Chapter 40 Chapter 36 I am full of pride

I went to the Roman baths again first thing in the morning before setting off for Highgate.Now I am not discouraged.I am not afraid of ragged coats, nor do I miss the gray horse.I completely changed my initial attitude towards our recent misfortune.What I had to do was to show my aunt that the kindness she had shown me in the past had not been thrown in vain on a man who was insensitive and knew what was good.What I had to do was to use the training of my painful early years to work with a strong will.What I must do is take up my woodcutter's axe, and carve my own way through the Hard Wood, till I can come to Dora.I walked very fast, as if this could be done by walking.

Finding myself on the familiar Highgate road, I could not help thinking of all the pleasures I had had in walking it.This mission was completely different from the previous ones, and it seemed like my entire life had changed.But this change does not discourage me.With a new life come new ideas, new intentions.The more you give, the more you get.Dora is what I shall have, I must have Dora. I was so excited that I regretted that my clothes were not yet quite shabby.I want to fell those trees in the Forest of Difficulty in an atmosphere that shows my strength.On the way, I saw an old man with copper wire glasses. He was hammering stones. I really wanted to borrow a hammer from him to open a granite road to Dora.I was so excited that I was hot and breathless; I felt like I had earned a lot of money.With this mood in mind, I went into a rented cottage, and had a good look-for I felt the necessity of being realistic.The house suits me and Dora just fine: there's a little garden in the front where Kip can run around and yell at the peddlers through a crack in the fence, and the best room upstairs is for my aunt.I came out of the room hotter and faster, heading straight for Highgate.I ran so fast that I got there an hour early.Even if you don't arrive early, you still have to linger and calm down before you can meet people.

The first thing I thought about as soon as I made the necessary preparations was to find housing for the Ph.D.His lodgings were not in that part of Highgate where Mrs Steerforth lived, but on the opposite side of the town.When I discovered the place, I was attracted again by an irresistible force, and turned back into a lane next to Mrs Steerforth's house, and looked in over a corner of the garden wall.Steerforth's room was tightly shut.The door of the conservatory was open, and Rosa Duttle, hatless, was walking up and down the gravel path beside the lawn with a quick, restless step.She reminds me of a ferocious animal that straightens its chain and walks, walks, on a familiar path, consuming its own life little by little.

I quietly left my observation point to a nearby one, where I walked until ten o'clock.It is not the church steeple that now stands on top of the hill that tells me the time.There was no church at that time, but a red house used as a school building. In my impression, it should be an old house suitable for studying. The Doctor's lodgings are a lovely place, and if I can tell from the appearance that it seems only recently finished, he may have spent a good deal of money on it.As I approached, I saw him walking in the garden, still dressed, as if he had been walking without stopping since I was a student.He was still surrounded by his companions--for there were many tall trees about, and two or three guard crows on the grass, as if they had received a letter from the Canterbury crows, and were watching him closely.

Knowing that it was impossible to get his attention from a distance, I boldly opened the door and followed him so that he could see me when he turned around.He looked at me thoughtfully as he turned towards me, evidently not expecting it to be me; then his benevolent face broke into a smile, and he took mine in his own. "Hey, my dear Copperfield," said the Doctor, "you are a grown-up man! How are you? I am so glad to see you. My dear Copperfield, how far you have come! You are-- It's - my God!" I greeted him, and Mrs. Strong. "Oh, yes!" said the doctor, "Anne is very well, she must be very glad to see you. You have always been her admirer. That's what she said when I showed her your letter last night. Still Yes, oh, of course, do you remember Mr Jack Melton, Copperfield?"

"I remember well, sir." "Of course," said the doctor, "of course he's fine." "Has he returned, sir?" I asked. "From India?" said the Doctor. "Yes. Mr. Jack Melton can't stand the climate, my dear. And Mrs. Markland—you haven't forgotten Mrs. Markland?" Forget about that veteran!Forget about her so quickly! "Mrs. Markland was so distressed about him," said the Doctor, "that it was poor, so we sent him back; we worked for him, and sent him to a little patent office, which was very suitable for him."

I know what Mr. Jack Melton is like, so I believe it's a place where there's little work and good pay.The doctor put his hands on my shoulders, turned his benevolent face towards me in a friendly way, and continued as he walked: "Now, my dear Copperfield, tell me about this proposal of yours. To tell the truth, I find it very satisfactory and agreeable to me. But don't you think you can do better work? You are qualified Lots of good work. Wouldn't it be a pity that you'd have laid the foundations of any edifice to dedicate your youthful years to the poor jobs I can offer?"

Excited again, I insisted on my request in a fanatical tone (I'm afraid it was), and reminded the doctor that I had a job. "Yes, yes," replied the doctor, "that is true. Of course, you have a job and you are a trainee, and that is very important. But, my dear boy, what is seventy pounds a year?" "But that doubles our income, Dr. Strong," I said. "Ah!" said the Doctor, "think about it! I didn't say a strict limit of seventy pounds a year, because I always want to give any young friend I employ a little something else. No doubt," said the Doctor still walked around my shoulders and said, "I always think of a gift every year."

"My dear teacher," I said, speaking from the heart, "I owe you much more than I can accept—" "No, no." The doctor interrupted me and said, "I'm sorry!" "If you would accept all my hours, my mornings and evenings, and value them at seventy pounds a year, you would do me an indescribable favor." "My God!" said the doctor innocently, "think about it, so much for so little! My God! My God! If there was a better opportunity, would you go, to be honest, huh?" Said the doctor, he used to use this phrase very seriously to stimulate our self-esteem as students.

"Honestly, sir!" I replied, in old school style. "That's it," said the doctor, patting me on the shoulder.As we walked up and down the garden, his hand was always on my shoulder. "If my work had anything to do with that dictionary," I stammered a little, hoping it was all right, "I'd be twenty times happier, sir." The doctor stopped, patted me on the shoulder with a smile, and said with a complacent expression: "My dear little friend, you are right. It is that dictionary!" He had the air of discovering that I had penetrated to the extremes of human wisdom.

How could it be anything else!His pockets were stuffed with something about it, as was his head.These things overflowed all over him.He told me that he had been doing it very well since he had retired from teaching; the mornings and evenings I proposed were perfect for him, since during the day he was in the habit of walking and thinking while walking.Mr. Jack Melton, who had recently been his temporary secretary, had thrown his papers into some disorder by being unaccustomed to such work; but we were able to rectify the situation very quickly, and get the work back on. It's going well.Later, when we were working step by step, I found that Mr. Jack Melton's labor was more annoying than I expected, because he not only made countless mistakes, but also drew so many soldiers and women on the doctor's manuscript. head, causing me to often stray into the chaotic ecstasy. The Doctor is very optimistic about the prospect that we are about to work together for that wonderful cause.We made an appointment to start work at 7:00 the next morning.We'll be working two hours in the morning and two to three hours in the evening, except on Saturdays when I'll be off.Except Sunday, of course, I have to rest too. These conditions seem to me to be very generous. The plan was thus arranged, to our mutual satisfaction, and the doctor took me to see Mrs. Strong at his house.We see her brushing the Doctor's books in his new study, his holy relics which he never allows anyone else to touch. For me, breakfast was delayed.So we had breakfast together.No sooner had we sat down, and before I heard the sound of someone coming, I saw it in Mrs. Strong's face.A man on horseback came to the gate, took the bridle in his arm, and led the horse into the yard with great dignity, tied it to a ring on the wall of the garage, and then walked into the breakfast room with a whip.This is Mr. Jack Melton; I don't think he was improved by India.However, I have a demanding heart for young people who do not cut down trees in the Forest of Difficulty, so my impression is somewhat biased. "Mr. Jack!" said the Doctor. "Copperfield!" Mr. Jack Melton shook hands with me, but I believe he was not enthusiastic, and looked as if he was languidly coping, which I secretly resented.But his sluggishness was tolerable, except when talking to his cousin Anne. "Did you have breakfast this morning, Mr. Jack?" said the Doctor. "I hardly ever have breakfast, sir," said he, sitting down in an easy chair, and looking up, "I hate breakfast!" "Any news today?" asked the doctor. "Not at all, sir," replied Mr. Melton. "There is a news that the people in the North are famine and discontent; but somebody must be famine and discontent somewhere." The doctor's expression became serious, and he said as if he wanted to change the subject, "Then there is no news at all; they say no news is good news." "In the paper, sir, there's a long piece on the assassination," said Mr. Melton. "But people are always being assassinated, and I don't read it." This indifference to all human actions and feelings did not seem to me then to be so noble a character as it has since been.That indifference has caught on since then.This indifference has been so well acted out that I find some fashionable men and women like the larvae of adults.But at the time this indifference, which seemed to me novel and perhaps aroused my attention, did not improve my opinion of Mr. Jack Melton a little, nor did it increase my confidence in him. increase a little. "I've come to ask Anne if she'd like to go to the opera to-night," said Mr. Melton, turning to her. "It's the last night of the season; there's a diva there, and she really ought to go. She's so wonderful." Well, and besides, she's so cute and ugly," Mr. Melton lazily resumed. The Doctor liked anything that pleased his wife.The doctor turned to her and said: "You should, Anne. You should." "I don't want to go," she said to the doctor. "I'd rather stay home. I'd love to stay home." Then she talked to me without looking at her cousin.She asked how Agnes was doing, if she would come to see her, and when.She was so disturbed that I wondered why the Doctor couldn't see it. But he saw nothing.He told her kindly that she should be happy when she was young, and that she should not be dulled by a dull old man.And, he said, he wanted to hear her sing him all the new singers, but how could she sing well if she didn't go?In this way, the Doctor insisted on making an appointment for her, and asked Jack Melton to come back for dinner.After this appointment, I think, Jack went to his patent office.Anyway, anyway, he rode off lazily. The next morning, I wondered if she had gone to the opera.She did not go, but sent to London to turn her cousin off; she went to see Agnes in the afternoon, and persuaded the Doctor to go with her.They walked home together through the fields, the Doctor told me, and had a good evening.I wondered, would Agnes go to the opera if she wasn't in London?Did Agnes have a good influence on her too? I don't think she looks very happy.But her face is beautiful, otherwise, it would be a hypocritical face.I used to watch her face because she was always sitting under the window when we were working.She prepares breakfast for us and we work while we eat.When I left at nine, she knelt on the floor at the doctor's feet and put his leggings and shoes on.In the open window of the low-ceilinged room, some green leaves drooped and cast a soft shadow on her face.I kept thinking about the face I saw her looking at him that night while he was reading. I was very busy at the time, I got up at 5 in the morning and didn't get home until 9 or 10 in the evening.But I was happy with this busyness, and never slowed down for any reason, and I felt that the more tired I was, the more I did Dora.I haven't told Dora about the change in my character yet, because she's due to see Miss Mills in a few days, and then I'll tell her all about it.I only told her in my letters--all our letters were smuggled by Miss Mills--that I had much to say to her.At the same time, I cut down on the amount of hair oil I used, didn't use soap and toilet water at all, and sold three vests at ridiculously low prices, because these things were too extravagant in this hard life I had. Still unsatisfied with these, and anxious to find more to do, I went to Traddles.At that time he lived behind the low walls of a house on Castle Street in Holborn.Mr. Dick, who had been to Highgate twice with me, had renewed his friendship with the Doctor, and I took him with him to see Traddles. I took Mr. Dick there with me, because he was very sympathetic to my aunt's misfortune, and sincerely believed that I worked harder than any ancient ship slave or contemporary prisoner, while he could do nothing useful himself. He began to worry about it, so that his vitality was greatly lost and his appetite was gone.In such a situation, he found it more difficult to finish the submission.The harder he tried to write, the more often that Charles I's back-and-forth head got in the way.We can only kindly deceive him into believing that he is useful, or we have to make him really useful - which is of course better - otherwise, I am afraid, his problems will be worse.So I decided to try and see if Traddles could help me.Before we went, I wrote to Traddles, telling him in detail what had happened to us.Traddles wrote me back a very good letter, expressing his sympathy and friendship. We found him working with such vigor on his inkwells and papers from the sight of the pot-stand and little round table in one corner of the little apartment.He received us warmly, and soon became friends with Mr. Dick.Mr. Dick said with certainty that he had seen Traddles before, and we both said it was very likely. The first thing I had to consult with Traddles was this--I have heard that many men who have become famous in various careers have made their fortunes by covering the debates in Parliament.Traddles had told me of the newspaper business, which was one of his hopes, and I put the two together; Profession.Traddles told me at this time that, according to his investigations, the mere mechanical skill—that is, the mastery of writing and reading shorthand—was generally necessary, with very few exceptions, to do a good job in the trade. ——Its difficulty is almost equivalent to mastering six languages; with special tenacity, it may be possible to achieve this goal within a few years.Traddles was fully convinced that this solved the problem, but I felt that here were the tall trees to be felled, and I at once resolved to take up the axe, and to cut my way through the thick wood to Dora. "Thank you very much, dear Traddles!" said I; "I shall begin to-morrow." Naturally, Traddles looked surprised again, but he could not imagine how delighted I was. "I'm going to buy a book that outlines this skill," I said. "I'm going to study in a doctoral school, where I have a lot of free time. I'm going to take notes in court as a This is an exercise. Traddles, my dear friend, I must master this art!" "Dear me!" said Traddles, with wide-eyed eyes, "I never thought you were such a determined character, Copperfield!" I don't know how he could think of it, because this is also very new to me.Putting the matter down, I returned to Mr. Dick's question. "You know," said Mr. Dick hopefully, "if I could make an effort, Mr. Traddles--if I could beat the drums--or some kind of blowjob, anyway, a little bit of use." !" Poor man!I have no doubt that at heart he prefers this kind of business than anything else.But Traddles, who never smiled, replied calmly: "And you're a very good calligrapher, sir. You told me, didn't you, Copperfield?" "Excellent!" I said.Indeed, he is.His writing is very neat. "You don't think," said Traddles, "that you could copy, sir, if I could find some for you?" Mr. Dick looked at me with a perplexed face. "Eh, Trowood?" I shake my head.Mr. Dick shook his head too, and sighed. "Tell him about the petition," said Mr. Dick. I explained to Traddles the difficulty of removing Charles I from Mr. Dick's submission; and all the while Mr. Dick was looking at Traddles with the utmost humility, sucking his thumb. "But the papers I'm talking about are, you know, already drawn up," said Traddles, after a moment's thought. "Mr. Dick doesn't need to use his head at all. That's all right, Copperfield." Er? Anyway, why don't you give it a try?" These words give us new hope.Traddles and I consulted in whispers, while Mr. Dick sat watching us eagerly.After discussing it, we came up with a plan.Mr. Dick set to work on that plan the next day, and he did a good job. At the table in front of the window facing Buckingham Street we set out the work Traddles had found for him, copying, I forget how many copies, of a legal document concerning the right of way.On another table we left the last part of that great unfinished submission open.Our instructions to Mr. Dick were that he should copy exactly what he had before him, and that he should not deviate in the slightest from the manuscript; and that as soon as he felt it necessary to speak of Charles I, he should include it in his papers.We encouraged him to make up his mind on this point, and then left his aunt to watch over him.Later, my aunt told me that at first, he was like a man with a gong and a drum, constantly distracted by those two things, and then he found that doing so made him dizzy and exhausted, and The document was clearly under his nose again, so he copied it down conscientiously, leaving the submission for a more opportune time.In short, although we were careful not to let him work to his detriment, and though he didn't start the week at the beginning of the week, he had ten shillings and ninepence next Saturday night.As long as I live I shall not forget how he went round the shops in the neighbourhood, and exchanged the money for sixpence; With tears of joy and pride, I dedicate them to my aunt.From the moment he began to do useful work, he was like a man under the influence of an auspicious charm; and if there was a jovial person on that Saturday night, it was to see my aunt as the most wonderful woman in the world , the contented man who again regards me as the most wonderful young man. "You won't be hungry now, Trotwood," said Mr. Dick and I, shaking hands in a corner. "I'll feed her, sir!" and he waved his ten fingers in the air as if It is the same as ten banks. I don't know who was happier--Traddles, or me? "I've quite forgotten about it," said Traddles, handing me a letter suddenly out of his pocket. "I've completely forgotten Mr. Micawber!" This letter is from Mr. Micawber (Mr. Micawber never misses an opportunity to write). "Please pass it on from Lord Tor Traddles of the Inner Court." The content is as follows: "My dear Copperfield: You probably won't be surprised - when you get a call about some When the opportunity has come to report.I seem to have told you before that I am looking forward to this. I shall settle in one of our fine island towns, The society there is a mixture of agriculture and religion; I shall be closely connected with a specialized occupation there.Mrs Micawber and us My children will go with me.Someday in the future, our bodies may be buried together in the cemetery belonging to an ancient building; and because The ancient building, the place I'm referring to, has acquired a reputation.If I say that from China to Peru, no one knows that place, it is not Is it too much? As I bid farewell to modern Babylon after its many vicissitudes, I The letter was dignified, but neither Mrs. Micawber nor I could help thinking that we were leaving a place so closely connected with our family's altar. People, this farewell may be a few years, and it will be a farewell forever.If, on the eve of parting, you will join our mutual friend Thomas Traddles Sir, come to our current residence and exchange the blessings that are due at this time. You are doing me a favor. Wilkin Micawberch" I was glad indeed to know that Mr. Micawber had escaped from that humiliating life, and that some chance had indeed presented itself.I heard Traddles say that the appointment mentioned in the letter was that very evening, and I offered to go.We therefore went together to the lodgings which Mr. Micawber was renting in Mr. Mortimer's name, at the head of Gray Court Road. The apartment was so poorly furnished that we saw the eight or nine-year-old twins lying on an unmade bed frame in the living room.Mr. Micawber had begun to concoct (he claimed to brew) in a wash-jar in the living room the delicious drink for which he was famous.This time, I had the honor to revisit my old acquaintance with Master Micawber, and I found that he was already a boy of 12 or 13 years old, with all the active characteristics of his peers.I also made the acquaintance of his sister, in whom, Mr. Micawber told us, "her mother was rejuvenated like a phoenix." "My dear Copperfield," said Mr. Micawber, "you and Mr. Traddles will be able to forgive every little inconvenience which may inevitably arise, when you and Mr. Traddles are present at our removal." I answered gracefully, and looked around, but saw that all the chattels of this family had been packed up, and the total amount was by no means large.I congratulate Mrs. Micawber on the change that is about to take place. "My dear Mr. Copperfield," said Mrs. Micawber, "I am sure that you have always shown us a friendly interest; Mother, I will never desert Mr Micawber." Traddles, implored by Mrs. Micawber's eyes, agreed enthusiastically. "That," said Mrs. Micawber, "that, my dear Mr. Copperfield and Mr. Traddles, is at least my understanding of duty. When I recite: 'I, Emma, ​​marry you, Wilkin', I provoked this responsibility when I read the recitation before an ordinary candle the night before. I have come to the conclusion that I will never Mr. Micawber cannot be abandoned. And," said Mrs. Micawber, "even if I may have misunderstood the recitation, I would not abandon Mr. Micawber. "My dear," said Mr. Micawber, somewhat impatiently, "I didn't expect you to do anything like that." "I know, my dear Mr. Copperfield," continued Mrs. Micawber, "that I am now going to try my luck among strangers; All sorts of people wrote to report this fact, and they ignored it. Perhaps, actually, I am superstitious," said Mrs. Micawber, "but I think Mr. Micawber was destined in his life to write many letters forever. There will be no answer. I can tell from the silence of my natal family that they disapprove of my resolution; but, if my parents were alive, Mr. Copperfield, they could not keep me from Keep my usual way." I voiced my opinion and said I thought it was the right thing to do. "To shut oneself up in a cathedral town," said Mrs. Micawber, "may be a sacrifice, but, Mr. Copperfield, if it is a sacrifice to me, it is a sacrifice to a man of Micawber's character." It must be a greater sacrifice for a man of Mr. Bo's caliber." "Oh! You're going to a cathedral town?" I said. Mr. Micawber, who had been pouring us out of the hand-pump, replied: "To Canterbury. As a matter of fact, my dear Copperfield, I have contracted our friend Heep to assist and serve him as his confidential secretary." I stared wide-eyed at Mr. Micawber, who was very pleased with my astonishment. "I should have told you plainly," he said in a bureaucratic tone, "that this outcome was chiefly due to Mrs. Micawber's habits of affairs and her well-thought-out prompting. Mrs. Micawber's previous challenge has been posed by me in advertisements. The form was issued, and the result was accepted by my friend Heep, so as to achieve mutual understanding. As for my friend Heep," said Mr. Micawber, "this is a very shrewd man, and I would do everything to him. The flattery I want. My friend Shipp has not set the base salary too high, but he has done a good job in relieving me of financial pressure, based on the value of my work and the beliefs I hold in the value of that work. Quite a lot. I am going to dedicate to my friend Heep the little eloquence and knowledge which I happen to acquire by chance," said Mr. Micawber, boastfully disparaging himself with his usual genteel air. Having acquired some legal knowledge as a debtor defendant in the civil courts, I shall at once read the Interpretation of the Law by our most important and famous jurist in England. I believe I need not explain, but I am speaking of Bly Your Honour, Justice Stone." -------- ① British jurists in the 18th century. These remarks, and indeed the greater part of the conversation that evening, were interrupted from time to time by Mrs. Micawber's picketing of Master Micawber's behaviour, and by Master Micawber's disapproval of the picketing.Now Master Micawber sat down on his boots, now clamped his head with his arms as if it were about to fall, now kicked Traddles under the table, now crossed his feet, now stretched his feet as far as custom forbids, Sometimes he leans his face on the table and let his hair spread out in the wine glass, sometimes he moves his limbs that are always moving or some kind of appearance that violates social morality.I sat there, wondering and wondering at Mr. Micawber's announcement, until Mrs. Micawber had another opportunity to talk. "I would particularly appeal to Mr. Micawber's attention," said Mrs. Micawber, "that, while he is engaged in this branch of the law, my dear Mr. Copperfield, he should not neglect that he will someday The ability to rise to the top of the tree. I am sure that Mr. Micawber, in a career so suited to his richness and eloquence, would excel. Now, say, Mr. Traddles," said Mrs. Micawber, significantly. "A senior lawyer, or even a Lord Chancellor," said the long air. "One cannot lose or gain the said office by taking the profession which Mr. Micawber now accepts?" "My dear," said Mr. Micawber, but looking at Traddles inquiringly, "we shall have time enough to consider such matters later on." "Micawber," she replied, "no! Your mistake in life is that you don't see far enough. If you don't want to be sorry for yourself, you should be worthy of your family. You must see the limits of your talents at a glance. It's as far as it can go." Mr. Micawber, coughing, drank with great complacency, still looking at Traddles, as if eager to hear his opinion. "Well, the fact of the matter is, Mrs. Micawber," said Traddles, addressing her mildly, "that I'm speaking of the plain and simple facts, you know—" "Just so," said Mrs. Micawber, "my dear Mr. Traddles, I wish to be as plain and exact as I can on a subject of this great importance." "—yes," said Traddles, "that branch of the law, even though Mr. Micawber was a full junior solicitor—" "Exactly," said Mrs. Micawber, taking it up. "Wilkin, if you roll your eyes like that, you will make your eyes irreparable." "—and that," continued Traddles, "is all right. Only senior lawyers are eligible for the office, and Mr. Micawber cannot be a senior lawyer without attending a law school for five years." "I understand you?" said Mrs. Micawber, with all her air of zeal for the truth. "My dear Mr. Traddles, when that period is over Mr. Micawber will be entitled to be a Senior lawyer or justice, am I right?" "He'll be qualified then." Traddles emphasized the words qualified. "Thank you, that will suffice. If it is the case, that Mr. Micawber loses nothing by holding the office, I am relieved. Me, of course," said Mrs. Micawber. "Only effeminate; but I have always thought Mr. Micawber to have that judicial mind which my father told me when I was in my mother's house; Allowing his intellect to develop fully allows him to acquire a supervisory status." I am quite sure that Mr. Micawber was looking at himself in the Chancery's chair with the eyes of his judicial mind.He proudly stroked his bald forehead, and said with a conceited and natural expression: "My dear, let us not cast our fortunes. If I am destined to wear a wig, I am at least outwardly (referring to his baldness) prepared for that title," said Mr. Micawber, "I don't spare my hair. Perhaps it was for special reasons that I had it taken from me. I don't know. I think, my dear Copperfield, to teach my children to devote themselves to church work; I don't Deny it, and I'll be happy because he's famous all over the world." -------- ①British lawyers and judges wear wigs when they appear in court. "Dedicated to church work?" I said, still thinking about Uriah Heep. "Yes," said Micawber first, "he has a peculiar cranial resonance, and should have joined the choir at the outset. We live in Canterbury, and our local connections will no doubt enable him to make up any shortfalls.” When I looked at Master Micawber again, I saw he sounded like he was speaking from behind his eyebrows; when he sang us "The Woodpecker"--he had to choose between singing and going to bed-- Her voice seemed to come from there.After a few compliments on his performance, we began a conversation of sorts.As I could not conceal my changed situation, I spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Micawber.It's hard for me to describe how happy they were because my aunt was in trouble; and how friendly and close they were because of it. 当我们几乎是在喝最后一道酒时，我提醒特拉德尔说我们应该先为我们的朋友的健康幸福干杯，然后再分手。我请米考伯先生为我们斟满酒，按规矩干杯——隔着桌子和他握手又亲了米考伯太太，就这样来纪念这重大的聚会。特拉德尔在第一个动作方面效仿我而行，而在第二个动作方面，他自认为友情深度还不够而没效仿。 “我亲爱的科波菲尔，”米考伯先生把拇指插到背心口袋里，站起来说道，“我青年时代的伴侣：如果允许我这么说——还有我可敬的朋友特拉德尔，如果允许我这么称他——请允许我代表米考伯太太，我本人、还有我们的子女，用最热烈而最没有折扣的言词对你们的善意予以感谢。在这将我们交托给全新生活的迁移前夕，”米考伯先生说道，好像他此去是离乡去异国一样，“我也许应当对我们面前的这两位朋友献上几句临别赠言。不过所有想说的话，都在前面讲过了。我就要成为那学识渊博如海的职业中微不足道的一员，凭着那学识渊博如海的职业为媒介，我要力精图治，不致蒙耻，不管我将升至何种职位，米考伯太太也必会予以支持。由于眼下的金钱债务压力——当时举借时以为可以马上偿还，可是由于时势捉弄至今未能偿还——我只好采取让我天然的本能退缩的装束——我指的是取下了眼镜——并拥有一个我无法称其为合法的姓。有关这一切，我要说的是：云雾已从那可怕的场面上散开了，太阳又高高升起在山巅。下星期一，在下午4点，马车到达坎特伯雷时，我的脚就要踏上我的地方——而且我的大名是：米考伯！” 米考伯说罢就坐下，一连喝了两杯酒。然后他又很严肃地说道： “在离别之前，我还有件事必须做，那就是完全了结一个法律方面的行为。我朋友托马斯·特拉德尔先生两次为了我的方便而在期票上具名，如果我可以用一通俗的说法的话。第一次，托马斯·特拉德尔先生被投入——让我简言之，投入了困难中。第二次，尚未到期。第一次的欠款额为，”说到这里，米考伯先生仔细察看有关文件，“我相信，二十三镑四先令九便士半；第二次，据我帐上记载，为十八镑六先令二便士。如果我计算无误，总数为四十一镑十先令十一便士半，我的朋友科波菲尔可以替我核对一下这个数吗？” 我照办了，证实无误。 “尚未偿还我的债务前，”米考伯先生说道，“就离开这城市和我的朋友托马斯·特拉德尔先生，我将感到精神上难以忍受的痛苦。因此，我已为我的朋友托马斯·特拉德尔先生准备了一个为达到这目的而拟好的文件，现在就在我手中。我请我朋友托马斯·特拉德尔先生收下我这张四十一镑十先令十一便士半的借据；恢复我的道德尊严，从而感到又能坦然在同胞面前行走，我将感到快乐。 说完这一番话后，米考伯先生也被自己的话感动了，他把那借据塞到特拉德尔的手里，并祝后者万事如意。我很相信，不但米考伯先生觉得这就等于还了钱，连特拉德尔自己也在没来得及想清前亦认为这和已偿还没有区别。 由于采取了这一道德的行为，米考伯先生在他的同胞前行走是如此坦然，当他用灯给我们照亮下楼的路时，他的胸似乎又宽出了一半。我们双方热情洋溢地分手。我把特拉德尔送到他门口才独自回家，我暗自想着这一切离奇矛盾的事时不禁想，这样不负责任的米考伯先生所以从未找我借钱，或许是念在我曾做过他房客的旧情上吧。如果他向我借钱，我也肯定不忍或不敢拒绝他的。我相信他是知道这一点的，和我知道得一样清楚，这是他值得表扬之处。