David Copperfield

Chapter 34 My aunt made up her mind about me (2)
Chapter 14 My aunt made up her mind about me (2)
"He had a lovely sister," said my aunt, "and she was very kind to him. But she married later. Her husband was like all husbands—a brutal one. It was a psychological affair for Mr. Dick. It had a very bad side effect (I think, that's not madness!), plus his brother treated him inhumanely. His brother's behavior made him uncomfortable. This is how he was before he came to me; but, even now , it still hurts him to think of it. He told you about Charles I, boy?"

"I mentioned it, Auntie."

"Ah!" said my aunt, rubbing her nose, as if troubled, "this is his metaphorical way of expressing the situation. He unconsciously associates his illness, great trouble and excitement, and this is what he uses. metaphor, or symbol, or whatever. If he can, why can't he!"

I said, "Yes, Auntie."

"It's not logical," said my aunt, "and it's not worldly. I know it, and I propose that it should never be mentioned in his submission."

"Is the statement he wrote a statement of his own history, aunt?"

"Yes, boy," said my aunt, wiping her nose, "he wants to write his case to the Lord Chancellor, or somebody—anyway, one of the people who got paid to read the papers is Yes. I think the papers will come in eventually. He's showing himself in that way. But it doesn't matter, as long as it keeps him busy."

In fact, as I later learned, Mr. Dick had spent more than ten years trying to get Charles I out of the petition, but had never actually done so.

My aunt said: "Only I can understand his temperament; he is the most friendly and gentle man in the world. He sometimes wants to fly a kite, but it doesn't matter! Doesn't Franklin do that sometimes. He is a Quaker." Quakers, or something of that sort, if I remember correctly. A Quaker is more ridiculous than anyone else to fly a kite!"

If I could conceive that my aunt's belief in me in saying these trivial things especially for my sake, I should feel very lucky, and happy with her future attitude to me.But I couldn't help thinking that she talked about these things chiefly because it didn't really concern me to talk about them, even though she didn't talk about them to me in front of other people.

Moreover, her protection of poor Mr. Dick not only gave me hope in my young selfish heart, but filled my young selfish heart with unselfish affection for her.I believe, I began to know that although my aunt is a bit weird, she has a character that can be respected and trusted.That day, although she was as strict with others as the day before yesterday, and as before, she often came in because of a donkey, or a passing young man winked at Jenny at the window (this is the biggest sin against my aunt), which made people feel angry. She was furious, but I thought she seemed to have more respect for me.

Some time would have to elapse before she received Mr. Murdstone's reply, and my fear and apprehension are self-evident.But I did my best to suppress it, and to show my aunt and Mr. Dick an air of sympathy.Except for the modest clothes that my aunt provided me on the first day, I have no other clothes.If it weren't for this, Mr. Dick and I would have gone flying the kite long ago.Only after dark and before going to bed, for my physical reasons, my aunt took me for a walk on the cliff.Mr. Murdstone's reply finally came, and, to my surprise, my aunt told me that he would come to speak to her himself the next day.The next day, I was still in my fancy clothes, counting the time and waiting.Depressed and fearful, and blushing because of being caught in this contradiction.I waited for his sullen face to appear, but when he didn't come, I was overwhelmed with surprise.

My aunt was a little more irritable and severe than usual, but apart from that there was no sign of what else she was doing to receive a visitor I was so terrified of, she was working and I Sitting beside her, thinking of all the consequences of Mr. Murdstone's coming, until late in the afternoon.Our lunch was greatly delayed, but when my aunt ordered it to be served, I was alarmed by her sudden cry that the donkey was coming, and it was none other than Miss Murdstone.She sat on the back of the donkey, walked across the forbidden area, stopped in front of the house, and looked around her.

"Go away!" cried my aunt, shaking her head toward the window and shaking her fists. "Why are you there? How dare you mess around, go away! You daredevil!"

Miss Murdstone's indifference, as she looked about her, so offended my aunt that I could not believe it, and she could not move for a moment, and was unable to rush out as usual.I took that opportunity to tell her who it was, and told her that the man near the nasty guy who had just arrived was Murdstone himself (the way up was hard, he was behind).

"Whoever she is!" cried the aunt, still shaking her head, and making an angry gesture through the bow window, "no one offends me, and I won't allow it. Pull it back, Jenny. Make it go!" So, From behind my aunt, I saw a scene about to fight: the donkey didn't listen to anyone's commands, and its four legs were inserted in different directions. Jenny grabbed the rein and tried to pull it back, while Mr. Murdstone wanted to lead it. Going forward, Miss Murdstone slammed Jenny with her parasol, and some of the onlookers jumped up and down and shouted.However, my aunt saw at a glance that the young man who drove the donkey was among them, the young man who had often offended, although he was only a little over ten years old.So she threw herself on him, seized him, dragged him into the garden (his head was covered with a cloak, and his feet were on the ground), calling to Jenny to call the police, so that they could come and catch him, interrogate him, and punish him on the spot. .But the war wasn't completely over, because the young man was an expert at dodging and moving, and my aunt didn't understand that at all, so he ran away yelling, leaving only a row of boot prints, waving He proudly led his donkey away.

Miss Murdstone had dismounted during the latter part of the fight, and now stood with her brother on the lower step of the steps to be received by her aunt.Because of that battle, my aunt's legs were a little messed up, but she still walked into the house majesticly from them, and she ignored them before Jenny officially notified her.

"Should I avoid it, Auntie?" I said tremblingly.

"No, sir," said my aunt, "of course not!" and she drew me to a place near her, and enclosed me in a chair, as if it were a prison or an interrogation dock.I stood there all through the interview, and watched Mr and Miss Murdstone enter.

"Oh!" said my aunt, "I don't know who the conflict is, but I forbid anyone to ride a donkey into that holy place, without exception."

"Your rules seem to be too harsh for beginners," said Miss Murdstone.

"Really?" said my aunt.

Mr. Murdstone seemed apprehensive of the resumption of the war, and interposed, "Miss Trowood!"

"Excuse me!" said my aunt, looking at him piercingly. "You married Brandstone Crow's Nest—though why it's called Crow's Nest I don't know!—my dead nephew David Cole Mr. Bofill's widow?"

"Yes," said Mr Murdstone.

"Forgive me for my rashness, sir," said the aunt; "it would be much better if you would leave the poor child alone."

"I agree with Miss Trowood," said Miss Murdstone proudly, "but I think that poor Clara is really only a child, in many important respects."

"It is our great consolation, madam," said my aunt, "that our appearance troubles us so little now that we are old, so that no one can say the same thing about us."

"Indeed," replied Miss Murdstone (though, I believe, she did not agree very willingly), "and, besides, it would be a much better and more important thing for my brother if he were not married in this way, as you say." A happy thing. I've always thought so."

"I have no doubts about your opinion," said my aunt. "Jenny!" she rang the bell, "give Mr. Dick my respects, and tell him to come here."

Before his arrival, my aunt sat upright, frowning at the wall.When he arrived, my aunt introduced him:

"Mr. Dick, a good friend for many years." The aunt said emphatically, because he was biting the tip of his index finger at that time, looking stupid, and gave him a warning, "I believe it."

Under this warning, Mr. Dick quickly took out the tip of his index finger from his mouth, showing a solemn and serious expression.My aunt turned her head slightly towards Mr. Murdstone, who continued:

"After receiving your letter, Miss Trowood, I feel that, for my own sake, and for your respect—"

"Thank you," my aunt suddenly stared at him with her original sharp eyes and said, "You don't have to care about me."

"It's better in person than by letter," continued Mr. Murdstone, "though the road is not very convenient. The poor boy, who has eluded his friends and his profession—"

"The way he looks," put in his sister, noting my indescribable dress, "is a shame."

"Jane Murdstone," said her brother, "please don't disturb me. The poor child, Miss Trowood, has given us so much uneasiness and trouble, both before and after the death of my late wife." .This kid is weird, rebellious, violent, disobedient, and disobedient. My sister and I tried to correct him, but it didn't work. So I think—I can say, because my sister believes in me—that you should Endorse our account of the true circumstances of this child."

"It is true what my brother says," said Miss Murdstone, "but, I may add, I firmly believe that he is the worst, worst boy."

"It's too much!" the aunt retorted immediately.

"But it is so," went on Miss Murdstone.

"Ha!" said my aunt. "Hello, sir!"

(End of this chapter)