第 147 节
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papers; and searching for a Will。 There is no trace of any;
elsewhere。 It may be as well for you to assist us; if you please。’
I had been in agony to obtain some knowledge of the
circumstances in which my Dora would be placed—as; in whose
guardianship; and so forth—and this was something towards it。
We began the search at once; Mr。 Jorkins unlocking the drawers
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and desks; and we all taking out the papers。 The office…papers we
placed on one side; and the private papers (which were not
numerous) on the other。 We were very grave; and when we came
to a stray seal; or pencil…case; or ring; or any little article of that
kind which we associated personally with him; we spoke very low。
We had sealed up several packets; and were still going on
dustily and quietly; when Mr。 Jorkins said to us; applying exactly
the same words to his late partner as his late partner had applied
to him:
‘Mr。 Spenlow was very difficult to move from the beaten track。
You know what he was! I am disposed to think he had made no
will。’
‘Oh; I know he had!’ said I。
They both stopped and looked at me。 ‘On the very day when I
last saw him;’ said I; ‘he told me that he had; and that his affairs
were long since settled。’
Mr。 Jorkins and old Tiffey shook their heads with one accord。
‘That looks unpromising;’ said Tiffey。
‘Very unpromising;’ said Mr。 Jorkins。
‘Surely you don’t doubt—’ I began。
‘My good Mr。 Copperfield!’ said Tiffey; laying his hand upon my
arm; and shutting up both his eyes as he shook his head: ‘if you
had been in the Commons as long as I have; you would know that
there is no subject on which men are so inconsistent; and so little
to be trusted。’
‘Why; bless my soul; he made that very remark!’ I replied
persistently。
‘I should call that almost final;’ observed Tiffey。 ‘My opinion
is—no will。’
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It appeared a wonderful thing to me; but it turned out that
there was no will。 He had never so much as thought of making
one; so far as his papers afforded any evidence; for there was no
kind of hint; sketch; or memorandum; of any testamentary
intention whatever。 What was scarcely less astonishing to me; was;
that his affairs were in a most disordered state。 It was extremely
difficult; I heard; to make out what he owed; or what he had paid;
or of what he died possessed。 It was considered likely that for
years he could have had no clear opinion on these subjects
himself。 By little and little it came out; that; in the competition on
all points of appearance and gentility then running high in the
Commons; he had spent more than his professional income; which
was not a very large one; and had reduced his private means; if
they ever had been great (which was exceedingly doubtful); to a
very low ebb indeed。 There was a sale of the furniture and lease; at
Norwood; and Tiffey told me; little thinking how interested I was
in the story; that; paying all the just debts of the deceased; and
deducting his share of outstanding bad and doubtful debts due to
the firm; he wouldn’t give a thousand pounds for all the assets
remaining。
This was at the expiration of about six weeks。 I had suffered
tortures all the time; and thought I really must have laid violent
hands upon myself; when Miss Mills still reported to me; that my
broken…hearted little Dora would say nothing; when I was
mentioned; but ‘Oh; poor papa! Oh; dear papa!’ Also; that she had
no other relations than two aunts; maiden sisters of Mr。 Spenlow;
who lived at Putney; and who had not held any other than chance
communication with their brother for many years。 Not that they
had ever quarrelled (Miss Mills informed me); but that having
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been; on the occasion of Dora’s christening; invited to tea; when
they considered themselves privileged to be invited to dinner; they
had expressed their opinion in writing; that it was ‘better for the
happiness of all parties’ that they should stay away。 Since which
they had gone their road; and their brother had gone his。
These two ladies now emerged from their retirement; and
proposed to take Dora to live at Putney。 Dora; clinging to them
both; and weeping; exclaimed; ‘O yes; aunts! Please take Julia
Mills and me and Jip to Putney!’ So they went; very soon after the
funeral。
How I found time to haunt Putney; I am sure I don’t know; but I
contrived; by some means or other; to prowl about the
neighbourhood pretty often。 Miss Mills; for the more exact
discharge of the duties of friendship; kept a journal; and she used
to meet me sometimes; on the Common; and read it; or (if she had
not time to do that) lend it to me。 How I treasured up the entries;
of which I subjoin a sample!—
‘Monday。 My sweet D。 still much depressed。 Headache。 Called
attention to J。 as being beautifully sleek。 D。 fondled J。 Associations
thus awakened; opened floodgates of sorrow。 Rush of grief
admitted。 (Are tears the dewdrops of the heart? J。 M。)
‘Tuesday。 D。 weak and nervous。 Beautiful in pallor。 (Do we not
remark this in moon likewise? J。 M。) D。; J。 M。 and J。 took airing in
carriage。 J。 looking out of window; and barking violently at
dustman; occasioned smile to overspread features of D。 (Of such
slight links is chain of life composed! J。 M。)
‘Wednesday。 D。 comparatively cheerful。 Sang to her; as
congenial melody; “Evening Bells”。 Effect not soothing; but
reverse。 D。 inexpressibly affected。 Found sobbing afterwards; in
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own room。 Quoted verses respecting self and young Gazelle。
Ineffectually。 Also referred to Patience on Monument。 (Qy。 Why on
monument? J。 M。)
‘Thursday。 D。 certainly improved。 Better night。 Slight tinge of
damask revisiting cheek。 Resolved to mention name of D。 C。
Introduced same; cautiously; in course of airing。 D。 immediately
overcome。 “Oh; dear; dear Julia! Oh; I have been a naughty and
undutiful child!” Soothed and caressed。 Drew ideal picture of D。
C。 on verge of tomb。 D。 again overcome。 “Oh; what shall I do; what
shall I do? Oh; take me somewhere!” Much alarmed。 Fainting of
D。 and glass of water from public…house。 (Poetical affinity。
Chequered sign on door…post; chequered human life。 Alas! J。 M。)
‘Friday。 Day of incident。 Man appears in kitchen; with blue bag;
“for lady’s boots left out to heel”。 Cook replies; “No such orders。”
Man argues point。 Cook withdraws to inquire; leaving man alone
with J。 On Cook’s return; man still argues point; but ultimately
goes。 J。 missing。 D。 distracted。 Information sent to police。 Man to
be identified by broad nose; and legs like balustrades of bridge。
Search made in every direction。 No J。 D。 weeping bitterly; and
inconsolable。 Renewed reference to young Gazelle。 Appropriate;
but unavailing。 Towards evening; strange boy calls。 Brought into
parlour。 Broad nose; but no balustrades。 Says he wants a pound;
and knows a dog。 Declines to explain further; though much
pressed。 Pound being produced by D。 takes Cook to little house;
where J。 alone tied up to leg of table。 joy of D。 who dances round J。
while he eats his supper。 Emboldened by this happy change;
mention D。 C。 upstairs。 D。 weeps afresh; cries piteously; “Oh;
don’t; don’t; don’t! It is so wicked to think of anything but poor
papa!”—embraces J。 and sobs herself to sleep。 (Must not D。 C。
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confine himself to the broad pinions of Time? J。 M。)’
Miss Mills and her journal were my sole consolation at this
period。 To see her; who had seen Dora but a little while before—to
trace the initial letter of Dora’s name through her sympathetic
pages—to be made more and more miserable by her—were my
only comforts。 I felt as if I had been living in a palace of cards;
which had tumbled down; leaving only Miss Mills and me among
the ruins; I felt as if some grim enchanter had drawn a magic
circle round the innocent goddess of my heart; which nothing
indeed but those same strong pinions; capable of carrying so many
people over so much; would enable me to enter!
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Chapter 39
WICKFIELD AND HEEP
My aunt; beginning; I imagine; to be made seriously
uncomfortable by my prolonged dejection; made a
pretence of being anxious that I should go to Dover; to
see that all was working well at the cottage; which was let; and to
conclude an agreement; with the same tenant; for a longer term of
occupation。 Janet was drafted into the service of Mrs。 Strong;
where I saw her every day。 She had been undecided; on leaving
Dover; whether or no to give the finishing touch to that
renunciation of mankind in which she had been educated; by
marrying a pilot; but she decided against that venture。 Not so
much for the sake of principle; I believe; as because she happened
not to like him。
Althoug