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！
and in small； I have always been thoroughly in earnest。 I have
never believed it possible that any natural or improved ability can
claim immunity from the companionship of the steady； plain；
hard…working qualities； and hope to gain its end。 There is no such
thing as such fulfilment on this earth。 Some happy talent； and
some fortunate opportunity； may form the two sides of the ladder
on which some men mount； but the rounds of that ladder must be
made of stuff to stand wear and tear； and there is no substitute for
thorough…going； ardent； and sincere earnestness。 Never to put one
hand to anything； on which I could throw my whole self； and never
to affect depreciation of my work； whatever it was； I find； now； to
have been my golden rules。
How much of the practice I have just reduced to precept； I owe
to Agnes； I will not repeat here。 My narrative proceeds to Agnes；
with a thankful love。
She came on a visit of a fortnight to the Doctor’s。 Mr。 Wickfield
was the Doctor’s old friend； and the Doctor wished to talk with
him； and do him good。 It had been matter of conversation with
Agnes when she was last in town； and this visit was the result。 She
and her father came together。 I was not much surprised to hear
from her that she had engaged to find a lodging in the
neighbourhood for Mrs。 Heep； whose rheumatic complaint
required change of air； and who would be charmed to have it in
such company。 Neither was I surprised when； on the very next
day； Uriah； like a dutiful son； brought his worthy mother to take
possession。
‘You see； Master Copperfield；’ said he； as he forced himself
upon my company for a turn in the Doctor’s garden； ‘where a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
person loves； a person is a little jealous—leastways； anxious to
keep an eye on the beloved one。’
‘Of whom are you jealous； now？’ said I。
‘Thanks to you； Master Copperfield；’ he returned； ‘of no one in
particular just at present—no male person； at least。’
‘Do you mean that you are jealous of a female person？’
He gave me a sidelong glance out of his sinister red eyes； and
laughed。
‘Really； Master Copperfield；’ he said； ‘—I should say Mister； but
I know you’ll excuse the abit I’ve got into—you’re so insinuating；
that you draw me like a corkscrew！ Well； I don’t mind telling you；’
putting his fish…like hand on mine； ‘I’m not a lady’s man in
general； sir； and I never was； with Mrs。 Strong。’
His eyes looked green now； as they watched mine with a
rascally cunning。
‘What do you mean？’ said I。
‘Why； though I am a lawyer； Master Copperfield；’ he replied；
with a dry grin； ‘I mean； just at present； what I say。’
‘And what do you mean by your look？’ I retorted； quietly。
‘By my look？ Dear me； Copperfield； that’s sharp practice！ What
do I mean by my look？’
‘Yes；’ said I。 ‘By your look。’
He seemed very much amused； and laughed as heartily as it
was in his nature to laugh。 After some scraping of his chin with his
hand； he went on to say； with his eyes cast downward—still
scraping； very slowly：
‘When I was but an umble clerk； she always looked down upon
me。 She was for ever having my Agnes backwards and forwards at
her ouse； and she was for ever being a friend to you； Master
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Copperfield； but I was too far beneath her； myself； to be noticed。’
‘Well？’ said I； ‘suppose you were！’
‘—And beneath him too；’ pursued Uriah； very distinctly； and in
a meditative tone of voice； as he continued to scrape his chin。
‘Don’t you know the Doctor better；’ said I； ‘than to suppose him
conscious of your existence； when you were not before him？’
He directed his eyes at me in that sidelong glance again； and he
made his face very lantern…jawed； for the greater convenience of
scraping； as he answered：
‘Oh dear； I am not referring to the Doctor！ Oh no； poor man！ I
mean Mr。 Maldon！’
My heart quite died within me。 All my old doubts and
apprehensions on that subject； all the Doctor’s happiness and
peace； all the mingled possibilities of innocence and compromise；
that I could not unravel； I saw； in a moment； at the mercy of this
fellow’s twisting。
‘He never could come into the office； without ordering and
shoving me about；’ said Uriah。 ‘One of your fine gentlemen he
was！ I was very meek and umble—and I am。 But I didn’t like that
sort of thing—and I don’t！’
He left off scraping his chin； and sucked in his cheeks until they
seemed to meet inside； keeping his sidelong glance upon me all
the while。
‘She is one of your lovely women； she is；’ he pursued； when he
had slowly restored his face to its natural form； ‘and ready to be no
friend to such as me； I know。 She’s just the person as would put
my Agnes up to higher sort of game。 Now； I ain’t one of your lady’s
men； Master Copperfield； but I’ve had eyes in my ed； a pretty long
time back。 We umble ones have got eyes； mostly speaking—and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
we look out of ’em。’
I endeavoured to appear unconscious and not disquieted； but； I
saw in his face； with poor success。
‘Now； I’m not a…going to let myself be run down； Copperfield；’
he continued； raising that part of his countenance； where his red
eyebrows would have been if he had had any； with malignant
triumph； ‘and I shall do what I can to put a stop to this friendship。
I don’t approve of it。 I don’t mind acknowledging to you that I’ve
got rather a grudging disposition； and want to keep off all
intruders。 I ain’t a…going； if I know it； to run the risk of being
plotted against。’
‘You are always plotting； and delude yourself into the belief that
everybody else is doing the like； I think；’ said I。
‘Perhaps so； Master Copperfield；’ he replied。 ‘But I’ve got a
motive； as my fellow…partner used to say； and I go at it tooth and
nail。 I mustn’t be put upon； as a numble person； too much。 I can’t
allow people in my way。 Really they must come out of the cart；
Master Copperfield！’
‘I don’t understand you；’ said I。
‘Don’t you； though？’ he returned； with one of his jerks。 ‘I’m
astonished at that； Master Copperfield； you being usually so quick！
I’ll try to be plainer； another time。 —Is that Mr。 Maldon anorseback； ringing at the gate； sir？’
‘It looks like him；’ I replied； as carelessly as I could。
Uriah stopped short； put his hands between his great knobs of
knees； and doubled himself up with laughter。 With perfectly silent
laughter。 Not a sound escaped from him。 I was so repelled by his
odious behaviour； particularly by this concluding instance； that I
turned away without any ceremony； and left him doubled up in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
the middle of the garden； like a scarecrow in want of support。
It was not on that evening； but； as I well remember； on the next
evening but one； which was a Sunday； that I took Agnes to see
Dora。 I had arranged the visit