david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第60部分
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instinctively felt that she would not very tenderly incline。 While I
was yet new at Doctor Strong’s； she made several excursions over
to Canterbury to see me； and always at unseasonable hours： with
the view； I suppose； of taking me by surprise。 But； finding me well
employed； and bearing a good character； and hearing on all hands
that I rose fast in the school； she soon discontinued these visits。 I
saw her on a Saturday； every third or fourth week； when I went
over to Dover for a treat； and I saw Mr。 Dick every alternate
Wednesday； when he arrived by stage…coach at noon； to stay until
next morning。
On these occasions Mr。 Dick never travelled without a leathern
writing…desk； containing a supply of stationery and the Memorial；
in relation to which document he had a notion that time was
beginning to press now； and that it really must be got out of hand。
Mr。 Dick was very partial to gingerbread。 To render his visits
the more agreeable； my aunt had instructed me to open a credit
for him at a cake shop； which was hampered with the stipulation
that he should not be served with more than one shilling’s…worth
in the course of any one day。 This； and the reference of all his little
bills at the county inn where he slept； to my aunt； before they were
paid； induced me to suspect that he was only allowed to rattle his
money； and not to spend it。 I found on further investigation that
this was so； or at least there was an agreement between him and
my aunt that he should account to her for all his disbursements。
As he had no idea of deceiving her； and always desired to please
her； he was thus made chary of launching into expense。 On this
point； as well as on all other possible points； Mr。 Dick was
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
convinced that my aunt was the wisest and most wonderful of
women； as he repeatedly told me with infinite secrecy； and always
in a whisper。
‘Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Dick； with an air of mystery； after
imparting this confidence to me； one Wednesday； ‘who’s the man
that hides near our house and frightens her？’
‘Frightens my aunt； sir？’
Mr。 Dick nodded。 ‘I thought nothing would have frightened
her；’ he said； ‘for she’s—’ here he whispered softly； ‘don’t mention
it—the wisest and most wonderful of women。’ Having said which；
he drew back； to observe the effect which this description of her
made upon me。
‘The first time he came；’ said Mr。 Dick； ‘was—let me see—
sixteen hundred and forty…nine was the date of King Charles’s
execution。 I think you said sixteen hundred and forty…nine？’
‘Yes； sir。’
‘I don’t know how it can be；’ said Mr。 Dick； sorely puzzled and
shaking his head。 ‘I don’t think I am as old as that。’
‘Was it in that year that the man appeared； sir？’ I asked。
‘Why； really’ said Mr。 Dick； ‘I don’t see how it can have been in
that year； Trotwood。 Did you get that date out of history？’
‘Yes； sir。’
‘I suppose history never lies； does it？’ said Mr。 Dick； with a
gleam of hope。
‘Oh dear； no； sir！’ I replied； most decisively。 I was ingenuous
and young； and I thought so。
‘I can’t make it out；’ said Mr。 Dick； shaking his head。 ‘There’s
something wrong； somewhere。 However； it was very soon after the
mistake was made of putting some of the trouble out of King
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David Copperfield
Charles’s head into my head； that the man first came。 I was
walking out with Miss Trotwood after tea； just at dark； and there
he was； close to our house。’
‘Walking about？’ I inquired。
‘Walking about？’ repeated Mr。 Dick。 ‘Let me see； I must
recollect a bit。 N…no； no； he was not walking about。’
I asked； as the shortest way to get at it； what he WAS doing。
‘Well； he wasn’t there at all；’ said Mr。 Dick； ‘until he came up
behind her； and whispered。 Then she turned round and fainted；
and I stood still and looked at him； and he walked away； but that
he should have been hiding ever since （in the ground or
somewhere）； is the most extraordinary thing！’
‘Has he been hiding ever since？’ I asked。
‘To be sure he has；’ retorted Mr。 Dick； nodding his head
gravely。 ‘Never came out； till last night！ We were walking last
night； and he came up behind her again； and I knew him again。’
‘And did he frighten my aunt again？’
‘All of a shiver；’ said Mr。 Dick； counterfeiting that affection and
making his teeth chatter。 ‘Held by the palings。 Cried。 But；
Trotwood； come here；’ getting me close to him； that he might
whisper very softly； ‘why did she give him money； boy； in the
moonlight？’
‘He was a beggar； perhaps。’
Mr。 Dick shook his head； as utterly renouncing the suggestion；
and having replied a great many times； and with great confidence；
‘No beggar； no beggar； no beggar； sir！’ went on to say； that from
his window he had afterwards； and late at night； seen my aunt give
this person money outside the garden rails in the moonlight； who
then slunk away—into the ground again； as he thought probable—
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and was seen no more： while my aunt came hurriedly and secretly
back into the house； and had； even that morning； been quite
different from her usual self； which preyed on Mr。 Dick’s mind。
I had not the least belief； in the outset of this story； that the
unknown was anything but a delusion of Mr。 Dick’s； and one of the
line of that ill…fated Prince who occasioned him so much difficulty；
but after some reflection I began to entertain the question whether
an attempt； or threat of an attempt； might have been twice made
to take poor Mr。 Dick himself from under my aunt’s protection；
and whether my aunt； the strength of whose kind feeling towards
him I knew from herself； might have been induced to pay a price
for his peace and quiet。 As I was already much attached to Mr。
Dick； and very solicitous for his welfare； my fears favoured this
supposition； and for a long time his Wednesday hardly ever came
round； without my entertaining a misgiving that he would not be
on the coach…box as usual。 There he always appeared； however；
grey…headed； laughing； and happy； and he never had anything
more to tell of the man who could frighten my aunt。
These Wednesdays were the happiest days of Mr。 Dick’s life；
they were far from being the least happy of mine。 He soon became
known to every boy in the school； and though he never took an
active part in any game but kite…flying； was as deeply interested in
all our sports as anyone among us。 How often have I seen him；
intent upon a match at marbles or pegtop； looking on with a face
of unutterable interest； and hardly breathing at the critical times！
How often； at hare and hounds； have I seen him mounted on a
little knoll； cheering the whole field on to action； and waving his
hat above his grey head； oblivious of King Charles the Martyr’s
head； and all belonging to it！ How many a summer hour have I
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David Copperfield
known to be but blissful minutes to him in the cricket…field！ How
many winter days have I seen him； standing blue…nosed； in the
snow and east wind； looking at the boys going down the long slide；
and clapping his worsted gloves in rapture！
He was an universal favourite； and his ingenuity in little things
was transcendent。 He could cut oranges into such devices as none
of us had an idea of。 He could make a boat out of anything； from a
skewer upwards。 He could turn cramp…bones into chessmen；
fashion Roman chariots from old court cards； make spoked wheels
out of cotton reels； and bird…cages of old wire。 But he was greatest
of all； perhaps； in the articles of string and straw； with which we
were all persuaded he could do anything that could be done by
hands。
Mr。 Dick’s renown was not long confined to us。 After a few
Wednesdays； Doctor Strong himself made some inquiries of me
about him； and I told him all my aunt had told me； which
interested the Doctor so much that he requested； on the occasion
of his next visit； to be presented to him。 This ceremony I
performed； and the Doctor begging Mr。 Dick； whensoever he
should not find me at the coach office； to come on there； and rest
himself until our morning’s work was over； it soon passed into a
custom for Mr。 Dick to come on as a matter of course； and； if we
were a little late； as often happened on a Wednesday； to walk
about the courtyard； waiting for me。 Here he made the
acquaintance of the Doctor’s beautiful young wife （paler than
formerly； all this time； more rarely seen by me or anyone； I think；
and not so gay； but not less beautiful）； and so became more and
more familiar by degrees； until； at last； he would come into the
school and wait。 He always sat in a particular corner； on a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
particular stool； which was called ‘Dick’； after him； here he would
sit； with his grey head bent forward； attentively listening to
whatever might be going on； with a profound veneration for the
learning he had never been able to acquire。
This veneration Mr。 Dick extended to the Doctor； whom he
thought the most subtle and accomplished philosopher of any age。
It was long before Mr。 Dick ever spoke to him otherwise than
bareheaded； and even when he and the Doctor had struck up
quite a friendship； and would walk together by the hour； on that
side of the courtyard which was known among us as The Doctor’s
Walk； Mr。 Dick would pull off his hat at intervals to show his
respect for wisdom and knowledge。 How it ever came about that
the Doctor began to read out scraps of the famous Dictionary； in
these walks； I never knew； perhaps he felt it all the same； at first；
as reading to himself。 However； it passed into a custom too； and
Mr。 Dick； listening with a face shining with pride and pleasure； in
his heart of hearts believed the Dictionary to be the most
delightful book in the world。
As I think of them going up and down before those schoolroom
windows�
