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！
herself； I should like to know！ She had had one husband。 She had
seen David Copperfield out of the world； who was always running
after wax dolls from his cradle。 She had got a baby—oh； there
were a pair of babies when she gave birth to this child sitting here；
that Friday night！—and what more did she want？’
Mr。 Dick secretly shook his head at me； as if he thought there
was no getting over this。
‘She couldn’t even have a baby like anybody else；’ said my aunt。
‘Where was this child’s sister； Betsey Trotwood？ Not forthcoming。
Don’t tell me！’
Mr。 Dick seemed quite frightened。
‘That little man of a doctor； with his head on one side；’ said my
aunt； ‘Jellips； or whatever his name was； what was he about？ All
he could do； was to say to me； like a robin redbreast—as he is—
“It’s a boy。” A boy！ Yah； the imbecility of the whole set of ’em！’
The heartiness of the ejaculation startled Mr。 Dick exceedingly；
and me； too； if I am to tell the truth。
‘And then； as if this was not enough； and she had not stood
sufficiently in the light of this child’s sister； Betsey Trotwood；’ said
my aunt； ‘she marries a second time—goes and marries a
Murderer—or a man with a name like it—and stands in this child’s
light！ And the natural consequence is； as anybody but a baby
might have foreseen； that he prowls and wanders。 He’s as like
Cain before he was grown up； as he can be。’
Mr。 Dick looked hard at me； as if to identify me in this
character。
‘And then there’s that woman with the Pagan name；’ said my
aunt； ‘that Peggotty； she goes and gets married next。 Because she
has not seen enough of the evil attending such things； she goes and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
gets married next； as the child relates。 I only hope；’ said my aunt；
shaking her head； ‘that her husband is one of those Poker
husbands who abound in the newspapers； and will beat her well
with one。’
I could not bear to hear my old nurse so decried； and made the
subject of such a wish。 I told my aunt that indeed she was
mistaken。 That Peggotty was the best； the truest； the most faithful；
most devoted； and most self…denying friend and servant in the
world； who had ever loved me dearly； who had ever loved my
mother dearly； who had held my mother’s dying head upon her
arm； on whose face my mother had imprinted her last grateful
kiss。 And my remembrance of them both； choking me； I broke
down as I was trying to say that her home was my home； and that
all she had was mine； and that I would have gone to her for
shelter； but for her humble station； which made me fear that I
might bring some trouble on her—I broke down； I say； as I was
trying to say so； and laid my face in my hands upon the table。
‘Well； well！’ said my aunt； ‘the child is right to stand by those
who have stood by him—Janet！ Donkeys！’
I thoroughly believe that but for those unfortunate donkeys； we
should have come to a good understanding； for my aunt had laid
her hand on my shoulder； and the impulse was upon me； thus
emboldened； to embrace her and beseech her protection。 But the
interruption； and the disorder she was thrown into by the struggle
outside； put an end to all softer ideas for the present； and kept my
aunt indignantly declaiming to Mr。 Dick about her determination
to appeal for redress to the laws of her country； and to bring
actions for trespass against the whole donkey proprietorship of
Dover； until tea…time。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
After tea； we sat at the window—on the look…out； as I imagined；
from my aunt’s sharp expression of face； for more invaders—until
dusk； when Janet set candles； and a backgammon…board； on the
table； and pulled down the blinds。
‘Now； Mr。 Dick；’ said my aunt； with her grave look； and her
forefinger up as before； ‘I am going to ask you another question。
Look at this child。’
‘David’s son？’ said Mr。 Dick； with an attentive； puzzled face。
‘Exactly so；’ returned my aunt。 ‘What would you do with him；
now？’
‘Do with David’s son？’ said Mr。 Dick。
‘Ay；’ replied my aunt； ‘with David’s son。’
‘Oh！’ said Mr。 Dick。 ‘Yes。 Do with—I should put him to bed。’
‘Janet！’ cried my aunt； with the same complacent triumph that I
had remarked before。 ‘Mr。 Dick sets us all right。 If the bed is
ready； we’ll take him up to it。’
Janet reporting it to be quite ready； I was taken up to it； kindly；
but in some sort like a prisoner； my aunt going in front and Janet
bringing up the rear。 The only circumstance which gave me any
new hope； was my aunt’s stopping on the stairs to inquire about a
smell of fire that was prevalent there； and janet’s replying that she
had been making tinder down in the kitchen； of my old shirt。 But
there were no other clothes in my room than the odd heap of
things I wore； and when I was left there； with a little taper which
my aunt forewarned me would burn exactly five minutes； I heard
them lock my door on the outside。 Turning these things over in my
mind I deemed it possible that my aunt； who could know nothing
of me； might suspect I had a habit of running away； and took
precautions； on that account； to have me in safe keeping。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
The room was a pleasant one； at the top of the house；
overlooking the sea； on which the moon was shining brilliantly。
After I had said my prayers； and the candle had burnt out； I
remember how I still sat looking at the moonlight on the water； as
if I could hope to read my fortune in it； as in a bright book； or to
see my mother with her child； coming from Heaven； along that
shining path； to look upon me as she had looked when I last saw
her sweet face。 I remember how the solemn feeling with which at
length I turned my eyes away； yielded to the sensation of gratitude
and rest which the sight of the white…curtained bed—and how
much more the lying softly down upon it； nestling in the snow…
white sheets！—inspired。 I remember how I thought of all the
solitary places under the night sky where I had slept； and how I
prayed that I never might be houseless any more； and never might
forget the houseless。 I remember how I seemed to float； then；
down the melancholy glory of that track upon the sea； away into
the world of dreams。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Chapter 14
MY AUNT MAKES UP HER MIND ABOUT ME
On going down in the morning； I found my aunt musing so
profoundly over the breakfast table； with her elbow on
the tray； that the contents of the urn had overflowed the
teapot and were laying the whole table…cloth under water； when
my entrance put her meditations to flight。 I felt sure that I had
been the subject of her reflections； and was more than ever
anxious to know her intentions towards me。 Yet I dared not
express my anxiety； lest it should give her offence。
My eyes； however； not being so much under control as my
tongue； were attracted towards my aunt very often during
breakfast。 I