# ■ 5 David meets old friends again

I decided to go to London first，to stay at a hotel for a few nights，and see all the sights of that great city．I knew it would be very different from the last time I was in London，when I was working at the warehouse．Now I was adult，and educated，and had money．

The hotel I chose was called the Golden Cross，and because I looked so young，I was given a very small，dark room in the roof．But I did not feel confident enough to complain．

That evening I was returning from the theatre when I recognized someone going into the hotel．I could not prevent my self from saying at once，‘Steerforth！Do you remember me？’

He stared at me for a moment．Then he cried，‘Good heavens！It's little Copperfield！’

I was so delighted to see him that I held both his hands，saying，‘My dear Steerforth，you have no idea how pleased I am to see you again！’I remembered how much I had admired him，and all my love for him came back．I had to brush away the tears from my eyes．

‘Don't cry，Copperfield，old boy！’he said kindly．‘I'm glad to see you too．What are you doing here？’

‘I've just finished school，and my aunt has sent me to Lon don to look around before deciding on a profession．What about you，Steerforth？’

‘Well，I'm studying at Oxford University，but nothing ex citing ever happens there！That's why I'm in London for a few days．But it's boring here too，isn't it？’

‘In London？’I asked，surprised．‘I think it's wonderful！There's so much to do and see！I've just been to the theatre—the actors were excellent and—’

‘David，David！’laughed Steerforth．‘It does me good to see your fresh，innocent face，so full of excitement！Now，let me see，which room are staying in？’

‘Number 44．It's rather high up，’I confessed，blushing．

‘They've put you in number 44？I'll soon change that．’And when Steerforth complained to the manager，I was imme diately given a large，airy，comfortable room on the first floor，next to his．That night as I fell asleep I thought happily of the next few days，which Steerforth and I were planning to spend together．

A week passed very quickly，with visits to the theatre，the museums and the zoo．We went sightseeing，riding，swimming and boating．Steerforth was the perfect companion to have，and I admired him even more than before．In fact，I loved him with all my heart．

One day I said to him，‘You know，Steerforth，I really must go and visit my mother's old servant， Peggotty．She was very good to me when I was a child．’

‘Yes，David，I remember you told me．She lives in Yarmouth now， doesn't she？Why don't we go there together？’

‘Oh yes，Steerforth！You'd enjoy meeting her brothef，and all the family！They're very kind，good people．’

‘Even if they are only working people，’said Steerforth．I looked quickly at him to see what he meant，but he was smiling at me，so I knew he was joking，and I smiled too．

We travelled to Yarmouth by coach，and when we arrived，Steerforth stayed at the hotel while I went to Barkis's house to find Peggotty．When I knocked at the door，Peggotty opened it，and did not recognize me for a moment．I had continued to write to her regularly，but we had not seen each other for seven years，and I was no longer the small boy she remembered．But when she realized I was her Master David，she sobbed and sobbed with delight，holding me in her arms as she had always done．Soon she was calmer，and we talked about the events of the last few years．I heard that she was very happy with Mr Barkis，who；however，was ill in bed at the time．She was so pleased to see me that she insisted I should sleep at her house during my stay in Yarmouth，in the little bedroom she had al ways kept for me．

The next day I took Steerforth with me to visit Daniel Peg gotty．It was a dark and windy winter evening．As we came closer to the old boat，we heard happy voices and laughter in side．I opened the door，and suddenly I was surrounded by Daniel，Ham and Emily，all looking very surprised．

‘Look！It's Master David！Look how he's grown！’

And for a moment we were all shaking hands and talking and laughing at the same time．I did not forget to introduce Steerforth．They welcomed him warmly as my best friend．

‘Well！’cried Daniel Peggotty，his large face red and shin ing with delight．‘It's wonderful，Master David，that you two gentlemen have come here tonight of all nights！The best night of my life！Because tonight，gentlemen，my little Emily—’and he took Emily's small white hand in his rough red one and placed it on his heart—‘has agreed to become Ham's wife！’

‘I congratulate you with all my heart，’said Steerforth politely to Ham，without taking his eyes off Emily，who was blushing prettily．

‘Master David knows how I love this girl，’continued old Daniel，‘and my dearest wish was for her to have a good husband to take care of her． And there's no one I trust more than Ham！He's only a rough sailor like me，but he's honest，and sincere，and I know she'll come to no harm while he lives！’

Meanwhile，Ham was blushing too．I did not know what to say，unsure whether I still loved Emily and was therefore jealous of Ham，or whether I was glad they were going to be happy together．But steerforth always knew the right thing to say，and with a few well-chosen words he made us all feel much more comfortable．

We spent the rest of the evening very pleasantly，telling stories and singing songs，and it was midnight when Steerforth and I left the old boat．

‘Well！’said Steerforth to me as we walked across the sand in the cold night air．‘What a lovely girl！And what a coarse young man she's engaged to！’

I was shocked by these unexpectedly cold words．But when I turned to him and saw him smiling，I replied warmly，‘Ah，Steerforth！You pretend to laugh at people who are poorer or less educated than yourself，but I've just seen you spend the whole evening with the Peggotty family，making them happy！I know you understand and love them，and I admire you all the more for it！’

He stopped and looked at me，saying rather sadly，‘David，you're serious，aren't you？I wish I were as good as you！’

For the next two weeks I was often with Peggotty and Barkis，while Steerforth went sailing or fishing with Daniel and Ham，or found other things to do，so I did not see very much of him．Finally we decided to return to London．

While we were travelling back on the coach，I turned to say something，and was surprised to see how miserable he looked．

‘Oh，David！’he said unhappily．‘I wish I could control myself better！I hate myself sometimes！’

‘Steerforth！What can you mean！’I cried．‘You're the best，the most intelligent，the kindest of men！’

‘Thank you，David，’he said，shaking his head，‘but you don't know how bad I am．’

‘Bad！’I repeated．‘My dear Steerforth！Don't say that！I know your character well，and I'm proud to call you my friend！’

In a little while his mood changed，and he became cheerful again．I soon forgot his words，but I remembered them later．

In London I discovered that my aunt had arrived at the Colden Cross Hotel，and had booked a room there for several days．We were delighted to see each other，and had a long conversation that evening．She had come to ask me a particular question．

‘David，’she said very seriously，‘I've been thinking about your future profession．How would you feel about becoming a lawyer？’

I thought for a moment．‘Well，aunt，it sounds a very good idea．I confess I hadn't considered it before，but I think I'd like it．’

‘Very good，’said my aunt，jumping up．‘In that case，let's go immediately to see Mr Spenlow．He's a partner in an important law firm，and I think he'll agree to train you．We'll have to pay him，of course，but after several years you'll be a properly trained lawyer，and be able to earn your own money．’

And so we carried out this plan．My aunt paid Mr Spenlow's firm a thousand pounds，and I promised to work hard and do my best to become a successful lawyer．Before she returned to Dover，my aunt rented a small flat for me，at the top of a house near the lawcourts，and I moved in at once．

At first it seemed very exciting to walk through the busy streets after a long day in the courts or at Mr Spenlow's dusty office，and know that I had my own home to return to．But when I had climbed up all the stairs，and entered my sitting room，it no longer seemed so exciting．In fact，my flat looked empty and depressing．So，after two days of loneliness，I was very glad to receive my first visitor，Steerforth，and because I was so happy to see him，I invited him and two friends of his to dinner the next evening．

As it was my first dinner party，I did not know what to buy，but I ordered cooked dishes of chicken and fish from the restaurant，bought cheese and fruit from the market，and had a large number of bottles of wine delivered．I was quite fright ened by how much money I had spent，but when Steerforth and his friends arrived，I soon became more cheerful．The party was a great success，and we all enjoyed ourselves very much．We ate，and drank，and smoked，and drank again．I was constantly opening bottles of wine，and became unusually talkative．I began to feel rather strange，and when I caught sight of myself in a mirror，I seemed very pale．I had to confess to myself that I looked drunk．

Someone suggested going to the theatre，and in a kind of mist we left my flat and walked through the streets．Steerforth was holding my arm and laughing．Then a man in a little box looked out of the fog，and took money from somebody．Soon we were sitting high up in a very hot，very crowded theatre．There were bright lights，and there was music，but I could not understand what anyone was saying，and the whole building seemed to swim in front of my eyes．

Then someone suggested going to visit some friends in an other part of the theatre，so we went downstairs．Suddenly I saw，quite clearly，Agnes Wickfield，sitting with a lady and gentleman．She was looking at me with a surprised expression on her face．

‘Good heavens！’I cried．‘Agnes！You're in London！’

‘Quiet！’she whispered．‘People are trying to listen to the actors．You'll disturb them！’Then she added kindly，‘David，please do what I say．Ask your friends to take you home．’

I had always taken Agnes's advice，and I did so this time．I do not remember how I got home，but I do remember Steer forth helping me to undress and get into bed．What a terrible，sleepless night I spent！How ill I felt！How dry my mouth was！But the next morning I felt even worse．I was so miser able and ashamed that I had been so stupid，and that Agnes had seen me drunk．I could not even apologize to her，because I did not know where she was staying in London．I spent the whole day with my head in my hands，in my dirty，smoky room，surrounded by empty wine bottles．

But the next day a note was delivered to my flat．It was from Agnes，asking me to visit her at the house where she was staying．I went straight there after my day's work at the office．

She looked so quiet and good，and reminded me so much of my happy schooldays in Canterbury，that I could not help crying．

‘I'm so sorry，Agnes，’I said，‘that you saw me like that．I wish I were dead！’

‘David，don't be unhappy，’she said cheerfully．‘You know you can trust me，and I'll always be your friend．’

I took her hand and kissed it．‘Agnes，you're my good angel！’

She shook her head．‘No，David，but if I were，I'd warn you—to stay away from your bad angel．’

‘My dear Agnes！’I cried．‘Do you mean Steerforth？’

‘I do，David，’she replied，looking firmly at me．

‘Agnes，you're wrong！He is my trusted friend！He helps and guides me！It wasn't his fault that I got drunk，you know！’

‘I wasn't thinking of that．I judge him from what you've told me about him，and your character，and his influence over you．’Agnes spoke very seriously，and her words went straight to my heart．‘I'm certain I'm right．You've made a dangerous friend，David，because you're so trusting．Please remember what I say—and forgive me for saying it．’

‘I will，if you forgive me for getting drunk．’

Agnes agreed，smiling，and then said suddenly，‘Have you seen Uriah Heep？’

‘No，’I replied．‘Is he in London？What's he doing here？’

‘I'm worried，David，’answered Agnes with sadness in her beautiful eyes．‘I think he's going to be Father's partner．’

I remembered Uriah Heep's oily smile，and how uncomfort able he always used to make me feel．

‘What？That creature？He's so unpleasant！You must pre vent your father from agreeing to it，Agnes！’

Agnes smiled miserably．‘My poor father has no choice．You know how unhappy he has often been？And of course you've seen him drinking．You see，he loved my mother very much，and when she died，he didn't care so much about his work．That's when he started drinking．Uriah's very clever—he knows all this，and he's been very useful to Father，doing all the work that Father had forgotten or didn't want to do．Father really needs Uriah now，to keep his business going．And Uriah himself pretends to be humble and grateful，but in fact he's in a strong position，and is insisting on becoming a partner．Father is ashamed of himself，but he has to agree．Poor Father！I'd do anything to help him，any thing！’And Agnes sobbed bitterly．

I had never seen Agnes cry before．It made me so sad that I could only say helplessly，‘My dear Agnes！Please don't cry！’However，in a few minutes she was calm again，and I was able to leave her，promising to visit her and her father in Canter bury very soon．

■ 5 大衛重逢老朋友

我決定先到倫敦，在旅館裡住上幾天，把那大城市的風光景緻遊覽個遍。我知道這一次與我上次到倫敦倉庫工作時的情景會大不一樣。如今我已長大成人，受過教育，身上有了錢。

我選擇了一家取名“金十字”的旅館，由於我看上去很年輕，他們就給我開了一間閣樓上又小又黑的房間。而我當時還沒有足夠的勇氣抱怨。

那天晚上，我從戲院回來，見一個熟悉的身影走進旅館。我禁不住脫口叫道：“斯提福茲！你還認識我嗎？”

他看了我一會兒，然後叫起來，“我的天！是小科波菲爾！”

見到他，我欣喜異常，我緊握住他的雙手說：“親愛的斯提福茲，你不會知道再次見到你我有多高興！”我記得我是多麼地敬重他，我對他的敬慕又一次昇華。我的雙眼湧滿淚花，我只好趕緊擦掉。

“別哭，科波菲爾，老夥計！”他和善地說道，“我也很高興見到你，你在這裡幹什麼？”

“我剛畢業，我姨婆讓我在選擇職業之前先到倫敦轉轉。你呢，斯提福茲？”

“嗯，我在牛津大學上學，可那兒沒什麼好玩的事！所以我來倫敦呆幾天，但這兒也很無聊，是吧？”

“倫敦嗎？”我很納悶，問道。“我覺得很好呀！有那麼多事可做可看！我剛去了戲院——那些演員棒極了，還有——”

“大衛，大衛，”斯提福茲笑道，“看到你這張好奇、天真的臉，這麼激動，真讓我高興！現在，告訴我，你住哪個房間？”

“44號，在樓頂上，”我紅著臉直說了。

“他們把你安置在44號？我馬上給你換房。”斯提福茲找老闆談了以後，他們很快把我安排在樓下一層的一間寬敞、通風、舒適的房間，而且在斯提福茲的隔壁。晚上躺下睡覺時，我很高興，想著接下來的幾天我可以和斯提福茲在一起玩。

一週很快過去了，我們一起看戲，參觀博物館、動物園，我們一起觀光、騎馬、游泳、划船，斯提福茲是一位難得的好夥伴，我比以前更敬重他了。實際上，我已經真心真意喜愛他了。

一天，我跟他說，“你知道，斯提福茲，我必須去看看我母親的老女僕，闢果提，我小時候她對我很好。”

“是，大衛，我記得你跟我說過。她住在雅茅斯，是吧？幹嗎不一起去呢？”

“哦！對呀，斯提福茲！你一定很樂意見見她的哥哥及他的全家！他們都是非常友好、善良的人。”

“即便他們只是普通的勞苦大眾，”斯提福茲說。我瞥了他一眼，想弄清他話中的含義，但他衝我笑笑，我想他是在開玩笑，所以我也笑了笑。

我們乘坐長途馬車到雅茅斯，到了之後，斯提福茲先在一家旅館落腳，我到巴克斯家去找闢果提。我敲了敲門，闢果提出來了，她當時沒認出我。我雖然一直給她寫信，從未間斷，但我們彼此已有7年沒見面，我已不再是她記憶中的小男孩了。然而，當她意識到我就是她的大衛少爺時，她激動得哭了又哭，還象從前那樣把我擁在她懷裡，她很快就平靜了下來，我們互相說起近幾年發生的事情。她說她跟巴克斯先生過得很幸福，可他現在卻生病在床。她見到我是那麼高興，堅持要我在雅茅斯逗留期間住到他們家，睡那間她一直為我保留著的小臥房。

第二天，我帶斯提福茲去拜訪丹尼爾·闢果提。那是個黑暗、多風的夜晚，我們走近老船屋，聽得裡面傳出快樂的說笑聲。我推開門，丹尼爾、哈姆和埃米莉突然圍過來，驚奇地看著我。

“看！是大衛少爺！他長成大人了！”

一時間我們都握著手又說又笑。我沒忘了介紹斯提福茲。他們把他當作我的好朋友熱情接待。

“好啊！”丹尼爾·闢果提叫道，激動得大臉龐又紅又亮。“太好啦，大衛少爺，你們兩位先生選擇今晚到這裡！這是我一生中最美好的夜晚！因為今天晚上，先生們，我的小埃米莉——”他把小埃米莉白皙的小手握在自己粗糙發紅的手中並放到胸口——“已經答應嫁給哈姆當妻子！”

“我衷心地祝賀你，”斯提福茲出於禮貌對哈姆說道，可他的眼睛始終沒有離開臉頰菲紅的美麗的埃米莉。

“大衛少爺知道我有多愛這孩子，”老丹尼爾繼續道，“我最大的心願就是她能找到一位好丈夫照顧她。而我最信任的人莫過於哈姆！他雖然只是一個像我一樣粗魯的水手，但他樸實、真誠，我知道只要有他在她決不會受到任何傷害！”

這時，哈姆也臉紅了。我不知道說什麼好，不知道是因還愛著埃米莉而妒嫉哈姆，還是為他們的幸福而高興。然而，斯提福茲總能說出合適的話語，他的幾句很得體的話讓大家都覺得自在多了。

接下來的時間我們過得很愉快，大家講故事、唱歌，一直到午夜時分，我和斯提福茲才離開船屋。

“咳！”我們在寒冷的夜色中穿過沙灘，斯提福茲說，“多可愛的女孩！卻要嫁給這麼粗俗的男人！”

他突然說出這麼尖刻的話使我感到震驚，可當我回過頭看他臉上掛著笑容時，我熱情地附和道：“啊，斯提福茲！你假裝嘲笑那些比你寒酸、沒文化的人，可我剛看到你和闢果提一家整個晚上在一起，逗他們開心！我知道你瞭解他們，喜歡他們，我更加仰慕你了！”

他停下腳步看著我，心情沉重地說：“大衛，你是認真的，對吧？我真希望我能像你這麼好！”

接下來的兩個星期我常和闢果提和巴克斯在一起，而斯提福茲常隨丹尼爾和哈姆去航海、釣魚，或者找些其他事幹，所以我不常見著他。最後我們決定回倫敦。

當我們坐上返程的長途馬車時，我轉身想跟他說些什麼，卻驚奇地發現他居然是滿面愁容。

“噢，大衛！”他痛苦地說，“我真希望能更好地把握住自己！我有時恨死我自己了！”

“斯提福茲！你在說什麼呀！”我叫道，“你是最優秀、最聰明、最好心腸的人！”

“謝謝你，大衛！”他搖了搖頭，說道，“但你不知道我有多壞。”

“壞！”我重複道，“我親愛的斯提福茲！別胡說了！我很瞭解你的性格，和你成朋友是我的榮幸。”

片刻之後，他的情緒有了改觀，重新高興起來。我很快忘了他的這些話，可後來我又回想起來了。

回倫敦後，我發現姨婆早就等在“金十字”旅館了，而且已經在那兒住了好幾天了。彼此相見我們都很高興，當晚聊了很久。她為一個問題專程來問我。

“大衛，”她十分嚴肅地說，’我一直都在考慮你今後的工作間題，你覺得做律師怎麼樣？”

我想了一會兒，“好啊，姨婆，聽起來這主意不錯。我承認我以前沒想到過，但我想我會喜歡的。”

“很好，”姨婆說著跳起來，“既然這樣，我們馬上去見斯本羅先生，他是一家頗為重要的律師事務所的合夥人，我想他會同意收你為徒，當然我們得付學費。可幾年下來你就能成為一名訓練有素的律師，而且可以自己掙錢。”

緊接著，我們實施了這項計劃。姨婆付給斯本羅事務所1000英鎊，我答應努力學習，儘可能成為一名成功的律師。姨婆回多佛之前，給我租了一套小房子，位於法院附近一幢樓的頂層，我很快搬了進去。

一開始，我每天從法院或斯本羅事務所那滿是塵土的辦公室工作一天之後，穿過熱鬧繁華的街區，想到我也有自己的家可回，就異常興奮。可當我爬完所有的樓梯，走進客廳，似乎就不再那麼興奮了。事實上，我的房間看上去空蕩蕩的，令人抑鬱。所以，孤單單地呆了兩天後，我很高興我的第一位客人斯提福茲來訪。見到他後我非常開心。於是又邀請他和他的兩位朋友第二天晚上到我的寓所聚餐。

由於我是頭一次搞聚餐，不知道該買什麼，就從餐館裡預定了現成的一隻雞和一條魚，又從商店裡買了些奶酪和水果，還讓人送到家好幾瓶酒。自己一下子花掉那麼多錢，真有點可怕。可當斯提福茲和他的朋友到來之後，我的心情立刻好轉了。聚會辦得十分成功，我們玩得很開心，我們邊吃邊喝邊抽菸，然後又喝。我不停地打開一瓶又一瓶的酒，而且變得異常健談，我開始感覺不對勁，照著鏡子一看，自己已臉色蒼白。我不得不承認自己的醉態。

有人提議去看戲，我們就迷迷糊糊地走出我的寓所來到街上。斯提福茲嘻笑著攙著我的胳膊。小包箱裡有一個人從霧裡探出頭來，偷走了另一個人的錢。很快，我們坐進了燥熱、擁擠的戲院，而且高高在上。戲院裡有明亮的燈光，有音樂，但我聽不懂演員在說什麼，整個建築物彷彿在我眼前晃動。

之後，有人提議去戲院的另一頭看看幾位朋友，所以我們又下了樓。突然，我十分清楚地看見阿格尼斯·威克菲爾，她與一位女士和一位先生坐在一起。她看著我，一臉驚訝的神色。

“我的天！”我叫起來，“阿格尼斯！你在倫敦！”

“安靜！”她小聲說道，“別人都在聽戲，你會吵著他們的！”然後她又善意地加了一句：“大衛，請照我說的做，讓你的朋友送你回家。”

阿格尼斯的意見我向來都聽，這次也一樣。我不記得當時是怎麼回的家，但我依然記得是斯提福茲幫我脫了衣服，把我弄上床。多麼可怕、難眠的一宿！我感覺好難受！口乾舌燥！而第二天上午情況更糟，我為自己所幹的蠢事感到既痛苦又羞愧，還讓阿格尼斯看見了我的醉態。我甚至沒法向她致歉，因為我不知道她住在倫敦的哪個地方。我雙手捧著自己的腦袋，在髒亂不堪、烏煙障氣、滿是空酒瓶的屋子裡呆了一整天。

第二天，有人給我的寓所送來一張便條，是阿格尼斯寫的，她要求我到她現在住的地方去找她。我下了班就直奔她那兒。

她看上去是那麼文靜，氣色那麼好，讓我回想起在坎特伯雷城那段美好的學生生活，我情不自禁地哭起來。

“真抱歉，阿格尼斯，”我說，“讓你瞧見我的蠢樣。我真沒臉見你！”

“大衛，別難過了，”她愉悅地說道，“你知道你可以相信我，我永遠是你的朋友。”

我抓起她的手吻了一下，“阿格尼斯，你是我的天使！”

她搖了搖頭，“不，大衛，如果我真是，我要提醒你——離開你的壞天使。”

“親愛的阿格尼斯！”我叫道，“你是指斯提福茲？”

“是的，大衛，”她回答，堅定地注視著我。

“阿格尼斯，你錯了！他是我信任的朋友！他幫助我，引導我！我喝醉不是他的錯，你知道！”

“我不是指醉酒的事。我是從你談起他的話語中，從你的性格和他對你所產生的影響來判斷的。”阿格尼斯認真地說道，她的話觸動了我的心。“我認定我是對的。你結識了一位危險的朋友，大衛，因為你太容易輕信他人了。請記住我的話——並請原諒我的直率。”

“我會的，只要你能原諒我的酒後失態。”

阿格尼斯笑著答應著，然後她突然問道，“你見過尤賴亞·希普嗎？”

“沒有啊，”我回答，“他在倫敦嗎？他來這裡來幹什麼？”

“我很擔心，大衛，”阿格尼斯回答，美麗的雙眼蒙上一層鬱憂。“我想他將要成為父親的合夥人了。”

我想起尤賴亞·希普那僵硬的笑，他總是讓人那麼的不舒服。

“什麼？那個怪物？他實在不討人喜歡！你必須阻止你父親與他合夥經營，阿格尼斯！”

阿格尼斯苦笑了一下，“可憐的父親沒有別的選擇，你知道他常常是多麼的憂鬱？當然你也見過他酗酒。你知道，他非常愛我的母親，她死後，他便不在那麼專心他的工作。也就是那時他開始酗酒。尤賴亞很聰明——他知道這一切，他對父親幫助很大，幫父親做所有他忘記做或者不想做的事情。如今，為了能繼續維持他的公司，父親的確已經離不了尤賴亞了。尤賴亞自己則裝出一幅卑謙、感恩戴德的樣子，而實際上，他佔據上風，堅持要做父親的合夥人。父親為自己感到羞愧，可也不得不同意。可憐的父親！我願意做任何事情來幫助他！任何事！”阿格尼斯傷心痛哭。

以前我從未見阿格尼斯哭過。

我難過得只能說些無濟於事的話，“親愛的阿格尼斯！求你別哭了！”不過，幾分鐘後，她又恢復了平靜，我也能告辭出來了，我答應她我會很快去坎特伯雷看望她和她的父親。