# ■ 8 David's new life

With Agnes's encouragement I felt much stronger，and no longer depressed．My life now bad a purpose．I intended to work as hard as I could，to help my aunt and to earn enough money to marry Dora．I got up every morning at five o’clock，walked to Dr Strong's house on the other side of London，worked with him for two hours every morning，and then walked back to Mr Spenlow's office，where I spent most of the day in the lawcourts．Then I returned to Dr Strong's for two or three more hours in the evening，and finally came home to my flat，where my aunt，Peggotty and Mr Dick would be waiting for me．I was glad to be able to tell my aunt that Dr Strong would pay me seventy pounds a year for my work．With that，and the rent from my aunt's house in Kent，we could live quite well，if we were careful．Because I was young and healthy，I did not mind hard work，and whenever I was tired，I told myself，‘You're doing it for Dora！’and that made me work even harder．

When I met Traddles one day near the courts，I told him about my new situation，and he was very sympathetic．

‘But I have news for you too，Copperfield！’he said．‘The Micawbers are moving to Canterbury．’

‘Oh！That means something must have turned up for them！’I replied，interested．

‘Yes，Mr Micawber is going to become assistant to someone called Uriah Heep，a partner in a firm of Canterbury lawyers．’

‘Heep！’I cried in horror．‘I know him！Why would Mr Micawber want to work for him？’

‘Well，I do know that Heep has paid all Mr Micawber's debts in London，’answered Traddles．‘The whole family is leaving tomorrow．They asked me to tell you．’

I wondered why Heep wanted Micawber to work for him，and I felt sure Uriah had some evil plan in his ugly head．

The next day Peggotty was returning to Yarmouth to look after Ham，while Daniel was away．After I had taken her to the coach station and said goodbye to her，I hurried to Miss Mills's house．I had not yet told Dora about the changes in my life，because I had not wanted to explain it all in a letter，but today she was visiting Julia Mills and was expecting me to come to tea．

How happy and heautiful Dora looked when she met me in the sitting-room！And how shocked and miserable she looked when I asked her immediately，‘Can you love a beggar，Dora？’My pretty little Dora！She had no idea what I meant．

‘Don't be silly，David！’she cried．‘What are you talking about？’

‘It's true，Dora，my love！’I cried．‘I've lost all my money！I'm a beggar！’And I looked so serious that Dora was frightened，and began to sob bitterly on my shoulder．

‘But I love you，Dora，and always will！’I continued．‘It doesn't matter if we are poor，because I'll work hard to buy our bread．We don't need much as long as we have each other！Tell me your heart is still mine，dear Dora！’

‘Oh yes！’she cried．‘Oh yes，it's all yours！Only，don't frighten me again！Don't talk of hard work and bread！I don't understand！I hardly ever eat bread！’

I loved her more than ever．But I felt she was not very practical．In a few moments，when she had stopped crying and was calmer，I tried again to make her understand．

‘My dearest！May I mention something？’

‘Oh，please don't be practical！begged Dora，tears coming to her lovely eyes．‘It frightens me so much！’

‘My dear one，if we work together，and share our problems，it will make us，and our love，stronger．

‘But I'm not strong at all！’she cried miserably．‘Ask Julia！She'll tell you—I'm weak，and foolish！’

‘But if you thought sometimes，my sweet Dora，that you are engaged to a poor man—if you tried to see how your father manages the servants，or how much food costs in the markets，it would be helpful to us．We must be brave，dear Dora！Our path in life is steep and rocky—’

I was becoming quite enthusiastic，but I suddenly realized I had said far too much．Poor little Dora was sobbing and screaming with fear，and in a moment was lying unconscious on the sofa．I really thought I had killed her．I threw water on her face and went down on my knees to ask her to forgive me．I called myself a selfish，heartless creature，and shouted for Julia Mills．At last she hurried in，and I explained what had happened．When Dora opened her eyes，her friend helped her upstairs．

While Dora was upstairs，washing her face and calming herself，I asked Miss Mills's advice on the best way to encourage Dora to become more practical．Miss Mills shook her head sadly．

‘I must be honest with you，Mr Copperfield．Our dearest Dora is a beautiful，innocent child of nature，full of light and happiness．She is above the things of this world，which we poor humans have to worry about．I think you'll just have to accept that fact．’

When Dora came downstairs again，she looked so lovely that I felt bitterly angry with myself for making her unhappy， even for a moment．We had tea，and she sang her French songs to me，and played the guitar．We were happy again，until the moment when I stupidly mentioned that I had to get up at five o’clock the next morning．Suddenly her pretty face looked sad，and she did not play or sing again．When I got up to go，she came up close to me，and said lovingly，‘You bad boy，don't be so silly！Don't get up at five o’clock！Why should you？’

‘But my love，I have work to do！I have to work in order to live！’ I replied． ‘ Work？Don't be so foolish， David dear！’and she seemed to think that was the end of the matter， as she gave me a kiss straight from her innocent little heart．

I loved her， and went on loving her． But I went on working hard too， and worrying about earning money． Some evenings，as I sat opposite my aunt in my little sitting-room at the end of another exhausting day， I was quite frightened， when I thought of the problems I was going to have to solve alone．

Several months passed in this way． Dora and I wrote to each other every day， and occasionally I was able to visit her at Miss Mills's house． But one morning when I arrived at the office for work， Mr Spenlow greeted me very coldly and asked me to step into his office， where we could talk privately．When I entered the room，I was surprised to see Miss Murd-stone standing by his desk， staring unpleasantly at me． I knew at once that Dora's father had discoversd our secret， and I guessed who had told him．

‘ Mr Copperfield，’ said Mr Spenlow， frowning sternly at me，‘ I am sorry to say that Miss Murdstone has found some letters which appear to be from you to my daughter Dora． Are they yours？’

I looked at the letters he handed to me， blushed， and whispered，‘ Yes， sir，’ Poor little Dora！I hoped she had not been frightened by that horrible Murdstone woman． I hated to think Of Dora's unhappiness at losing my letters．

‘ I suspected something was wrong when Miss Spenlow came back from her last visit to Miss Mills，’ said Miss Murd-stone， looking very pleased with herself．‘ I always said Julia Mills was not a suitable friend for Miss Spenlow， and I was right！’

Mr Spenlow appeared to agree， but rather sadly．

‘ I am very sorry， sir，’ I said，‘ but it is all my fault． Please don't blame Dora—’

‘ Miss Spenlow to you， young man！’ said her father angrily.

‘ I know it wasn't right to keep it secret， sir， but I love your daughter，and I hope that one day—’

‘ Don't speak to me of love， Mr Copperfield！ cried Mr Spenlow．‘ You are both much too young！ We'll throw these letters in the fire， and you must promise to forget the whole thing． There is no question of your marrying Dora！’

‘ But sir，I can't forget her！I love her！’ I protested．

‘That is my last word， M Copperfield！ When you have time to consider， you'll realize it's wiser to do as I say． Now go to your work！’

I spent all day thinking of poor sweet Dora， and how she must be feeling． In the evening I hurried round to Miss Mills's house， but although she spoke wisely of love and broken hearts， she could not offer me any practical advice.

The next day， after a sleepless night， I arrived at the office at the normal time， and discovered all the clerks standing talking at the front door． This was so unusual that I stopped to ask what had happened.

‘ Why，don't you know？’ asked one of them．‘The police have found Mr Spenlow dead！’I fell back， shocked．

‘ You look very pale， Mr Copperfield！’ said another．‘Sit down here， sir！’

‘ Tell me——tell me what happened， I gasped．

‘Well， he went into town to dinner last night， and the carriage and horses came back at midnight without him. He was driving himself， you see． So the servants went to look for him， and found him dead in the road． He must have been ill，and have fallen out of the carriage． Anyway， he was dead when they found him.’

This was a terrible shock to me． Perhaps his anger with me had made him ill.In that case I was partly to blame for his death． But I am sorry to say I was also jealous of Dora's sadness． White she was crying for her dead father， she was not thinking of me， and I selfishly wanted to be the only person in her life．

In the next few weeks I became quite desperate because I could not see or speak to my sweet Dora． Miss Mills reported that Dora cried all day， and when my name was mentioned，only sobbed more loudly and said，‘Oh poor dear Father！How wicked of me to keep a secret from him！ Oh！ Oh！’ So I did not feel encouraged to visit her． Soon after her father's funeral， Dora was taken to live with her two aunts at Putney，in south London， where she seemed to be further away from me than ever.

My aunt， meanwhile， began to be seriously worried about my health， as I was getting more and more depressed． So she suggested I should go to Dover for a few days， to make sure that her house was still in good condition， and then to Canter-bury， to visit the Wickfields． I agreed willingly， as I was always happy to see Agnes． It was easy to take a few day's hoilday from my work at the lawcourts and with Dr Strong．

I was glad to find that the person who was renting my aunt's house in Dover was looking after it well． I was then free to continue my journey to Canterbury， that beautiful ancient city， which seemed very little changed since my schooldays． The soft， clean air made me feel better than I had done for weeks．

When I arrived at the Wickfields’House， I found Mr Micawber in Uriah Heep's old office. We were pleased to see each other， but we both felt a little embarrassed. I realized that he did not want to talk about confidential matters concerning the firm of Heep and Wickfield， and he knew that I disliked his employer， Heep． So conversation was difficult，and in the end I was glad to leave him， and go upstairs to look for Agnes.

I found her in her sitting-room， and she looked up at me with such a warm welcome in her smile that I was very moved．

‘Ah， Agnes！’ I sald．‘ I've missed you so much recently！You helped me such a lot in the old days that I suppose I never learnt to think for myself． I always feel I need your help and advice． I get into such trouble， and I get so worried， and have so little confidence in myself， but when I'm with you， you give me purpose！ You make me strong！ What is your secret，my dear adopted sister？’

Agnes gave me her hand， which I kissed， and she went on，in her sisterly way， to listen sympathetically as I told her everything that had happened in the past few weeks． As usual，she knew the right thing to do．She advised me to write to Dora's aunts， to ask if I could visit Dora occasionally， and she encouraged me in my hopes of marriage． I felt again that peace which Agnes always brought to me．

We had not been sitting together long when Mrs Heep came in．She did not leave us for a moment all that evening， and I wondered whether Uriah had told her to watch over us．Whenever I looked at Agnes's lovely face， I saw Mrs Heep's evil black eyes staring at me．

The next day， Mrs Heep did not leave Agnes and me alone even for a minute． The Heeps， mother and son， seemed to me like two ugly great black birds hanging over the house， and they made me so uncomfortable that I went out for a walk in the afternoon． I was walking along a path near the house，wondering if I should warn Agnes about Uriah's plan of marriage，when I heard footsteps behind me，and turned to see Uriah himself running after me．

‘Wait for me， Mr Copperfield！’ he cried．

‘Actually，’ I said，‘I came out to be alone．’

‘ Ah！’ he said， with his oily smile，‘ you don't like my mother being there all the time， do you？’

‘No，I don't，’I replied，not caring if I sounded rude.

‘ But you see，’ he continued，‘ in my humble position，I have to be very careful． I'm not married to my Agnes yet，and you're a dangerous rival， Mr Copperfield．’

‘What！’I cried in disgust．‘ You allow Miss Wickfield no peace in her own home because of me？Don't you realize I think of her as my very dear sister， nothing more？ Let me tell you I am engaged to another lady！ There！ Is that enough for you？’

‘ Oh Mr Copperfield！’ cried Uriah， gratefully shaking my hand with his cold fishy one．‘ I'll tell Mother to stop watching you at once！ Why didn't you tell me that before？ I know you've never liked and trusted me，as I've liked you！’

We returned to the house together in silence． That evening after dinner， when Agnes and Mrs Heep had left us， Uriah said to Mr Wickfield，‘Let's have some wine， partner，and drink to young Mr Copperfield's health． It isn't often we have the pleasure of his company， is it， partner？’

I knew Uriah was deliberately encouraging Mr Wickfield to drink too much， but I saw that although Agnes's father was aware of his weakness， he could no longer stop himself． As the evening passed， I was disgusted to see that Uriah became more and more cheerful as Mr Wickfield became more and more drunk． Finally Uriah stood up with a glass in his hand．

‘ Come， partner！’ he said with his evil smile．‘Let's drink to the health of the most beautiful woman in the world！’

Poor， broken Mr wickfield looked for a moment at the picture of his dead wife on the wall， so similar to Agnes．

‘ I may be humble，’ continued Uriah，‘but I admire， no， I love your daughter Agnes！’

Suddenly a horrible cry came from Mr Wickfield．He had stood up， and was screaming with anger． He behaved so wildly and desperately that I thought he had gone mad．‘ My child and you， Heep！ No， never！ You've taken everything from me, my business， my good name， my home， but you'll never take her！’

‘ Perhaps I've said too much too soon，’ said Uriah， looking uncomfortable．‘But you'll be sorry， partner， if you say any more！ You need me， remember？ You've got nothing without me！ Remember that before you accuse me of anything！’

Just then the door opened and Agnes entered silently．

‘ You're not well， Father， come with me，’ she whispered gently， and helped the ashamed old man out． I thought she must have heard what had been said．

Later that night she came to say goodnight to me in the sitting-room， where I was alone， reading．

‘ Agnes， my dear sister，’ I said to her，‘ promise me that you will never agree to marry that evil creature， for any reason！’

Through her tears she smiled calmly at me．‘ Don't worry，brother，I'm not afraid of him． My duty is to take care of Father， and I trust in God for the rest． Goodnight， David．’

■ 8 大衛的新生活

有阿格尼斯的鼓勵，我的勁頭更足了，並不再消沉。我的生活如今有了目標。我準備儘可能努力工作，為幫助我姨婆，也為娶朵拉而掙足夠的錢。我每天早上5點鐘起床，走著去位於倫敦城另一端的斯特朗博士家，每個上午跟他於兩個小時，然後走回來到斯本羅先生的辦公室，把我大部分時間花在法庭上。晚上，我又回到斯特朗博士處，幹上兩到三個小時，最後才回到我的寓所，我姨婆、闢果提和迪克先生在那兒等我。我很高興地告訴姨婆，斯特朗博士將付給我每年70英鎊的酬勞。加上姨婆在肯特的房租，我們能生活得很不錯，只消謹慎安排就是了。由於我年輕、健康，我不在乎工作艱辛。累的時候，我對自己說，“一切為了朵拉！”那樣我就會更努力地工作。

一天，我在法院附近遇上特拉德爾，我告訴他我的近況，他表示很同情。

“可我也有消息告訴你，科波菲爾！”他說，“米考伯一家搬到了坎特伯雷城。”

“噢！那就是說他們有了轉機！”我很感興趣地回答。

“是的，米考伯先生將成為一位名叫尤賴亞·希普的人的助手，他是坎城一家律師事務所的合夥人。”

“希普！”我驚恐地叫道，“我知道他！米考伯先生怎麼會想到給他幹？”

“嘿，反正我知道希普為米考伯先生償還了他在倫敦欠下的所有債務，”特拉德爾回答，“他們一家明天就離開。他們要我告訴你。”

我不明白希普為什麼找米考伯給他幹活，但我肯定尤賴亞醜陋的腦子裡又在捉摸什麼壞計劃。

第二天，闢果提要回雅茅斯照顧哈姆，因為丹尼爾不在。我把她送到長途馬車站，跟她道別後，我急衝衝地來到米爾斯小姐的住處。我還未曾告訴朵拉我生活中的變化，因為我不想僅以一封信解釋這一切。而今天她要來看看朱莉亞·米爾斯，並約我一起喝茶。

當我在客廳見著朵拉時，她是那麼高興，那麼美麗！當我突然問她：“你會愛一個窮光蛋嗎，朵拉？”時，她是那麼震驚，那麼痛苦！我美麗的小朵拉！她不明白我的意思。

“別犯傻了，大衛！”她叫道，“你在說什麼？”

“真的，朵拉，我的寶貝！”我叫道，“我失去了所有的錢！我成了窮光蛋！”我顯得很認真，竟把朵拉嚇哭了，她靠在我肩上痛苦地抽泣起來。

“可我愛你，朵拉，永遠愛你！”我繼續道，“窮並沒關係，因為我會努力工作，買到麵包，只要有你有我，我們不需要更多的！告訴我你的心依然屬於我，親愛的朵拉！”

“噢，是的！”她哭道，“噢，是的，全部屬於你！只要你別再嚇我！別再談努力工作和麵包！我不懂！我幾乎沒吃過麵包！”

我比以前更愛她了，但我感覺到她很不現實。過了一會兒，當她停止哭泣，漸漸平靜下來時，我又一次試圖讓她明白。

“我最親愛的！可以跟你說些事嗎？”

“噢，請別談現實”！她乞求道，可愛的雙眼湧出淚水，“它讓我好害怕！”

“親愛的人，如果我們一起工作，一起克服困難，那將會使我們的愛情更堅固。”

“可我一點兒都不堅強”！她痛苦地哭道，“你問朱莉亞！她會告訴你——我很懦弱，很愚蠢！”

“可如果你有時想一想，我的心肝朵拉，你要嫁的是一位窮人——如果你用心注意一下你父親是怎麼管理用人們，市場上的食品需要多少錢，那對我們將很有幫助。我們必須勇敢，親愛的朵拉！我們的生活道路坎坎坷坷，很不平坦——”

我開始情緒激昂，可突然我發現自己說得太過火了。可憐的小朵拉恐怖地抽泣，尖叫著，不一會兒倒在沙發上，失去了知覺。我真以為自己殺了她。我往她臉上灑水，並跪下來請求她原諒。我罵自己是自私、無情的畜生，並大聲呼喊朱莉亞·米爾斯。最後她趕來了，我解釋了發生的一切。朵拉睜開眼睛時，她朋友扶著她上了樓。

當朵拉上樓洗臉以使自己鎮靜的時候，我徵求米爾斯小姐的意見，怎樣通過最合適的渠道讓朵拉變得更切實際。米爾斯小姐憂鬱地搖了搖頭。

“實不相瞞，科波菲爾先生。我們最親愛的朵拉是一位美麗、天真的自然之子，充滿了生機和快樂。她超越了世間萬物，不像我們凡俗之輩這樣操心。我想你只能接受這一事實。”

當朵拉又下樓時，她看上去是那麼的可愛以致我痛恨自己帶給她痛苦，甚至是片刻的痛苦。我們開始喝茶，她給我唱法文歌曲，彈奏吉他。我們重新快樂起來，直到我愚蠢地提到我第二天必須五點鐘起床。突然，她美麗的臉上露出憂傷，不再繼續彈唱。當我起身要走時，她來到我跟前，動情地說道：“你這個壞東西，別這麼犯傻了！用不著五點就起來！為什麼你該這樣？”

“可是，我的寶貝，我有工作要做！為了生存我必須工作！”我回答。

“工作？別犯傻了，大衛，親愛的！”她似乎覺得事情就這麼解決了，併發自她天真的內心給了我一個吻。

我愛她，而且一直都愛她。可我也得堅持拼命工作，拼命掙錢。有幾天晚上，當我累了一整天，在我那小客廳裡與我姨婆相對而坐時，我感到十分害怕，想著我必須一個人克服這些困難。

就這樣過去了好幾個月。朵拉和我每天通信，時而我也能去米爾斯小姐的住所看她。可有一天早上，當我來到辦公室工作時，斯本羅先生冷冷地和我打了一聲招呼，並要我到他辦公室跟我單獨談談。我走進房間，意外地發現摩德斯通小姐站在他的書桌邊，很不愉快地盯著我。我立刻意識到朵拉的父親已經發現了我們的祕密，而且猜到是誰告的狀。

“科波菲爾先生，”斯本羅先生朝我嚴肅地皺皺眉，說道，“我很抱歉告訴你，摩德斯通小姐發現了一些似乎是你寫給我女兒朵拉的信。是你寫的嗎？”

我看了一下他遞給我的幾封信，紅著臉輕聲說道：“是的，先生。”可憐的小朵拉！希望她沒被這位可怕的摩德斯通女人嚇著。我不願想象朵拉在丟失我的信後的痛苦狀。

“我就覺察到斯本羅小姐上次從米爾斯小姐那兒回來時有些不太對勁。”摩德斯通小姐說，顯得對自己很滿意。“我一直說朱莉亞·米爾斯不是斯本羅小姐合適的朋友，我說對了！”

斯本羅先生表示同意，可他十分憂鬱。

“非常抱歉，先生，”我說，“那都是我的錯。請別責怪朵拉——”

“你只能稱她斯本羅小姐，年輕人！”她父親氣憤地說道。

“我知道保守祕密不對，先生，但我愛您的女兒，我希望有一天——”

“別跟我談愛，科波菲爾先生！”斯本羅先生叫起來。“你們倆都太年輕！我們會把這些信件燒掉，你必須保證忘掉這整件事。你不可能娶朵拉！”

“可是，先生，我不能忘掉她！我愛她！”我反駁道。

“這是我的最後通牒，科波菲爾先生！你要有時間考慮一下，就會意識到照我說的做是明智的。現在，幹活去吧！”

我一整天都在想可憐的心肝朵拉，想她會是什麼感覺。到了晚上，我急急忙忙來到米爾斯小姐處，可雖然她對愛情和破碎的心有高見，但她也不能給我提供切合實際的建議。

第二天，經過無眠的一夜後，我按老時間照常來到辦公室，可我發現所有的職員都站在前門聊天。這一現象很反常，我停下來問他們發生了什麼。

“怎麼，你不知道？”其中一位回答，“警察發現斯本羅先生死了！”我大為震驚，向後倒去。

“你臉色蒼白，科波菲爾先生！”另一位說道，“坐這兒吧，先生。”

“告訴我——告訴我怎麼回事，”我喘著粗氣說道。

“嗯，他昨晚去城裡吃晚飯，午夜時分馬和馬車回來了，車上沒有他。他是自己駕著車去的，你知道。所以用人們出去找他，發現他已死在路邊。他一定是病了，從馬車上摔了下來。不管怎樣，反正他們找到他時他已經死了。”

這對我可是一種可怕的打擊。或許是因為他對我的憤怒使他發病。要是那樣的話，對他的死我就要負部分的責任。可我很抱歉，我還嫉妒朵拉的悲傷。因為當她為死去的父親哭泣的時候，心裡就沒有我了，而我卻自私地想成為她生活中唯一的人。

接下來的幾周我變得十分絕望，因為我不能與我的心肝朵拉見面或聊天。據米爾斯小姐說，朵拉整天哭泣，當別人提到我的名字時，她只會哭得更厲害，並且說道：“噢，可憐的、親愛的父親！我有多壞呀，竟然對他嚴守祕密！噢！噢！”所以我沒有勇氣去看她。她父親的葬禮結束不久，朵拉被帶到倫敦南部的普特納，和她的兩位姑姑生活在一起。她似乎離我更遠了。

與此同時，姨婆開始真正地擔心起我的身體狀況，因為我一天比一天抑鬱。所以她建議我去多佛呆幾天，看看她的房子是否依然完好，然後再去坎特伯雷城看看威克菲爾父女。我欣然同意了，因為我總是很高興見著阿格尼斯。而且從我工作的法院和斯特朗博士那兒請幾天假比較容易。

我很欣慰，發現租用我姨婆在多佛那套房子的人把房子照看得很好。這樣，我就有更多的時間繼續我旅行的下一站，坎特伯雷，那個美麗而古老的城市，自從我上學時代到現在似乎也沒什麼改變。這兒輕柔、潔淨的空氣令我的感覺好了許多，走出了這幾個星期以來的陰影。

我到威克菲爾住所時，看見米考伯先生在尤賴亞·希普原來的辦公室。

我們彼此都很高興見到對方，但都感到有點尷尬。我注意到他不想透露有關希普·威克菲爾律師事務所的機密消息，他知道我不喜歡他的僱主希普。所以談話很難展開，最後，我很高興跟他告別，來到樓上找阿格尼斯。

我在客廳裡發現了她，她抬眼看我，熱情地朝著我微笑，以示歡迎，我頗為感動。

“啊，阿格尼斯！”我說，“我最近非常想你！你在過去給過我那麼多幫助，我想我從未學會獨立思考。我總感覺需要你的幫助，你的建議。現在我陷入了困境，十分擔心，沒有一點自信，但跟你在一起時，你卻使我目標明確！你讓我充滿力量！你的祕訣是什麼，我親愛的姐姐？”

阿格尼斯伸給我一隻手，我吻了一下，她繼續像大姐姐一樣，十分同情地傾聽我訴說過去這幾周裡發生的每一件事情。像往常一樣，她知道該怎麼做。她建議我給朵拉的姑姑寫信，詢問是否能常去看朵拉，她還鼓勵我實現結婚的希望，我又一次感受到阿格尼斯帶給我的心靈的寧靜。

我們倆還沒坐多會兒，希普太太就進來了。她整個晚上都沒有離開我們一步。我不知道是否是尤賴亞派她來監視我們的。我每次注視阿格尼斯可愛的臉時，總看見希普太太邪惡的黑眼睛緊盯著我不放。

第二天，希普太太沒給阿格尼斯和我留下片刻單獨在一起的時間。這希普母子，在我看來，就像是徘徊在房子裡的兩隻醜陋的大黑鳥，他們使我感到十分不舒服，所以到了下午，我就獨自走出去散步。我沿著房子附近的一條小道走著，捉摸著我是否應該告訴阿格尼斯尤賴亞的結婚計劃，這時我聽見身後的腳步聲，轉身看見尤賴亞自己跑來追我。

“等等我，科波菲爾先生！”他叫道。

“其實，”我說，“我出來是想單獨呆會兒。”

“啊！”他僵硬地一笑，說，“你不喜歡我母親總在那裡，是吧？”

“是的，不喜歡，”我回答，沒在乎自己的說話是否粗魯。

“可你知道，”他繼續說道，“處在我這樣卑微的位置，我不得不十分謹慎。我還沒有把阿格尼斯娶過門，而你是一位危險的對手，科波菲爾先生。”

“什麼！”我厭惡地叫道，“你不讓威克菲爾小姐在自己家裡有片刻的寧靜是因為我？你沒發現我只是把她當成我十分親密的姐姐，僅此而已？我告訴你吧，我已經和另一位女士訂了婚！瞧！放心了吧？”

“噢，科波菲爾先生！”尤賴亞叫道，用他那冰涼的手，頗為感激地握了握我的手，“我馬上告訴母親停止對你的監視！你幹嗎不早跟我說呢？我知道你從來都沒有喜歡過我，相信過我，而我卻喜歡你！”

我們倆一起走回屋裡，誰也沒說話。那天吃完晚飯後，阿格尼斯和希普太太出去了，尤賴亞對威克菲爾先生說：“我們來點酒吧，我的夥伴，祝年輕的科波菲爾先生健康。我們不是能常常有幸請著他的，是吧，朋友？”

我知道尤賴亞故意鼓動威克菲爾先生酗酒，但我看出儘管阿格尼斯的父親意識到自己身體虛弱，但他已不能剋制自己。一晚上下來，我看見，隨著威克菲爾先生越喝越醉，尤賴亞變得越來越高興，這使我很氣憤。最後，尤賴亞手中舉著一杯酒站起來。

“來，我的夥伴！”他陰險地笑了笑，說，“讓我們為世界上最美麗的女人的健康乾杯！”

可憐的、心碎的威克菲爾先生抬頭看了一會兒牆上已過世的妻子的像片，她那麼像阿格尼斯。

“我也許卑微，”尤賴亞繼續道，“但我敬重，不，我愛你的女兒阿格尼斯！”

突然，威克菲爾先生髮出一聲可怕的叫喊，他站起身來，憤怒地尖叫著。他的行為如此瘋狂、絕望，我真覺得他已經瘋了。“我的孩子和你，希普！不，不可能！你奪走了我的一切，我的事業，我的名譽，我的房子，但你決奪不走她！”

“或許我說得太多太早了，”尤賴亞不自在地說道，“但你要再說話，你會後侮的，夥伴！你需要我，記得嗎？沒有我你什麼都得不到！在你指責我任何事之前記住這一點！”

正在這時，門開了，阿格尼斯靜靜地走進來。“你不舒服，父親，來，跟我走，”她溫和地輕聲說道，扶著這位狼狽的老人走出了房間。我想她一定聽見了剛才的話。

那天晚上晚些時候，我正一個人在客廳裡看書，她進來道晚安。

“阿格尼斯，我親愛的姐姐，”我對她說，“答應我你決不同意嫁給那個惡毒的畜生，不管出於什麼原因！”

透過淚水，她平靜地衝我笑笑，“別擔心，弟弟，我不怕他。我的職責就是照顧父親，我相信上帝會安排一切。晚安，大衛。”