David Copperfield

Chapter 100 Prophecy Experiment (1)
Chapter 45 Prophecy Experiment (1)
I haven't been to the doctor for quite some time.But since I live in the same area as him, I can see it from time to time.Two or three times we all went to his house together for supper and tea.Now the veteran lives in the doctor's home.

Mrs. Ma Kan is more playful than her daughter.She needed a great deal of entertainment to pass the time, like a wily veteran who satisfies her own under the pretense of satisfying her daughter's needs.Therefore, the doctor's desire to make Anne happy is in a special harmony with the mother's intentions.She also expressed her absolute praise for the doctor's thoughtfulness.

I knew without a doubt that she subconsciously pricked the Doctor's wound.It was entirely out of grown-up selfishness that she praised the Doctor's idea of ​​lightening Anne's life in this way, and thus confirmed the Doctor's fear that he would be a hindrance to his young wife, and there was not much harmony between them.

One day she said to the doctor: "I know, it will undoubtedly be a little lonely for Anne to be closed here forever."

The doctor just nodded kindly and gently.

"If she's at her mother's age," said Mrs. Ma Kan, "of course it will be different. As long as I have the company of high-class people and a table of cards to play, even if I'm put in prison and never come out, I don't even care. But, you know, Anne isn't like her mother."

"Of course," said the doctor.

"I have to say in front of you, as I always say behind your back, that you are the best of men, but of course you don't have the same hobbies and fantasies as Annie, do you?"

"No," said the doctor in a sad tone.

"Of course it won't be the same," echoed the "veteran." "Take your dictionary for example. How useful and important a dictionary is! Tell people the meaning of words, if there is no Dr. Johnson, or like him I'm sure I'm going to call an Italian iron a bed frame by now. But we can't expect Anne to take an interest in a dictionary—especially an uncompiled one, can we?"

The doctor shook his head.

"That's why I commend you," said Mrs. Ma Kan, "for your thoughtfulness shows that you don't expect others to be young and mature like many old people do. You have studied Anne's character and you know her well. I find you very cute."

These compliments did hurt the Doctor.

"Dear Doctor," said the "Old Soldier," "I am at your command at all times and at all hours. Now, you must know, that I am entirely at your service. I am ready to accompany Anne any time." Opera houses, concerts, exhibitions, anywhere."

She walks the talk.For people like her, the more the better for entertainment.She never tires of having fun.She could always find something in the papers that she thought Anne would like.No matter how Annie protested, it was useless.She always advised: "My dear Anne, you are a sensible child, and I must tell you that you are going against Dr. Strong's kindness to you."

These remarks were always made in the Doctor's presence, and I feel that, if Anne objected, they would most likely be rescinded for that.But generally speaking, Anne listened to her mother, and wherever the "veteran" was going, she followed.

Mr. Melton was hardly with them then.Sometimes my aunt and Dora were also invited, and gladly went.Sometimes they invited Dora alone.Originally, when I saw that Dora was gone, I still felt a little worried.But when I thought about what happened in the doctor's study that night, I was no longer as uneasy as before.I believe the Dr. is correct and my suspicions were unwarranted.

My aunt, who happened to be alone with me, said to me that she couldn't figure out what was going on between the Doctors and his wife, that she wished they were happier, and that she didn't think the "old soldiers" would be of much help in this matter.

But she firmly trusted Mr. Dick.She said Dick must have had an idea in his mind, and if he could manage that idea--which was his greatest difficulty--he would be a hit.

Mr. Dick was completely ignorant of my aunt's prophecy.His relationship with Dr. and Mrs. Strong was still the same as before.There is neither progress nor retreat.He seems to be fixed like a building on the original foundation.I confess frankly that I don't believe he can move any more than I believe a building can move.

But one evening, a few months after my marriage, Mr. Dick came into the drawing room.I was writing there alone, and Dora and my aunt went to tea with her aunt, and he said:

"Probably, I'm getting in your way, Trowood."

"Never mind, Mr. Dick," I said, "you come in."

"Trouwood," said Mr. Dick, "I want to ask, do you know your aunt?"

"Know a little," I answered. "She's the most wonderful woman in the world, sir!"

"Now, boy," said Mr. Dick, "I have a question to ask."

"No matter how much you ask, just ask." I said.

"What do you think of me, sir?" asked Mr. Dick.

"You are my dear old friend," I said.

"Thank you, Trowood. But boy... I mean, what do you think of my mind?"

I didn't know what to do for a while.

"Isn't it unsound?" said Mr. Dick.

I replied, "A little bit."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Mr. Dick. "I mean, Trowood, since they take some trouble out of somebody's head and put it in another, you know Who--ever since then, somehow, this state has entered my head. Eh?"

We nodded to each other.

"Simply put, I'm an even-minded person.

"Yes, I am that kind of person! Your aunt deliberately said that I am not. She doesn't listen to me, but I know that I am. If she hadn't stepped forward to save me, I would have been punished for all these years. They locked up and lived a very dull life, but I made up my mind that I would definitely support her. I kept the money I earned from copying in a box and didn't want to spend it. I have made a will and put the money Leave it to her. She must be rich."

"You are a reader now, Trowood," said Mr. Dick, "and you read very well. You know how great the Doctor is as a man of knowledge. You also Clearly, he always thinks so highly of me. He's never proud of his knowledge, so humble and humble--not even to poor Dick, who's so simple-minded that he doesn't know anything. shelf."

I sincerely told him that the doctor deserves the respect of all of us.He was very happy to hear that.

"His pretty lady is a star," said Mr. Dick, "like a star shining in the sky. Sir, but . . . there are clouds, sir, there are clouds.

"What is the reason?" asked Mr. Dick.

"There's an unexpected rift between them," I replied, "a vexing rift, a secret that is inconvenient to tell outsiders. Maybe it's the age difference between them, maybe it's because of nothing. happened."

Every time I said something, Mr. Dick nodded thoughtfully.When I finished, he stopped too, and sat there thinking.

"The Doctor is not angry with her, Trowood?" he said.

"No, the doctor is all on her."

"I see, then," said Mr. Dick.

"The most amazing woman in the world, your aunt——Trouud, why doesn't she want to find a way to solve him?"

"This question is too difficult to ask, and it is inconvenient for outsiders to intervene." I replied.

"You are a well-educated person," he said, "why don't you come out and take care of it?"

"For the same reason," I replied.

"Then I understand," said Mr. Dick.

"I'm a low-minded person who can do a lot of things that amazing people can't. I'm going to try to improve the situation for both of them. Boy, they won't blame me. If I do something, it's wrong. They wouldn't disagree with me either. Who minds Dick who's nothing?" He sighed.

It was a good luck that he had revealed his secret so far, for we heard the voices of my aunt and Dora returning.

"Don't tell me a word, boy!" said he. "Everything's wrong, Dick's to blame. I used to think for a while, sir, I'm going to have my way, and now I've got my way." .”

For the next half hour, he hinted me one after another not to leak the secret.

Although I was eager to know the result of his efforts, I heard nothing at all for about two or three weeks, and saw a gleam of sanity that I never had before--I wouldn't say kindly. , because his heart is not bad.In time I came to believe that, in his vacant mood, he had either forgotten what he had planned, or had long since ceased to think about it.

One night, when the weather was fine, Dora was too lazy to go out, so my aunt and I went to the doctor's small house.

It was evening when we arrived.Mr. Dick was in the garden, helping the gardener to fix some stakes with his knife.The doctor and the guest are in the study. According to Mrs. Strong, the guest is leaving. I hope we will see the doctor later.

After a while, Mrs. Ma Kan said: "My God, Annie, why didn't you tell me that there was a guest in the study?"

"Mother," answered Anne, "didn't I know you were going to hear this news?"

"I want to hear the news!" Mrs. Ma Kan said, "I have never been so frightened in my whole life!"

"Have you been in the study, mother?" asked Anne.

"Yes," she answered emphatically, "that's right, I ran into him—busy about making his will."

Mrs. Mark said: "Making a will! He is so foresighted and kind-hearted. Don't think I'm nagging, I insist on telling you about the situation. Maybe you know, Miss Trowood, in this At home, wax is never lit unless someone reads the newspaper so hard that their eyeballs pop out. Therefore, when I see a light in the study, I run there. I saw that the doctor was still there. There are two friends in the professional circles related to the law, and the doctor holds a pen in his hand. I only heard the doctor say: "Well, this just shows--I have confidence in Mrs. Strong and put everything I have unconditionally. Leave it all to her, don't you?" said one of the two experts, "That's right." I heard this, and I ran here."

"But, tell me, Miss Trowood, David," said Mrs. Mark, "how can one not be moved to see that a man of the doctor's age has the energy to do such a thing?"

At this moment, we heard the guests leave.

"There is no doubt that everything is over," said she. "Miss Trowood, David, please come with me to the study."

I can't remember who was the first to enter the study, how Mrs. Ma Kan sat down firmly in the easy chair at once, and how my aunt and I stopped at the door.But I distinctly remember Mrs. Strong coming in suddenly, softly, pale and trembling.Mr. Dick supported her with one hand, and patted the doctor with the other at the same time. When he raised his head, his wife knelt at his feet.Mrs. Ma Kan threw down the newspaper when she saw this scene, dumbfounded.

The gentleness in the doctor's attitude and surprised expression, the dignity in his wife's pleading gesture, the kindness in Mr. Dick's concern, the kindness in my aunt's words "who says that man is crazy!" (she gladly professed that she rescued Dick from his ordeal)—all these sights, now that I write, I not only remember, but see and hear.

"Doctor!" said Mr. Dick, "what is the problem? Look here!"

"Annie, my dear," cried the Doctor, "don't you kneel before me,"

"Yes," she said, "and I beg all of you not to go away! Oh, my husband and my loving father, let us open up this dull gourd today after so long a silence between us. What is the difference between us today? But let me explain."

Mrs. Ma Kan shouted at this time: "Annie, stand up immediately, don't insult people who are related to you like this! Don't you mean to drive me crazy!"

(End of this chapter)