按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
beheld。
‘What name was it； as I wrote up in the cart； sir？’ said Mr。
Barkis； with a slow rheumatic smile。
‘Ah！ Mr。 Barkis； we had some grave talks about that matter；
hadn’t we？’
‘I was willin’ a long time； sir？’ said Mr。 Barkis。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘A long time；’ said I。
‘And I don’t regret it；’ said Mr。 Barkis。 ‘Do you remember what
you told me once； about her making all the apple parsties and
doing all the cooking？’
‘Yes； very well；’ I returned。
‘It was as true；’ said Mr。 Barkis； ‘as turnips is。 It was as true；’
said Mr。 Barkis； nodding his nightcap； which was his only means
of emphasis； ‘as taxes is。 And nothing’s truer than them。’
Mr。 Barkis turned his eyes upon me； as if for my assent to this
result of his reflections in bed； and I gave it。
‘Nothing’s truer than them；’ repeated Mr。 Barkis； ‘a man as
poor as I am； finds that out in his mind when he’s laid up。 I’m a
very poor man； sir！’
‘I am sorry to hear it； Mr。 Barkis。’
‘A very poor man； indeed I am；’ said Mr。 Barkis。
Here his right hand came slowly and feebly from under the
bedclothes； and with a purposeless uncertain grasp took hold of a
stick which was loosely tied to the side of the bed。 After some
poking about with this instrument； in the course of which his face
assumed a variety of distracted expressions； Mr。 Barkis poked it
against a box； an end of which had been visible to me all the time。
Then his face became composed。
‘Old clothes；’ said Mr。 Barkis。
‘Oh！’ said I。
‘I wish it was Money； sir；’ said Mr。 Barkis。
‘I wish it was； indeed；’ said I。
‘But it ain’t；’ said Mr。 Barkis； opening both his eyes as wide as
he possibly could。
I expressed myself quite sure of that； and Mr。 Barkis； turning
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
his eyes more gently to his wife； said：
‘She’s the usefullest and best of women； C。 P。 Barkis。 All the
praise that anyone can give to C。 P。 Barkis； she deserves； and
more！ My dear； you’ll get a dinner today； for company； something
good to eat and drink； will you？’
I should have protested against this unnecessary demonstration
in my honour； but that I saw Peggotty； on the opposite side of the
bed； extremely anxious I should not。 So I held my peace。
‘I have got a trifle of money somewhere about me； my dear；’
said Mr。 Barkis； ‘but I’m a little tired。 If you and Mr。 David will
leave me for a short nap； I’ll try and find it when I wake。’
We left the room； in compliance with this request。 When we got
outside the door； Peggotty informed me that Mr。 Barkis； being
now ‘a little nearer’ than he used to be； always resorted to this
same device before producing a single coin from his store； and
that he endured unheard…of agonies in crawling out of bed alone；
and taking it from that unlucky box。 In effect； we presently heard
him uttering suppressed groans of the most dismal nature； as this
magpie proceeding racked him in every joint； but while Peggotty’s
eyes were full of compassion for him； she said his generous
impulse would do him good； and it was better not to check it。 So
he groaned on； until he had got into bed again； suffering； I have no
doubt； a martyrdom； and then called us in； pretending to have just
woke up from a refreshing sleep； and to produce a guinea from
under his pillow。 His satisfaction in which happy imposition on us；
and in having preserved the impenetrable secret of the box；
appeared to be a sufficient compensation to him for all his
tortures。
I prepared Peggotty for Steerforth’s arrival and it was not long
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
before he came。 I am persuaded she knew no difference between
his having been a personal benefactor of hers； and a kind friend to
me； and that she would have received him with the utmost
gratitude and devotion in any case。 But his easy； spirited good
humour； his genial manner； his handsome looks； his natural gift of
adapting himself to whomsoever he pleased； and making direct；
when he cared to do it； to the main point of interest in anybody’s
heart； bound her to him wholly in five minutes。 His manner to me；
alone； would have won her。 But； through all these causes
combined； I sincerely believe she had a kind of adoration for him
before he left the house that night。
He stayed there with me to dinner—if I were to say willingly； I
should not half express how readily and gaily。 He went into Mr。
Barkis’s room like light and air； brightening and refreshing it as if
he were healthy weather。 There was no noise； no effort； no
consciousness； in anything he did； but in everything an
indescribable lightness； a seeming impossibility of doing anything
else； or doing anything better； which was so graceful； so natural；
and agreeable； that it overcomes me； even now； in the
remembrance。
We made merry in the little parlour； where the Book of
Martyrs； unthumbed since my time； was laid out upon the desk as
of old； and where I now turned over its terrific pictures；
remembering the old sensations they had awakened； but not
feeling them。 When Peggotty spoke of what she called my room；
and of its being ready for me at night； and of her hoping I would
occupy it； before I could so much as look at Steerforth； hesitating；
he was possessed of the whole case。
‘Of course；’ he said。 ‘You’ll sleep here； while we stay； and I shall
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
sleep at the hotel。’
‘But to bring you so far；’ I returned； ‘and to separate； seems bad
companionship； Steerforth。’
‘Why； in the name of Heaven； where do you naturally belong？’
he said。 ‘What is “seems”； compared to that？’ It was settled at
once。
He maintained all his delightful qualities to the last； until we
started forth； at eight o’clock； for Mr。 Peggotty’s boat。 Indeed； they
were more and more brightly exhibited as the hours went on； for I
thought even then； and I have no doubt now； that the
consciousness of success in his determination to please； inspired
him with a new delicacy of perception； and made it； subtle as it
was； more easy to him。 If anyone had told me； then； that all this
was a brilliant game； played for the excitement of the moment； for
the employment of high spirits； in the thoughtless love of
superiority； in a mere wasteful careless course of winning what
was worthless to him； and next minute thrown away—I say； if
anyone had told me such a lie that night； I wonder in what manner
of receiving it my indignation would have found a vent！ Probably
only in an increase； had that been possible； of the romantic
feelings of fidelity and friendship with which I walked beside him；
over the dark wintry sands towards the old boat； the wind sighing
around us even more mournfully； than it had sighed and moaned
upon the night when I first darkened Mr。 Peggotty’s door。
‘This is a wild kind of place； Steerforth； is it not？’
‘Dismal enough in the dark；’ he said： ‘and th