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！
unnecessary to add that I allude to Mr。 justice Blackstone。’
These observations； and indeed the greater part of the
observations made that evening； were interrupted by Mrs。
Micawber’s discovering that Master Micawber was sitting on his
boots； or holding his head on with both arms as if he felt it loose；
or accidentally kicking Traddles under the table； or shuffling his
feet over one another； or producing them at distances from
himself apparently outrageous to nature； or lying sideways with
his hair among the wine…glasses； or developing his restlessness of
limb in some other form incompatible with the general interests of
society； and by Master Micawber’s receiving those discoveries in a
resentful spirit。 I sat all the while； amazed by Mr。 Micawber’s
disclosure； and wondering what it meant； until Mrs。 Micawber
resumed the thread of the discourse； and claimed my attention。
‘What I particularly request Mr。 Micawber to be careful of； is；’
said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘that he does not； my dear Mr。 Copperfield； in
applying himself to this subordinate branch of the law； place it out
of his power to rise； ultimately； to the top of the tree。 I am
convinced that Mr。 Micawber； giving his mind to a profession so
adapted to his fertile resources； and his flow of language； must
distinguish himself。 Now； for example； Mr。 Traddles；’ said Mrs。
Micawber； assuming a profound air； ‘a judge； or even say a
Chancellor。 Does an individual place himself beyond the pale of
those preferments by entering on such an office as Mr。 Micawber
has accepted？’
‘My dear；’ observed Mr。 Micawber—but glancing inquisitively
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
at Traddles； too； ‘we have time enough before us； for the
consideration of those questions。’
‘Micawber；’ she returned； ‘no！ Your mistake in life is； that you
do not look forward far enough。 You are bound； in justice to your
family； if not to yourself； to take in at a comprehensive glance the
extremest point in the horizon to which your abilities may lead
you。’
Mr。 Micawber coughed； and drank his punch with an air of
exceeding satisfaction—still glancing at Traddles； as if he desired
to have his opinion。
‘Why； the plain state of the case； Mrs。 Micawber；’ said Traddles；
mildly breaking the truth to her。 ‘I mean the real prosaic fact； you
know—’
‘Just so；’ said Mrs。 Micawber； ‘my dear Mr。 Traddles； I wish to
be as prosaic and literal as possible on a subject of so much
importance。’
‘—Is；’ said Traddles； ‘that this branch of the law； even if Mr。
Micawber were a regular solicitor—’
‘Exactly so；’ returned Mrs。 Micawber。 （‘Wilkins； you are
squinting； and will not be able to get your eyes back。’）
‘—Has nothing；’ pursued Traddles； ‘to do with that。 Only a
barrister is eligible for such preferments； and Mr。 Micawber could
not be a barrister； without being entered at an inn of court as a
student； for five years。’
‘Do I follow you？’ said Mrs。 Micawber； with her most affable air
of business。 ‘Do I understand； my dear Mr。 Traddles； that； at the
expiration of that period； Mr。 Micawber would be eligible as a
Judge or Chancellor？’
‘He would be eligible；’ returned Traddles； with a strong
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
emphasis on that word。
‘Thank you；’ said Mrs。 Micawber。 ‘That is quite sufficient。 If
such is the case； and Mr。 Micawber forfeits no privilege by
entering on these duties； my anxiety is set at rest。 I speak；’ said
Mrs。 Micawber； ‘as a female； necessarily； but I have always been of
opinion that Mr。 Micawber possesses what I have heard my papa
call； when I lived at home； the judicial mind； and I hope Mr。
Micawber is now entering on a field where that mind will develop
itself； and take a commanding station。’
I quite believe that Mr。 Micawber saw himself； in his judicial
mind’s eye； on the woolsack。 He passed his hand complacently
over his bald head； and said with ostentatious resignation：
‘My dear； we will not anticipate the decrees of fortune。 If I am
reserved to wear a wig； I am at least prepared； externally；’ in
allusion to his baldness； ‘for that distinction。 I do not；’ said Mr。
Micawber； ‘regret my hair； and I may have been deprived of it for
a specific purpose。 I cannot say。 It is my intention； my dear
Copperfield； to educate my son for the Church； I will not deny that
I should be happy； on his account； to attain to eminence。’
‘For the Church？’ said I； still pondering； between whiles； on
Uriah Heep。
‘Yes；’ said Mr。 Micawber。 ‘He has a remarkable head…voice； and
will commence as a chorister。 Our residence at Canterbury； and
our local connexion； will； no doubt； enable him to take advantage
of any vacancy that may arise in the Cathedral corps。’
On looking at Master Micawber again； I saw that he had a
certain expression of face； as if his voice were behind his
eyebrows； where it presently appeared to be； on his singing us （as
an alternative between that and bed） ‘The Wood…Pecker tapping’。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
After many compliments on this performance； we fell into some
general conversation； and as I was too full of my desperate
intentions to keep my altered circumstances to myself； I made
them known to Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber。 I cannot express how
extremely delighted they both were； by the idea of my aunt’s being
in difficulties； and how comfortable and friendly it made them。
When we were nearly come to the last round of the punch； I
addressed myself to Traddles； and reminded him that we must not
separate； without wishing our friends health； happiness； and
success in their new career。 I begged Mr。 Micawber to fill us
bumpers； and proposed the toast in due form： shaking hands with
him across the table； and kissing Mrs。 Micawber； to commemorate
that eventful occasion。 Traddles imitated me in the first particular；
but did not consider himself a sufficiently old friend to venture on
the second。
‘My dear Copperfield；’ said Mr。 Micawber； rising with one of his
thumbs in each of his waistcoat pockets； ‘the companion of my
youth： if I may be allowed the expression—and my esteemed
friend Traddles： if I may be permitted to call him so—will allow
me； on the part of Mrs。 Micawber； myself； and our offspring； to
thank them in the warmest and most uncompromising terms for
their good wishes。 It may be expected that on the eve of a
migration which will consign us to a perfectly new existence；’ Mr。
Micawber spoke as if they were going five hundred thousand
miles； ‘I should offer a few valedictory remarks to two such friends
as I see before me。 But all that I have to say in this way； I have
said。 Whatever station in society I may attain； through the medium
of the learned profession of which I am about to become an
unworthy member； I shall endeavour not to disgrace； and Mrs。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Micawber will be safe to adorn。 Under the temporary pressure of
pe