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！
when he stopped and said：
‘Our little friend here might have some motive； perhaps； for
objecting to the arrangements。 I think we had better leave him
behind？’
My aunt seemed disposed to contest the point； but to facilitate
matters I said I would gladly remain behind； if they pleased； and
returned into Mr。 Wickfield’s office； where I sat down again； in the
chair I had first occupied； to await their return。
It so happened that this chair was opposite a narrow passage；
which ended in the little circular room where I had seen Uriah
Heep’s pale face looking out of the window。 Uriah； having taken
the pony to a neighbouring stable； was at work at a desk in this
room； which had a brass frame on the top to hang paper upon； and
on which the writing he was making a copy of was then hanging。
Though his face was towards me； I thought； for some time； the
writing being between us； that he could not see me； but looking
that way more attentively； it made me uncomfortable to observe
that； every now and then； his sleepless eyes would come below the
writing； like two red suns； and stealthily stare at me for I dare say
a whole minute at a time； during which his pen went； or pretended
to go； as cleverly as ever。 I made several attempts to get out of
their way—such as standing on a chair to look at a map on the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
other side of the room； and poring over the columns of a Kentish
newspaper—but they always attracted me back again； and
whenever I looked towards those two red suns； I was sure to find
them； either just rising or just setting。
At length； much to my relief； my aunt and Mr。 Wickfield came
back； after a pretty long absence。 They were not so successful as I
could have wished； for though the advantages of the school were
undeniable； my aunt had not approved of any of the boardinghouses proposed for me。
‘It’s very unfortunate；’ said my aunt。 ‘I don’t know what to do；
Trot。’
‘It does happen unfortunately；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘But I’ll tell
you what you can do； Miss Trotwood。’
‘What’s that？’ inquired my aunt。
‘Leave your nephew here； for the present。 He’s a quiet fellow。
He won’t disturb me at all。 It’s a capital house for study。 As quiet
as a monastery； and almost as roomy。 Leave him here。’
My aunt evidently liked the offer； though she was delicate of
accepting it。 So did I。 ‘Come； Miss Trotwood；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。
‘This is the way out of the difficulty。 It’s only a temporary
arrangement； you know。 If it don’t act well； or don’t quite accord
with our mutual convenience； he can easily go to the right…about。
There will be time to find some better place for him in the
meanwhile。 You had better determine to leave him here for the
present！’
‘I am very much obliged to you；’ said my aunt； ‘and so is he； I
see； but—’
‘Come！ I know what you mean；’ cried Mr。 Wickfield。 ‘You shall
not be oppressed by the receipt of favours； Miss Trotwood。 You
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
may pay for him； if you like。 We won’t be hard about terms； but
you shall pay if you will。’
‘On that understanding；’ said my aunt； ‘though it doesn’t lessen
the real obligation； I shall be very glad to leave him。’
‘Then come and see my little housekeeper；’ said Mr。 Wickfield。
We accordingly went up a wonderful old staircase； with a
balustrade so broad that we might have gone up that； almost as
easily； and into a shady old drawing…room； lighted by some three
or four of the quaint windows I had looked up at from the street：
which had old oak seats in them； that seemed to have come of the
same trees as the shining oak floor； and the great beams in the
ceiling。 It was a prettily furnished room； with a piano and some
lively furniture in red and green； and some flowers。 It seemed to
be all old nooks and corners； and in every nook and corner there
was some queer little table； or cupboard； or bookcase； or seat； or
something or other； that made me think there was not such
another good corner in the room； until I looked at the next one；
and found it equal to it； if not better。 On everything there was the
same air of retirement and cleanliness that marked the house
outside。
Mr。 Wickfield tapped at a door in a corner of the panelled wall；
and a girl of about my own age came quickly out and kissed him。
On her face； I saw immediately the placid and sweet expression of
the lady whose picture had looked at me downstairs。 It seemed to
my imagination as if the portrait had grown womanly； and the
original remained a child。 Although her face was quite bright and
happy； there was a tranquillity about it； and about her—a quiet；
good； calm spirit—that I never have forgotten； that I shall never
forget。 This was his little housekeeper； his daughter Agnes； Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Wickfield said。 When I heard how he said it； and saw how he held
her hand； I guessed what the one motive of his life was。
She had a little basket…trifle hanging at her side； with keys in it；
and she looked as staid and as discreet a housekeeper as the old
house could have。 She listened to her father as he told her about
me； with a pleasant face； and when he had concluded； proposed to
my aunt that we should go upstairs and see my room。 We all went
together； she before us： and a glorious old room it was； with more
oak beams； and diamond panes； and the broad balustrade going
all the way up to it。
I cannot call to mind where or when； in my childhood； I had
seen a stained glass window in a church。 Nor do I recollect its
subject。 But I know that when I saw her turn round； in the grave
light of the old staircase； and wait for us； above； I thought of that
window； and I associated something of its tranquil brightness with
Agnes Wickfield ever afterwards。
My aunt was as happy as I was； in the arrangement made for
me； and we went down to the drawing…room again； well pleased
and gratified。 As she would not hear of staying to dinner； lest she
should by any chance fail to arrive at home with the grey pony
before dark； and as I apprehend Mr。 Wickfield knew her too well
to argue any point with her； some lunch was provided for her
there； and Agnes went back to her governess； and Mr。 Wickfield to
his office。 So we were left to take leave of one another without any
restraint。
She told me that everything would be arranged for me by Mr。
Wickfield； and that I should want for nothing； and gave me the
kindest words and the best advice。
‘Trot；’ said my aunt in conclusion； ‘be a credit to yourself； to me；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
and Mr。 Dick； and Heaven be with you！’
I was greatly overcome； and could only thank her； again and
again； and send my love to Mr。 Dick。
‘Never；’ said my aunt； ‘be mean in anything； never be false；
never be cruel。 Avoid those three vices； Trot； and I can always be
hopeful of you。’
I promised； as well as I could； that I would not abuse h