第 107 节
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assistance; to copy law writings。 That didn’t answer very well; and
then I began to state cases for them; and make abstracts; and that
sort of work。 For I am a plodding kind of fellow; Copperfield; and
had learnt the way of doing such things pithily。 Well! That put it in
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David Copperfield
my head to enter myself as a law student; and that ran away with
all that was left of the fifty pounds。 Yawler recommended me to
one or two other offices; however—Mr。 Waterbrook’s for one—and
I got a good many jobs。 I was fortunate enough; too; to become
acquainted with a person in the publishing way; who was getting
up an Encyclopaedia; and he set me to work; and; indeed’
(glancing at his table); ‘I am at work for him at this minute。 I am
not a bad compiler; Copperfield;’ said Traddles; preserving the
same air of cheerful confidence in all he said; ‘but I have no
invention at all; not a particle。 I suppose there never was a young
man with less originality than I have。’
As Traddles seemed to expect that I should assent to this as a
matter of course; I nodded; and he went on; with the same
sprightly patience—I can find no better expression—as before。
‘So; by little and little; and not living high; I managed to scrape
up the hundred pounds at last;’ said Traddles; ‘and thank Heaven
that’s paid—though it was—though it certainly was;’ said
Traddles; wincing again as if he had had another tooth out; ‘a pull。
I am living by the sort of work I have mentioned; still; and I hope;
one of these days; to get connected with some newspaper: which
would almost be the making of my fortune。 Now; Copperfield; you
are so exactly what you used to be; with that agreeable face; and
it’s so pleasant to see you; that I sha’n’t conceal anything。
Therefore you must know that I am engaged。’
Engaged! Oh; Dora!
‘She is a curate’s daughter;’ said Traddles; ‘one of ten; down in
Devonshire。 Yes!’ For he saw me glance; involuntarily; at the
prospect on the inkstand。 ‘That’s the church! You come round
here to the left; out of this gate;’ tracing his finger along the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
inkstand; ‘and exactly where I hold this pen; there stands the
house—facing; you understand; towards the church。’
The delight with which he entered into these particulars; did
not fully present itself to me until afterwards; for my selfish
thoughts were making a ground…plan of Mr。 Spenlow’s house and
garden at the same moment。
‘She is such a dear girl!’ said Traddles; ‘a little older than me;
but the dearest girl! I told you I was going out of town? I have
been down there。 I walked there; and I walked back; and I had the
most delightful time! I dare say ours is likely to be a rather long
engagement; but our motto is “Wait and hope!” We always say
that。 “Wait and hope;” we always say。 And she would wait;
Copperfield; till she was sixty—any age you can mention—for me!’
Traddles rose from his chair; and; with a triumphant smile; put
his hand upon the white cloth I had observed。
‘However;’ he said; ‘it’s not that we haven’t made a beginning
towards housekeeping。 No; no; we have begun。 We must get on by
degrees; but we have begun。 Here;’ drawing the cloth off with
great pride and care; ‘are two pieces of furniture to commence
with。 This flower…pot and stand; she bought herself。 You put that
in a parlour window;’ said Traddles; falling a little back from it to
survey it with the greater admiration; ‘with a plant in it; and—and
there you are! This little round table with the marble top (it’s two
feet ten in circumference); I bought。 You want to lay a book down;
you know; or somebody comes to see you or your wife; and wants a
place to stand a cup of tea upon; and—and there you are again!’
said Traddles。 ‘It’s an admirable piece of workmanship—firm as a
rock!’ I praised them both; highly; and Traddles replaced the
covering as carefully as he had removed it。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
‘It’s not a great deal towards the furnishing;’ said Traddles; ‘but
it’s something。 The table…cloths; and pillow…cases; and articles of
that kind; are what discourage me most; Copperfield。 So does the
ironmongery—candle…boxes; and gridirons; and that sort of
necessaries—because those things tell; and mount up。 However;
“wait
and hope!” And I assure you she’s the dearest girl!’
‘I am quite certain of it;’ said I。
‘In the meantime;’ said Traddles; coming back to his chair; ‘and
this is the end of my prosing about myself; I get on as well as I can。
I don’t make much; but I don’t spend much。 In general; I board
with the people downstairs; who are very agreeable people indeed。
Both Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber have seen a good deal of life; and are
excellent company。’
‘My dear Traddles!’ I quickly exclaimed。 ‘What are you talking
about?’
Traddles looked at me; as if he wondered what I was talking
about。
‘Mr。 and Mrs。 Micawber!’ I repeated。 ‘Why; I am intimately
acquainted with them!’
An opportune double knock at the door; which I knew well
from old experience in Windsor Terrace; and which nobody but
Mr。 Micawber could ever have knocked at that door; resolved any
doubt in my mind as to their being my old friends。 I begged
Traddles to ask his landlord to walk up。 Traddles accordingly did
so; over the banister; and Mr。 Micawber; not a bit changed—his
tights; his stick; his shirt…collar; and his eye…glass; all the same as
ever—came into the room with a genteel and youthful air。
‘I beg your pardon; Mr。 Traddles;’ said Mr。 Micawber; with the
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David Copperfield
old roll in his voice; as he checked himself in humming a soft tune。
‘I was not aware that there was any individual; alien to this
tenement; in your sanctum。’
Mr。 Micawber slightly bowed to me; and pulled up his shirt…
collar。
‘How do you do; Mr。 Micawber?’ said I。
‘Sir;’ said Mr。 Micawber; ‘you are exceedingly obliging。 I am in
statu quo。’
‘And Mrs。 Micawber?’ I pursued。
‘Sir;’ said Mr。 Micawber; ‘she is also; thank God; in statu quo。’
‘And the children; Mr。 Micawber?’
‘Sir;’ said Mr。 Micawber; ‘I rejoice to reply that they are;
likewise; in the enjoyment of salubrity。’
All this time; Mr。 Micawber had not known me in the least;
though he had stood face to face with me。 But now; seeing me
smile; he examined my features with more attention; fell back;
cried; ‘Is it possible! Have I the pleasure of again beholding
Copperfield!’ and shook me by both hands with the utmost
fervour。
‘Good Heaven; Mr。 Traddles!’ said Mr。 Micawber; ‘to think that
I should find you acquainted with the friend of my youth; the
companion of earlier days! My dear!’ calling over the banisters to
Mrs。 Micawber; while Traddles looked (with reason) not a little
amazed at this description of me。 ‘Here is a gentleman in Mr。
Traddles’s apartment; whom he wishes to have the pleasure of
presenting to you; my love!’
Mr。 Micawber immediately reappeared; and shook hands with
me again。
‘And how is our good friend the Doctor; Copperfield?’ said Mr。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
Micawber; ‘and all the circle at Canterbury?’
‘I have none but good accounts of them;’ said I。
‘I am most delighted to hear it;’ said Mr。 Micawber。 ‘It was at
Canterbury where we last met。 Within the shadow; I may
figuratively say; of that religious edifice immortalized by Chaucer;
which was anciently the resort of Pilgrims from the remotest
corners of—in short;’ said Mr。 Micawber; ‘in the immediate
neighbourhood of the Cathedral。’
I replied that it was。 Mr。 Micawber continued talking as volubly
as he could; but not; I thought; without showing; by some marks of
concern in his countenance; that he was sensible of sounds in the
next room; as of Mrs。 Micawber washing her hands; and hurriedly
opening and shutting drawers that were uneasy in their action。
‘You find us; Copperfield;’ said Mr。 Micawber; with one eye on
Traddles; ‘at present established; on what may be designated as a
small and unassuming scale; but; you are aware that I have; in the
course of my career; surmounted difficulties; and conquered
obstacles。 You are no stranger to the fact; that there have been
periods of my life; when it has been requisite that I should pause;
until certain expected events should turn up; when it has been
necessary that I should fall back; before making what I trust I shall
not be accused of presumption in terming—a spring。 The present
is one of those momentous stages in the life of man。 You find me;
fallen back; for a spring; and I have every reason to believe that a
vigorous leap will shortly be the result。’
I was expressing my satisfaction; when Mrs。 Micawber came in;
a little more slatternly than she used to be; or so she seemed now;
to my unaccustomed eyes; but still with some pr