david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第83章
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘His hand trembles； his speech is not plain； and his eyes look
wild。 I have remarked that at those times； and when he is least like
himself； he is most certain to be wanted on some business。’
‘By Uriah；’ said Agnes。
‘Yes； and the sense of being unfit for it； or of not having
understood it； or of having shown his condition in spite of himself；
seems to make him so uneasy； that next day he is worse； and next
day worse； and so he becomes jaded and haggard。 Do not be
alarmed by what I say； Agnes； but in this state I saw him； only the
other evening； lay down his head upon his desk； and shed tears
like a child。’
Her hand passed softly before my lips while I was yet speaking；
and in a moment she had met her father at the door of the room；
and was hanging on his shoulder。 The expression of her face； as
they both looked towards me； I felt to be very touching。 There was
such deep fondness for him； and gratitude to him for all his love
and care； in her beautiful look； and there was such a fervent
appeal to me to deal tenderly by him； even in my inmost thoughts；
and to let no harsh construction find any place against him； she
was； at once； so proud of him and devoted to him； yet so
compassionate and sorry； and so reliant upon me to be so； too； that
nothing she could have said would have expressed more to me； or
moved me more。
We were to drink tea at the Doctor’s。 We went there at the usual
hour； and round the study fireside found the Doctor； and his
young wife； and her mother。 The Doctor； who made as much of my
going away as if I were going to China； received me as an
honoured guest； and called for a log of wood to be thrown on the
fire； that he might see the face of his old pupil reddening in the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
blaze。
‘I shall not see many more new faces in Trotwood’s stead；
Wickfield；’ said the Doctor； warming his hands； ‘I am getting lazy；
and want ease。 I shall relinquish all my young people in another
six months； and lead a quieter life。’
‘You have said so； any time these ten years； Doctor；’ Mr。
Wickfield answered。
‘But now I mean to do it；’ returned the Doctor。 ‘My first master
will succeed me—I am in earnest at last—so you’ll soon have to
arrange our contracts； and to bind us firmly to them； like a couple
of knaves。’
‘And to take care；’ said Mr。 Wickfield； ‘that you’re not imposed
on； eh？ As you certainly would be； in any contract you should
make for yourself。 Well！ I am ready。 There are worse tasks than
that； in my calling。’
‘I shall have nothing to think of then；’ said the Doctor； with a
smile； ‘but my Dictionary； and this other contract…bargain—
Annie。’
As Mr。 Wickfield glanced towards her； sitting at the tea table by
Agnes； she seemed to me to avoid his look with such unwonted
hesitation and timidity； that his attention became fixed upon her；
as if something were suggested to his thoughts。
‘There is a post come in from India； I observe；’ he said； after a
short silence。
‘By the by！ and letters from Mr。 Jack Maldon！’ said the Doctor。
‘Indeed！’
‘Poor dear Jack！’ said Mrs。 Markleham； shaking her head。 ‘That
trying climate！—like living； they tell me； on a sand…heap；
underneath a burning…glass！ He looked strong； but he wasn’t。 My
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
dear Doctor； it was his spirit； not his constitution； that he ventured
on so boldly。 Annie； my dear； I am sure you must perfectly
recollect that your cousin never was strong—not what can be
called robust； you know；’ said Mrs。 Markleham； with emphasis； and
looking round upon us generally； ‘—from the time when my
daughter and himself were children together； and walking about；
arm…in…arm； the livelong day。’
Annie； thus addressed； made no reply。
‘Do I gather from what you say； ma’am； that Mr。 Maldon is ill？’
asked Mr。 Wickfield。
‘Ill！’ replied the Old Soldier。 ‘My dear sir； he’s all sorts of
things。’
‘Except well？’ said Mr。 Wickfield。
‘Except well； indeed！’ said the Old Soldier。 ‘He has had dreadful
strokes of the sun； no doubt； and jungle fevers and agues； and
every kind of thing you can mention。 As to his liver；’ said the Old
Soldier resignedly； ‘that； of course； he gave up altogether； when he
first went out！’
‘Does he say all this？’ asked Mr。 Wickfield。
‘Say？ My dear sir；’ returned Mrs。 Markleham； shaking her head
and her fan； ‘you little know my poor Jack Maldon when you ask
that question。 Say？ Not he。 You might drag him at the heels of
four wild horses first。’
‘Mama！’ said Mrs。 Strong。
‘Annie； my dear；’ returned her mother； ‘once for all； I must
really beg that you will not interfere with me； unless it is to
confirm what I say。 You know as well as I do that your cousin
Maldon would be dragged at the heels of any number of wild
horses—why should I confine myself to four！ I won’t confine
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
myself to four—eight； sixteen； two…and…thirty； rather than say
anything calculated to overturn the Doctor’s plans。’
‘Wickfield’s plans；’ said the Doctor； stroking his face； and
looking penitently at his adviser。 ‘That is to say； our joint plans for
him。 I said myself； abroad or at home。’
‘And I said’ added Mr。 Wickfield gravely； ‘abroad。 I was the
means of sending him abroad。 It’s my responsibility。’
‘Oh！ Responsibility！’ said the Old Soldier。 ‘Everything was done
for the best； my dear Mr。 Wickfield； everything was done for the
kindest and best； we know。 But if the dear fellow can’t live there；
he can’t live there。 And if he can’t live there； he’ll die there； sooner
than he’ll overturn the Doctor’s plans。 I know him；’ said the Old
Soldier； fanning herself； in a sort of calm prophetic agony； ‘and I
know he’ll die there； sooner than he’ll overturn the Doctor’s plans。’
‘Well； well； ma’am；’ said the Doctor cheerfully； ‘I am not bigoted
to my plans； and I can overturn them myself。 I can substitute some
other plans。 If Mr。 Jack Maldon comes home on account of ill
health； he must not be allowed to go back； and we must endeavour
to make some more suitable and fortunate provision for him in
this country。’
Mrs。 Markleham was so overcome by this generous speech—
which； I need not say； she had not at all expected or led up to—
that she could only tell the Doctor it was like himself； and go
several times through that operation of kissing the sticks of her
fan； and then tapping his hand with it。 After which she gently chid
her daughter Annie； for not being more demonstrative when such
kindnesses were showered； for her sake； on her old playfellow； and
entertained us with some particulars concerning other deserving
members of her family； whom it was desirable to set on their
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
deserving legs。
All this time； her daughter Annie never once spoke； or lifted up
her eyes。 All this time； Mr。 Wickfield had his glance upon her as
she sat by his own daughter’s side。 It appeared to me that he never
thought of being observed by anyone； but was so intent upon her；
and upon his own thoughts in connexion with her； as to be quite
absorbed。 He now asked what Mr。 Jack Maldon had actually
written in reference to himself； and to whom he had written？
‘Why； here；’ said Mrs。 Markleham； taking a letter from the
chimney…piece above the Doctor’s head； ‘the dear fellow says to
the Doctor himself—where is it？ Oh！—“I am sorry to inform you
that my health is suffering severely； and that I fear I may be
reduced to the necessity of returning home for a time； as the only
hope of restoration。” That’s pretty plain； poor fellow！ His only
hope of restoration！ But Annie’s letter is plainer still。 Annie； show
me that letter again。’
‘Not now； mama；’ she pleaded in a low tone。
‘My dear； you absolutely are； on some subjects； one of the most
