david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第88章
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‘Really!’ said Miss Dartle。 ‘Well; I don’t know; now; when I have
been better pleased than to hear that。 It’s so consoling! It’s such a
delight to know that; when they suffer; they don’t feel! Sometimes
I have been quite uneasy for that sort of people; but now I shall
just dismiss the idea of them; altogether。 Live and learn。 I had my
doubts; I confess; but now they’re cleared up。 I didn’t know; and
now I do know; and that shows the advantage of asking—don’t it?’
I believed that Steerforth had said what he had; in jest; or to
draw Miss Dartle out; and I expected him to say as much when she
was gone; and we two were sitting before the fire。 But he merely
asked me what I thought of her。
‘She is very clever; is she not?’ I asked。
‘Clever! She brings everything to a grindstone;’ said Steerforth;
and sharpens it; as she has sharpened her own face and figure
these years past。 She has worn herself away by constant
sharpening。 She is all edge。’
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David Copperfield
‘What a remarkable scar that is upon her lip!’ I said。
Steerforth’s face fell; and he paused a moment。
‘Why; the fact is;’ he returned; ‘I did that。’
‘By an unfortunate accident!’
‘No。 I was a young boy; and she exasperated me; and I threw a
hammer at her。 A promising young angel I must have been!’ I was
deeply sorry to have touched on such a painful theme; but that
was useless now。
‘She has borne the mark ever since; as you see;’ said Steerforth;
‘and she’ll bear it to her grave; if she ever rests in one—though I
can hardly believe she will ever rest anywhere。 She was the
motherless child of a sort of cousin of my father’s。 He died one day。
My mother; who was then a widow; brought her here to be
company to her。 She has a couple of thousand pounds of her own;
and saves the interest of it every year; to add to the principal。
There’s the history of Miss Rosa Dartle for you。’
‘And I have no doubt she loves you like a brother?’ said I。
‘Humph!’ retorted Steerforth; looking at the fire。 ‘Some
brothers are not loved over much; and some love—but help
yourself; Copperfield! We’ll drink the daisies of the field; in
compliment to you; and the lilies of the valley that toil not; neither
do they spin; in compliment to me—the more shame for me!’ A
moody smile that had overspread his features cleared off as he
said this merrily; and he was his own frank; winning self again。
I could not help glancing at the scar with a painful interest
when we went in to tea。 It was not long before I observed that it
was the most susceptible part of her face; and that; when she
turned pale; that mark altered first; and became a dull; leadcoloured streak; lengthening out to its full extent; like a mark in
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David Copperfield
invisible ink brought to the fire。 There was a little altercation
between her and Steerforth about a cast of the dice at back
gammon—when I thought her; for one moment; in a storm of rage;
and then I saw it start forth like the old writing on the wall。
It was no matter of wonder to me to find Mrs。 Steerforth
devoted to her son。 She seemed to be able to speak or think about
nothing else。 She showed me his picture as an infant; in a locket;
with some of his baby…hair in it; she showed me his picture as he
had been when I first knew him; and she wore at her breast his
picture as he was now。 All the letters he had ever written to her;
she kept in a cabinet near her own chair by the fire; and she would
have read me some of them; and I should have been very glad to
hear them too; if he had not interposed; and coaxed her out of the
design。
‘It was at Mr。 Creakle’s; my son tells me; that you first became
acquainted;’ said Mrs。 Steerforth; as she and I were talking at one
table; while they played backgammon at another。 ‘Indeed; I
recollect his speaking; at that time; of a pupil younger than himself
who had taken his fancy there; but your name; as you may
suppose; has not lived in my memory。’
‘He was very generous and noble to me in those days; I assure
you; ma’am;’ said I; ‘and I stood in need of such a friend。 I should
have been quite crushed without him。’
‘He is always generous and noble;’ said Mrs。 Steerforth;
proudly。
I subscribed to this with all my heart; God knows。 She knew I
did; for the stateliness of her manner already abated towards me;
except when she spoke in praise of him; and then her air was
always lofty。
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David Copperfield
‘It was not a fit school generally for my son;’ said she; ‘far from
it; but there were particular circumstances to be considered at the
time; of more importance even than that selection。 My son’s high
spirit made it desirable that he should be placed with some man
who felt its superiority; and would be content to bow himself
before it; and we found such a man there。’
I knew that; knowing the fellow。 And yet I did not despise him
the more for it; but thought it a redeeming quality in him if he
could be allowed any grace for not resisting one so irresistible as
Steerforth。
‘My son’s great capacity was tempted on; there; by a feeling of
voluntary emulation and conscious pride;’ the fond lady went on to
say。 ‘He would have risen against all constraint; but he found
himself the monarch of the place; and he haughtily determined to
be worthy of his station。 It was like himself。’
I echoed; with all my heart and soul; that it was like himself。
‘So my son took; of his own will; and on no compulsion; to the
course in which he can always; when it is his pleasure; outstrip
every competitor;’ she pursued。 ‘My son informs me; Mr。
Copperfield; that you were quite devoted to him; and that when
you met yesterday you made yourself known to him with tears of
joy。 I should be an affected woman if I made any pretence of being
surprised by my son’s inspiring such emotions; but I cannot be
indifferent to anyone who is so sensible of his merit; and I am very
glad to see you here; and can assure you that he feels an unusual
friendship for you; and that you may rely on his protection。’
Miss Dartle played backgammon as eagerly as she did
everything else。 If I had seen her; first; at the board; I should have
fancied that her figure had got thin; and her eyes had got large;
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David Copperfield
over that pursuit; and no other in the world。 But I am very much
mistaken if she missed a word of this; or lost a look of mine as I
received it with the utmost pleasure; and honoured by Mrs。
Steerforth’s confidence; felt older than I had done since I left
Canterbury。
When the evening was pretty far spent; and a tray of glasses
and decanters came in; Steerforth promised; over the fire; that he
would seriously think of going down into the country with me。
There was no hurry; he said; a week hence would do; and his
mother hospitably said the same。 While we were talking; he more
than once called me Daisy; which brought Miss Dartle out again。
‘But really; Mr。 Copperfield;’ she asked; ‘is it a nickname? And
why does he give it you? Is it—eh?—because he thinks you young
and innocent? I am so stupid in these things。’
I coloured in replying that I believed it was。
‘Oh!’ said Miss Dartle。 ‘Now I am glad to know that! I ask for
information; and I am glad to know it。 He thinks you young and
innocent; and so you are his friend。 Well; that’s quite delightful!’
She went to bed soon after this; and Mrs。 Steerforth retired too。
Steerforth and I; after lingering for half…an…hour over the fire;
talking about Traddles and all the rest of them at old Salem
House; went upstairs together。 Steerforth’s room was next to
mine; and I went in to look at it。 It was a picture of comfort; full of
easy…chairs; cushions and footstools; worked by his mother’s hand;
and with no sort of thing omitted that could help to render it
complete。 Finally; her handsome features looked do