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！
to me； “I never shall see my pretty darling again。 Something tells
me so； that tells the truth； I know。”
‘She tried to hold up after that； and many a time； when they
told her she was thoughtless and light…hearted； made believe to be
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
so； but it was all a bygone then。 She never told her husband what
she had told me—she was afraid of saying it to anybody else—till
one night； a little more than a week before it happened； when she
said to him： “My dear； I think I am dying。”
‘“It’s off my mind now； Peggotty；” she told me； when I laid her
in her bed that night。 “He will believe it more and more； poor
fellow； every day for a few days to come； and then it will be past。 I
am very tired。 If this is sleep； sit by me while I sleep： don’t leave
me。 God bless both my children！ God protect and keep my
fatherless boy！”
‘I never left her afterwards；’ said Peggotty。 ‘She often talked to
them two downstairs—for she loved them； she couldn’t bear not to
love anyone who was about her—but when they went away from
her bed…side； she always turned to me； as if there was rest where
Peggotty was； and never fell asleep in any other way。
‘On the last night； in the evening； she kissed me； and said： “If
my baby should die too； Peggotty； please let them lay him in my
arms； and bury us together。” （It was done； for the poor lamb lived
but a day beyond her。） “Let my dearest boy go with us to our
resting…place；” she said； “and tell him that his mother； when she
lay here； blessed him not once； but a thousand times。”’
Another silence followed this； and another gentle beating on my
hand。
‘It was pretty far in the night；’ said Peggotty； ‘when she asked
me for some drink； and when she had taken it； gave me such a
patient smile； the dear！—so beautiful！
‘Daybreak had come； and the sun was rising； when she said to
me； how kind and considerate Mr。 Copperfield had always been to
her； and how he had borne with her； and told her； when she
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
doubted herself； that a loving heart was better and stronger than
wisdom； and that he was a happy man in hers。 “Peggotty； my
dear；” she said then； “put me nearer to you；” for she was very
weak。 “Lay your good arm underneath my neck；” she said； “and
turn me to you； for your face is going far off； and I want it to be
near。” I put it as she asked； and oh Davy！ the time had come when
my first parting words to you were true—when she was glad to lay
her poor head on her stupid cross old Peggotty’s arm—and she
died like a child that had gone to sleep！’
Thus ended Peggotty’s narration。 From the moment of my
knowing of the death of my mother； the idea of her as she had
been of late had vanished from me。 I remembered her； from that
instant； only as the young mother of my earliest impressions； who
had been used to wind her bright curls round and round her
finger； and to dance with me at twilight in the parlour。 What
Peggotty had told me now； was so far from bringing me back to
the later period； that it rooted the earlier image in my mind。 It may
be curious； but it is true。 In her death she winged her way back to
her calm untroubled youth； and cancelled all the rest。
The mother who lay in the grave； was the mother of my infancy；
the little creature in her arms； was myself； as I had once been；
hushed for ever on her bosom。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 10
I BECOME NEGLECTED； AND AM PROVIDED
FOR
The first act of business Miss Murdstone performed when
the day of the solemnity was over； and light was freely
admitted into the house； was to give Peggotty a month’s
warning。 Much as Peggotty would have disliked such a service； I
believe she would have retained it； for my sake； in preference to
the best upon earth。 She told me we must part； and told me why；
and we condoled with one another； in all sincerity。
As to me or my future； not a word was said； or a step taken。
Happy they would have been； I dare say； if they could have
dismissed me at a month’s warning too。 I mustered courage once；
to ask Miss Murdstone when I was going back to school； and she
answered dryly； she believed I was not going back at all。 I was told
nothing more。 I was very anxious to know what was going to be
done with me； and so was Peggotty； but neither she nor I could
pick up any information on the subject。
There was one change in my condition； which； while it relieved
me of a great deal of present uneasiness； might have made me； if I
had been capable of considering it closely； yet more uncomfortable
about the future。 It was this。 The constraint that had been put
upon me； was quite abandoned。 I was so far from being required
to keep my dull post in the parlour； that on several occasions；
when I took my seat there； Miss Murdstone frowned to me to go
away。 I was so far from being warned off from Peggotty’s society；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
that； provided I was not in Mr。 Murdstone’s； I was never sought
out or inquired for。 At first I was in daily dread of his taking my
education in hand again； or of Miss Murdstone’s devoting herself
to it； but I soon began to think that such fears were groundless；
and that all I had to anticipate was neglect。
I do not conceive that this discovery gave me much pain then。 I
was still giddy with the shock of my mother’s death； and in a kind
of stunned state as to all tributary things。 I can recollect； indeed； to
have speculated； at odd times； on the possibility of my not being
taught any more； or cared for any more； and growing up to be a
shabby； moody man； lounging an idle life away； about the village；
as well as on the feasibility of my getting rid of this picture by
going away somewhere； like the hero in a story； to seek my
fortune： but these were transient visions； daydreams I sat looking
at sometimes； as if they were faintly painted or written on the wall
of my room； and which； as they melted away； left the wall blank
again。
‘Peggotty；’ I said in a thoughtful whisper； one evening； when I
was warming my hands at the kitchen fire； ‘Mr。 Murdstone likes
me less than he used to。 He never liked me much； Peggotty； but he
would rather not even see me now； if he can help it。’
‘Perhaps it’s his sorrow；’ said Peggotty； stroking my hair。
‘I am sure； Peggotty； I am sorry too。 If I believed it was his
sorrow； I should not think of it at all。 But it’s not that； oh； no； it’s
not that。’
‘How do you know it’s not that？’ said Peggotty； after a silence。
‘Oh； his sorrow is another and quite a different thing。 He is
sorry at this moment； sitting by the fireside with Miss Murdstone；
but if I was to go in； Peggotty； he would be something besides。’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘What would he be？’ said Peggotty。
‘Angry；’ I answered； with an involuntary imitation of his dark
frown。 ‘If he was only sorry； he woul