david copperfield(大卫.科波维尔)-第76部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

out　like　so　many　caged　sparrows。　

We　went　to　the　Golden　Cross　at　Charing　Cross；　then　a　mouldy　
sort　of　establishment　in　a　close　neighbourhood。　A　waiter　showed　
me　into　the　coffee…room；　and　a　chambermaid　introduced　me　to　my　
small　bedchamber；　which　smelt　like　a　hackney…coach；　and　was　
shut　up　like　a　family　vault。　I　was　still　painfully　conscious　of　my　
youth；　for　nobody　stood　in　any　awe　of　me　at　all：　the　chambermaid　
being　utterly　indifferent　to　my　opinions　on　any　subject；　and　the　
waiter　being　familiar　with　me；　and　offering　advice　to　my　
inexperience。　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

‘Well　now；’　said　the　waiter；　in　a　tone　of　confidence；　‘what　would　
you　like　for　dinner？　Young　gentlemen　likes　poultry　in　general：　
have　a　fowl！’　

I　told　him；　as　majestically　as　I　could；　that　I　wasn’t　in　the　
humour　for　a　fowl。　

‘Ain’t　you？’　said　the　waiter。　‘Young　gentlemen　is　generally　tired　
of　beef　and　mutton：　have　a　weal　cutlet！’　

I　assented　to　this　proposal；　in　default　of　being　able　to　suggest　
anything　else。　

‘Do　you　care　for　taters？’　said　the　waiter；　with　an　insinuating　
smile；　and　his　head　on　one　side。　‘Young　gentlemen　generally　has　
been　overdosed　with　taters。’　

I　commanded　him；　in　my　deepest　voice；　to　order　a　veal　cutlet　
and　potatoes；　and　all　things　fitting；　and　to　inquire　at　the　bar　if　
there　were　any　letters　for　Trotwood　Copperfield；　Esquire—which　I　
knew　there　were　not；　and　couldn’t　be；　but　thought　it　manly　to　
appear　to　expect。　

He　soon　came　back　to　say　that　there　were　none　（at　which　I　was　
much　surprised）　and　began　to　lay　the　cloth　for　my　dinner　in　a　box　
by　the　fire。　While　he　was　so　engaged；　he　asked　me　what　I　would　
take　with　it；　and　on　my　replying　‘Half　a　pint　of　sherry；’　thought　it　a　
favourable　opportunity；　I　am　afraid；　to　extract　that　measure　of　
wine　from　the　stale　leavings　at　the　bottoms　of　several　small　
decanters。　I　am　of　this　opinion；　because；　while　I　was　reading　the　
newspaper；　I　observed　him　behind　a　low　wooden　partition；　which　
was　his　private　apartment；　very　busy　pouring　out　of　a　number　of　
those　vessels　into　one；　like　a　chemist　and　druggist　making　up　a　
prescription。　When　the　wine　came；　too；　I　thought　it　flat；　and　it　
certainly　had　more　English　crumbs　in　it；　than　were　to　be　expected　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

in　a　foreign　wine　in　anything　like　a　pure　state；　but　I　was　bashful　
enough　to　drink　it；　and　say　nothing。　

Being　then　in　a　pleasant　frame　of　mind　（from　which　I　infer　that　
poisoning　is　not　always　disagreeable　in　some　stages　of　the　
process）；　I　resolved　to　go　to　the　play。　It　was　Covent　Garden　
Theatre　that　I　chose；　and　there；　from　the　back　of　a　centre　box；　I　
saw　Julius　Caesar　and　the　new　Pantomime。　To　have　all　those　
noble　Romans　alive　before　me；　and　walking　in　and　out　for　my　
entertainment；　instead　of　being　the　stern　taskmasters　they　had　
been　at　school；　was　a　most　novel　and　delightful　effect。　But　the　
mingled　reality　and　mystery　of　the　whole　show；　the　influence　upon　
me　of　the　poetry；　the　lights；　the　music；　the　company；　the　smooth　
stupendous　changes　of　glittering　and　brilliant　scenery；　were　so　
dazzling；　and　opened　up　such　illimitable　regions　of　delight；　that　
when　I　came　out　into　the　rainy　street；　at　twelve　o’clock　at　night；　I　
felt　as　if　I　had　come　from　the　clouds；　where　I　had　been　leading　a　
romantic　life　for　ages；　to　a　bawling；　splashing；　link…lighted；　
umbrella…struggling；　hackney…coach…jostling；　patten…clinking；　
muddy；　miserable　world。　

I　had　emerged　by　another　door；　and　stood　in　the　street　for　a　
little　while；　as　if　I　really　were　a　stranger　upon　earth：　but　the　
unceremonious　pushing　and　hustling　that　I　received；　soon　recalled　
me　to　myself；　and　put　me　in　the　road　back　to　the　hotel；　whither　I　
went；　revolving　the　glorious　vision　all　the　way；　and　where；　after　
some　porter　and　oysters；　I　sat　revolving　it　still；　at　past　one　o’clock；　
with　my　eyes　on　the　coffee…room　fire。　

I　was　so　filled　with　the　play；　and　with　the　past—for　it　was；　in　a　
manner；　like　a　shining　transparency；　through　which　I　saw　my　
earlier　life　moving　along—that　I　don’t　know　when　the　figure　of　a　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

handsome　well…formed　young　man　dressed　with　a　tasteful　easy　
negligence　which　I　have　reason　to　remember　very　well；　became　a　
real　presence　to　me。　But　I　recollect　being　conscious　of　his　
company　without　having　noticed　his　coming　in—and　my　still　
sitting；　musing；　over　the　coffee…room　fire。　

At　last　I　rose　to　go　to　bed；　much　to　the　relief　of　the　sleepy　
waiter；　who　had　got　the　fidgets　in　his　legs；　and　was　twisting　them；　
and　hitting　them；　and　putting　them　through　all　kinds　of　
contortions　in　his　small　pantry。　In　going　towards　the　door；　I　
passed　the　person　who　had　come　in；　and　saw　him　plainly。　I　turned　
directly；　came　back；　and　looked　again。　He　did　not　know　me；　but　I　
knew　him　in　a　moment。　

At　another　time　I　might　have　wanted　the　confidence　or　the　
decision　to　speak　to　him；　and　might　have　put　it　off　until　next　day；　
and　might　have　lost　him。　But；　in　the　then　condition　of　my　mind；　
where　the　play　was　still　running　high；　his　former　protection　of　me　
appeared　so　deserving　of　my　gratitude；　and　my　old　love　for　him　
overflowed　my　breast　so　freshly　and　spontaneously；　that　I　went　up　
to　him　at　once；　with　a　fast…beating　heart；　and　said：　

‘Steerforth！　won’t　you　speak　to　me？’　

He　looked　at　me—just　as　he　used　to　look；　sometimes—but　I　saw　
no　recognition　in　his　face。　

‘You　don’t　remember　me；　I　am　afraid；’　said　I。　

‘My　God！’　he　suddenly　exclaimed。　‘It’s　little　Copperfield！’　

I　grasped　him　by　both　hands；　and　could　not　let　them　go。　But　for　
very　shame；　and　the　fear　that　it　might　displease　him；　I　could　have　
held　him　round　the　neck　and　cried。　

‘I　never；　never；　never　was　so　glad！　My　dear　Steerforth；　I　am　so　
overjoyed　to　see　you！’　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

‘And　I　am　rejoiced　to　see　you；　too！’　he　said；　shaking　my　hands　
heartily。　‘Why；　Copperfield；　old　boy；　don’t　be　overpowered！’　And　
yet　he　was　glad；　too；　I　thought；　to　see　how　the　delight　I　had　in　
meeting　him　affected　me。　

I　brushed　away　the　tears　that　my　utmost　resolution　had　not　
been　able　to　keep　back；　and　I　made　a　clumsy　laugh　of　it；　and　we　
sat　down　together；　side　by　side。　

‘Why；　how　do　you　come　to　be　here？’　said　Steerforth；　clapping　
me　on　the　shoulder。　

‘I　came　here　by　the　Canterbury　coach；　today。　I　have　been　
adopted　by　an　aunt　down　in　that　part　of　the　country；　and　have　just　
finished　my　education　there。　How　do　you　come　to　be　here；　
Steerforth？’　

‘Well；　I　am　what　they　call　an　Oxford　man；’　he　returned；　‘that　is　
to　say；　I　get　bored　to　death　down　there；　periodically—and　I　am　on　
my　way　now　to　my　mother’s。　You’re　a　devilish　amiable…looking　
fellow；　Copperfield。　just　what　you　used　to　be；　now　I　look　at　you！　
Not　altered　in　the　least！’　

‘I　knew　you　immediately；’　I　said；　‘but　you　are　more　easily　
remembered。’　

He　laughed　as　he　ran　his　hand　through　the　clustering　curls　of　
his　hair；　and　said　gaily：　

‘Yes；　I　am　on　an　expedition　of　duty。　My　mother　lives　a　little　way　
out　of　town；　and　the　roads　being　in　a　beastly　condition；　and　our　
house　tedious　enough；　I　remained　here　tonight　instead　of　going　
on。　I　have　not　been　in　town　half…a…dozen　hours；　and　those　I　have　
been　dozing　and　grumbling　away　at　the　play。’　

‘I　have　been　at　the　play；　too；’　said　I。　‘At　Covent　Garden。　What　a　
delightful　and　magnificent　entertainment；　Steerforth！’　

Charles　Dickens　ElecBook　Classics　


David　Copperfield　

Steerforth　laughed　heartily。　

‘My　dear　young　Davy；’　he　said；　clapping　me　on　the　shoulder　
again；　‘you　are　a　very　Daisy。　The　daisy　of　the　field；　at　sunrise；　is　
not　fresher　than　you　are。　I　have　been　at　Covent　Garden；　too；　and　
there　never　was　a　more　miserable　business。　Holloa；　you　sir！’　

This　was　addressed　to　the　waiter；　who　had　been　very　attentive　
to　our　recognition；　at　a　distance；　and　now　came　forward　
deferentially。　

‘Where　have　you　put　my　friend；　Mr。　Copperfield？’　said　
Steerforth。　

‘Beg　your　pardon；　sir？’　

‘Where　does　he　sleep？　What’s　his　number？　You　know　what　I　
mean；’　said　Steerforth。　

‘Well；　sir；’　said　the　waiter；　with　an　apologetic　air。　‘Mr。　
Copperfield　is　at　present　in　forty…four；　sir。’　

‘And　what　the　devil　do　you　mean；’　retorted　Steerforth；　‘by　
putting　Mr。　Copperfield　into　a　little　loft　over　a　stable？’　

‘Why；　you　see　we　wasn’t　aware；　sir；’　returned　the　waiter；　still　
apologetically；　‘as　Mr。　Copperfield　was　anyways　particular。　We　can　
give　Mr。　Copperfield　seventy…two；　sir；　if　it　would　be　preferred。　
Next　you；　sir。’　

‘Of　course　it　would　be　preferred；’　said　Steerforth。　‘And　do　it　at　
once。’　The　waiter　immediately　withdrew　to　make　the　exchange。　
Steerforth；　very　much　amused　at　my　having　been　put　into　forty…
four；　laughed　again；　and　clapped　me　on　the　shoulder　again；　and　
invited　me　to　breakfast　with　him　next　morning　at　ten　o’clock—an　
invitation　I　was　only　too　proud　and　happy　to　accept。　It　being　now　
pretty　late；　we　took　our　candles　and　went　upstairs；　whe