david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第144部分

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But；　as　to　reading　them　after　I　had　got　them；　I　might　as　well　have　
copied　the　Chinese　inscriptions　of　an　immense　collection　of　tea…
chests；　or　the　golden　characters　on　all　the　great　red　and　green　
bottles　in　the　chemists’　shops！　

There　was　nothing　for　it；　but　to　turn　back　and　begin　all　over　
again。　It　was　very　hard；　but　I　turned　back；　though　with　a　heavy　
heart；　and　began　laboriously　and　methodically　to　plod　over　the　
same　tedious　ground　at　a　snail’s　pace；　stopping　to　examine　
minutely　every　speck　in　the　way；　on　all　sides；　and　making　the　most　
desperate　efforts　to　know　these　elusive　characters　by　sight　
wherever　I　met　them。　I　was　always　punctual　at　the　office；　at　the　

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David　Copperfield　

Doctor’s　too：　and　I　really　did　work；　as　the　common　expression　is；　
like　a　cart…horse。　One　day；　when　I　went　to　the　Commons　as　usual；　I　
found　Mr。　Spenlow　in　the　doorway　looking　extremely　grave；　and　
talking　to　himself。　As　he　was　in　the　habit　of　complaining　of　pains　
in　his　head—he　had　naturally　a　short　throat；　and　I　do　seriously　
believe　he　over…starched　himself—I　was　at　first　alarmed　by　the　
idea　that　he　was　not　quite　right　in　that　direction；　but　he　soon　
relieved　my　uneasiness。　

Instead　of　returning　my　‘Good　morning’　with　his　usual　
affability；　he　looked　at　me　in　a　distant；　ceremonious　manner；　and　
coldly　requested　me　to　accompany　him　to　a　certain　coffee…house；　
which；　in　those　days；　had　a　door　opening　into　the　Commons；　just　
within　the　little　archway　in　St。　Paul’s　Churchyard。　I　complied；　in　a　
very　uncomfortable　state；　and　with　a　warm　shooting　all　over　me；　
as　if　my　apprehensions　were　breaking　out　into　buds。　When　I　
allowed　him　to　go　on　a　little　before；　on　account　of　the　narrowness　
of　the　way；　I　observed　that　he　carried　his　head　with　a　lofty　air　that　
was　particularly　unpromising；　and　my　mind　misgave　me　that　he　
had　found　out　about　my　darling　Dora。　

If　I　had　not　guessed　this；　on　the　way　to　the　coffee…house；　I　could　
hardly　have　failed　to　know　what　was　the　matter　when　I　followed　
him　into　an　upstairs　room；　and　found　Miss　Murdstone　there；　
supported　by　a　background　of　sideboard；　on　which　were　several　
inverted　tumblers　sustaining　lemons；　and　two　of　those　
extraordinary　boxes；　all　corners　and　flutings；　for　sticking　knives　
and　forks　in；　which；　happily　for　mankind；　are　now　obsolete。　

Miss　Murdstone　gave　me　her　chilly　finger…nails；　and　sat　
severely　rigid。　Mr。　Spenlow　shut　the　door；　motioned　me　to　a　chair；　
and　stood　on　the　hearth…rug　in　front　of　the　fireplace。　

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David　Copperfield　

‘Have　the　goodness　to　show　Mr。　Copperfield；’　said　Mr。　Spenlow；　
what　you　have　in　your　reticule；　Miss　Murdstone。’　

I　believe　it　was　the　old　identical　steel…clasped　reticule　of　my　
childhood；　that　shut　up　like　a　bite。　Compressing　her　lips；　in　
sympathy　with　the　snap；　Miss　Murdstone　opened　it—opening　her　
mouth　a　little　at　the　same　time—and　produced　my　last　letter　to　
Dora；　teeming　with　expressions　of　devoted　affection。　

‘I　believe　that　is　your　writing；　Mr。　Copperfield？’　said　Mr。　
Spenlow。　

I　was　very　hot；　and　the　voice　I　heard　was　very　unlike　mine；　
when　I　said；　‘It　is；　sir！’　

‘If　I　am　not　mistaken；’　said　Mr。　Spenlow；　as　Miss　Murdstone　
brought　a　parcel　of　letters　out　of　her　reticule；　tied　round　with　the　
dearest　bit　of　blue　ribbon；　‘those　are　also　from　your　pen；　Mr。　
Copperfield？’　

I　took　them　from　her　with　a　most　desolate　sensation；　and；　
glancing　at　such　phrases　at　the　top；　as　‘My　ever　dearest　and　own　
Dora；’　‘My　best　beloved　angel；’　‘My　blessed　one　for　ever；’　and　the　
like；　blushed　deeply；　and　inclined　my　head。　

‘No；　thank　you！’　said　Mr。　Spenlow；　coldly；　as　I　mechanically　
offered　them　back　to　him。　‘I　will　not　deprive　you　of　them。　Miss　
Murdstone；　be　so　good　as　to　proceed！’　

That　gentle　creature；　after　a　moment’s　thoughtful　survey　of　the　
carpet；　delivered　herself　with　much　dry　unction　as　follows。　

‘I　must　confess　to　having　entertained　my　suspicions　of　Miss　
Spenlow；　in　reference　to　David　Copperfield；　for　some　time。　I　
observed　Miss　Spenlow　and　David　Copperfield；　when　they　first　
met；　and　the　impression　made　upon　me　then　was　not　agreeable。　
The　depravity　of　the　human　heart　is　such—’　

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David　Copperfield　

‘You　will　oblige　me；　ma’am；’　interrupted　Mr。　Spenlow；　‘by　
confining　yourself　to　facts。’　

Miss　Murdstone　cast　down　her　eyes；　shook　her　head　as　if　
protesting　against　this　unseemly　interruption；　and　with　frowning　
dignity　resumed：　

‘Since　I　am　to　confine　myself　to　facts；　I　will　state　them　as　dryly　
as　I　can。　Perhaps　that　will　be　considered　an　acceptable　course　of　
proceeding。　I　have　already　said；　sir；　that　I　have　had　my　suspicions　
of　Miss　Spenlow；　in　reference　to　David　Copperfield；　for　some　time。　
I　have　frequently　endeavoured　to　find　decisive　corroboration　of　
those　suspicions；　but　without　effect。　I　have　therefore　forborne　to　
mention　them　to　Miss　Spenlow’s　father’；　looking　severely　at　him—　
‘knowing　how　little　disposition　there　usually　is　in　such　cases；　to　
acknowledge　the　conscientious　discharge　of　duty。’　

Mr。　Spenlow　seemed　quite　cowed　by　the　gentlemanly　sternness　
of　Miss　Murdstone’s　manner；　and　deprecated　her　severity　with　a　
conciliatory　little　wave　of　his　hand。　

‘On　my　return　to　Norwood；　after　the　period　of　absence　
occasioned　by　my　brother’s　marriage；’　pursued　Miss　Murdstone　in　
a　disdainful　voice；　‘and　on　the　return　of　Miss　Spenlow　from　her　
visit　to　her　friend　Miss　Mills；　I　imagined　that　the　manner　of　Miss　
Spenlow　gave　me　greater　occasion　for　suspicion　than　before。　
Therefore　I　watched　Miss　Spenlow　closely。’　

Dear；　tender　little　Dora；　so　unconscious　of　this　Dragon’s　eye！　

‘Still；’　resumed　Miss　Murdstone；　‘I　found　no　proof　until　last　
night。　It　appeared　to　me　that　Miss　Spenlow　received　too　many　
letters　from　her　friend　Miss　Mills；　but　Miss　Mills　being　her　friend　
with　her　father’s　full　concurrence；’　another　telling　blow　at　Mr。　
Spenlow；　‘it　was　not　for　me　to　interfere。　If　I　may　not　be　permitted　

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David　Copperfield　

to　allude　to　the　natural　depravity　of　the　human　heart；　at　least　I　
may—I　must—be　permitted；　so　far　to　refer　to　misplaced　
confidence。’　

Mr。　Spenlow　apologetically　murmured　his　assent。　

‘Last　evening　after　tea；’　pursued　Miss　Murdstone；　‘I　observed　
the　little　dog　starting；　rolling；　and　growling　about　the　drawing…
room；　worrying　something。　I　said　to　Miss　Spenlow；　“Dora；　what　is　
that　the　dog　has　in　his　mouth？　It’s　paper。”　Miss　Spenlow　
immediately　put　her　hand　to　her　frock；　gave　a　sudden　cry；　and　ran　
to　the　dog。　I　interposed；　and　said；　“Dora；　my　love；　you　must　permit　
me。”　‘　

Oh　Jip；　miserable　Spaniel；　this　wretchedness；　then；　was　your　
work！　

‘Miss　Spenlow　endeavoured；’　said　Miss　Murdstone；　‘to　bribe　me　
with　kisses；　work…boxes；　and　small　articles　of　jewellery—that；　of　
course；　I　pass　over。　The　little　dog　retreated　under　the　sofa　on　my　
approaching　him；　and　was　with　great　difficulty　dislodged　by　the　
fire…irons。　Even　when　dislodged；　he　still　kept　the　letter　in　his　
mouth；　and　on　my　endeavouring　to　take　it　from　him；　at　the　
imminent　risk　of　being　bitten；　he　kept　it　between　his　teeth　so　
pertinaciously　as　to　suffer　himself　to　be　held　suspended　in　the　air　
by　means　of　the　document。　At　length　I　obtained　possession　of　it。　
After　perusing　it；　I　taxed　Miss　Spenlow　with　having　many　such　
letters　in　her　possession；　and　ultimately　obtained　from　her　the　
packet　which　is　now　in　David　Copperfield’s　hand。’　

Here　she　ceased；　and　snapping　her　reticule　again；　and　shutting　
her　mouth；　looked　as　if　she　might　be　broken；　but　could　never　be　
bent。　

‘You　have　heard　Miss　Murdstone；’　said　Mr。　Spenlow；　turning　to　

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David　Copperfield　

me。　‘I　beg　to　ask；　Mr。　Copperfield；　if　you　have　anything　to　say　in　
reply？’　

The　picture　I　had　before　me；　of　the　beautiful　little　treasure　of　
my　heart；　sobbing　and　crying　all　night—of　her　being　alone；　
frightened；　and　wretched；　then—of　her　having　so　piteously　begged　
and　prayed　that　stony…hearted　woman　to　forgive　her—of　her　
having　vainly　offered　her　those　kisses；　work…boxes；　and　trinkets—　
of　her　being　in　such　grievous　distress；　and　all　for　me—very　much　
impaired　the　little　dignity　I　had　been　able　to　muster。　I　am　afraid　I　
was　in　a　tremulous　state　for　a　minute　or　so；　though　I　did　my　best　to　
disguise　it。　

‘There　is　nothing　I　can　say；　sir；’　I　returned；　‘except　that　all　the　
blame　is　mine。　Dora—’　

‘Miss　Spenlow；　if　you　please；’　said　her　father；　majestically。　

‘—was　induced　and　persuaded　by　me；’　I　went　on；　swallowing　
that　colder　designation；　‘to　consent　to　this　concealment；　and　I　
bitterly　regret　it。’　

‘You　are　very　much　to　blame；　sir；’　said　Mr。　Spenlow；　walking　to　
and　fro　upon　the　hearth…rug；　and　emphasizing　what　he　said　with　
his　whole　body　instead　of　his　head；　on　account　of　the　stiffness　of　
his　cravat　and　spine。　‘You　have　done　a　stealthy　and　unbecoming　
action；　Mr。　Copperfield。　When　I　take　a　gentleman　to　my　house；　no　
matter