david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第135章
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David Copperfield
The news of what had happened soon spread through the town；
insomuch that as I passed along the streets next morning； I
overheard the people speaking of it at their doors。 Many were hard
upon her； some few were hard upon him； but towards her second
father and her lover there was but one sentiment。 Among all kinds
of people a respect for them in their distress prevailed； which was
full of gentleness and delicacy。 The seafaring men kept apart；
when those two were seen early； walking with slow steps on the
beach； and stood in knots； talking compassionately among
themselves。
It was on the beach； close down by the sea； that I found them。 It
would have been easy to perceive that they had not slept all last
night； even if Peggotty had failed to tell me of their still sitting just
as I left them； when it was broad day。 They looked worn； and I
thought Mr。 Peggotty’s head was bowed in one night more than in
all the years I had known him。 But they were both as grave and
steady as the sea itself； then lying beneath a dark sky； waveless—
yet with a heavy roll upon it； as if it breathed in its rest—and
touched； on the horizon； with a strip of silvery light from the
unseen sun。
‘We have had a mort of talk； sir；’ said Mr。 Peggotty to me； when
we had all three walked a little while in silence； ‘of what we ought
and doen’t ought to do。 But we see our course now。’
I happened to glance at Ham； then looking out to sea upon the
distant light； and a frightful thought came into my mind—not that
his face was angry； for it was not； I recall nothing but an
expression of stern determination in it—that if ever he
encountered Steerforth； he would kill him。
‘My dooty here； sir；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ‘is done。 I’m a going to
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David Copperfield
seek my—’ he stopped； and went on in a firmer voice： ‘I’m a going
to seek her。 That’s my dooty evermore。’
He shook his head when I asked him where he would seek her；
and inquired if I were going to London tomorrow？ I told him I had
not gone today； fearing to lose the chance of being of any service to
him； but that I was ready to go when he would。
‘I’ll go along with you； sir；’ he rejoined； ‘if you’re agreeable；
tomorrow。’
We walked again； for a while； in silence。
‘Ham；’ he presently resumed；’ he’ll hold to his present work；
and go and live along with my sister。 The old boat yonder—’
‘Will you desert the old boat； Mr。 Peggotty？’ I gently interposed。
‘My station； Mas’r Davy；’ he returned； ‘ain’t there no longer；
and if ever a boat foundered； since there was darkness on the face
of the deep； that one’s gone down。 But no； sir； no； I doen’t mean as
it should be deserted。 Fur from that。’
We walked again for a while； as before； until he explained：
‘My wishes is； sir； as it shall look； day and night； winter and
summer； as it has always looked； since she fust know’d it。 If ever
she should come a wandering back； I wouldn’t have the old place
seem to cast her off； you understand； but seem to tempt her to
draw nigher to ’ t； and to peep in； maybe； like a ghost； out of the
wind and rain； through the old winder； at the old seat by the fire。
Then； maybe； Mas’r Davy； seein’ none but Missis Gummidge
there； she might take heart to creep in； trembling； and might come
to be laid down in her old bed； and rest her weary head where it
was once so gay。’
I could not speak to him in reply； though I tried。
‘Every night；’ said Mr。 Peggotty； ‘as reg’lar as the night comes；
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David Copperfield
the candle must be stood in its old pane of glass； that if ever she
should see it； it may seem to say “Come back； my child； come
back！” If ever there’s a knock； Ham （partic’ler a soft knock）； arter
dark； at your aunt’s door； doen’t you go nigh it。 Let it be her—not
you—that sees my fallen child！’
He walked a little in front of us； and kept before us for some
minutes。 During this interval； I glanced at Ham again； and
observing the same expression on his face； and his eyes still
directed to the distant light； I touched his arm。
Twice I called him by his name； in the tone in which I might
have tried to rouse a sleeper； before he heeded me。 When I at last
inquired on what his thoughts were so bent； he replied：
‘On what’s afore me； Mas’r Davy； and over yon。’
‘On the life before you； do you mean？’ He had pointed
confusedly out to sea。
‘Ay； Mas’r Davy。 I doen’t rightly know how ’tis； but from over
yon there seemed to me to come—the end of it like；’ looking at me
as if he were waking； but with the same determined face。
‘What end？’ I asked； possessed by my former fear。
‘I doen’t know；’ he said； thoughtfully； ‘I was calling to mind that
the beginning of it all did take place here—and then the end come。
But it’s gone！ Mas’r Davy；’ he added； answering； as I think； my
look； ‘you han’t no call to be afeerd of me： but I’m kiender
muddled； I don’t fare to feel no matters；’—which was as much as
to say that he was not himself； and quite confounded。
Mr。 Peggotty stopping for us to join him： we did so； and said no
more。 The remembrance of this； in connexion with my former
thought； however； haunted me at intervals； even until the
inexorable end came at its appointed time。
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David Copperfield
We insensibly approached the old boat； and entered。 Mrs。
Gummidge； no longer moping in her especial corner； was busy
preparing breakfast。 She took Mr。 Peggotty’s hat； and placed his
seat for him； and spoke so comfortably and softly； that I hardly
knew her。
‘Dan’l； my good man；’ said she； ‘you must eat and drink； and
keep up your strength； for without it you’ll do nowt。 Try； that’s a
dear soul！ An if I disturb you with my clicketten；’ she meant her
chattering； ‘tell me so； Dan’l； and I won’t。’
When she had served us all； she withdrew to the window； where
she sedulously employed herself in repairing some shirts and
other clothes belonging to Mr。 Peggotty； and neatly folding and
packing them in an old oilskin bag； such as sailors carry。
Meanwhile； she continued talking； in the same quiet manner：
‘All times and seasons； you know； Dan’l；’ said Mrs。 Gummidge；
‘I shall be allus here； and everythink will look accordin’ to your
wishes。 I’m a poor scholar； but I shall write to you； odd times；
when you’re away； and send my letters to Mas’r Davy。 Maybe
you’ll write to me too； Dan’l； odd times； and tell me how you fare to
feel upon your lone lorn journies。’
‘You’ll be a solitary woman heer； I’m afeerd！’ said Mr。 Peggotty。
‘No； no； Dan’l；’ she returned； ‘I shan’t be that。 Doen’t you mind
me。 I shall have enough to do to keep a Beein for you’ （Mrs。
Gummidge meant a home）； ‘again you come back—to keep a
Beein here for any that may hap to come back； Dan’l。 In the fine
time； I shall set outside the door as I used to do。 If any should come
nigh； they shall see the old widder woman true to ’em； a long way
off。’
What a change in Mrs。 Gummidge in a little time！ She was
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David Copperfield
another woman。 She was so devoted； she had such a quick
perception of what it would be well to say； and what it would be
well to leave unsaid； she was so forgetful of herself； and so
regardful of the sorrow about her； that I held her in a sort of
veneration。 The work she did that day！ There were many things to
be brought up from the beach and stored in the outhouse—as oars；
nets； sails； cordage； spars； lobster…pots； bags of ballast； and the
like； and though there was abundance of assistance rendered；
there being not a pair of working hands on all that shore but
would have laboured hard for Mr。 Peggotty； and been well paid in
being asked to do it； yet she persisted； all day long； in toiling under
weights that she was quite unequal to； and fagging to and fro on
all sorts of unnecessary errands。 As to dep
