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！
David Copperfield
did as she bade me—rewarding myself afterwards for my
obedience—and she charmed me out of my graver character for I
don’t know how long。
‘But； Dora； my beloved！’ said I； at last resuming it； ‘I was going
to mention something。’
The judge of the Prerogative Court might have fallen in love
with her； to see her fold her little hands and hold them up； begging
and praying me not to be dreadful any more。
‘Indeed I am not going to be； my darling！’ I assured her。 ‘But；
Dora； my love； if you will sometimes think；—not despondingly； you
know； far from that！—but if you will sometimes think—just to
encourage yourself—that you are engaged to a poor man—’
‘Don’t； don’t！ Pray don’t！’ cried Dora。 ‘It’s so very dreadful！’
‘My soul； not at all！’ said I； cheerfully。 ‘If you will sometimes
think of that； and look about now and then at your papa’s
housekeeping； and endeavour to acquire a little habit—of
accounts； for instance—’
Poor little Dora received this suggestion with something that
was half a sob and half a scream。
‘—It would be so useful to us afterwards；’ I went on。 ‘And if you
would promise me to read a little—a little Cookery Book that I
would send you； it would be so excellent for both of us。 For our
path in life； my Dora；’ said I； warming with the subject； ‘is stony
and rugged now； and it rests with us to smooth it。 We must fight
our way onward。 We must be brave。 There are obstacles to be met；
and we must meet； and crush them！’
I was going on at a great rate； with a clenched hand； and a most
enthusiastic countenance； but it was quite unnecessary to
proceed。 I had said enough。 I had done it again。 Oh； she was so
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
frightened！ Oh； where was Julia Mills！ Oh； take her to Julia Mills；
and go away； please！ So that； in short； I was quite distracted； and
raved about the drawing…room。
I thought I had killed her； this time。 I sprinkled water on her
face。 I went down on my knees。 I plucked at my hair。 I denounced
myself as a remorseless brute and a ruthless beast。 I implored her
forgiveness。 I besought her to look up。 I ravaged Miss Mills’s workbox for a smelling…bottle； and in my agony of mind applied an
ivory needle…case instead； and dropped all the needles over Dora。 I
shook my fists at Jip； who was as frantic as myself。 I did every wild
extravagance that could be done； and was a long way beyond the
end of my wits when Miss Mills came into the room。
‘Who has done this？’ exclaimed Miss Mills； succouring her
friend。
I replied； ‘I； Miss Mills！ I have done it！ Behold the destroyer！’—
or words to that effect—and hid my face from the light； in the sofa
cushion。
At first Miss Mills thought it was a quarrel； and that we were
verging on the Desert of Sahara； but she soon found out how
matters stood； for my dear affectionate little Dora； embracing her；
began exclaiming that I was ‘a poor labourer’； and then cried for
me； and embraced me； and asked me would I let her give me all
her money to keep； and then fell on Miss Mills’s neck； sobbing as if
her tender heart were broken。
Miss Mills must have been born to be a blessing to us。 She
ascertained from me in a few words what it was all about；
comforted Dora； and gradually convinced her that I was not a
labourer—from my manner of stating the case I believe Dora
concluded that I was a navigator； and went balancing myself up
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and down a plank all day with a wheelbarrow—and so brought us
together in peace。 When we were quite composed； and Dora had
gone up…stairs to put some rose…water to her eyes； Miss Mills rang
for tea。 In the ensuing interval； I told Miss Mills that she was
evermore my friend； and that my heart must cease to vibrate ere I
could forget her sympathy。
I then expounded to Miss Mills what I had endeavoured； so very
unsuccessfully； to expound to Dora。 Miss Mills replied； on general
principles； that the Cottage of content was better than the Palace
of cold splendour； and that where love was； all was。
I said to Miss Mills that this was very true； and who should
know it better than I； who loved Dora with a love that never mortal
had experienced yet？ But on Miss Mills observing； with
despondency； that it were well indeed for some hearts if this were
so； I explained that I begged leave to restrict the observation to
mortals of the masculine gender。
I then put it to Miss Mills； to say whether she considered that
there was or was not any practical merit in the suggestion I had
been anxious to make； concerning the accounts； the housekeeping；
and the Cookery Book？
Miss Mills； after some consideration； thus replied：
‘Mr。 Copperfield； I will be plain with you。 Mental suffering and
trial supply； in some natures； the place of years； and I will be as
plain with you as if I were a Lady Abbess。 No。 The suggestion is
not appropriate to our Dora。 Our dearest Dora is a favourite child
of nature。 She is a thing of light； and airiness； and joy。 I am free to
confess that if it could be done； it might be well； but—’ And Miss
Mills shook her head。
I was encouraged by this closing admission on the part of Miss
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Mills to ask her； whether； for Dora’s sake； if she had any
opportunity of luring her attention to such preparations for an
earnest life； she would avail herself of it？ Miss Mills replied in the
affirmative so readily； that I further asked her if she would take
charge of the Cookery Book； and； if she ever could insinuate it
upon Dora’s acceptance； without frightening her； undertake to do
me that crowning service。 Miss Mills accepted this trust； too； but
was not sanguine。
And Dora returned； looking such a lovely little creature； that I
really doubted whether she ought to be troubled with anything so
ordinary。 And she loved me so much； and was so captivating
（particularly when she made Jip stand on his hind legs for toast；
and when she pretended to hold that nose of his against the hot
teapot for punishment because he wouldn’t）； that I felt like a sort
of Monster who had got into a Fairy’s bower； when I thought of
having frightened her； and made her cry。
After tea we had the guitar； and Dora sang those same dear old
French songs about the impossibility of ever on any account
leaving off dancing； La ra la； La ra la； until I felt a much greater
Monster than before。
We had only one check to our pleasure； and that happened a
little while before I took my leave； when； Miss Mills chancing to
make some allusion to tomorrow morning； I unluckily let out that；
being obliged to exert myself now； I got up at five o’clock。 Whether
Dora had any idea that I was a Private Watchman； I am unable to
say； but it made a great impression on her； and she neither played
nor sang any more。
It was still on her mind when I bade her adieu； and she said to
me； in her pretty coaxing way—as if I were a doll； I