第 107 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2021-05-04 17:23      字数:9182
  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
  Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
  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
  Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
  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