  held him in conversation until it was gone。
  He spoke of a traveller’s house on the Dover Road; where he
  knew he could find a clean; plain lodging for the night。 I went with
  him over Westminster Bridge; and parted from him on the Surrey
  shore。 Everything seemed; to my imagination; to be hushed in
  reverence for him; as he resumed his solitary journey through the
  snow。
  I returned to the inn yard; and; impressed by my remembrance
  of the face; looked awfully around for it。 It was not there。 The snow
  had covered our late footprints; my new track was the only one to
  be seen; and even that began to die away (it snowed so fast) as I
  looked back over my shoulder。
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  David Copperfield
  Chapter 41
  DORA’S AUNTS
  At last; an answer came from the two old ladies。 They
  presented their compliments to Mr。 Copperfield; and
  informed him that they had given his letter their best
  consideration; ‘with a view to the happiness of both parties’—
  which I thought rather an alarming expression; not only because
  of the use they had made of it in relation to the family difference
  before…mentioned; but because I had (and have all my life)
  observed that conventional phrases are a sort of fireworks; easily
  let off; and liable to take a great variety of shapes and colours not
  at all suggested by their original form。 The Misses Spenlow added
  that they begged to forbear expressing; ‘through the medium of
  correspondence’; an opinion on the subject of Mr。 Copperfield’s
  communication; but that if Mr。 Copperfield would do them the
  favour to call; upon a certain day (accompanied; if he thought
  proper; by a confidential friend); they would be happy to hold
  some conversation on the subject。
  To this favour; Mr。 Copperfield immediately replied; with his
  respectful compliments; that he would have the honour of waiting
  on the Misses Spenlow; at the time appointed; accompanied; in
  accordance with their kind permission; by his friend Mr。 Thomas
  Traddles of the Inner Temple。 Having dispatched which missive;
  Mr。 Copperfield fell into a condition of strong nervous agitation;
  and so remained until the day arrived。
  It was a great augmentation of my uneasiness to be bereaved; at
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  David Copperfield
  this eventful crisis; of the inestimable services of Miss Mills。 But
  Mr。 Mills; who was always doing something or other to annoy
  me—or I felt as if he were; which was the same thing—had
  brought his conduct to a climax; by taking it into his head that he
  would go to India。 Why should he go to India; except to harass me?
  To be sure he had nothing to do with any other part of the world;
  and had a good deal to do with that part; being entirely in the
  India trade; whatever that was (I had floating dreams myself
  concerning golden shawls and elephants’ teeth); having been at
  Calcutta in his youth; and designing now to go out there again; in
  the capacity of resident partner。 But this was nothing to me。
  However; it was so much to him that for India he was bound; and
  Julia with him; and Julia went into the country to take leave of her
  relations; and the house was put into a perfect suit of bills;
  announcing that it was to be let or sold; and that the furniture
  (Mangle and all) was to be taken at a valuation。 So; here was
  another earthquake of which I became the sport; before I had
  recovered from the shock of its predecessor!
  I was in several minds how to dress myself on the important
  day; being divided between my desire to appear to advantage; and
  my apprehensions of putting on anything that might impair my
  severely practical character in the eyes of the Misses Spenlow。 I
  endeavoured to hit a happy medium between these two extremes;
  my aunt approved the result; and Mr。 Dick threw one of his shoes
  after Traddles and me; for luck; as we went downstairs。
  Excellent fellow as I knew Traddles to be; and warmly attached
  to him as I was; I could not help wishing; on that delicate occasion;
  that he had never contracted the habit of brushing his hair so very
  upright。 It gave him a surprised look—not to say a hearth…broomy
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  David Copperfield 807
  kind of expression—which; my apprehensions whispered; might
  be fatal to us。
  I took the liberty of mentioning it to Traddles; as we were
  walking to Putney; and saying that if he would smooth it down a
  little—
  ‘My dear Copperfield;’ said Traddles; lifting off his hat; and
  rubbing his hair all kinds of ways; ‘nothing would give me greater
  pleasure。 But it won’t。’
  ‘Won’t be smoothed down?’ said I。
  ‘No;’ said Traddles。 ‘Nothing will induce it。 If I was to carry a
  half…hundred…weight upon it; all the way to Putney; it would be up
  again the moment the weight was taken off。 You have no idea
  what obstinate hair mine is; Copperfield。 I am quite a fretful
  porcupine。’
  I was a little disappointed; I must confess; but thoroughly
  charmed by his good…nature too。 I told him how I esteemed his
  good…nature; and said that his hair must have taken all the
  obstinacy out of his character; for he had none。
  ‘Oh!’ returned Traddles; laughing。 ‘I assure you; it’s quite an old
  story; my unfortunate hair。 My uncle’s wife couldn’t bear it。 She
  said it exasperated her。 It stood very much in my way; too; when I
  first fell in love with Sophy。 Very much!’
  ‘Did she object to it?’
  ‘She didn’t;’ rejoined Traddles; ‘but her eldest sister—the one
  that’s the Beauty—quite made game of it; I understand。 In fact; all
  the sisters laugh at it。’
  ‘Agreeable!’ said I。
  ‘Yes;’ returned Traddles with perfect innocence; ‘it’s a joke for
  us。 They pretend that Sophy has a lock of it in her desk; and is
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  David Copperfield
  obliged to shut it in a clasped book; to keep it down。 We laugh
  about it。’
  ‘By the by; my dear Traddles;’ said I; ‘your experience may
  suggest something to me。 When you became engaged to the young
  lady whom you have just mentioned; did you make a regular
  proposal to her family? Was there anything like—what we are
  going through today; for instance?’ I added; nervously。
  ‘Why;’ replied Traddles; on whose attentive face a thoughtful
  shade had stolen; ‘it was rather a painful transaction; Copperfield;
  in my case。 You see; Sophy being of so much use in the family;
  none of them could endure the thought of her ever being married。
  Indeed; they had quite settled among themselves that she never
  was to be married; and they called her the old maid。 Accordingly;
  when I mentioned it; with the greatest precaution; to Mrs。
  Crewler—’
  ‘The mama?’ said I。
  ‘The mama;’ said Traddles—‘Reverend Horace Crewler—when
  I mentioned it with every possible precaution to Mrs。 Crewler; the
  effect upon her was such that she gave a scream and became
  insensible。 I couldn’t approach the subject again; for months。’
  ‘You did at last?’ said I。
  ‘Well; the Reverend Horace did;’ said Traddles。 ‘He is an
  excellent man; most exemplary in every way; and he pointed out
  to her that she ought; as a Christian; to reconcile herself to the
  sacrifice (especially as it was so uncertain); and to bear no
  uncharitable feeling towards me。 As to myself; Copperfield; I give
  you my word; I felt a perfect bird of prey towards the family。’
  ‘The sisters took your part; I hope; Traddles?’
  ‘Why; I can’t say they did;’ he returned。 ‘When we had
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  David Copperfield
  comparatively reconciled Mrs。 Crewler to it; we had to break it to
  Sarah。 You recollect my ment