第 147 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2021-05-04 17:23      字数:9254
  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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  David Copperfield
  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