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！
‘Daisy； if anything should ever separate us； you must think of
me at my best； old boy。 Come！ Let us make that bargain。 Think of
me at my best； if circumstances should ever part us！’
‘You have no best to me； Steerforth；’ said I； ‘and no worst。 You
are always equally loved； and cherished in my heart。’
So much compunction for having ever wronged him； even by a
shapeless thought； did I feel within me； that the confession of
having done so was rising to my lips。 But for the reluctance I had
to betray the confidence of Agnes； but for my uncertainty how to
approach the subject with no risk of doing so； it would have
reached them before he said； ‘God bless you； Daisy； and good
night！’ In my doubt； it did not reach them； and we shook hands；
and we parted。
I was up with the dull dawn； and； having dressed as quietly as I
could； looked into his room。 He was fast asleep； lying； easily； with
his head upon his arm； as I had often seen him lie at school。
The time came in its season； and that was very soon； when I
almost wondered that nothing troubled his repose； as I looked at
him。 But he slept—let me think of him so again—as I had often
seen him sleep at school； and thus； in this silent hour； I left him。
—Never more； oh God forgive you； Steerforth！ to touch that
passive hand in love and friendship。 Never； never more！
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 30
A LOSS
Igot down to Yarmouth in the evening； and went to the inn。 I
knew that Peggotty’s spare room—my room—was likely to
have occupation enough in a little while； if that great Visitor；
before whose presence all the living must give place； were not
already in the house； so I betook myself to the inn； and dined
there； and engaged my bed。
It was ten o’clock when I went out。 Many of the shops were
shut； and the town was dull。 When I came to Omer and Joram’s； I
found the shutters up； but the shop door standing open。 As I could
obtain a perspective view of Mr。 Omer inside； smoking his pipe by
the parlour door； I entered； and asked him how he was。
‘Why； bless my life and soul！’ said Mr。 Omer； ‘how do you find
yourself？ Take a seat。—Smoke not disagreeable； I hope？’
‘By no means；’ said I。 ‘I like it—in somebody else’s pipe。’
‘What； not in your own； eh？’ Mr。 Omer returned； laughing。 ‘All
the better； sir。 Bad habit for a young man。 Take a seat。 I smoke；
myself； for the asthma。’
Mr。 Omer had made room for me； and placed a chair。 He now
sat down again very much out of breath； gasping at his pipe as if it
contained a supply of that necessary； without which he must
perish。
‘I am sorry to have heard bad news of Mr。 Barkis；’ said I。
Mr。 Omer looked at me； with a steady countenance； and shook
his head。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘Do you know how he is tonight？’ I asked。
‘The very question I should have put to you； sir；’ returned Mr。
Omer； ‘but on account of delicacy。 It’s one of the drawbacks of our
line of business。 When a party’s ill； we can’t ask how the party is。’
The difficulty had not occurred to me； though I had had my
apprehensions too； when I went in； of hearing the old tune。 On its
being mentioned； I recognized it； however； and said as much。
‘Yes； yes； you understand；’ said Mr。 Omer； nodding his head。
‘We dursn’t do it。 Bless you； it would be a shock that the generality
of parties mightn’t recover； to say “Omer and Joram’s
compliments； and how do you find yourself this morning？”—or
this afternoon—as it may be。’
Mr。 Omer and I nodded at each other； and Mr。 Omer recruited
his wind by the aid of his pipe。
‘It’s one of the things that cut the trade off from attentions they
could often wish to show；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘Take myself。 If I have
known Barkis a year； to move to as he went by； I have known him
forty years。 But I can’t go and say； “how is he？”’
I felt it was rather hard on Mr。 Omer； and I told him so。
‘I’m not more self…interested； I hope； than another man；’ said
Mr。 Omer。 ‘Look at me！ My wind may fail me at any moment； and
it ain’t likely that； to my own knowledge； I’d be self…interested
under such circumstances。 I say it ain’t likely； in a man who knows
his wind will go； when it does go； as if a pair of bellows was cut
open； and that man a grandfather；’ said Mr。 Omer。
I said； ‘Not at all。’
‘It ain’t that I complain of my line of business；’ said Mr。 Omer。
‘It ain’t that。 Some good and some bad goes； no doubt； to all
callings。 What I wish is； that parties was brought up stronger…
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
minded。’
Mr。 Omer； with a very complacent and amiable face； took
several puffs in silence； and then said； resuming his first point：
‘Accordingly we’re obleeged； in ascertaining how Barkis goes
on； to limit ourselves to Em’ly。 She knows what our real objects
are； and she don’t have any more alarms or suspicions about us；
than if we was so many lambs。 Minnie and Joram have just
stepped down to the house； in fact （she’s there； after hours；
helping her aunt a bit）； to ask her how he is tonight； and if you was
to please to wait till they come back； they’d give you full
partic’lers。 Will you take something？ A glass of srub and water；
now？ I smoke on srub and water； myself；’ said Mr。 Omer； taking
up his glass； ‘because it’s considered softening to the passages； by
which this troublesome breath of mine gets into action。 But； Lord
bless you；’ said Mr。 Omer； huskily； ‘it ain’t the passages that’s out
of order！ “Give me breath enough；” said I to my daughter Minnie；
“and I’ll find passages； my dear。”’
He really had no breath to spare； and it was very alarming to
see him laugh。 When he was again in a condition to be talked to； I
thanked him for the proffered refreshment； which I declined； as I
had just had dinner； and； observing that I would wait； since he was
so good as to invite me； until his daughter and his son…in…law came
back； I inquired how little Emily was？
‘Well； sir；’ said Mr。 Omer； removing his pipe； that he might rub
his chin： ‘I tell you truly； I shall be glad when her marriage has
taken place。’
‘Why so？’ I inquired。
‘Well； she’s unsettled at present；’ said Mr。 Omer。 ‘It ain’t that
she’s not as pretty as ever； for she’s prettier—I do assure you； she
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
is prettier。 It ain’t that she don’t work as well as ever； for she does。
She was worth any six； and she is worth any six。 But somehow she
wants heart。 If you understand；’ said Mr。 Omer； after rubbing his
chin again； and smoking a little； ‘what I mean in a general way by
the expression； “A long pull； and a strong pull； and a pull
altogether； my hearties； hurrah！” I should say to you； that that
was—in a general way—what I miss in Em’ly。’
Mr。 Omer’s face and manner went for so much； that I could
conscientiously nod my head； as divining his meaning。 My
quickness of apprehensi