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！
that can’t be very agreeable—and do you mean to insinuate that
there is not a sort of devotion in that？’
‘I don’t insinuate at all；’ said Peggotty。
‘You do； Peggotty；’ returned my mother。 ‘You never do
anything else； except your work。 You are always insinuating。 You
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
revel in it。 And when you talk of Mr。 Murdstone’s good
intentions—’
‘I never talked of ’em；’ said Peggotty。
‘No； Peggotty；’ returned my mother； ‘but you insinuated。 That’s
what I told you just now。 That’s the worst of you。 You will
insinuate。 I said； at the moment； that I understood you； and you
see I did。 When you talk of Mr。 Murdstone’s good intentions； and
pretend to slight them （for I don’t believe you really do； in your
heart； Peggotty）； you must be as well convinced as I am how good
they are； and how they actuate him in everything。 If he seems to
have been at all stern with a certain person； Peggotty—you
understand； and so I am sure does Davy； that I am not alluding to
anybody present—it is solely because he is satisfied that it is for a
certain person’s benefit。 He naturally loves a certain person； on
my account； and acts solely for a certain person’s good。 He is
better able to judge of it than I am； for I very well know that I am a
weak； light； girlish creature； and that he is a firm； grave； serious
man。 And he takes；’ said my mother； with the tears which were
engendered in her affectionate nature； stealing down her face； ‘he
takes great pains with me； and I ought to be very thankful to him；
and very submissive to him even in my thoughts； and when I am
not； Peggotty； I worry and condemn myself； and feel doubtful of
my own heart； and don’t know what to do。’
Peggotty sat with her chin on the foot of the stocking； looking
silently at the fire。
‘There； Peggotty；’ said my mother； changing her tone； ‘don’t let
us fall out with one another； for I couldn’t bear it。 You are my true
friend； I know； if I have any in the world。 When I call you a
ridiculous creature； or a vexatious thing； or anything of that sort；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Peggotty； I only mean that you are my true friend； and always
have been； ever since the night when Mr。 Copperfield first brought
me home here； and you came out to the gate to meet me。’
Peggotty was not slow to respond； and ratify the treaty of
friendship by giving me one of her best hugs。 I think I had some
glimpses of the real character of this conversation at the time； but
I am sure； now； that the good creature originated it； and took her
part in it； merely that my mother might comfort herself with the
little contradictory summary in which she had indulged。 The
design was efficacious； for I remember that my mother seemed
more at ease during the rest of the evening； and that Peggotty
observed her less。
When we had had our tea； and the ashes were thrown up； and
the candles snuffed； I read Peggotty a chapter out of the Crocodile
Book； in remembrance of old times—she took it out of her pocket：
I don’t know whether she had kept it there ever since—and then
we talked about Salem House； which brought me round again to
Steerforth； who was my great subject。 We were very happy； and
that evening； as the last of its race； and destined evermore to close
that volume of my life； will never pass out of my memory。
It was almost ten o’clock before we heard the sound of wheels。
We all got up then； and my mother said hurriedly that； as it was so
late； and Mr。 and Miss Murdstone approved of early hours for
young people； perhaps I had better go to bed。 I kissed her； and
went upstairs with my candle directly； before they came in。 It
appeared to my childish fancy； as I ascended to the bedroom
where I had been imprisoned； that they brought a cold blast of air
into the house which blew away the old familiar feeling like a
feather。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
I felt uncomfortable about going down to breakfast in the
morning； as I had never set eyes on Mr。 Murdstone since the day
when I committed my memorable offence。 However； as it must be
done； I went down； after two or three false starts half…way； and as
many runs back on tiptoe to my own room； and presented myself
in the parlour。
He was standing before the fire with his back to it； while Miss
Murdstone made the tea。 He looked at me steadily as I entered；
but made no sign of recognition whatever。 I went up to him； after a
moment of confusion； and said： ‘I beg your pardon； sir。 I am very
sorry for what I did； and I hope you will forgive me。’
‘I am glad to hear you are sorry； David；’ he replied。
The hand he gave me was the hand I had bitten。 I could not
restrain my eye from resting for an instant on a red spot upon it；
but it was not so red as I turned； when I met that sinister
expression in his face。
‘How do you do； ma’am？’ I said to Miss Murdstone。
‘Ah； dear me！’ sighed Miss Murdstone； giving me the tea…caddy
scoop instead of her fingers。 ‘How long are the holidays？’
‘A month； ma’am。’
‘Counting from when？’
‘From today； ma’am。’
‘Oh！’ said Miss Murdstone。 ‘Then here’s one day off。’
She kept a calendar of the holidays in this way； and every
morning checked a day off in exactly the same manner。 She did it
gloomily until she came to ten； but when she got into two figures
she became more hopeful； and； as the time advanced； even jocular。
It was on this very first day that I had the misfortune to throw
her； though she was not subject to such weakness in general； into
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
a state of violent consternation。 I came into the room where she
and my mother were sitting； and the baby （who was only a few
weeks old） being on my mother’s lap； I took it very carefully in my
arms。 Suddenly Miss Murdstone gave such a scream that I all but
dropped it。
‘My dear Jane！’ cried my mother。
‘Good heavens； Clara； do you see？’ exclaimed Miss Murdstone。
‘See what； my dear Jane？’ said my mother； ‘where？’
‘He’s got it！’ cried Miss Murdstone。 ‘The boy has got the baby！’
She was limp with horror； but stiffened herself to make a dart
at me； and take it out of my arms。 Then； she turned faint； and was
so very ill that they were obliged to give her cherry brandy。 I was
solemnly interdicted by her； on her recovery； from touching my
brother any more on any pretence whatever； and my poor mother；
who； I could see； wished otherwise； meekly confirmed the
interdict； by saying： ‘No doubt you are right； my dear Jane。’
On another occasion； when we three were together； this same
dear baby—it was truly dear to me； for our mother’s sake—was the
innocent occasion of Miss Murdstone’s going into a passion。 My
mother； who had been looking at its eyes as it lay upon her lap；
said：
‘Davy！ come here！’ and looked at mine。
I saw Miss Murdstone lay her beads down。
‘I declare；’ said my mother； gently； ‘the