Chapter 56 Chapter 52 I participated in the "Volcano Eruption"

On the day before the day which Mr. Micawber had so mysteriously appointed, my aunt and I discussed how to get there.Because my aunt was very reluctant to leave Dora.Oh, how easily I carried Dora up and down stairs then! Though Mr. Micawber invited my aunt, we thought she should remain at home, represented by Mr. Dick and myself.In short, when we resolved to do so, Dora declared again that she would never forgive herself, or her bad boy, if her aunt stayed at home under any pretense.So, we couldn't make up our minds. "I don't want to talk to you," said Dora to my aunt, shaking her curls. "If you don't go, I'll be naughty! I'll have Kip barking at you all day. I'll think you're a nuisance." Old stuff!"

"Okay, Xiaohua." My aunt said with a smile, "You know you can't leave me!" "I can do it," said Dora. "You're no use to me. You never run up and down stairs all day for me. You never sit down and tell me stories about Big Fat, that's all." His shoes were torn and he was covered in dust—oh, poor little fellow! You never do anything to please me, do you, my dear?" Dora kissed my aunt hastily, and said, "Do Yes, you really did it! I was only joking!"—she was afraid that my aunt and grandma would take it seriously. "But, Auntie," said Dora coquettishly, "here, listen, you must go. I'll play tricks on you. Only if you let me go. If you don't go, I'll let my naughty go." Kid live that life, and I'll make myself so naughty--and Kip! If you don't go, you'll regret it forever and ever, and think you should really go. And besides," Dora pushed her hair back I leaned closer and looked at my aunt and me in surprise, "Why don't you two go together? My illness is actually not serious. Is it serious?"

"Hey, what's the problem!" cried my aunt. "What fantasy!" I said. "Yes! I know I'm a stupid little thing!" said Dora, looking slowly back and forth at us both.Then, lying on the bed, she pursed her pretty little mouth and kissed us. "Okay, then, you must go together, otherwise, I don't believe you; and I'm going to cry!" I could tell from my aunt's expression that she was starting to give in.Dora was happy again, for she saw it too. "You'll bring back so much to tell me that it will take me a week at least to understand it all!" said Dora, "because I know it will take me a long time to understand. There must be a question in it! Besides, if there's anything in it to count, I don't know when I'll figure it out; so my bad boy has to make a sad face now and then. Well, you've gone now, haven't you? You've only been One night. After you leave, Kip will take care of me. Before you leave, Big Fat carries me upstairs, and I will not come down until you come back. You have to help me bring a letter with a lot of reproaches to Agnes, because she hasn't come to see us for a long time!"

We stopped discussing and decided to go together.We also said that Dora was a sick little liar just because she wanted to be petted.She is very happy and happy.So the four of us, my aunt, Mr. Dick, Traddles, and I, went that night to Canderbury by the Dover mail. At midnight we arrived, after all difficulties, at the inn where Mr. Micawber had invited us to wait for him.In the hotel, I saw a letter saying that he would meet us at half past nine the next morning.Then, trembling in that most uncomfortable moment, we walked through the various airless corridors there (those smelled of a solution of soap and horse dung that seemed to have penetrated through the centuries), and entered their own bedrooms.

Early in the morning, I walked slowly through the lovely and quiet old street, and came to the shadow of the awe-inspiring corridor and church.There were crows flying about the cathedral towers, which looked down, in the clear morning breeze, upon the great rich fields and the pleasing rivers, as if such a thing had never existed on earth.But when the bells rang, they told me sadly of all the changes of things, of how old they were, of my dear Dora's youth; The iron armor of the Black Prince and the light dust on the sea of ​​time disappeared like ripples on the surface of the water, and those bell towers seemed to tell me that there are many people who are never old. They came to this world, loved them, and left again.

-------- ① In the 14th century, the son of King Edward III of England, who led an army to defeat France in 1346. I looked at the old house on the corner, but didn't approach it for fear of being recognized and inadvertently sabotaging the projects I'd intended to help.The morning sun gilded the gables and the latticed windows of the house; and the long, old, peaceful light seemed to gild my heart. I walked in the field for about an hour before returning from the street.After such a period of time, Dajie seems to have completely shaken off the bleary sleep of last night.Among those busy in the shop I recognized my old enemy—the butcher, now in high boots, with a child, and in his own shop.He was looking after the child like a good man in society.

When it was almost 9 o'clock, we sat down to have breakfast, all restless, very anxious and irritable.Everyone except Mr. Dick had breakfast as a formality.We awaited Mr. Micawber's arrival with increasing eagerness.At last we stopped pretending to eat, and my aunt walked up and down the room; Traddles sat on the sofa as if reading a newspaper, and looked at the ceiling from time to time; and I looked out of the window, ready to inform Mr. Micawber 's arrivalI didn't wait long.For, as soon as the clock struck nine-thirty, he appeared in the street. "Here he comes," said I, "without his lawyer's clothes!"

My aunt hadn't taken off her bonnet at breakfast, but now she fastened the strings and put the quilt on her shoulders, as if preparing for something she was determined not to compromise on.Traddles buttoned his coat with an air of determination.Mr. Dick, a little alarmed at the sight of these serious gestures, felt compelled to imitate them, and put his hat on with both hands, pressing it over his ears as far as possible, but took it off immediately to welcome Mr. Micawber. "Gentlemen and ladies," said Mr. Micawber, "good morning! My dear sir," he said to Mr. Dick, who shook his hand warmly, "you are very good."

"Have you had your breakfast?" said Mr. Dick. "Have a steak!" "Absolutely not, my good sir!" said Mr. Micawber, stopping Mr. Dick, who was going to ring the bell. "I, Mr. Dixon, have lost my appetite for a long time." Mr. Dick liked the new name very much, and was very grateful to Mr. Micawber who had given it to him.He shook hands with Mr. Micawber again, and laughed childishly. "Dick," said my aunt, "be careful!" Mr. Dick blushed and fell silent. "Here, sir," said my aunt, putting on her gloves, to Mr. Micawber, "we're ready. Vesuvius, or whatever, you may erupt if you like."

"Miss," replied Mr. Micawber, "I believe you will soon see an eruption. Mr. Traddles, I trust, will you allow me to mention here that we had an exchange of views?" "Of course it is, Copperfield," said Traddles to me, who was looking at him in amazement, "Mr Micawber has consulted with me what he was considering, and I have given my opinion as best I can. .” "Unless I am deluding myself, Mr. Traddles," continued Mr. Micawber, "I am thinking of an exposure of an important nature." "Indeed," said Traddles. "Perhaps, under these circumstances, ladies and gentlemen, would you condescend for the time being and follow the orders of a man who deserves to be called only a prodigal son in the vast sea of ​​men, and who has been condemned due to personal mistakes and the pressure of circumstances?" Squeezed out of shape, but still your compatriots."

"We have great confidence in you, Mr. Micawber," said I, "to do as you like." "Mr. Copperfield," said Mr. Micawber presently, "your confidence will not be broken this time. Allow me to walk five minutes before I meet with you in the offices of my employers, Wickfield and Heap. Greetings to all of you from Miss Wickfield." My aunt and I both looked at Traddles, who nodded his assent. "At the moment," said Mr. Micawber, "I have nothing more to say." To my great surprise, he bowed to all of us and left.He was pale and his manners were raw. When I asked Traddles to explain, he only smiled forcedly, and shook his head, which stood on end again.So, I took out my watch and used the most helpless way to amuse myself, counting the 5 minutes that passed.My aunt did the same with her watch.When the time was up, Traddles gave her his arm; and we all walked in silence to the old house. We found Mr. Micawber writing, or pretending to be, at the large desk in the downstairs corner office.He had an office ruler stuck in his vest, and it protruded more than a foot from his chest, like a trendy shirt decoration. As I felt that I was expected to speak, I said aloud: "How are you, Mr. Micawber?" "Mr. Copperfield," said Mr. Micawber gravely, "I wish you well." "Is Miss Wickfield at home?" I said. "Mr. Wilfield is bedridden, sir, with rheumatic fever," he answered; "but Miss Wickfield, I am sure will be glad to see an old friend. Come in, sir." !" He led us into the dining-room--the first room I ever entered in the house--and, opening the door of Mr. Wickfield's former office, said aloud: "Miss Trotwood, Mr. David Copperfield, Mr. Thomas Traddles, Mr. Dixon!" I haven't seen Uriah Heep since I fought him.He was evidently taken by surprise by our visit, I believe, because we were taken by surprise ourselves.He didn't frown, for he had few eyebrows, but he furrowed his brow so hard that his narrow eyes were almost squeezed into slits.At the same time, he immediately brought his soft hand up to his chin.This exposed the panic or gaffe in his heart.But that was only for the moment when we came in, only for the moment when I looked over my aunt's head at him.Soon, he was as humble as ever, begging and begging. "Ah, I believe," said he, "it is an unexpected honour! It is an unexpected joy to see all my friends in and around St. Paul's at the same time (I may say so)! Mr. Copperfield, I I wish you well, if I may so humbly confess myself, that I would count a friend as a friend or not. Mrs. Copperfield, sir, I hope she is well too. To be honest, we have heard of her lately. The health is not good and we are all very disturbed." I was ashamed to let him hold my hand, but I knew no way of avoiding it. "Since I've led your horses as a humble clerk, Miss Trotwood, things have changed in this office; haven't they?" said Uriah with a hideous smile, "but I haven't." , Miss Trotwood." "Ah, sir," continued my aunt, "to tell you the truth, I think you have been faithful to your youthful ambitions, if you think it is satisfactory." "Thank you for the compliment, Miss Trotwood!" said Uriah, writhing in that disgusting way again. "Micawber, let them inform Miss Agnes—and my mother. My mother will be honored to see these guests!" said Uriah, as she arranged the chairs. "You are not busy, Mr. Heep?" said Traddles.Uriah's sly red eyes met Traddles's by chance as he evaded us. "No, Mr. Traddles," replied Uriah, as he returned to his office chair and closed his bony hands between his bony knees. "Not as busy as I'd like it to be. Lawyers, sharks, blood-suckers, though, are hard-to-satisfy, you know. If it weren't for the fact that Mr. Wickfield couldn't do anything, sir, Micawber and I." I am not so busy. But I believe that working for him is a duty as well as a pleasure. I believe, Mr. Traddles, you have not had any contact with Mr. Wickfield? I believe, I am only lucky met you once?" "No, I have had no contact with Mr. Wickfield," replied Traddles, "or I might have been at your service, Mr. Heep." There was something in the tone of this answer which made Heep look sinisterly and hesitantly at the speaker.He was reassured when he saw that it was only Traddles, with his bristly bristling hair, who was speaking only with a good-natured face and honest manner; and he gave another convulsive twitch all over his body (his throat especially), and replied: "I'm sorry, Mr Traddles. Otherwise you would have admired him as much as we all. His little faults will only make you love him the more. But if you wish to hear the compliments of my companion, I beg you Ask Mr. Copperfield. Even if you don't hear him say anything else, he likes to talk a lot about this home!" Though I wished to contradict the approbation, I did not have time to do so, for Agnes entered at this moment, accompanied by Mr. Dick.She wasn't as composed as usual, I thought, clearly looking worried and overworked.But her earnest manner and peaceful beauty had a gentler radiance. As she greeted us, I saw Uriah spying on her.Uriah reminds me of an ugly devil plotting to destroy the auspicious angel.At this moment Mr. Micawber gave an invisible signal to Traddles (only the latter and I noticed), and Traddles went out. "No more greetings, Micawber," said Uriah. Mr. Micawber stood erect in front of the door, with the ruler in his hand, and looked calmly at this one of his countrymen, who was also his employer. "What are you waiting for?" said Uriah, "Micawber! Did you hear me tell you that you have no service here?" "Yes!" returned Mr. Micawber, still motionless. "Then why do you still stand here and wait?" Yulaiya said. "Because I—in short—will," said Mr. Micawber impulsively. Uriah's face suddenly changed color, and an abnormal gray climbed onto his reddish cheeks.He stared nervously at Mr. Micawber. "You prodigal son, the whole world knows about it," he said with a dry smile, "I'm afraid you want me to fire you. Go away! I'll talk to you later." "If there is one villain in the world and I have had enough talk," said Mr. Micawber, suddenly with great impassioned indignation, "then the name of the villain is—Heep!" Uriah was wilted, as if struck or stung.Looking slowly from one to the other of us with all the ferocity and malice that he could display, he said in a lower voice: "Oh, ah! It's a dark coal! You've agreed to meet here! You've conspired with my men, haven't you, Copperfield? Well, take care. You'll get no good out of it. We're very friendly to each other." Understood. You, and me. There was never a good time between us. You were a proud pup when you first got here; you envied my promotion, didn't you? Leave your plans against me, I'm going to Out of the blue, Micawber, go away. I'll talk to you later." "Mr. Micawber," said I, "the fellow has suddenly changed, and has not only told the truth in the matter, but has convinced me that he is at the end of his rope. Deal with him as he deserves." "You guys are a bunch of rambunctious fellows, aren't you?" Uriah wiped the sweat from his brow with his long, thin hand, and whispered, "Brothered my men, a scum of society— You know, Copperfield, the same scum as you were before you were adopted--to discredit me with his lies? You'd better stop it, Miss Trotwood; otherwise, I'll call your husband Mess with you. I know your past from my professional point of view, and it's not useless, miss! If you still love your father somehow, Miss Wickfield, you'd better get out of this Man. If you join, I'll destroy him. Here, come on! I've put some of you under my rake, think again before you get through the rake .You, Micawber, if you don't want to be ruined, think again. There is still time to get away, and I advise you to go away and talk to you later, you fool! Where is my mother?" said he.He seemed to realize at once that Traddles was not there, and in a great surprise he tore the bell-rope. "Good job in one's house!" "Here comes Mrs. Heep, sir," said Traddles, returning with the respectable mother of the respectable son, "and I have taken the liberty of introducing myself to her." "Who do you introduce yourself as?" Uriah asked. "What are you doing here?" "I am Mr. Wickfield's friend and agent, sir," said Traddles, with a businesslike calm. "I have in my pocket a power of attorney from him entrusting me to represent him in all matters." "That old donkey got drunk," Uriah said, and his appearance became even uglier. "Your power of attorney is a lie!" "He's been cheated out of something, I know," continued Traddles calmly; "you know that, Mr. Heep. If you like, we can ask Micawber on the subject." Please ask, sir." "Ully—!" said Mrs. Heep, gesticulating anxiously. "Shut up, mother," he said at once; "speak less and regret less." "But, my Yurai—" "Please shut up, mother, and let me handle it, will you?" Although I have known for a long time that his humility is a mask, and everything outside of him is a treacherous disguise, but before seeing him take off the mask, I still have no clear idea of ​​the extent of his hypocrisy.When he knew that the mask could not deceive us any more, he took it off at one stroke; that viciousness, that arrogance, that hatred he showed; exalted), and at the same time despair at not being able to hold us back, all fit perfectly with the validation I got from him.But it all started when even I— Have known him for so long, hated him so deeply—and still amazed. He stood there looking at us one by one.Needless to say the way he looked at me, because he always hated me, I know, and I also remember my handprint on his face.But, as his eyes glided over Agnes, I saw his annoyance at losing ground with her, and the hideous lust which had been revealed in his disappointment (which made him ambitious for her, but had no Don't understand or care about her good sentiments).At this moment, even the mere thought of her living in front of such a person for even an hour shocked me. After rubbing his chin for a moment, his vicious eyes looked at us again from those cartilaginous fingers.Then, half begging, half insulting, he spoke to me. "Copperfield, you've always been very self-righteous on your reputation; you think it's decent to conspire with my men to sneak around my place, don't you? If I was the one who did it, it wouldn't be enough. Curious; for I never considered myself a gentleman (Though I never wandered the streets like you, as Micawber said), but it was you who did it!—You ain't afraid of this What's the matter? You don't give a damn about how I'll take revenge, and what kind of trouble you're going to get yourself into with this plot? Very well. We'll find out! You're going to ask Micawber some kind of question, Mr. What. Micawber is here. Why don't you let him talk? He's learned his lesson, I know." Realizing that what he said had no effect on me or anyone else, he sat down on the edge of his table, put his hands in his pockets, put one splayed foot on the other, and waited stubbornly for the happened. Several times Mr. Micawber pronounced the first letter of the word "rogue," and it took all my strength to hold him down from the second.At this time, he rushed forward, pulled out the ruler on his chest (obviously used as a self-defense weapon), and then took out a large document folded into a letter from his pocket.With his usual exaggeration he opened the paper, contemplating its style as if appreciating art, and began to read: "Dear Miss Trotwood and gentlemen—" "Dear me!" cried my aunt, "if it were a capital crime, he would write letters on order paper!" Mr. Micawber, not hearing her, read on. "As you all expose this utter villain like never before," said Mr. Micawber, pointing at Uriah Heep with a wand-like ruler, without taking his eyes off the paper, "'I don't need people to do me any favors. Favor. I have been a victim of inability to pay my debts since I was in the cradle, and I have been fooled by destructive circumstances. Shame, privation, despair, madness, etc. have been the attendants of my life, in groups or alone.' " Mr. Micawber described himself as the victim of these lamentable misfortunes, with an expression of complacency rivaled only by the shaking of his head as he read it, at the thought that he had come across a sentence that was really a punchline. "'Under the pressure of humiliation, privation, despair, and madness all together, I entered into an office nominally presided over by Wakefield and—Heep jointly, and actually run by—Heep alone, or by us That elegant neighbor French said office. Hip, only Hip, the clockwork of the machine. Hip, only Hip, the forger and liar.'” Hearing this, Yulaiya's face turned from gray to purple.He rushed towards the letter as if to tear it up.Mr. Micawber struck the knuckles of his outstretched right knuckles with the ruler deftly, and the blow sounded like wood.His right hand was useless, dangling from the wrist as though severed. "Damn it!" Yulaiya twisted a new trick in pain and said, "I want revenge." "Come again, you—you—you shameless filth!" gasped Mr. Micawber, "if your head was a human's, I'd knock it out. Come on, come on !" -------- ①Heep has the same pronunciation as heap for a bunch of solutions. Mr. Micawber took the fencing stance with the ruler, and cried, "Come!" Traddles and I repeatedly pushed him into a corner, and several times he dashed out.I thought the scene was the funniest I've ever seen—even in that situation, I still feel that way. Talking to himself, his enemy moved his wounded hand.After a while, he slowly took off the scarf to bind his hands, then held it with the other hand, sat down on the edge of the table again, and lowered his angry face. Having recovered sufficiently, Mr. Micawber read the letter on. "'I am employed by--Heap'" he always paused before uttering the name and uttered the words forcefully, "'The salary was twenty-two shillings a week Apart from sixpence, the others are undetermined. The rest will depend on how hard I work; Depends on the plight of my family, on the degree of moral (or should I say immoral) resemblance between me and - Heep. Soon I will have to give - Heep a salary advance to support Mrs. Micawber and Need I say more about our declining and increasing family? It must have been—Heep expected, need I say more? The money shall be paid by promissory notes or the legal papers of our country In exchange, do I need to say this? So, I am caught in the web he wove for me, do I need to say more?'” In describing this unfortunate fact, it seems that Mr. Micawber took such a genuine pleasure in his ability to write letters that it paled in comparison with any pain and sorrow that reality had caused him.He went on to read: "'Thereafter—H. S. P.—began to tell me the secrets he needed to carry on his diabolical business. Henceforth I began, to use Shakespeare's words, weak, emaciated, and hopeless. I found my work More often than not it was just a professional falsification, and conned a man whom I shall name Mr. W. The Mr. W. was calculated, swindled, and conned in every possible way; The deceitful Mr. W. speaks of infinite gratitude, of infinite friendship. It is evil enough; but, like that philosophic Danish prince—Hamlet borrowed that Shakespeare—he makes The common words of the Elizabethan age shone too—saying: Worse still to come!'” Mr. Micawber was so pleased with the quotation that he pretended to have misread it, and read it again. "'In the present letter,'" he went on, "'I am not going to list the various crimes committed against me as Mr. W.—in which I too was a passive participant—but This list has been made elsewhere. When I no longer struggle in my heart over wages or no wages, bread or no bread, life or death, etc., my purpose is to use every opportunity to discover and expose--H.P. A great crime for which this gentleman has been wronged. With silent hints of encouragement from insiders, and equally touching entreaties from outsiders—I am referring here mainly to Miss W.—I have, therefore, carried out a not so laborious task. According to my knowledge, intelligence and beliefs, this work has lasted more than 12 months.'” He read the passage as if it were an act of Parliament, and the reading of the words seemed to excite him greatly. "'I denounce--S.P.'s crimes,'" He looked at S.P., and tucked the ruler under his left arm in a convenient place, just in case, and read on.As follows: "'One,'" said Mr. Micawber, "'when Mr. W.'s powers and memory became so poor that he became confused (for reasons I need not and cannot say),--H.P. Business messed up. When Mr. W was in the worst position to deal with business - H.P. - was always at his side to force him to deal with it. In this case, important papers were passed off as unimportant ones, so as to obtain W Mr. W.'s signature. By this means he induced Mr. W. to authorize him to draw upon a deposit of money amounting to twelve thousand six hundred and fourteen pounds 2s. prepared or non-existing debts or shortfalls. He led it to be believed that the whole matter had been dishonestly motivated by Mr. Wei and had been caused by Mr. Wei's own This blackmails him, tortures him.'” "You have to prove it, you Copperfield!" Uriah shook his head threateningly and said. "Say it all right now!" "Pray, Mr. H. P. Traddles, who took up his house next?" said Mr. Micawber, breaking off his reading. I saw Uriah's long, thin fingers that were scratching his chin stop. "Or ask him," said Mr. Micawber, "whether he burned a notebook there. If he says yes, ask him where the ashes are, and ask Will Kim Micawber, and he'll have a testimony against him entirely!" Mr. Micawber's smugness in uttering these words was quite successful in frightening the mother.She exclaimed excitedly: "Yuli, Yuli! Be humble and make peace, my dear!" "Mother!" he replied, "please don't talk, will you? You're flustered, you don't know what you're saying, you don't know what you want to do. Humble!" He looked at me and repeated aloud;" While I have humbled in the past, I have humbled some of us for a long time!" Mr. Micawber adjusted his chin, wrapped in his cravat, gracefully, and resumed reading his letter. "'Two, H.P. has been several times, and judging by my knowledge, intelligence and belief—'". "But that's useless," Uriah muttered, and breathed a sigh of relief, "Mother, don't talk." "Soon we'll come up with something useful enough to finish you off," said Mr. Micawber. "'Secondly, H.P. has on several occasions, to the best of my knowledge, intelligence, and belief, systematically falsified Mr. W's signature on various records, ledgers, and documents; I certify. That is, so to speak, that is:'" Mr. Micawber again took pleasure in this heaping.Although in his situation, such a piling up is certainly ridiculous, but I should say that this is definitely not his eccentricity alone.I have discovered this proclivity in not a few persons in my life, and I think it has become a public habit.For example, when taking an oath, the person taking the oath seems to take pleasure in using a string of words to express the same meaning; say they utterly dislike, utterly hate, utterly disapprove of, or something like that.The old curses are also of great interest on the same principle.We talk about the torture of words, but we also like to torture words; we like to store up reams of tedious and repetitive words for us to call upon momentous occasions; Doesn't care what the servants are good for, as long as they're well-clothed and numerous, so it doesn't matter what our writing means or does, as long as it fits in one long line.Just as having too many slaves puts a man in trouble, so too many slaves makes the master rebellious.I feel that I may give the example of a country whose servants, because of too many words, have been in a great deal of trouble, and will be in still greater trouble. Mr. Micawber read, almost smacking his lips: "'That is, so to speak, that is to say, that as Mr. W.'s health is declining, his death may lead to the discovery of something which may make—H.P. I, Wilkin Micawber, the undersigned, conjectured—so that the filial piety of his daughter must be secretly exploited, without subjecting the joint stock business to any check, that—H.P.—made a debt for Mr. W. It is stated that Mr. W., Mr. H. Purdue, paid the above-mentioned 12,614 pounds 2 shillings and nine pence, plus interest, so as to preserve Mr. W's reputation; although in fact this account has long been and nothing from him. This bill, executed in the name of Mr. W. and certified by Wilkin Micawber, is all forged by - Heep, including Mr. W.'s signature. I have heard from him Several identical imitations of Mr. W's signatures were found in his notes, though charred in some places, but anyone can see. I have never made any proof of this kind of document, and this document is in my possession.' " Uriah Heep started, took a bunch of keys from his pocket, and opened a drawer; then, conscious of his action, he did not look at the drawer; and turned to us again. "'And this document,'" Mr. Micawber read on as if reading a religious sermon, "'is in my hand'—that is, as I write this this morning, it is still In my hand; but after that I gave it to Mr Traddles." "Indeed," confirmed Traddles. "Ully, Yully!" cried the mother, "be humble and make peace. Gentlemen, if you will give my son time to think, I know he will be humble. Mr. Copperfield, I trust you You know he's always been humble, sir!" It may seem surprising that a mother still clings to an old trick after her son has discarded it as trash. "Mother," he said impatiently biting the scarf that wrapped his little hand, "you'd better take a loaded gun and shoot at me." "But I love you, Yuri!" cried Mrs. Heep.I don't doubt that she loves him, nor that he loves him, though it seems odd; of course, they are an essentially similar couple. “听到你惹恼这位先生，使你处境更险，我受不了。当这位先生在楼上告诉我，说案情已遭揭发时，我立刻告诉他，说我敢担保你是谦卑的，可以补救的。哦，看我是多谦卑啊，各位先生，别对他耿耿于怀吧！” “嘿，科波菲尔在这里呢，母亲，”他用那瘦长的手指指着我忿忿地说道。他把我当成这一场揭发的主谋者，所以把仇恨集中在我身上，我也不对他解释。“科波菲尔在这里呢，你就算少说出一点，他也会给你一百镑的。” “我忍不住，尤利，”他母亲叫道，“我不能眼睁睁看着你因骄傲而惹祸。还是谦卑好，因为你一直都那样呀。” 他咬着手巾沉默了一下，然后对我皱着额头说道： “你还有什么可以提出的？如果有，就往下说吧，你看着我干什么？” 米考伯先生马上又重新读起来，于是又为能重新表演而高兴。 “'三，也是最最后一项，我现在要用——·希·普的——假帐本、和——·希·普的——真笔记，表明不幸的W先生，由于其软弱、过失、其品德、父爱、荣誉心等在若干年来被利用，以达到——·希·普的卑劣目的，表明W先生若干年来，在各种想得出的方式下，随着那卑鄙、虚伪、贪婪的——·希·普的——钱财增加；而受其欺骗，遭其掠夺；表明——·希·普的——主要目的是：把钱悉尽搞到手后，就完全控制W先生和W小姐（至于他对W小姐暗中怀的企图，我置之不论）；表明他在几个月前所完成的最后行为是：劝诱W先生放弃其股份，甚至出卖住宅中器具，由——·希·普——付其年金，每年分四次认真偿付；表明这些罗网在W先生大意地从事愚昧的投机时，他手上可能没有在道德上和法律上他应有的现金，而·希·普先对W先生受购的财产作了骇人的虚伪结算，然后向W先生提供名义上自别人、实际上出自他·希·普的高利贷，以此种狡诈向W先生诈取并用各种违法奸计继续如此做了日渐加密，终致W先生不能再见天日。我首先要用已被烧毁了的部分袖珍笔记本（这是在我们迁往现在住处时，被米考伯太太不经意在炉灰箱中发现的。当其被发现时，我还不知道是什么）。 W先生以为他的家境、还有一切其它希望以及名誉都毁灭了，就把仅剩的希望寄托在这个衣冠禽兽身上，'”——米考伯先生对这说法很得意——“'这个衣冠禽兽借了使他离不开自己之计，行彻底毁灭他之实。我要负责对其予以证实。或许还有许多呢！ '" 在我身边的爱妮丝悲喜交加地哭泣，我对她低声说了几句话。我们大家都动了一下，好像米考伯先生已读完似的。米考伯先生极其郑重地说：“对不起”，便怀着极大苦恼和极浓兴致读他那封信的结尾了。 “'现在我已读完此信。只需由我来证实上述罪状了，然后，我便带着我那不幸的一家从以我们为赘为害的地面上消失。此事不久即可办成。依据合理推测，我们的婴儿将是死于营养不良的第一个，因为这是我们家中最脆弱的一员；按次序将随之而去的是我们的双生子。由它去吧！至于我自己，在坎特伯雷朝圣的经历已给了我很大打击；根据民事诉讼法我应受到的监禁，还有贫困，将给我更大的打击。我相信，冒风险、受劳苦而进行这调查——无论是在凌晨、在露夕，在黑夜并被那个称他为恶魔尚且宽宥了他的人毒眼监视着，还承受着繁重的工作压力，并更兼着贫困和焦虑交相熬煎，我却仍把再细微不过的调查所得一点点小心连缀起来——还加上对为人之父所受的贫贱窘迫作了努力斗争；这一切完成后能得到公正的使用，就是好比在火葬我的柴堆上洒了几滴净水一样。我所作所为，并无它求，也不以金钱或利己为目的。我虽不敢自诩为那位著名的海军英雄，却也希望得到下面那公正的定论： 为了英国、家庭和美人。 ① 威尔金·米考伯敬白 -------- ①该句出自诗歌《尼尔森之死》。 米考伯先生虽然伤感，但仍十分得意。他把信折好，鞠躬后递给我姨奶奶，好像我姨奶奶会很乐意将其收藏一样。 多年以前，我第一次到这里时，就注意到这屋里有一个铁保险箱。钥匙插在里面，这似乎让尤来亚突然起了疑心。他朝米考伯先生看了一眼，向那儿走去，咣当一声打开箱门，发现里面是空的。 “帐本在哪里？”他满脸惊慌地叫道，“有贼偷去了帐本！” 米考伯先生用尺子轻轻点点自己说道：“是我干的。今天早上，我和往常一样——不过稍稍早一点——从你那儿拿到钥匙，打开了它，把帐本拿走了。” “别急，”特拉德尔说道，“帐本已为我所有。我要根据我所说过的职权保管它们。” “你接受了贼赃，是不是？”尤来亚叫道。 “在这种情形下，”特拉德尔答道，“是的。” 一直很安静、很注意观察的姨奶奶突然扑向了尤来亚·希普，并用双手抓住他的领口。我看到这时多么吃惊呀！ “你知道我要什么？”姨奶奶说道。 “一件给疯子穿的紧身衣。”他说道。 “不对。我的财产！”我姨奶奶答道，“爱妮丝，我亲爱的，只有我相信我的财产真是被你父亲弄光的，我就决不会把它放在这里供投资用的经过说出一个字来；我亲爱的，我对特洛也没说过一个字，这是他知道的。可现在，我知道，这家伙应该对这笔款子负责，我得要回来！特洛，来，向他取回这笔钱！” 我实在不明白，是不是姨奶奶当时认为他把她的钱藏在他的领巾里呢；可她的的确确扯着他的领巾拽，①好像她真这么认为了。我忙站到他们中间，向她保证，说我们一定会让他把所有非法所得都退还。我的劝告再加上片刻思考，使她平静了下来；但她一点也不为刚才的行动面慌得失了态（不过，她的帽子是例外），泰然自若地回到坐位上坐下。 -------- ①前面作者写道尤来亚已解下领巾包手，此处疑为作者笔误——译者注。 最后那几分钟里，希普太太不断劝她儿子要谦卑；并向我们大家一一下跪，很疯狂地许诺。她的儿子把她按着在他椅子上坐下，然后悻悻站在她身边，用手抓住了她胳膊—— 但并不是很粗暴。他气势汹汹地对我说道： "What are you going to do?" “我要告诉你应该做什么。”特拉德尔说道。 “那个科波菲尔就没舌头吗？”尤来亚嘟囔着说道，“如果你老老实实告诉我，说你的舌头被什么人割掉了，我会为你尽力效劳。” “我的尤来亚内心是卑谦的！”他母亲叫道，“别对他说的话介意吧，好先生们！” 特拉德尔说道：“应该这么做：第一，我们刚才听到的转让契约应在此时此地交给我。” “假设我没有这东西呢。”他插嘴说道。 “可你有，”特拉德尔说道；“所以，你知道，我们不会那样假设。”我不能不承认，这是我第一次真心承认我老同学头脑清晰、明白耐烦、见识实际。“那么，”特拉德尔说道，“你必须准备吐出你侵吞的一切东西，偿还每一文钱。所有合伙营业的帐目和文件，你所有的帐目和文件，所有现钱和证券，简而言之，这里的一切，都必须由我们掌管。” “必须这样？我还不知道呢。”尤来亚说道，“我必须有时间考虑考虑呢。” “当然。”特拉德尔回答道；“可是，在眼下，在一切做得让我们满意前，我们要保管这些东西；请你——简而言之，务必迫使你自己——留在你的卧室内，不得和任何人通风。” “办不到！”尤来亚说道，并诅咒了一声。 “迈德斯通监狱是个较安全的拘留地。”特拉德尔说道：“固然，在使我们获得此权方面法律会多花点时间，也许不能像你现在这样把此权全交给我们。可是无疑，法律会处罚你。天哪，你对此知道得和我们一样清楚呢！科波菲尔，你能去市政厅请两位警员来这儿吗？” 听到这话，希普太太又开口了。她在爱妮丝面前跪下，求爱妮丝为他们说情，并声明他是很谦卑的，所有的指控也都属实，如果他不照我们说的办，她一定照办，以及一大通这类的话；因为她为了爱子都被吓得要疯了。若问他有什么勇气的话还会干什么，就等于问一头野的杂种狗有了老虎的精神会干什么。他是个彻头彻尾的懦夫；因为他在他那卑贱的一生中，都用阴郁和压抑来表现他的卑怯。 “住嘴！”他对我咆哮道，然后用手擦了擦他发烫的脸，“母亲，别吵了。得！把转让契约给他们吧。去拿吧！” “请你帮她忙，狄克先生。”特拉德尔说道。 狄克先生因担任此职而非常自豪，也明白这任务有多重要，便像一只牧羊犬守着一只羊那样伴守着她。不过，希普太太倒没给他添什么麻烦；因为她不仅把那转让契约拿了回来，还拿来装契约的盒子。后来，我们又在那盒子里发现很有用的一本存折和另一些文件。 “好！”当这些拿来后，特拉德尔说道，“喏，希普先生，你可以去考虑了。特别要请你注意，我要当众向你说明，你只有一件事可以做，就是我说过的事。你必须赶快做这事。” 尤来亚走过屋子时一直没把眼光挪开过地面，手就摸在下巴上。走到门口，他停下来说道： “科波菲尔，我一直就恨你。你一直就是个得意的小人，你一直和我过不去。” “我认为我曾告诉过你一次了，”我说道，“由于你的贪欲和狡猾，和全世界过不去的是你。世界上从没有什么贪欲和狡猾不会不走得太远，最后葬送它们自己；反省这点，也许于你今后有益呢。” “或者像他们在过去总在学校里——我也在那学校里一点点地学会了那么多谦卑——所教的那样：从9点到11点，他们讲劳动是种苦难；从11点到1点，他们讲劳动是福祉，是快乐，是高尚，是我不知道的什么等等，是不是？”他带着讥诮的神色说道，“你和他们大概都是前后不矛盾地说教。谦卑不会吃亏吗？我相信，不谦卑，我就骗不了我那让人敬重的老合作人了。——米考伯，你这个老坏蛋，我一定要报复你！” 在尤来亚滚出那房间之前，米考伯先生一直挺着胸，丝毫不睬他和他伸出的手指。这时，米考伯先生向我转过身来，请我去“目睹他和米考伯太太恢复相互信任。”然后，他又请在场的人都去看那动人场面。 “在米考伯太太和我之间存在很久的隔陔现在已消除了，”米考伯先生说道，“我们的孩子和他们的生育者又可以平等相处了。” 我们都很感谢他，在那时我们都感到要在精神上的匆忙和纷乱所允许的程度上向他表示这种感谢之情，所以要不是爱妮丝必须回到她那除了一线希望曙光外什么都受不了的父亲那儿去，而且还必须有一个人看守住尤来亚，我想我们本来会一古脑儿都去他家的。为了后一个目的，特拉德尔留了下来，等一下再由狄克先生接替他。于是，狄克先生，姨奶奶与我一起和米考伯先生回家。在匆匆忙忙向曾给我那么多恩惠的亲爱的女孩告别时，我想到在这个早晨她或许已解脱于难时——当然这也由于她的果断——我十分感谢我那幼年的苦难，它使我能结识米考伯先生。 他的家不远。由于临街的门直通客厅，他以他特有的大大咧咧风度一下跨了进去。我们立刻发现我们已被那一大家人围住了。米考伯先生叫道：“爱玛！我的生命！”便冲进了米考伯太太怀中。米考伯太太尖叫了一声，就把米考伯先生搂在了怀中。米考伯小姐这时正抱着米考伯太太上次给我信中说到的那个天真无邪的陌生人，这时也大为感动了。那个陌生人一下跳了起来。双生子用了好几种不太合礼仪却无恶意的行为表示他们的快乐。米考伯少爷似乎因为早年失意变得阴郁了，神色也很乖僻。这时却也本性恢复而失声大哭。 “爱玛！”米考伯先生说道，“乌云从我的心上移开了。过去在我们之间保持了那么久的信任又恢复了，再也不会有间隙了。现在，欢迎贫穷！”米考伯先生流着泪叫道，“欢迎苦难，欢迎无家可归，欢迎饥饿，褴褛，暴风雨和行乞！相互信任能支持着我们到最后！” 说着这些，米考伯先生把米考伯太太放在一把椅子上，把所有的子女都抱了过来搂住。他一面对我认为他子女决不会欢迎的种种凄凉悲惨大示欢迎，一面叫他们去坎特伯雷镇上卖唱，因为他再也没法养他们了。 但是，由于情绪太强烈，米考伯太太已经昏了。所以尽管合唱队尚未组成；当务之急是把她救醒。姨奶奶和米考伯先生做成了此事；于是姨奶奶被介绍给她，她也认出了我。 “原谅我吧，亲爱的科波菲尔先生，”那位可怜的太太一面向我伸出手来一面说道，“可我健康欠佳；米考伯先生和我之间近来的误会能消除，这猛的一下让我有些受不了。” “这是你们所有的孩子吗，太太？”姨奶奶说道。 “眼下就是这些了。”米考伯太太答道。 “哦，天哪，我不是问的这个，太太，”姨奶奶答道，“我的意思是：这些都是你们的？” “小姐，”米考伯太太答道，“这是可以完全相信的。” “那位最年长的青年绅士，喏，”姨奶奶仔细打量着说道，“他准备干什么呢？” “我来此地时，”米考伯先生说道，“我本希望让威尔金进教会；如果我说是进唱诗班，也许可以把我的意思传达得更准确。可是，那令这镇出名的堂皇大建筑里没有男高音的空位置；于是他已——简而言之。他已养成一种习惯，不在圣殿中唱，而在酒店里唱了。” “可他的用心是好的。”米考伯太太很温柔地说道。 “我相信，我的爱人，”米考伯先生接着说道，“他用心很好；可我还并没有看到他在什么地方实行过他的良好用心呢。” 米考伯少爷又露出乖僻的神情，多少带着怒意问他又能干什么。他问他是不是天生的木匠或油车匠，或不过是一只鸟罢了。 ?他是否可以到隔壁街上去开一家药店？他是否可以跑到附近的调解所去冒充个律师？他可以去歌剧院登台或靠暴力而出人头地？他是否不经过任何习艺而干什么事？ 姨奶奶沉思了一会后说道： “米考伯先生，我不知道你为什么没考虑移居海外。” “小姐，”米考伯先生答道，“这是我青年时的梦想，壮年时的意向。”顺便提一句，我坚信，在此之前他压根没想过此事。 “啊？”姨奶奶朝我看了一眼说道，“那么，如果你们现在移居海外。米考伯先生和太太，这对你们自己和你们的子女多有好处啊！” “可是资金呢，小姐，资金呢？”米考伯先生愁闷地用力说道。 “这是主要问题，我可以说是唯一困难，我亲爱的科波菲尔先生。”他太太响应道。 “资金？”我姨奶奶叫道，“你在帮我们一个大忙——你已经帮了我们一个大忙——我们能报答你什么呢？从火里救出的东西一定不会少。还有什么比为你们筹资金是更好的报答呢？” “我不能把这当作礼物接受，”米考伯先生很热情地说，“如果可以借我一笔数目适当的钱，如果每年5分的利息，由我个人负责——假定我出具12个月、18个月、24个月偿还的期票，使我有时间可以等待机遇出现——” “如果可以？当然可以，只要你开口，就一定可以，条件由你定，”姨奶奶说道。“现在，请你们二位想想吧。大卫认识的一些人，不久要去澳洲。如果你们决定了去，何不同乘一条船去呢？你们可以相互照应呀。现在想想吧，米考伯先生和太太。花一点时间，好好地想想。” “只有一个问题，我亲爱的小姐，我想问问，”米考伯太太说道，“我相信，那里的气候是合乎卫生的吧？” “是全世界最好的！”姨奶奶说道。 “那就好了，”米考伯太太忙说道，“可我又有问题了。喏，那地方的条件是否能让像有米考伯先生的才能的人得到出人头地的机会呢？眼下，我并不想说他是不是怀有要做总督的打算或那类的想法；我只想说，那里是不是有一种合理出路，能让他大施其才——那就足矣——任他大力发展才能呢？” “对一个品行端正、踏实勤恳的人来说，”姨奶奶说道，“再没有比那里能找到的出路更好了。” “对一个品行端正、踏实勤恳的人来说，”米考伯太太用她那种再明显不过的正经态度重复道，“的确如此。我认为澳洲显然是能供米考伯先生施展身手的合适舞台了！” “我相信，我亲爱的小姐，”米考伯先生说道，“在现存的环境下，那是我和我家眷最宜去的地方，唯一的地方；一种具有非常性质的机会将在彼岸出现。那地方并不很遥远——相对来说；劝我想想，固然是你的好意；可我向你保证，那不过是种形式而已。” 我怎能忘记他怎样一下变成一个最快乐、最充满希望的人，而米考伯太太又怎样马上大讲起袋鼠的习性！他和我们一起走回家。在经过坎特伯雷集日的街道时，他做出一副急急忙忙的辛苦样，好像并不习惯在那里的客居生活，并以一个澳洲农夫的眼光看走过的公牛；当我回忆起坎特伯雷集市时，怎么能不想到那时的他呢？