Chapter 63 Chapter 59 Returning to China

On a cold autumn night I landed in London.It was dark and raining, and I saw more fog and mud in those 2 minutes than I've seen in the past 2 years.I went all the way from Customs to under the Monument to find a carriage; and though I thought the shop signs over the overflowing ditches looked like old friends, I had to admit that they were not very clean friends. In the past, I've often said -- and I'm sure everyone has said -- that when we leave a place, it's like sending a signal to that place to change.I looked out of the car window and saw that some old houses on the fish market street that had not been touched by painters, carpenters or bricklayers for a hundred years had been demolished during my visit to China; The inconvenient neighboring streets have also been sewered and widened; I even think St. Paul's Church is getting old.

What changes in the fortunes of my friends I expected.My aunt has returned to live in Dover; Traddles, who has been running a small law practice since I left, lives at Gray Yard.In his last letters he told me that it was no delusion to marry the loveliest girl in the world so recently. They figured I'd be home by Christmas, but they didn't expect me to be home so early.I deliberately didn't tell them in advance so that I could be happy to see their surprise.However, I was unreasonably disappointed and disheartened when I had to ride alone through the foggy streets in silence as no one was there to greet me.

But the well-lit, well-known shops gave me some consolation; and by the time I alighted in front of the Gray Yard Café, I was feeling refreshed again.When I first saw the place, I remembered the very different times when I lodged at the Golden Cross, and how my circumstances had changed since then; but it was all natural. "Do you know where in the yard Mr. Traddles lives?" I asked the waiter, warming ourselves by the fire in the coffee-room. "Holl House, sir. Number two." "Mr. Traddles is developing a reputation among lawyers, I believe?" "Well, sir," replied the waiter, "perhaps he is, but I don't know that personally."

The thin, middle-aged waiter turned to a more authoritative waiter for help.The latter was a big, handsome old man with a double chin and black pants and stockings.The old man came out of what looked like a deacon's bench at the top of the coffee-room--he was there with a cash-box, a directory, a list of lawyers, and some other books and papers. "Mr. Traddles," said the thin waiter, "number two of the court." The pompous waiter waved him away, then turned to me grandly. "I was wondering," said I, "that Mr. Traddles, who lives in No. 2 of the Court, is making a name for himself among lawyers?"

"Never heard that name," replied the waiter in his low, hoarse voice. I am very sorry for Traddles. "He must be a young man?" said the stern waiter, staring at me seriously. "How long has he been in the hospital?" "Less than three years," I said. I guess the waiter has lived in his pew for 40 years.He couldn't say anything more about such a trivial matter.He asked me what I wanted for dinner. I do feel that I am back in England, and I am indeed disappointed in Traddles.There seemed to be no more hope for him.I just ordered a little fish and steak and stood by the fire thinking silently about his obscurity.

As my eyes fell on the head waiter, I couldn't help thinking that the garden that had gradually brought him into such a flower must have been a very unlucky place, a place full of stereotypes, obstinate, old-fashioned, rigid, old-fashioned. .I looked into the room, no doubt with its sandy floor, when the head waiter was a child— Though it's doubtful whether he ever was a child too—sand that way, I see the shiny table, I can see myself reflected in the clear depths of the old mahogany; I I saw the lamps, impeccably polished and trimmed; I saw the neat and comfortable green drapes that concealed the box-seats by the columns of solid brass; Rows of thick decanters who seem to know that beneath them are casks of expensive old claret; England and the law seem to me both invincible.I went upstairs to the bedroom to change my wet clothes, and the size of the old paneled room (I remember it overlooking the archway into the courtyard), the majesty of the post-bed, the gloomyness of the wardrobe seemed all to me. Combined to frown sternly upon the fate of Traddles, or any such brave youth.I went down to supper again; and even the slowness with which the food was served there, and the quiet order of the place--there were not many company, for the long holiday was not over--sufficed to speak of Traddles' audacity, and It shows how little hope he will live in the next 20 years.

I haven't seen anything like this since I went abroad.All this in front of me really turned my hope for my friend into a cold smoke.The head waiter is getting tired of me.He stopped approaching me, and devoted himself to serving an elderly gentleman in long leggings.The pint of the special red wine came to him as if he had walked out of the cellar, because he hadn't even ordered it.The No. 2 waiter whispered to me that the old gentleman was a retired bond attorney who lived in Fangchang.It was supposed that he would leave his large fortune to his washerwoman's daughter; and it was rumored that he had a set of cutlery in his cupboard, where it lay rusting.Still, no one ever saw any extra spoons or forks in his house.At this moment I really felt that Traddles Hill was at the end of its rope, and I concluded that there would be no future for him.

However, anxious to see my dear old friend, I hastily finished my dinner with the contemptuous look of the head waiter, and ran out the back door.I soon reached number two in the yard, and I learned from the number plate on the gatepost that Traddles lived in the top row of houses.I went up the stairs, which I found to be dilapidated, and at the top of each flight a small oil lamp with a large lampshade was burning, and the light was dying in the dirty glass prison. When I bumped upstairs, I thought I heard a burst of cheerful laughter.It was not the laughter of one advocate or attorney, nor the attorney's clerk or the attorney's clerk, but the laughter of two or three happy girls.But when I stopped to listen, my foot accidentally slipped into the hole in the floor that the Gray Yard Honors Society was missing and hadn't filled, and I fell with a thump.When I got up, it was quiet again.

In the future, I will explore more carefully on the road.My heart beat violently when I found the door marked "Mr. Traddles" wide open.I knock on the door.There was a loud noise inside, but no one answered the door.I had to knock on the door again. A sharp-edged young man, half clerk, half clerk, came out.He was out of breath, but stared at me, as if he wanted me to use the law to prove my identity. "Is Mr. Traddles in there," I said. "Yes, sir. But he's busy." "I want to see him." After looking at me for a while, the sharp-edged young man decided to let me in, opened the door wider, and invited me to enter a hall and then into a small lounge.In that lounge, I saw my old friend sitting at the table with his head bent over the papers, also out of breath.

"Good God!" cried Traddles, looking up, "it's Copperfield!" and he threw himself into my arms, and I held him close. "Is everything all right, my dear Traddles?" "All is well, my dear, dear Copperfield, only good news!" We both cried with joy. "My dear friend," said Traddles, ruffling his hair with excitement, which he ought not to have done, for it was messy enough, "my dearest Copperfield, the dearest I have not seen for so long." Welcome friend, how glad I am to see you! How tanned I am! How happy I am! I swear I've never been so happy, my dear Copperfield, never!"

I was equally unable to express my feelings.At first, I couldn't even speak. "My dear friend!" said Traddles, "you have become so famous! My glorious Copperfield! Good heavens, when did you come, when did you come from?" From somewhere, what have you been doing?" Traddles carried me into a chair by the fire, and, still before I could answer him a word, kept poking the fire with one hand, and pulling at my scarf with the other— —It turned out he was using the scarf as a coat.He hugged me again before he put down the tongs; I hugged him too, and we both wiped our eyes with laughter before sitting down, and then shook hands again across the fire. "Didn't think," said Traddles, "that you'd come back so early and miss the ceremony!" "What courtesy, my dear Traddles?" "Dear me!" cried Traddles, with his eyes wide open as before, "didn't you get my last letter?" "If it was about a ceremony, of course I didn't receive it." "Hey, my dear Copperfield," said Traddles, straightening his hair with both hands, and then laying his hands on my knee, "I'm married!" "Married?" I exclaimed happily. "Ah, yes!" said Traddles, "--married to Sophie by the Reverend Harles--in Devonshire. Why, my dear friend, she's behind the curtain ! Look!" I was taken aback when the sweetest girl in the world came out of her hiding place blushing and smiling.I believe (and I could not but say so at the time) that there was never a happier, kinder, more sincere, gayer, more beautiful bride in the world.I kissed her like an old friend, wishing them happiness with all my heart. "My dear," said Traddles, "what a joyful reunion! You've grown very dark! My dear Copperfield! My dear, how happy I am!" "Me too," I said. "I'm sure I do too!" said Sophie, blushing and smiling. "As happy as we can all be!" said Traddles. "Even the girls are so happy. Gosh, I have to admit I forgot about them!" "Forgot?" I said. "Those girls," said Traddles, "Sophie's sisters. They live with us. They come to see the world of London. The truth is, when—was it you who fell down the stairs, Copper Phil?" "Yes." I said with a smile. "Well, then, when you fell down the stairs," said Traddles, "I was playing with the girls. Actually, we were playing 'scratch a chair,' but that's what happened in Westminster Hall. No, and, besides, it would be disrespectful for the customers to see them like this, so they ran away. No doubt they are listening now," said Traddles, looking at the door of the other room. "I'm sorry," I laughed again, "for causing such a panic." "I'm sure," continued Traddles, cheerfully, "that if you saw them run off after you knocked, and come back to pick up the combs that fell out of their hair, they would look very crazy." Run away, and you won't say so. My love, can you bring those girls?" Sophie ran briskly away, and there was a roar of laughter which she caused in the next room. "It's like music, isn't it, my dear Copperfield?" said Traddles. "It sounds lovely. It does enliven these aged rooms. It's wonderful for a bachelor who's been unfortunate enough to live alone, you know.It's so charming.Poor girls, they have suffered a great deal from Sophie's marriage—I assure you, Copperfield, that Sophie is, and always has been, the loveliest girl ever! ——Seeing them so happy, I can't express my satisfaction.It's a joy to deal with girls, Copperfield. It's not quite the proper thing to do, but it does make people happy. " He stuttered a little, and I knew it was because he was kind enough to be afraid that I would be offended by what he had to say.I most earnestly expressed my agreement with what he said, and my manner evidently reassured and delighted him greatly. "But," said Traddles, "our domestic arrangement is, to tell the truth, very poor, my dear Copperfield. Even Sophie is out of order here. But we have nowhere else to go." Stay. We're in a boat out to sea, but we're ready to slog. Sophie's a great doer! You'll be amazed at what those girls do. I'm sure I don't I don't know how they arranged it." "A lot of girls living with you?" I asked. "The biggest, is the beauty, who lives here," said Traddles, in a low voice, mysteriously, "and is called Caroline. Sarah is here too—the one with the spine I told you about, Much better, you know! And the two youngest, who Sophie taught, live with us. Louisa is here too." "Really!" I exclaimed. "Yes!" said Traddles, "well, the whole house—I mean the rooms—has only three rooms, and yet Sophie has the most ingenious way of arranging the girls, and they sleep as comfortably as they can." Comfortable. Three in that room," said Traddles, pointing. "There are two." I could not help looking about me to find the space left for Mr. Traddles and Mrs. Traddles.Traddles understood me. "Hey!" said Traddles, "as I said, we're ready to languish, and we put up a makeshift bed on the floor here last week. But the roof There's a small room up there - a lovely little room, you know it when you go up - Sophie papered it up by herself, she wanted to surprise me, and it's our bedroom now. That's a wonderful gypsy hut, and there's a lot to see from there!" "You are happily married at last, my dear Trapple!" said I, "how glad I am!" "Thank you, my dear Copperfield," said Traddles, as we shook hands again, "yes, I am as happy as I could be. Your old friend is there, you see," said Traddles. Radell nodded triumphantly to the pot and planter; "the marble-topped table is there too, and everything else is plain and functional, you can see. As for the gold and silver, my God, We don't even have a teaspoon." "Everything has to be traded for work." I said happily. "Indeed," replied Traddles, "work is all for work. Of course we have teaspoons and such, for we stir our tea. But it's all British gold. " -------- ① An alloy of tin, copper and aluminum. "I'll feel more radiant when I have silver," I said. "You're quite right!" said Traddles, "you know, my dear Copperfield," he lowered his voice again, "when I delivered the arguments of the case of a certain accused Gibbs against a certain Vigzier. Then--and this was of great advantage to my business--I went to Devonshire, and had some very serious private negotiations with the Reverend Harles. Copperfield, she's the sweetest girl—" -------- ①A fictitious name, which is often used to refer to someone in the legal field, just like the Chinese call Zhang San and Li Si. "I believe she is!" I said. "Of course she is!" said Traddles, "but I'm afraid I'm digressing. Did I mention the Reverend Harley?" "You said you went into detail—" "Yes! I am not tired of saying that Sophie and I have been engaged for a long time, and that Sophie, with her parents' permission, is willing to build upon our present British gold," said Traddles, smiling as frankly as ever, "Marry me. That's good. So I said to the Reverend Harley--he is the most excellent clergyman, Copperfield, should be bishop; He suggested that if I have a chance, I can earn 250 pounds a year; if I have this confidence next year, it may be better than this; if I have the ability to settle down such a small place, then in that case, Sophie and I should have married. I venture to say that we've put up with it for many, many years; Sophie is certainly useful at home, but her loving parents shouldn't keep her from starting her own independent life—you understand?" "Of course not," I said. "I'm glad you think so, Copperfield," continued Traddles, "for, I don't blame the Reverend Harley at all, and I believe that parents, or brothers, or siblings of that kind, sometimes play a part in this kind of matter." It is selfish. Yes! I also declare that my most ardent desire is to serve that family; if I prosper, if anything happens to him—I mean the Reverend Harley—” "I understand." I said. "--or if something happened to Mrs. Kruller--I would very much like to take care of the girls. He answered me in a very admirable manner, and promised to take charge of obtaining Mrs. Kruller's consent to the matter, which pleased me. Not happy. They argued with her badly. So, from her legs to her breasts, to her head—" "What's going up?" I asked. "Her pain," replied Traddles, with a serious face, "her whole heart. She was, as I have said before, a very remarkable lady, and it is a pity that her legs are useless. Whatever happened What troubled her always remained in her legs; but this time it rose to her chest, then to her head, in short, to extend to her in the most terrible way. However, they took care of her with undiminished enthusiasm and attention until she passed. As of yesterday, we have been married for a full six weeks. When I saw the family fainted from crying and fell in all directions Now, you can't imagine how much I feel guilty! Mrs. Kruller couldn't see me until we were gone, and wouldn't forgive me for taking her baby--but she was a good person, and she forgave me afterwards. Yes. I got a friendly letter from her just this morning!" "In short, my dear friend," said I, "you think you ought to be happy!" "Oh! it's your partiality!" laughed Traddles. "However, I was in a state of envy. I worked hard and studied law tirelessly. Every morning, I woke up at 5 o'clock, and I didn't suffer from it at all. During the day, I hid the girls, and at night, I just had fun with them. Believe me when I say it, I'm sad because they're going home on Tuesday and St. Michael's Day starts the next day. Here comes the girls!" Trala Del no longer whispered, but raised his voice and said, "Mr. Copperfield, Miss Cruller--Miss Sarah--Miss Louisa--Margaret and Lucy!" They are a perfect bouquet of delicate roses.They are all so healthy and full of vigor.They were all pretty, Miss Caroline was pretty, but there was a more IKEA warmth in Sophie's cheerful face, which was better than pretty.This also convinced me that my friend was right.We all sat down by the fire, and the sharp-edged young man cleared the papers off the table—I realized now that he had put them on the table out of breath—and fetched the tea-things .Then he slammed the door and went home for the night.Mrs. Traddles, the housekeeper, with a cheerful, serene gleam in her eyes, sat down quietly in a corner by the fire when her tea had been prepared, and baked the bread. She told me while she was baking that she had seen Agnes. She met my aunt again when "Tom" took her to Kent for her honeymoon.My aunt and Agnes were very well, and when they talked together they talked about nothing but me.She really believed that "Tom" never forgot me for a moment during my time abroad.On all matters, "Tom" is the supreme authority.Obviously, "Tom" is the idol in her life, no matter what happens, his throne will never be shaken; no matter what happens to her, she will always believe in him and worship him without reservation. I was delighted by the respect she and Delater showed for that beauty.I don't know if I really think that's reasonable, but I think it's part of their nature to keep everyone happy.If Traddles sometimes longed for the silver and gold teaspoons still to be traded for, no doubt he was passing the tea to the beauty.If his good-natured wife said anything to disagree with anyone, I believe it was only that she thought she was the beauty's sister.I found in the beauty some capricious and spoiled mannerisms, which were evident to Traddles and his wife her natural right and innate gift.If she's the queen bee, they're the worker bees, and they're very, very content with that. I was fascinated by their ecstasy.They were proud of the girls, and obeyed all their whims, and I felt a small confirmation of their likability.At least a dozen times in an hour Traddles was called dear by this or that aunt and begged him to bring something, or take something, or take something, or take something Down, or to find something, or to fetch something.He obeyed submissively every time.Without Sophie, it seemed like they couldn't do anything.Someone's hair is loose, and only Sophie can pull it back.Someone forgot a very special tune, only Sophie can hum it.Someone wants to remember a place name in German that only Sophie can know.If someone had something to write to the family, it was only up to Sophie to write before breakfast.Someone's knitting is wrong, and only Sophie can correct it.There they were the real masters, and Sophie and Traddles looked after them.I can't imagine how many children Sophie has taken care of before, but she seems to be famous for being able to sing all kinds of songs for children in English; she whispers dozens of them in the clearest voice in the world The song (each sister proposes a key, which is usually set by the beauty), then got me hooked.Best of all, despite the constant demands.But the sisters had a great deal of love and respect for Sophie and Traddles.I got up to take my leave, and Traddles was going to see me off to the café, and I was convinced then that I never saw a head with a curly hair or anything else rolled around being kissed. At any rate, having said good night to Traddles, I went back to the hotel, where I had a long recollection of the scene.Even if I had seen a thousand roses in bloom on the top floor of that old gray yard, it would not have graced it with half the sights I have seen.Thinking of the Devon girl in the midst of the dreary law offices and law offices, thinking of the blotters, parchment, tape measure, paste, inkwells, notes, manuscript paper, legal reports, writs, notices The tea, toast and nursery rhymes in the legal cost calculation book, the talking birds, the singing trees and the golden water were all brought into the gray yard.Somehow, when Traddles and I parted ways and got back to our lodgings, we were no longer disappointed in him.I began to think that no matter what the head waiter in England thought, he would have a bright future ahead of him. I dragged my chair over to one of the coffee-room fires and quietly thought about him.I gradually shifted from thinking about his happiness to looking at the scene in the fire.As I watched those coals crack and deform, I couldn't help but think of the great ups and downs and partings I've had in my life.I haven't seen a coal fire since I left England 3 years ago; but I've seen a lot of wood fires, and when the wood turns to ashes and blends with the ashes on the bottom of the furnace, I'm often depressed In my emotions I thought I wish I could die. Now I can reflect on the past seriously but not painfully; and I can also meditate with courage on the future.Home, in the best sense of the word, was nothing to me.I should have poured more love into her, but I called her my sister.She will marry, someone new will occupy her love; and while she does, she will never know the love for her that has grown in me.It is only fair that I should pay for the fault of my reckless affection.What I reap is what I sow. I was wondering if, at this point, my mind had been really disciplined, and whether I could bear with steadfastness, and calmly hold in her house the place she used to hold calmly in mine—when , I found my gaze fell on a face.This face seemed to be associated with me from memories of my early life.Like rising from the fire. Little Mr. Chillip, the doctor whose care I mention in the earliest chapters of this book, was sitting in a shadow in the opposite corner reading a paper.He was old now too; but, as he was a gentle, humble and quiet little man, not very old, I thought he looked the same then as when he sat in our parlour, waiting for me to be born. exactly the same. Mr. Chillip left Brandstone seven years ago, and I have not seen him since.He sat peacefully with his head turned to one side, a mug of mulled Nigas next to him.His manner was so modest that he seemed to apologize to the newspaper for having the audacity to read it. I went up to where he sat and said, "How are you, Mr. Chillip?" He was very disturbed by unexpected greetings from strangers.He replied slowly, "I thank you, sir, you are very kind. Thank you, sir. I wish you well. " "Don't you remember me?" I said. "Hey, sir," said Mr. Chillip, looking me over with a very modest smile, shaking his head. "I have an impression. I think you look a little familiar, sir, but I really can't remember your first and last name." "But you knew the name long before I knew it," I said, taking it. "Really, sir?" said Mr. Chillip. "Have I the honor, sir, to take—?" "Yes," I said. "Dear me!" cried Mr. Chillip. "But, no doubt, you have changed a lot since then, sir?" "Probably so," I said. "Well, sir," said Mr. Chillip, "I hope you will forgive me if I have to ask you for your name?" I told him my name and he was very touched.He shook hands with me very solemnly—this action is unusual for him, because he usually only extends his warm little fish-knife-like hand an inch or two away from his hip, if someone else holds it, He was nervous (but this time, as soon as he could withdraw his hand, he put it in his pocket as soon as he could).It wasn't until he withdrew his hand that he really settled down. "Good heavens, sir!" said Mr. Chillip, looking at me with his head on one side, "it's Mr. Copperfield, isn't it? Oh, sir, I'm sure if I'd just looked at you better, I'd Should recognize you. You are very much like your poor father, sir." "But I haven't been able to see my father's happiness." I said. "Of course, sir," said Mr. Chillip, in a comforting tone, "anyway, it's sad! In our place, sir," said Mr. Chillip, shaking his little head again slowly, "Your reputation is not unknown. There must be tension here, sir," said Mr. Chillip, tapping his forehead with his forefinger. "You must think it's hard work, sir!" "Now, where is your place?" I asked him after sitting down not far from him. "I live in Bury St. Edmunds, sir," said Mr. Chillip, "and Mrs. Chillip inherited a little property there from her father, and that's where I got a license to practice medicine. I lived there. Well done, you must be glad to know. My daughter is a tall girl now, sir," Mr. Chillip shook his little head again. "Her mother just dropped two sideways of her gown last week. That's the way it goes, you know, sir!" When the little man made these remarks, he put his empty glass to his lips, and I suggested that he fill it up again, and I would order another glass to accompany him to drink slowly. "Hey, sir," he said in his unhurried tone, "that's more than I can drink; but I can't give up the pleasure of talking to you. It seems like yesterday that I nursed your rash. You have recovered very satisfactorily, sir!" I thanked him for the compliment, and I ordered Nigas.The wine was served soon. "That's very polite!" said Mr. Chillip, mixing his drink, "but I can't resist such a rare opportunity. Don't you have any children, sir?" I shake my head. "I heard you were widowed some years ago, sir," said Mr. Chillip. "I heard it from your stepfather's sister. She's a solid figure there, sir?" "Ah, yes," said I, "very firmly. Where did you see her, Mr. Chillip?" "You don't know, sir," said Mr. Chillip, still smiling calmly, "that your stepfather is my neighbor again." "I don't know," I said. "Yes, sir!" said Mr. Chillip. "He married a young lady of considerable property in the country, poor fellow.—Don't you feel tired of using your brains like this, sir?" Mr. Chillip said like said a lovely robin looking at me like that. I put that question aside, and asked about the Murdstones. "I heard he's married again. Have you ever visited their house?" I asked. "Not often, I have been invited to." He replied. "Mr. Murdstone's and his sister's bones are too well developed, sir." The determination of my expression, and the Nigas, made Mr. Chillip brave too.He shook his head a little, and then exclaimed thoughtfully, "Oh, dear, we remember the old days, Mr. Copperfield!" "Then the siblings are repeating the old tricks, repeating the same old tricks, aren't they?" I said. "Well, sir," said Mr. Chillip, "a doctor who is in and out of a patient's house is to see nothing and hear nothing except in connection with his profession. But I must say, they are very strict, sir, no matter what kind of treatment is given to a patient." , or for the afterlife.” "It's out of their hands in the afterlife, I believe," I went on, "what are they doing with this life?" Mr. Chillip shook his head as he mixed the drink, and drank it bit by bit. "She's a lovely woman, sir!" he said mournfully. "The present Mrs. Murdstone?" "Certainly a lovely woman, sir," said Mr. Chillip; "she could be as nice as she could be, I believe! Mrs. Chillip's opinion is that she has been so thoroughly demoralized since her marriage that she has almost become a serious Depressed. Women," said Mr. Chillip timidly, "are very good observers, sir." "I believe they're trying to force her into their damned mould, God help her!" I said. "She's already in." "Well, sir, to tell you the truth, there was a terrific argument at first," said Mr. Chillip, "but she's quite a shadow now. If I tell you privately, since that sister came to help, the siblings have almost Is it going too far to treat her like an idiot?" I told him that I believed him very much. "There are no strangers here, sir," said Mr. Chillip, emboldened by another drink of Nigas, "and I say without hesitation that her mother died for it—Mrs. Grief drives me into an idiot. She was a lively girl before marriage, sir, and she was ruined by their grimness and exactingness. Now they go out with her, not like husband and sister-in-law, but like她的看守呢。这是上个星期齐力普太太对我说的。我敢担保，先生，女人们是了不起的观察家。齐力普太太本人就是个了不起的观察家！” “他还阴险地假装虔诚吗？”我问道，并把虔诚一词和他们联想到一起而害臊。 “你说对了，先生，”齐力普先生说道，由于不习惯喝那么多酒他的眼皮也变得很红了，“齐力普太太有一句话说得真是一矢中的呀。齐力普太太说，”他非常平静、非常缓慢地说，“默德斯通先生立起了自己的偶像，把它称为'神圣的天性，'这让我好不吃惊。我敢担保，齐力普太太说这话时，你可以用一支笔的羽毛把我打倒在地平趴下来。女人们是了不起的观察家呀，先生。” “而且天生的。”我说道，这使他大为开心。 “我的观点得到如此支持，我很高兴，先生，”他接过去说道，“我敢担保，我不经常就非医学的问题发表意见。默德斯通先生有时公开发表演说，据——简而言之，先生，据齐力普太太说——他近来越来越专横，越来越像个霸王，他的主张也越来越残酷了。” “我相信齐力普太太是非常正确的。”我说道。 “齐力普太太甚至说，”这位最谦虚的人受了很大鼓励又说道，“被那类人错当成他们的宗教的那种东西，不过是他们的坏脾气和傲慢性格的表现方式罢了。我必须说，先生，”他把头柔顺地歪向一边，继续说道，“我不能为默德斯通先生和小姐在《新约全书》中找出任何支持，你知道吗？” “我也从没找到过。”我说道。 “同时，先生，”齐力普先生说道，“他们很不得人心；因为他们动辄诅咒不喜欢他们的人去下地狱，我们附近下地狱的人就该太多了！不过，据齐力普太太说，先生，他们也受到不断的惩罚；因为他们转向自己内部，他们靠他们自己的心来生活，而他们自己的心是很有害的食物，喏，先生，谈谈你那个脑子吧，如果你允许我再回到这个问题上的话。你没使你的脑子太紧张吗，先生？” 由于齐力普先生自己脑子很紧张，又喝了许多尼加斯酒，所以我不费力气就把他的注意力从这问题转到他自己身上了。在以后的半个小时里，他滔滔不绝地谈他自己的事。从他所谈的话里，我得知他这种时候上灰院咖啡室，乃为对一个疯狂鉴定委员会证明一个因过度饮酒而发疯的病人的精神状况。 “我敢保证，先生，”他说道，“在那种情况下，我很神经衰弱。我受不了威吓，先生。威吓让我失去勇气。你出生的那一夜，那位可怕的小姐所做所为使我很久才复原呢，你知道吗，科波菲尔先生？” 我告诉他，我明天一早就要去看我的姨奶奶——就是我出生那天晚上那条可怕的龙；我还告诉他，她实在是最热情、最优秀的女人之一，如果他多了解她一点就会知道了。仅仅提到他再和她相见的可能性就似乎足以让他惊慌了。他苍白无力地淡淡一笑答道：“她真是这样吗，先生？真的吗？”然后，他马上就要了一支蜡烛，去就寝了，好像他在任何别的地方都觉得不大安全一样。并不是尼加斯酒使他脚步有些踉跄，不过，他会觉得他那平静的小脉搏已每分钟多跳了两三下。那是自我、姨奶奶失望的那个重要夜间以后，——也就是我姨奶奶用帽子打他那时起——就这样了。 由于十分疲乏，我也在半夜就睡了。第二天一天是在去多佛的马车上过的。当我姨奶奶正在喝茶时，我平平安安地冲进了她的老客厅。她（这时已戴眼镜了），狄克先生，还有亲爱的皮果提（这时已在这里做管家了），都张开胳臂用欢喜的眼泪迎接我。我们开始安安静静谈话时，我报告说我碰见了齐力普先生，他对我姨奶奶怀有非常恐怖的记忆，这使她觉得很有趣。她和皮果提两人把我那可怜母亲的后夫和那个“默德灵姐姐”谈了很多。我相信，我姨奶奶决不肯用任何教名或姓氏来称那位小姐。