# ■ 7 Good news and bad news for David

All this time I had gone on loving Dora more than ever．

The more evil there seemed to be in the world，the more brightly Dora's star shone down on me．I am sure I considered her a beautiful angel，far above the rest of us poor humans，and I had no real hope of persuading her to love me．

Peggotty had come to London with me，as she was feeling rather lonely after Barkis's death and Daniel's departure，and I could not stop myself telling her all about Dora．She was very interested，and most encouraging．

‘The young lady should be very proud to have such a hand－some，intelligent young man as you，Master Davie！’she cried．‘And I'm sure her father will be delighted to accept you as her husband！’But I could not share her hopeful view of the sitution．

However，a wonderful thing happened．During a long conversation with Mr Spenlow in the office，he mentioned that it was Dora's birthday the following week，and invited me to a picnic to celebrate it．As soon as I heard this，I went completely mad，and could not think at all clearly．In the next week I bought expensive new clothes and boots，and arranged to hire a handsome white horse．On the day of the picnic， I got up at six in the morning and went to Govent Garden market to buy the freshest and most beautiful flowers for Dora，and by ten o’clock I was riding towards the Spenlows’house．

How lovely Dora looked，in her sky－blue dress and white hat，when I met her in the garden in front of the house！And when she accepted my flowers with delight，I almost thought I would die of happiness．

‘You'll be glad to hear，Mr Copperfield，’she said，smiling prettily，‘that cross Miss Murdstone isn't here．She'll be away for at least three weeks．Instead I have my dear friend，Miss Julia Mills，here with me．’

Sitting next to Dora was a young lady I had not noticed be－fore．Although she was only about twenty，she looked very calm and wise．I later discovered that she had had an unhappy experience in love，and had decided never again to become personally involved in matters of the heart．

‘How delightful for you！’I answered，blushing as I always did when I spoke to Dora．‘And everything that is delightful to you is delightful to me，Miss Spenlow！’Miss Mills said nothing，but smiled kindly on us both．

To get to the picnic place，which was some way from the house，Mr Spenlow，Dora and Miss Mills drove in an open carriage，while I rode by their side on my handsome white horse．I shall never have such a ride again．Dora sat with her back to the horses，looking towards me，and holding my flowers close to her sweet face．Our eyes often met，and I am surprised I did not fall off my horse．I did not notice the dust，or the road we were taking，Sometimes Mr Spenlow spoke to me about the scenery，and I replied politely，but I cannot remember what I said．All I could see was Dora．

I was very disappointed when we arrived，to find that other guests had been invited．I wat quite jealous even of the ladies，because they talked to Dora and took her away from me，but I hated all the men as soon as I saw them．There was a very unpleasant，talkative man with a red moustache，who insisted he knew all about preparing food，and soon had most of the young ladies round him．One of them was Dora．I felt that he was now my worst enemy．

When we started eating，I saw to my horror that Red Moustache was sitting，with a huge plate of chicken，at Dora's feet！I could not think clearly，but I pretended to be cheerful．I sat with a young lady dressed in pink，and talked amusingly to her，and looked at her，and fetched her whatever she needed．Sometimes I looked over at Dora，and she looked back at me，but she had Red Moustache and I had the young lady in pink．

After the meal，the young lady's mother took her away，and I walked alone into a wood，feeling angry and desperate．I was just planning to ride away on my handsome white horse，although I did not know where to，when I saw Dora and Miss Mills coming to meet me．

‘Mr Copperfield，’said Miss Mills，‘You are unhappy．’

‘No，no，Miss Mills！’I protested firmly．‘Perfectly happy！’

‘And Dora，’continued Miss Mills，‘you are unhappy．’

‘Oh good heavens，no，Julia！’cried Dora．‘Not at all！’

‘Mr Copperfield and Dora，’said Miss Mills，looking old and wise，‘enough of this foolishness！You love each other！Confess it and be happy！Take the chance that life offers you！Listen to one who speaks from bitter experience！’

I was so hot and excited that I took Dora's little hand immediately and kissed it—and she let me！I kissed Miss Mills's hand too，and life seemed wonderful again．

Dora shyly put her arm in mine and we walked about together，until，much too soon，we heard the other guests calling her name．So we had to go back，and when they wanted Dora to sing a song，Red Moustache offered to fetch the guitar from the carriage for her．But Dora told him nobody except me knew where it was．

So I fetched the guitar，and I held her gloves，and I sat beside her while she sang．And I knew that in that great crowd of people she was singing only for me，who loved her．

When the guests left，I rode beside the carriage all the way back to the Spenlows’house．Mr Spenlow，who had drunk a lot of wine，was asleep in his seat，and Miss Mills was smiling in a motherly way，as Dora and I whispered happily to each other．Once Miss Mills called me to her side of the carriage．

‘Dora is coming to stay with me，’she told me quietly，‘ the day after tomorrow．Perhaps you would like to visit us？’

‘Miss Mills！How can I ever thank you？’I said．‘What a friend you are—to Miss Spenlow and me！’

When we arrived at the Spenlows ’house，I had to say goodbye to Dora and ride back to London．On the way，I remembered everything she had done or said ten thousand times．I decided I had to tell her I loved her as soon as possible，and ask whether she loved me too．It was the most important question in the world，and only Dora could give me the answer to it．

So，two days later，I dressed in my finest clothes and went to the address Miss Mills had given me．The servant took me to the sittingroom，where I found Julia Mills learning a song，and Dora painting the flowers I had given her！After a short conversation Miss Mills made an excuse and left the room，and Dora and I were alone together．

‘I hope your poor horse wasn't tired the other night，’said Dora，raising her beautiful eyes to mine．‘It was a long way for him，to and from the picnic place．’

I must ask her today！I thought．My whole body was trembling．‘It was a long way for him，’I answered．‘For me it seemed very short，because of my happiness in being so near you．’

There was a moment's silence．Then Dora said，‘You didn't seem to care for that happiness earlier in the day，when you were sitting with the lady in pink．But I expect you don't mean what you say．And of course you're quite free to do whatever you like！’

I don't know how I did it．It happened so quickly．Suddenly I had Dora in my arms and I couldn't stop speaking．I told her how I loved her．I told her I would die without her．And when she blushed and cried a little，I said I had loved her day and night since the moment I had first seen her．I told her that nobody had ever loved or could ever love as much as I loved her．

Somehow I found myself sitting quietly next to Dora on the sofa，holding her little hand．We were engaged！I suppose we realized that one day we would get married，but for the moment we were going to keep our engagement secret from Mr Spenlow．When Miss Mills came in，she was delighted to hear our news，and promised to help us as much as possible．

Now began one of the happiest times of my life．When I look back，I see how foolish I was，but how loving and sincere！I visited Dora every day，and I did not have time for anyone or anything else．But in the middle of my excitement I suddenly thought of Agnes，of her clear calm eyes and her gentle face，and I sat down immediately to write to her，and tell her all about Dora．I knew that as my adopted sister she would share my happiness，and I wanted her approval．

One day when Peggotty and I were having tea in my flat，Tommy Traddles came to visit me．‘My dear Copperfield！’he cried．‘I've been several times before，but you've been out．’

‘My dear Traddles，’I replied，‘yes，I'm very sorry， I've been visiting my—Miss，D，you know．’

‘I expect she lives in London，doesn't she？Mine—that's Sopby—beautiful name，isn't it？Mine lives in Devon，I think I told you．So I don't see her very often．She really is the dearest girl！She's very busy at home，you know，looking after the other nine children．And her mother，who's unable to walk．’

‘What a wonderful girl she must be！’I agreed politely．‘And tell me，Traddles，how is Mr Micawber？’

‘I'm not living in his house at the moment，’said Traddles，‘because his creditors demanded payment of his debts recently，and he had to move to another house．To avoid these unpleasant men，he's even changed his name to Mortimer，and he only comes out of the house after dark，wearing glasses．’

‘So nothing has turned up for him yet？And what abut the money you lent him，Traddles？’

‘I'm afraid I may not get it back．But Mr Micawber promises to give it back one day．He's a fine，honest man，isn't he？’And Traddles looked hopefully at me．

Before I could reply，we heard footsteps on the stairs．I was very surprised to see my aunt coming upstairs．She was carrying two cases and her cat，and was followed closely by Mr Dick，carrying two more cases．

‘My dear aunt！’I cried．‘What an unexpected pleasure！’We kissed each other，and I shook hands with Mr Dick．Traddles left quietly，as he could see we would be discussing family matters．Peggotty made some more tea for my aunt，who had sat down heavily on her cases．

‘Dear aunt！’I said．‘Make yourself more comfortable！Sit in an armchair，or sit on the sofa！’

‘Why do you think I'm sitting on my cases？she asked，looking seriously at me．

I shook my head，unable to guess．

‘Because what I'm sitting on is all I have！Because I've lost all my money，my dear！’

I couldn't have been more shocked if the house and all of us in it had fallen into the River Thames．

‘Yes，’continued my aunt，putting her head calmly on my shoulder．‘I'll tell you all about it tomorrow，David，but tonight we must find a bed for Mr Dick，and I'll sleep here，to save money．’So that night，my aunt agreed to take my bed，while I planned to sleep on the sitting-room sofa，and I took Mr Dick to a neighbour's house to rent a room．When I returned，I found my aunt walking up and down in front of the sitting-room fire．

‘That Peggotty woman is very fond of you，David！’ she said．‘ She's been offering to give us some of her money—the money she inherited from her husband！Of course I refused at once．But she's a good woman．And she's been telling me about the trouble at Yarmouth—’

‘Yes，poor Emily！’I could not stop myself saying．

‘Silly Emily，you mean！But I'm sorry for you，because you cared for her once．And now Peggotty tells me you're in love again！’

I blushed．‘I love Dora with all my heart，aunt！’

‘I suppose the little thing is very lovely，is she？’

‘No one can imagine how lovely she is！’

‘She isn't at all silly，is she？’asked my aunt．

I had never considered this possibility before，and could only repeat what my aunt had said．‘Silly， aunt？’

‘Well，well，I only ask，’replied my aunt gently．‘David，you're very loving，like your poor mother，and you need a good，serious，sensible person to love．’

‘Aunt，if you only knew how sensible Dora is！’I replied．

‘Oh David！’she answered．‘Blind，blind，blind！’

This made me feel a little uncomfortable，but I was glad she knew my secret．I thought perhaps she was rather tiredt，so I said goodnight．She went to my bedroom，and I lay down on the sofa．

How miserable I was that night！I knew I should be thinking of my poor aunt's situation，but I could not prevent myself from thinking of Dora．How could I marry her if I had no money，no expensive clothes to wear，no handsome white horse to ride or flowers to give her？

The next morning I got up early to have a walk in the fresh air，and on the way home，a carriage stopped beside me，and Agnes Wickfield got out．I immediately felt better when I saw her beautiful calm face smiling at me．She had heard that my aunt was in trouble，and had come to London to see her．We walked together to my flat．

‘You know that Uriah Heep is my father's partner now？'she said quietly．‘His influence over my father is far too great．Father is much，much worse．He looks years older，and I'm afraid that，encouraged by Uriah，he drinks more than ever．Uriah and his old mother live with us now，so I can't always be with Father—to—to protect him from whatever Uriah is planning．I just hope that love and truth will always be stronger than evil！’

I could not give her my opinion of Uriah，because by then we had arrived at the flat．My aunt was very pleased to see Agnes again，and made us sit down on the sofa next to Peggotty．

‘Now let me explain to you all what happened to my money，’said my aunt firmly．I was surprised to see that Agnes was pale and trembling．Betsey Trotwood continued，‘I saved a lot of money over the years，and my lawyer，Mr Wickfield，used to help me invest it in the right companies．But recently I thought he wasn't such a good lawyer as he used to be，so I decided to invest my money myself．What a lot of mistakes I made！Who knows where it's gone？In gold，and foreign banks，and so on．It's no good worrying about it，but I can tell you，there's nothing left．’

The colour was beginning to return to Agnes's face．‘So it—it wasn't my father's fault，dear Miss Trotwood？’

‘Not at all，Agnes，’said my aunt cheerfully．‘Now can any of you give me some advice？I've asked my servant Janet to rent my little house in Kent．That will bring in about seventy pounds a year．I think we'll need more than that，to live on．’

‘You and David could share this flat very cheaply，with Mr Dick just round the corner in his rented room，’suggested Agnes．‘And I think I can find a little job for David．Do you remember Dr Strong，the headmaster of the Canterbury school？Now that he's retired and come to live in London，he needs a private secretary to work for him in the mornings and evenings，at his house．He was asking Father about it the other day．What do you think？’

‘Agnes！I cried．‘What would we do without you？ You are my good angel，I told you so before！I could easily be Dr Strong's secretary，as well as continuing my work in Mr Spenlow's firm．I'll go and see him today，and arrange it with him．’

Agnes gave me her beautiful smile as she got up to leave．I went downstairs with her，and as we walked together to the coach station，I saw an old beggar with a white stick in the street．He was holding out his thin hand for money，and crying，‘Blind！Blind！Blind！’It sounded like an echo of what my aunt had said the day before．Oh Agnes，dear sister！If I had only known then what I discovered long afterwards！

■ 7 大衛的好消息和壞消息

在這段日子裡，我對朵拉的愛越來越強烈。似乎這世上有越多的罪惡、黑暗，朵拉這顆星就會照得我心裡越亮。我確信自己已經把她看作是美麗的天使，遠遠地高於我們這些可憐的凡人之上。我並不真想說服她來愛我。

闢果提和我一起來到倫敦，因為巴克斯的死和丹尼爾的離開使她感到非常孤獨。我控制不住把有關朵拉的事全告訴了她。她很感興趣，並且一個勁地鼓勵我。

“有你這樣英俊、聰明的年輕人追求她，這位年輕小姐應該感到十分自豪，大衛少爺！”她叫道，“而且我相信她父親也會很高興接受你這位女婿！”然而，我不敢贊同她對我的處境所持的樂觀態度。

不過，絕好的機會出現了。在辦公室與斯本羅先生的一次長談中，他透露下週是朵拉的生日，並邀請我一起去野餐以示慶祝。聽到這消息，我完全喜瘋了，根本不能冷靜地考慮什麼。到了第二週，我買了一身昂貴的衣服和一雙靴子，訂租了一匹漂亮的白馬。野餐那天，我6點鐘起床，到科文特花市給朵拉買了最新鮮最漂亮的一束花。10點鐘，我騎著馬來到了斯本羅先生家。

在門前的花園裡我遇見了朵拉，多麼可愛的朵拉，穿一身天藍色的衣服，戴一頂白色的帽子！當她高興地接過我的鮮花時，我感覺自己都快要幸福死了！

“跟你說了你準高興，科波菲爾先生，”她嫵媚地一笑，說道，“那位嚴厲的摩德斯通小姐不在。她至少三個星期不會回來。我嘛，有我的好朋友朱莉亞·米爾斯和我作伴。”

坐在朵拉身邊的是一位我剛才沒注意到的年輕小姐。儘管她大約只有20歲，可她顯得很沉穩，很機智。我後來知道，她有過一段不愉快的戀愛史，所以決定再也不捲入個人情感的漩渦中。

“真替你高興！”我紅著臉回答，我一跟朵拉說話就臉紅。“所有你高興的事，我也高興，斯本羅小姐！”米爾斯小姐沒說什麼，只是善意地衝我倆笑笑。

野餐地點距離住所有一段距離，斯本羅先生、朵拉和米爾斯小姐坐在敞篷的馬車上，我騎著我那漂亮的白馬伴在他們旁邊。我再也感覺不到那種騎馬的感覺了。朵拉背對著馬匹坐著，看著我，把我送給她的花貼到她甜美的臉上，我們的目光常常相遇，我奇怪自己居然沒從馬上摔下來。我注意不到飛揚的塵土，記不得我們走過的路線。有時，斯本羅先生跟我說幾句讚美風景的話，我出於禮貌回答了，可我不記得自己說了什麼，我所看見的只有朵拉。

到達目的地時，我很失望地發現，被邀請的還有其他客人。我甚至連小姐太太都嫉妒，因為她們總拉著朵拉說話，把她從我身邊帶走。我更恨那些男士們，從第一眼見到他們起。其中有一位很煩人、喋喋不休、留著紅色小鬍子的傢伙，自稱精通做飯之道，很快把絕大多數女士吸引到他身邊，其中也包括朵拉。我覺得他是我當時最危險的敵人。

我們開始用餐時，我驚恐地發現“紅鬍子”端著一大碗雞肉坐在朵拉的腳邊！我的腦子不能清醒地思考了，可我仍裝出一副高興的樣子。我坐到一位穿粉紅衣服的年輕小姐身邊，饒有興致地跟她交談，看著她，並幫她取她所需要的任何東西。時不時地，我抬頭看朵拉幾眼，她也回看我幾眼，可她有“紅鬍子”，我有粉衣姑娘。

飯後，這位年輕小姐的母親把她帶走了，我獨自走進樹林，心中既氣憤又絕望。我準備騎上我那漂亮的小白馬走開，儘管我不知道自己要去哪裡，這時，我看見朵拉和米爾斯小姐向我走來。

“科波菲爾先生，”米爾斯小姐說，“你不高興。”

“不，不，米爾斯小姐！”我堅定地否認，“我非常高興！”

“還有你，朵拉，”米爾斯小姐繼續道，“你不高興。”

“哦，上帝！不，朱莉亞，我很高興！”朵拉叫道。

“科波菲爾先生，朵拉，”米爾斯小姐說道，看上去既老練又聰明，“愚蠢的把戲玩夠了！你們倆各自都愛著對方！承認吧，高興起來！抓住生活給你們創造的機會！相信一位有過痛苦經歷的人的話吧！”

我熱血沸騰，激動萬分，猛地抓起朵拉的手吻了一下——她沒有抗拒！我也吻了米爾斯小姐的手，生活似乎又重放光彩了。

朵拉很靦腆地把自己的手搭在我的臂彎裡，我們一起朝前走，可是沒過多會兒我們聽到有客人叫她的名字，我們只好往回走。他們要求朵拉唱一首歌，“紅鬍子”自告奮勇提出為她去取吉他，但朵拉告訴他，除了我，誰也不知道吉他在哪兒。

這樣，我取來了吉他。她唱歌時我坐在她旁邊，給她拿著手套。我知道，在這一群人中間，她只為我一個人，一個愛她的人歌唱。

客人們離開後，我騎著馬一路護送馬車回到斯本羅住宅。斯本羅先生喝了很多酒，在座位上睡著了。米爾斯小姐露出母親般慈愛的微笑，看著朵拉和我幸福地竊竊私語。其中有一次，米爾斯小姐把我叫到她那一側的馬車前。

“朵拉要去我那兒，”她平靜地告訴我，“後天。你或許願意去看看我們？”

“米爾斯小姐！我怎麼才能感謝你呢？”我說，“你是多好的朋友——斯本羅小姐和我的朋友！”

我們到達斯本羅住所後我不得不和朵拉道別，騎馬回倫敦。一路上，我成千上萬次地回憶起朵拉和我說的和做的每一件事情，我決定儘快告訴她我愛她，並問她是否也愛我。這是世界上最重要的問題，而且只要朵拉才能給我問題的答案。

於是，兩天後我穿上最好的衣服，按米爾斯小姐給我的地址來到她家。用人把我領進客廳，我看見米爾斯小姐正在學唱一支歌，朵拉正在畫我送給她的花！短短地聊了幾句後，米爾斯小姐找了個藉口離開了，朵拉和我就單獨留在客廳。

“我希望前天夜裡你的馬不致於太累吧，”朵拉抬起她美麗的大眼睛看著我，說，“從野餐地點來回地跑，對它來說是段很長的路。”

我一定要今天問她！我心裡想著，渾身上下都在顫抖。“對它來說是一段很長的路，”我回答，“可對我卻似乎很短，因為有你離我這麼近，帶給我快樂。”

沉默了一陣後，朵拉說道：“在那天的早些時候，你好像並不在乎這種快樂，當你坐在那位穿粉紅色衣服的女孩身邊。不過，我希望你只是說說而已。當然，你有權愛怎麼做就怎麼做！”

我不知道我是怎麼做的。一切發生得如此迅速。我突然抱住朵拉，滔滔不絕地說個沒完。我告訴她我有多愛她，我告訴她沒有她我就會死掉。當她紅著臉，輕聲地哭泣時，我說，從看見她的一瞬間起，我日日夜夜都在愛她，我告訴她，沒有人曾像我這麼愛她，並永遠像我這樣愛她。

不知不覺地，我發現自己安靜地坐在朵拉身邊，握著她的小手。我們訂下了終身！我想我們明白將來有一天我們會結婚，但目前我們打算先對斯本羅先生保守我們已經訂婚的祕密。米爾斯小姐進來了，她很高興聽到這個消息，並答應盡最大努力幫助我們。

這樣，我一生中最幸福的時光開始了。我現在回想起來，覺得自己好傻，可又是那麼可愛，那麼真誠！我每天去看朵拉，沒有時間顧及別人，幹別的事情。然而，在我興奮之中我突然想到了阿格尼斯，想到她沉穩的目光和溫柔的神情，我立刻坐下來給她寫信，告訴她有關朵拉的一切。我知道，作為我的義姐，她會分享我的快樂，而且我需要她的支持。

一天，我正和闢果提在我寓所喝茶，湯米·特拉德爾來找我。“親愛的科波菲爾！”他叫道，“我來過好幾次，你都沒在家。”

“親愛的特拉德爾，”我回答，“是的，我很抱歉，我總去找我的——D小姐，你知道。”

“我想她住在倫敦，是吧？我的——索菲——很美的名字，是吧？我的那位住在德文，我想我跟你說過。所以我不常見她。她的的確確是最可親的姑娘！她在家非常忙，你知道，要照看其他9個孩子，還有她的母親，不能行動的母親。”

“她真是位了不起的姑娘！”我禮貌地附和道，“告訴我，特拉德爾，米考伯先生怎麼樣了？”

“我現階段沒住他們家，”特拉德爾說，“因為他的債主們最近總是催債，他只好搬到別處去住。為了避免這些討厭的人，他甚至把自己的名字改作摩爾提麼，他只在天黑後出門，並帶上眼鏡。”

“看來他還是沒遇到轉機？你借給他的錢怎麼樣了，特拉德爾？”

“恐怕是要不回來了，可米考伯先生答應我總有一天會還給我。他是一個好人、一個很善良的人，是吧？”特拉德爾樂觀地看我一眼。

我正要回答，只聽得樓梯口一陣腳步聲。我很吃驚看見姨婆正往上走。她提著兩個箱子，抱著她的寵貓，身後緊跟著迪克先生，提著另外兩個箱子。

“親愛的姨婆！”我叫道，“多麼意外的驚喜！”我們互相親吻了一下，我和迪克先生握了握手。特拉德爾悄悄地離開了，因為他知道我們接下來就要商討家事。闢果提給姨婆另沏了一些茶，可她卻重重地坐在了她的箱子上。

“親愛的姨婆！”我說，“您可以讓自己舒服點！坐到椅子上或是沙發上吧！”

“你知道我為什麼坐在箱子上嗎？”她問，很認真地看著我。

我搖了搖頭，猜不出來。

“因為我坐著的就是我的全部所有！我失去了全部的積蓄，我親愛的！”

沒有比這讓我更震驚的消息了，那怕是這房子和這房子裡的人都掉進了泰晤士河。

“是的，”姨婆接著說道，把頭靜靜地枕在我的肩上，“明天我會告訴你一切，大衛，但今晚我們必須給迪克先生找個地方睡覺，我可以睡在這裡，省點錢。”就這樣，那天晚上，姨婆同意了睡我的床，我自己則準備睡客廳的沙發，我給迪克先生租了一間附近鄰居的房間。我回來時，發現姨婆在客廳裡踱來踱去。

“那位叫闢果提的女人對你很好，大衛！”她說，“她提出要拿出她從她丈夫那兒繼承到的一部分錢給我們！我自然一口回絕了，可她是個好人。

她把雅茅斯的悲劇告訴了我。”

“是的，可憐的埃米莉！”我情不自禁地叫道。

“你是說愚蠢的埃米莉吧！可我為你感到惋惜，因為你曾經一度關心過她。闢果提告訴我你如今又愛上了一個人！”

我臉紅了。“我是真心愛著朵拉，姨婆！”

“我猜那小東西一定很可愛，是嗎？”

“沒有人能想像得出她有多可愛！”

“她一點兒都不愚蠢吧，是嗎？”姨婆問。

我以前從未考慮過這種可能性，所以只重複著姨婆的問話，“愚蠢嗎，姨婆？”

“好了，好了，我只是隨口問問，”姨婆溫和地回答，“大衛，你很多情，像你的母親一樣，你需要有個善良、認真、懂事理的人來愛你。”

“姨婆，你要知道朵拉有多懂事理就好了！”我回答。

“噢，大衛！”她回答，“盲目，盲目，盲目呀！”

她的話使我很不舒服，可我很高興她知道了我的祕密。我想或許她太累了，就跟她道了晚安。她進了我的臥室，我躺在沙發上。

那是多麼痛苦的一宿！我知道我該考慮考慮可憐的姨婆的處境，但我控制不住要想朵拉。我要是沒錢，沒有貴重的衣服，沒有漂亮的白馬，或者沒有鮮花送給她，我怎麼能跟她結婚？

第二天早上，我起得很早，邊散步邊呼吸著新鮮空氣。往回走時，一輛馬車在我身邊停下來，阿格尼斯·威克菲爾走下車。我看到她那美麗、沉穩的臉正衝我微笑，我頓時覺得心情好多了。她聽說我姨婆遇上了麻煩，特到倫敦來看望她。我們一起朝我的寓所走去。

“你知道嗎，尤賴亞·希普如今已是我父親的生意合夥人了？”她平靜地說道，“他對我父親的影響太大，父親身體更加糟糕了。他看上去蒼老了好幾歲，而且恐怕他受尤賴亞的挑唆喝酒比以前更凶了。尤賴亞和他的老母親如今和我們住在一起，所以我不能總跟父親在一起——來——來保護他不受尤賴亞的牽制。我僅僅希望親情和真誠會戰勝罪惡！”

我沒能談談我對尤賴亞的看法，因為那時我們已經走到了我的寓所。姨婆很高興又一次見到阿格尼斯，並把我們讓到闢果提旁邊的沙發上坐下。

“現在我來跟你解釋我的錢到底出什麼事了，”姨婆堅定地說。奇怪的是，我看見此時的阿格尼斯臉色蒼白，渾身發抖。貝茜·特拉伍德繼續說，“這些年來我存了一大筆錢，我的律師威克菲爾先生曾幫助我把錢投資到合適的企業。但最近我覺得他已不是原來的那麼好的律師了，所以我只好自己決定投資方向。我犯了個多大的錯誤！誰知道那些錢都去了哪裡？換成了黃金，入了外國銀行，亦或是別的。為此犯愁沒有用，但我可以告訴你，現已一分不剩了。”

阿格尼斯的臉上重新恢復了血色，“那麼說這——這不是我父親的錯，親愛的特拉伍德小姐？”

“根本不是，阿格尼斯，”姨婆情緒高昂地說道，“現在誰能給我出點主意嗎？我已經讓我的女僕詹妮特租掉了我在肯特的小別墅。那會給我們帶來每年70英鎊左右的收入，我想我們靠這些生活是遠遠不夠的。”

“您和大衛住這套房子，迪克先生就住拐腳處租來的那間房間，開銷很小嘛，”阿格尼斯建議道。“而且我想我能給大衛找一份差事。你還記得斯特朗博士嗎，坎特伯雷城那所學校的校長？他現已退休，住在倫敦，他需要一位私人祕書，早晚到他家為他工作。他那天向父親打聽此事。你覺得如何？”

“阿格尼斯！”我叫起來，“沒有你我們能做什麼呢？你是我的好天使，我以前就已經告訴過你！我可以毫不費力地做斯特朗博士的祕書，同時可以繼續在斯本羅先生的事務所工作。我今天就去見他，把此事跟他談妥。”

阿格尼斯起身告辭時衝我甜美地一笑。我送她下樓，並一同走到長途馬車站，在街上我看見一位年老的乞丐，手拿一根白手杖。他伸著乾瘦的手要錢，嘴裡叫著，“盲目！盲目！盲目呀！”聽起來與我姨婆那天說的那幾句相響應。啊，阿格尼斯，親愛的姐姐！要是我當時就知道這個我很久以後才明白的道理就好了！