david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第122部分

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‘I　saw　you　in　the　street　just　now。　You　may　suppose　I　am　not　
able　to　walk　as　fast　as　you；　with　my　short　legs　and　short　breath；　
and　I　couldn’t　overtake　you；　but　I　guessed　where　you　came；　and　
came　after　you。　I　have　been　here　before；　today；　but　the　good　
woman　wasn’t　at　home。’　

‘Do　you　know　her？’　I　demanded。　

‘I　know　of　her；　and　about　her；’　she　replied；　‘from　Omer　and　
Joram。　I　was　there　at　seven　o’clock　this　morning。　Do　you　
remember　what　Steerforth　said　to　me　about　this　unfortunate　girl；　
that　time　when　I　saw　you　both　at　the　inn？’　

The　great　bonnet　on　Miss　Mowcher’s　head；　and　the　greater　
bonnet　on　the　wall；　began　to　go　backwards　and　forwards　again　
when　she　asked　this　question。　

I　remembered　very　well　what　she　referred　to；　having　had　it　in　
my　thoughts　many　times　that　day。　I　told　her　so。　

‘May　the　Father　of　all　Evil　confound　him；’　said　the　little　woman；　
holding　up　her　forefinger　between　me　and　her　sparkling　eyes；　‘and　
ten　times　more　confound　that　wicked　servant；　but　I　believed　it　was　

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David　Copperfield　

you　who　had　a　boyish　passion　for　her！’　

‘I？’　I　repeated。　

‘Child；　child！　In　the　name　of　blind　ill…fortune；’　cried　Miss　
Mowcher；　wringing　her　hands　impatiently；　as　she　went　to　and　fro　
again　upon　the　fender；　‘why　did　you　praise　her　so；　and　blush；　and　
look　disturbed？　‘　

I　could　not　conceal　from　myself　that　I　had　done　this；　though　for　
a　reason　very　different　from　her　supposition。　

‘What　did　I　know？’　said　Miss　Mowcher；　taking　out　her　
handkerchief　again；　and　giving　one　little　stamp　on　the　ground　
whenever；　at　short　intervals；　she　applied　it　to　her　eyes　with　both　
hands　at　once。　‘He　was　crossing　you　and　wheedling　you；　I　saw；　and　
you　were　soft　wax　in　his　hands；　I　saw。　Had　I　left　the　room　a　
minute；　when　his　man　told　me　that　“Young　Innocence”　（so　he　
called　you；　and　you　may　call　him　“Old　Guilt”　all　the　days　of　your　
life）　had　set　his　heart　upon　her；　and　she　was　giddy　and　liked　him；　
but　his　master　was　resolved　that　no　harm　should　come　of　it—more　
for　your　sake　than　for　hers—and　that　that　was　their　business　
here？　How　could　I　but　believe　him？　I　saw　Steerforth　soothe　and　
please　you　by　his　praise　of　her！　You　were　the　first　to　mention　her　
name。　You　owned　to　an　old　admiration　of　her。　You　were　hot　and　
cold；　and　red　and　white；　all　at　once　when　I　spoke　to　you　of　her。　
What　could　I　think—what　did　I　think—but　that　you　were　a　young　
libertine　in　everything　but　experience；　and　had　fallen　into　hands　
that　had　experience　enough；　and　could　manage　you　（having　the　
fancy）　for　your　own　good？　Oh！　oh！　oh！　They　were　afraid　of　my　
finding　out　the　truth；’　exclaimed　Miss　Mowcher；　getting　off　the　
fender；　and　trotting　up　and　down　the　kitchen　with　her　two　short　
arms　distressfully　lifted　up；　‘because　I　am　a　sharp　little　thing—I　

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need　be；　to　get　through　the　world　at　all！—and　they　deceived　me　
altogether；　and　I　gave　the　poor　unfortunate　girl　a　letter；　which　I　
fully　believe　was　the　beginning　of　her　ever　speaking　to　Littimer；　
who　was　left　behind　on　purpose！’　

I　stood　amazed　at　the　revelation　of　all　this　perfidy；　looking　at　
Miss　Mowcher　as　she　walked　up　and　down　the　kitchen　until　she　
was　out　of　breath：　when　she　sat　upon　the　fender　again；　and；　drying　
her　face　with　her　handkerchief；　shook　her　head　for　a　long　time；　
without　otherwise　moving；　and　without　breaking　silence。　

‘My　country　rounds；’　she　added　at　length；　‘brought　me　to　
Norwich；　Mr。　Copperfield；　the　night　before　last。　What　I　happened　
to　find　there；　about　their　secret　way　of　coming　and　going；　without　
you—which　was　strange—led　to　my　suspecting　something　wrong。　
I　got　into　the　coach　from　London　last　night；　as　it　came　through　
Norwich；　and　was　here　this　morning。　Oh；　oh；　oh！　too　late！’　

Poor　little　Mowcher　turned　so　chilly　after　all　her　crying　and　
fretting；　that　she　turned　round　on　the　fender；　putting　her　poor　
little　wet　feet　in　among　the　ashes　to　warm　them；　and　sat　looking　at　
the　fire；　like　a　large　doll。　I　sat　in　a　chair　on　the　other　side　of　the　
hearth；　lost　in　unhappy　reflections；　and　looking　at　the　fire　too；　and　
sometimes　at　her。　

‘I　must　go；’　she　said　at　last；　rising　as　she　spoke。　‘It’s　late。　You　
don’t　mistrust　me？’　

Meeting　her　sharp　glance；　which　was　as　sharp　as　ever　when　she　
asked　me；　I　could　not　on　that　short　challenge　answer　no；　quite　
frankly。　

‘Come！’　said　she；　accepting　the　offer　of　my　hand　to　help　her　
over　the　fender；　and　looking　wistfully　up　into　my　face；　‘you　know　
you　wouldn’t　mistrust　me；　if　I　was　a　full…sized　woman！’　

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I　felt　that　there　was　much　truth　in　this；　and　I　felt　rather　
ashamed　of　myself。　

‘You　are　a　young　man；’　she　said；　nodding。　‘Take　a　word　of　
advice；　even　from　three　foot　nothing。　Try　not　to　associate　bodily　
defects　with　mental；　my　good　friend；　except　for　a　solid　reason。’　

She　had　got　over　the　fender　now；　and　I　had　got　over　my　
suspicion。　I　told　her　that　I　believed　she　had　given　me　a　faithful　
account　of　herself；　and　that　we　had　both　been　hapless　instruments　
in　designing　hands。　She　thanked　me；　and　said　I　was　a　good　fellow。　

‘Now；　mind！’　she　exclaimed；　turning　back　on　her　way　to　the　
door；　and　looking　shrewdly　at　me；　with　her　forefinger　up　again。—‘I　
have　some　reason　to　suspect；　from　what　I　have　heard—my　ears　
are　always　open；　I　can’t　afford　to　spare　what　powers　I　have—that　
they　are　gone　abroad。　But　if　ever　they　return；　if　ever　any　one　of　
them　returns；　while　I　am　alive；　I　am　more　likely　than　another；　
going　about　as　I　do；　to　find　it　out　soon。　Whatever　I　know；　you　shall　
know。　If　ever　I　can　do　anything　to　serve　the　poor　betrayed　girl；　I　
will　do　it　faithfully；　please　Heaven！　And　Littimer　had　better　have　a　
bloodhound　at　his　back；　than　little　Mowcher！’　

I　placed　implicit　faith　in　this　last　statement；　when　I　marked　the　
look　with　which　it　was　accompanied。　

‘Trust　me　no　more；　but　trust　me　no　less；　than　you　would　trust　a　
full…sized　woman；’　said　the　little　creature；　touching　me　appealingly　
on　the　wrist。　‘If　ever　you　see　me　again；　unlike　what　I　am　now；　and　
like　what　I　was　when　you　first　saw　me；　observe　what　company　I　
am　in。　Call　to　mind　that　I　am　a　very　helpless　and　defenceless　little　
thing。　Think　of　me　at　home　with　my　brother　like　myself　and　sister　
like　myself；　when　my　day’s　work　is　done。　Perhaps　you　won’t；　then；　
be　very　hard　upon　me；　or　surprised　if　I　can　be　distressed　and　

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serious。　Good　night！’　

I　gave　Miss　Mowcher　my　hand；　with　a　very　different　opinion　of　
her　from　that　which　I　had　hitherto　entertained；　and　opened　the　
door　to　let　her　out。　It　was　not　a　trifling　business　to　get　the　great　
umbrella　up；　and　properly　balanced　in　her　grasp；　but　at　last　I　
successfully　accomplished　this；　and　saw　it　go　bobbing　down　the　
street　through　the　rain；　without　the　least　appearance　of　having　
anybody　underneath　it；　except　when　a　heavier　fall　than　usual　from　
some　over…charged　water…spout　sent　it　toppling　over；　on　one　side；　
and　discovered　Miss　Mowcher　struggling　violently　to　get　it　right。　
After　making　one　or　two　sallies　to　her　relief；　which　were　rendered　
futile　by　the　umbrella’s　hopping　on　again；　like　an　immense　bird；　
before　I　could　reach　it；　I　came　in；　went　to　bed；　and　slept　till　
morning。　

In　the　morning　I　was　joined　by　Mr。　Peggotty　and　by　my　old　
nurse；　and　we　went　at　an　early　hour　to　the　coach　office；　where　
Mrs。　Gummidge　and　Ham　were　waiting　to　take　leave　of　us。　

‘Mas’r　Davy；’　Ham　whispered；　drawing　me　aside；　while　Mr。　
Peggotty　was　stowing　his　bag　among　the　luggage；　‘his　life　is　quite　
broke　up。　He　doen’t　know　wheer　he’s　going；　he　doen’t　know—　
what’s　afore　him；　he’s　bound　upon　a　voyage　that’ll　last；　on　and　off；　
all　the　rest　of　his　days；　take　my　wured　for　‘t；　unless　he　finds　what　
he’s　a　seeking　of。　I　am　sure　you’ll　be　a　friend　to　him；　Mas’r　Davy？’　

‘Trust　me；　I　will　indeed；’　said　I；　shaking　hands　with　Ham　
earnestly。　

‘Thankee。　Thankee；　very　kind；　sir。　One　thing　furder。　I’m　in　
good　employ；　you　know；　Mas’r　Davy；　and　I　han’t　no　way　now　of　
spending　what　I　gets。　Money’s　of　no　use　to　me　no　more；　except　to　
live。　If　you　can　lay　it　out　for　him；　I　shall　do　my　work　with　a　better　

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David　Copperfield　

art。　Though　as　to　that；　sir；’　and　he　spoke　very　steadily　and　mildly；　
‘you’re　not　to　think　but　I　shall　work　at　all　times；　like　a　man；　and　act　
the　best　that　lays　in　my　power！’　

I　told　him　I　was　well　convinced　of　it；　and　I　hinted　that　I　hoped　
the　time　might　even　come；　when　he　would　cease　to　lead　the　lonely　
life　he　naturally　contemplated　now。　

‘No；　sir；’　he　said；　shaking　his　head；　‘all　that’s　past　and　over　with　
me；　sir。　No　one　can　never　fill　the　place　that’s　empty。　But　you’ll　
bear　in　mind　about　the　money；　as　theer’s　at　all　times　some　laying　
by　for　him？’　

Reminding　him　of　the　fact；　that　Mr。　Peggotty　derived　a　steady；　
though　certainly　a　very　moderate　income　from　the　bequest　of　his　
late　brot