# ■ 9 David gets married

When I returned to London， I was delighted to discover that Dora's aunts had decided to allow me to visit her． So every Saturday and Sunday I walked to their house in Putney， and spent the afternoons there． Sometimes Dora sang or played the guitar， sometimes we walked by the river， and sometimes I brought Traddles or my aunt with me． What happy times they were！

Mr Spenlow had seemed a very rich man to me， but when he died the lawyers discovered that Dora would not inherit much from him after all， as there were many debts to pay． So I did not feel worried that anyone would suspect me of marrying Dora for her money． Mr Spenlow's firm lost a lot of business after his death， and I realized I would have to find another profession． I had always been good at writing， so I continued as secretary to Dr Strong， and also began reporting what was said in parliament， for the daily newspapers． I even wrote some stories， which were published in magazines， and was very pleased with the money I was earning．

The months passed， and I reached my twenty-first birthday． Traddles was still studying to be a lawyer， and still hoping to marry ‘the dearest girl in the world’． I had moved out of my flat into a pleasant little house， and at last Dora's aunts had agreed to our marriage． I was looking forward to the happiest day of my life． The next few days went by very fast in a mist of excitement and happiness． My aunt and Mr Dick moved into an even smaller house near mine， and Peggotty travelled from Yarmouth to be present at my wedding．

I had always wanted Agnes to meet Dora， so I was glad when they met， the day before the wedding. It was beautiful to see Dora's pretty face next to Agnes's calm one， and Dora whispering her secrets into Agnes's ears，as a child does to its mother． But after Agnes had gone to see my aunt， Dora said seriously to me， when we were alone，‘ Perhaps if I'd had Agnes as a friend when I was younger， David dear， I wouldn't be so foolish and silly.’

‘ But I love you as you are， Dora！’ I replied.

‘ I wonder why you ever fell in love with me！’

‘ Because nobody can see you， and not fall in love with you！’

‘ But if you'd never seen me， David， I wonder who you'd have married…’

I laughed and kissed her pretty lips， and she was soon as cheerful as usual again.

I cannot remember much about the wedding， except Dora by my side， in her beautiful dress and with a blushing face.Only when we were driving away from Putney together， did I wake from the dream． I believed it at last！ It was my dear little wife I was sitting next to， whom I loved so much！

It seemed strange to return from our week's holiday and to find myself in my own small house with Dora． It was difficult to believe that we were going to spend the rest of our lives together． But soon I realized that married life was not as comfortable as it appeared． Neither Dora nor I knew anything about managing the house． We had a servant， of course， who managed us． She served our meals late， drank all our wine，and stole all our silver spoons． When she finally left， we had another who behaved in a similar way． I felt I had to speak to Dora about it．

‘ My love，’ I began，‘ couldn't you perhaps control the servants a little better？’

‘ David， don't be cross with your little Dora，’ she said，coming to sit on my knee． But I wanted to show I could be firm．

‘My sweet Dora， I really do think you should do something． I mean， yesterday I had no supper at all because the beef was burnt， and last week， when Traddles came to dinner， the meat wasn't cooked at all！’

‘You knew before you married me what a silly girl I am！You shouldn't have married me if you were going to be angry with me！I don't think you love me at all！’ And large tears ran down her pretty little face．

‘ Dora，my love！ Of course I love you！Don't cry！’ I could not continue our conversation then． But when she was calmer，and had dried her tears， she said very seriously， ‘David， will you do something for me？ Will you call me your child-wife？’

‘ Whatever do you mean， my dearest？’ I asked in surprise．

‘Just that， whenever you feel I'm being very foolish， you should remember that I'm like a child， not as clever as you， or anyone else．Don't be disappointed with me， just remember that your child-wife loves you very， very much．’

Of all the conversations we had， I remember that one very clearly． It made a strong impression on me， and I am glad now that I did not try to change Dora any more． I had fallen in love with an innocent child-like girl，and I could not expect her to become a wise， experienced woman in such a short time． But this meant that I had to carry all Our problems on my own shoulders， and sometimes I felt sorry that I did not have a real partner in life， with whom to share these worries．

At about this time， my first book was published， and was a great success． Dora and my aunt were equally proud of me． I was becoming， however， rather worried about Dora． She had been ill for some time， and did not seem to be getting better．She was not strong， and could not walk anywhere by herself．I began to carry her downstairs every morning， and upstairs every night， and my aunt came every day to look after her．My little wife was still very pretty， and cheerful， but I knew how light she was， and how weak． I began to fear she would not be with me for much longer．

Early one morning when I was walking in the garden， I saw Danie I Peggotty opening the gate and coming towards me． His clothes were dusty， and he looked older than before， with white hair escaping untidily from under his hat． But his face was brown， and he looked healthy and strong．

‘ Master David！’ he said gladly，when he saw me．‘I've come to tell you—you were always our friend—I've found her！’

‘ You've found little Emily！’ I cried delightedly．‘ But where— and how？’

‘ I heard she'd travelled with that wicked Steerforth to Italy， and lived there for a while． But in the end he became tired of her， and left her．She didn't know what to do， or where to go， poor thing！ But she came back to London． And that’ s where I found my dear child！ Because I've been all over Europe looking for her， but I knew she'd come back to England one day．So every night I've been searching the city streets for her． And last night I found her， hopeless and exhausted， on a bridge looking down into the river． If I hadn’ t found her then，I don't like to think what she would have done！ But God was looking after my dear girl， and she's safe with me now．’ He passed his strong hand over his eyes， and smiled at me．‘ I've planned what we'll do， Master David，and I want to tell you about it． Emily and I are going to Australia．It's a new country， where nobody knows anything about her past．We'll be able to start a new life together．We'll be leaving in about six weeks．’

‘ Very sensible，’I said．‘ And what about the rest of your family？Are Ham and Peggotty going to Australia too？’

‘ No， they aren't．Poor Ham will never be the same again．I really think his heart is broken．But he's got a good job， and is very popular in Yarmouth，so he'll stay there． My sister wants to stay too，partly because of you,Master David， and partly to look after Ham．She cooks and cleans for him in Yarmouth， you know．’

‘Well，my friend，’I said，shaking hands firmly with the old boatman，‘ I wish you and Emily all the best in your new life．’

‘ I'll do my duty， whether I'm in England or Australia，’said Daniel．‘ And I'll never be separated from my little Emily again！’

■ 9 大衛結婚了

我回到倫敦，欣喜地發現朵拉的姑姑決定允許我去看朵拉。所以，每到星期六和星期天，我就徒步走到普特納她們的家，把下午的時間花在那兒。有時，朵拉唱歌、彈吉他，有時，我們到河邊散步，有時我帶上特拉德和我姨婆一起去。多快樂的一段時光！

斯本羅先生在我看來似乎很富有，但他死後，律師們發現朵拉居然從他那兒繼承不到什麼，因為還有很多債務要還。所以，我不用擔心別人會懷疑我與朵拉結婚是圖她的錢。斯本羅先生事務所在主人死後失去了許多業務，我意識到我必須另找一份職業。我的文筆一直不錯，所以我繼續充當斯特朗博士的祕書，此外，我開始為一些日報報導國會日常議事。我甚至寫一些短篇故事，發表在一些雜誌上，我很高興就此掙到錢。

幾個月過去了，我迎來了21歲的生日。特拉德依舊在學律師，依舊準備和他那位“世界上最可愛的女孩”結婚。我已從我的公寓搬出，搬到一所比較舒適的小房子裡。終於，朵拉的姑姑們同意了我們的婚事。我盼望著這一生中最幸福的一天。接下來的幾天在激動和喜悅中過得飛快。姨婆和迪克先生搬進了離我不遠的一所更小的房子，闢果提也從雅茅斯趕來，準備參加我的婚禮。

我一直想讓阿格尼斯見見朵拉，所以我很高興婚禮前一天她們見面了。朵拉美麗的臉挨著阿格尼斯恬靜的臉，真是美妙極了。朵拉對著阿格尼斯的耳朵說著悄悄話，就像一個孩子跟她母親說話一樣。可當阿格尼斯去看我姨婆，房間裡就剩我們倆時，朵拉認真地對我說：“也許我要是從小就有阿格尼斯這樣的朋友，大衛，親愛的，我就不會這麼蠢，這麼笨。”

“可我愛你這樣，朵拉！”我回答。

“我不明白你為什麼竟然愛上我！”

“因為任誰見到你都會產生愛慕之心！”

“但假如你從未遇見我，大衛，我猜想你要娶的人會是…”

我笑起來，親吻她美麗的嘴脣，她很快又像往常一樣高興了。

我不記得婚禮上更多的事情，只記得朵拉在我身邊，穿一身漂亮的衣服，羞紅了臉。一直到我們駕車離開普特納，我才從夢中醒來。我最終相信了這一切！坐在我身邊的是我衷愛著的、我的親愛的嬌妻！

度完一週的蜜月，和朵拉一起回到我的小房子，自己似乎總覺著彆扭。很難相信這以後我倆要一起度過下半輩子。然而，我很快意識到婚後的生活並不像表面看上去那麼舒適。朵拉和我誰也不知道如何管家。當然，我們有一位用人來管我們。她開飯晚點，喝掉了我們所有的酒，還偷走了我們所有的銀湯勺。最後她走了，我們又請了一位用人，但情況一模一樣。我覺得有必要跟朵拉談談了。

“我的寶貝，”我開始了，“你能不能，哪怕是稍微管好一點用人們？”

“大衛，別衝你的小朵拉發火，”她說著，走過來坐到我膝蓋上。但我想顯示一下我的嚴厲。

“我的心肝朵拉，我真覺得你應該做點什麼。我是說，昨天我壓根兒沒吃晚飯，因為牛肉燒糊了；上星期特拉德來家裡吃飯，肉根本就沒做熟！”

“結婚前你知道我是個多笨的女孩！你要對我發火就不該娶我！我想你根本就不愛我！”大大的淚珠順著她美麗的臉龐滑下來。

“朵拉，我的寶貝！當然我愛你！別哭了！”我不能再繼續談這個話題了。可她平靜下來後，擦乾眼淚，十分認真地說道：“大衛，能為我做點事嗎？你能叫我童妻嗎？”

“你這是什麼意思，我最親愛的？”我奇怪地問道。

“就這意思，不管什麼時候你覺得我很愚蠢，你就記住我像個孩子，不如你聰明，不如任何人。別對我失望，只要記住你的童妻非常非常愛你。”

在所有我們倆的談話中，這一次我記得很清楚。給我留下了很深的印象，我很高興我當時沒再設法改變朵拉。我愛上了天真的、沒長大的女孩，我不能期望在短時間內把她變成一位聰慧、能幹的女人。可這意味著我將一個人承擔所有的困難，有時我感到很遺憾，生活中沒有一位真正的伴侶，一位能分擔憂愁的伴侶。

這期間，我的第一本書問世，而且十分成功。朵拉和姨婆為我同樣驕傲。然而，我開始非常擔心朵拉的身體狀況。她病了一段時間，似乎並沒有好轉。她渾身沒勁，不能自己走動。我開始每天早上揹她下樓，每天晚上揹她上樓，姨婆也天天來照顧她。我的嬌妻依舊很美麗、很開心，但我知道她體重有多輕，身體有多虛弱。我開始害怕她可能不會跟我生活太久了。

有一天一大早，我在花園裡散步，看見丹尼爾·闢果提推開門朝我走來。他的衣服上滿是塵土，看上去比以前老了許多，白頭髮零亂地散落在帽子外邊。但他臉色棕紅，顯得健康。

“大衛少爺！”他看見我高興地說，“我來告訴你——你是我們永遠的朋友——我找到她了！”

“你找到小埃米莉了！”我興奮地叫起來，“在哪兒——怎麼找著的？”

“我聽說她和惡棍斯提福茲去了意大利，在那兒住了一段。最後他厭倦她了，離開了她。她不知道怎麼辦，不知該去哪兒，可憐的孩子！但她回到了倫敦。我就是在那兒找到了我親愛的孩子！因為我已經找遍了整個歐洲，我知道她總有一天會回到英國，所以我每天晚上走街串巷尋找她。昨天晚上我發現了她，萬念俱灰、疲憊不堪，站在一座橋上看著河水。要是我當時沒發現她，我不敢想象她會怎麼辦！然而，上帝在照看著我親愛的孩子，她現在安全了，和我在一起。”他用強勁有力的手抹了一下眼睛，衝我笑了笑。“我已訂好計劃我們下一步該做什麼，大衛少爺，我想把打算告訴你。埃米莉和我準備去澳大利亞，那是個新國家，沒有人知道她的過去。我們倆要一起開創一種新生活。我們6個星期後出發。”

“非常明智的決定，”我說，“那家裡其他人怎麼辦？哈姆和闢果提也去澳大利亞嗎？”

“不，他們不去。可憐的哈姆不再是以前的他了。我想他的心是徹底的碎了。可他有一份好工作，在雅茅斯很受歡迎，所以他留在那兒。我妹妹也想留下，一半是因為你，大衛少爺，一半是為了照顧哈姆，她在雅茅斯給他做飯、洗衣，你知道。”

“好啊，我的朋友，”我說著，緊緊地握著這位老船手的手，“我祝你和埃米莉在新的生活中一切順利！”

“我會盡自己的職責，不管在英國還是澳大利亞，”丹尼爾說，“我再不和我的小埃米莉分開了！”