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！
again； now running into somebody’s arms； now running headlong
at a post。 At length； confused by fright and heat； and doubting
whether half London might not by this time be turning out for my
apprehension； I left the young man to go where he would with my
box and money； and； panting and crying； but never stopping；
faced about for Greenwich； which I had understood was on the
Dover Road： taking very little more out of the world； towards the
retreat of my aunt； Miss Betsey； than I had brought into it； on the
night when my arrival gave her so much umbrage。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 13
THE SEQUEL OF MY RESOLUTION
For anything I know； I may have had some wild idea of
running all the way to Dover； when I gave up the pursuit
of the young man with the donkey…cart； and started for
Greenwich。 My scattered senses were soon collected as to that
point； if I had； for I came to a stop in the Kent Road； at a terrace
with a piece of water before it； and a great foolish image in the
middle； blowing a dry shell。 Here I sat down on a doorstep； quite
spent and exhausted with the efforts I had already made； and with
hardly breath enough to cry for the loss of my box and half…guinea。
It was by this time dark； I heard the clocks strike ten； as I sat
resting。 But it was a summer night； fortunately； and fine weather。
When I had recovered my breath； and had got rid of a stifling
sensation in my throat； I rose up and went on。 In the midst of my
distress； I had no notion of going back。 I doubt if I should have had
any； though there had been a Swiss snow…drift in the Kent Road。
But my standing possessed of only three…halfpence in the world
（and I am sure I wonder how they came to be left in my pocket on
a Saturday night！） troubled me none the less because I went on。 I
began to picture to myself； as a scrap of newspaper intelligence；
my being found dead in a day or two； under some hedge； and I
trudged on miserably； though as fast as I could； until I happened
to pass a little shop； where it was written up that ladies’ and
gentlemen’s wardrobes were bought； and that the best price was
given for rags； bones； and kitchen…stuff。 The master of this shop
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
was sitting at the door in his shirt…sleeves； smoking； and as there
were a great many coats and pairs of trousers dangling from the
low ceiling； and only two feeble candles burning inside to show
what they were； I fancied that he looked like a man of a revengeful
disposition； who had hung all his enemies； and was enjoying
himself。
My late experiences with Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber suggested to
me that here might be a means of keeping off the wolf for a little
while。 I went up the next by…street； took off my waistcoat； rolled it
neatly under my arm； and came back to the shop door。
‘If you please； sir；’ I said； ‘I am to sell this for a fair price。’
Mr。 Dolloby—Dolloby was the name over the shop door； at
least—took the waistcoat； stood his pipe on its head； against the
door…post； went into the shop； followed by me； snuffed the two
candles with his fingers； spread the waistcoat on the counter； and
looked at it there； held it up against the light； and looked at it
there； and ultimately said：
‘What do you call a price； now； for this here little weskit？’
‘Oh！ you know best； sir；’ I returned modestly。
‘I can’t be buyer and seller too；’ said Mr。 Dolloby。 ‘Put a price
on this here little weskit。’
‘Would eighteenpence be？’—I hinted； after some hesitation。
Mr。 Dolloby rolled it up again； and gave it me back。 ‘I should
rob my family；’ he said； ‘if I was to offer ninepence for it。’
This was a disagreeable way of putting the business； because it
imposed upon me； a perfect stranger； the unpleasantness of asking
Mr。 Dolloby to rob his family on my account。 My circumstances
being so very pressing； however； I said I would take ninepence for
it； if he pleased。 Mr。 Dolloby； not without some grumbling； gave
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
ninepence。 I wished him good night； and walked out of the shop
the richer by that sum； and the poorer by a waistcoat。 But when I
buttoned my jacket； that was not much。 Indeed； I foresaw pretty
clearly that my jacket would go next； and that I should have to
make the best of my way to Dover in a shirt and a pair of trousers；
and might deem myself lucky if I got there even in that trim。 But
my mind did not run so much on this as might be supposed。
Beyond a general impression of the distance before me； and of the
young man with the donkey…cart having used me cruelly； I think I
had no very urgent sense of my difficulties when I once again set
off with my ninepence in my pocket。
A plan had occurred to me for passing the night； which I was
going to carry into execution。 This was； to lie behind the wall at
the back of my old school； in a corner where there used to be a
haystack。 I imagined it would be a kind of company to have the
boys； and the bedroom where I used to tell the stories； so near me：
although the boys would know nothing of my being there； and the
bedroom would yield me no shelter。
I had had a hard day’s work； and was pretty well jaded when I
came climbing out； at last； upon the level of Blackheath。 It cost me
some trouble to find out Salem House； but I found it； and I found a
haystack in the corner； and I lay down by it； having first walked
round the wall； and looked up at the windows； and seen that all
was dark and silent within。 Never shall I forget the lonely
sensation of first lying down； without a roof above my head！
Sleep came upon me as it came on many other outcasts； against
whom house…doors were locked； and house…dogs barked； that
night—and I dreamed of lying on my old school…bed； talking to the
boys in my room； and found myself sitting upright； with
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Steerforth’s name upon my lips； looking wildly at the stars that
were glistening and glimmering above me。 When I remembered
where I was at that untimely hour； a feeling stole upon me that
made me get up； afraid of I don’t know what； and walk about。 But
the fainter glimmering of the stars； and the pale light in the sky
where the day was coming； reassured me： and my eyes being very
heavy； I lay down again and slept—though with a knowledge in my
sleep that it was cold—until the warm beams of the sun； and the
ringing of the getting…up bell at Salem House； awoke me。 If I could
have hoped that Steerforth was there； I would have lurked about
until he came out alone； but I knew he must have left long since。
Traddles still remained； perhaps； but it was very doubtful； and I
had not sufficient confidence in his discretion or good luck；
however strong my reliance was on his good nature； to wish to
trust him with my situation。 So I crept away from the wall as Mr。
Creakle’s boys were getting up； and struck into the long dusty
track which I had first known to be the Dover Road when