David Copperfield

Chapter 37 Restarting (2)
Chapter 15 Restart(2)
"It's not a simple purpose," said Mr. Wakefield, shaking his head and smiling suspiciously.

"Nonsense!" replied my aunt. "You claim to have only a single purpose in your actions. Don't you believe that you are the only honest and simple person in the world."

"Of course not, but I have only one purpose in life," he replied, smiling. "Miss Trowood, other people have many, and I have only one, and that is the difference. But that is a digression. You want the best school, whatever the purpose, you want the best, don't you?"

My aunt nodded.

"In all the best schools," said Mr. Wakefield, considering, "your grandson can't stay now."

"It's always possible to live somewhere outside the school, I think," suggested the aunt.

Mr. Wickfield nodded, and after some discussion he proposed to take my aunt to school and judge for herself.Mr. Wickfield then took my aunt to two or three places where he thought she might be able to lodge.My aunt readily agreed, but when the three of us were about to set off, he stopped and said, "Our little friend may have different goals, we'd better keep him."

My aunt seemed to disagree, but in order to make things go smoothly, I offered to stay here as long as they wanted.So I went back to Mr. Wakefield's office, and sat down in the chair I had been sitting in, waiting for their return.

As it happened, the chair I was sitting in was opposite a narrow passage that ended in a round house from the window of which I had once seen the pale face of Julia Heep.Yulia took the horse to a nearby stable and worked right at the table in the room.On the table was a brass shelf (for hanging papers, I think) on which hung the papers he was copying.I thought that although his face was directed towards me, he could not see me because the papers were between us.But looking carefully, I felt uneasy, because I saw his sleep-deprived eyes slipping out from under the document like two red suns, each time he stared at me for almost a full minute, but at the same time his pen Still writing quickly, or pretending to write, as usual.I tried to avoid those eyes—for example, standing on a chair to read a map, or studying a Kent newspaper—but they always pulled me back, and whenever I looked at the two "red suns", I must See them either rising or falling.

My aunt and Mr. Wakefield came back after a long time, which calmed me down. The news they brought was not as good as I had hoped, because the school did have many advantages, but my aunt was very happy with the boarding houses. Neither are satisfied.

"Very bad," said my aunt. "What shall I do, Trol."

"Very bad indeed," said Mr. Wakefield, "but I may make a suggestion, Miss Trowood."

"What should I do?" said my aunt.

"Let your grandson stay with me for a while. He doesn't look like a troublemaker, and he doesn't bother me at all. This is a good place for education, as quiet and bright as a monastery. Leave him alone."

My aunt was evidently very pleased with Mr. Wickfield's opinion, but felt a little embarrassed, as did I.

"Miss Trowood, this is the solution to the difficulty," said Mr. Wickfield. "It is not a long-term solution. If it does not go well, or if it is not convenient for us, we can find a better one for him." Residence. It is best to decide to keep him here for the time being."

"I'm very grateful," said my aunt. "He's like that too, I understand, but—"

"Come on! I know what you mean," cried Mr. Wickfield. "You don't have to thank me, Miss Trowood. If you want to feel bad, you can pay for him. We don't bother to talk, you pay what you want." All right."

"Now that it is clear," said my aunt, "I should very much like to keep him, but I am very grateful to you for your kindness."

"Want to see my butler?" said Mr. Wakefield.

So we went up a curious old staircase.The railing was wide enough to pass over there almost as effortlessly.We entered a gloomy old drawing-room with three or four strange old-fashioned windows which I had seen from the street.Beneath the windows were old oak chairs, which seemed to be made of the same wood as the shiny oak floors and beams in the ceiling.The living room was beautifully furnished, with a piano, some brightly colored furniture, and some flowers.The room looks very old.There are different small furniture in every corner: small tables, cupboards, bookcases, seats, one way or another, which makes me feel more and more that there is no equally interesting corner in the house.But when I looked at the second corner, it was just as good, if not better.Everything has the air of elegance and cleanliness that the exterior of a house has.

Mr. Wickfield knocked on the door in the corner of the wall, and a girl about my age came out quickly and kissed him.On her face, I saw the quiet and sweet expression of the woman in the portrait downstairs.In my opinion, it seems that the portrait has grown up, and I am still a child. Although her face is very bright and cheerful, what I will never forget is the glow on her face and all over her body. A serene, peaceful, and elegant demeanor.

This was the little housekeeper Mr. Wakefield spoke of, his daughter Agnes.When I heard how he said those few words, and saw how he shook her hand, I was sure what his one purpose in life was.

With her was a basket of small items, including keys.She is so dignified and meticulous, she really looks like the housekeeper this old house needs.She listened with pleasure to her father talking about me.After he finished speaking, he suggested to his aunt to go upstairs to see my residence.We go together, Agnes in front.It was a splendid old room, with many oak beams and diamond-shaped square panels, with broad balustrades running all the way up.

I saw a stained glass window in a church as a child, but can't remember where or when.I can't recall the contents of the stained glass either.But when I saw her turn and wait for us in the dim light, I remembered the window.After this, I fancied the quiet bright sheen of that window with Agnes Wakefield.

My aunt and I are very satisfied with what they have done for me.We happily returned to the downstairs drawing room.My aunt refused to stay for dinner because I was worried that I would not be able to go home before dark. Mr. Wakefield knew my aunt's temper very well, and thought it was pointless to argue with her, so he put some snacks on, Ernie Smith went back to her governess, and Mr. Wakefield to the office.So we can say goodbye freely.

My aunt told me that Mr. Wakefield had arranged everything for me, and that I would not want anything, and gave me the kindest instructions and the most sincere advice.

"Trow," my aunt concluded, "you have to do yourself a favor, Mr. Dick, and God bless you."

I was very excited, thanked her again and again, and asked her to carry my regards to Mr. Dick.

"Never, ever," said my aunt, "never mean in anything, never false, never cruel. Stay away from these three vices, Trol, and I may always have high hopes in you."

I said that I would never forget her teachings and live up to her kindness.

"The horse is at the door!" said my aunt. "Let's part! Leave you here!"

As she spoke, she hugged me hastily, then walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.At first I was afraid that I had offended her, but through the window I saw her get into the carriage despondently, and drive away without looking up.At that time, I really understood her.

At five o'clock, which was Mr. Wickfield's time for supper, I revived my spirits and got ready to eat.At the dinner table, only Mr. Wakefield and I set up utensils.Agnes had come downstairs with her father before dinner, and sat opposite each other at the table, and I wondered if he could have eaten without her.We didn't stay there after dinner and went back to the lounge.In a comfortable spot indoors, Agnes prepares glasses and a bottle of red wine for her father.I thought, if that bottle of wine was prepared by someone else, he would definitely not be able to taste the usual taste.

We stayed for two hours drinking wine the whole time and it was very good.At this time, Agnes played the piano, did handicrafts, and talked with her father. When he was with us, he was mostly happy and happy, but sometimes his eyes stopped on her, and he fell into a kind of thinking. State of silence.I think she always saw the clue right away, asked him immediately, acted like a baby with him, and diverted his meditation.So, he woke up from his meditation and went back to drinking.

Agnes prepared tea herself and served it for everyone.After drinking, it passed as after eating, until it was time for her to go to bed.Her father hugged her and kissed her.After she left, he asked someone to light a candle in the office.So I went to bed too.

That night, I took a walk downstairs along the street for a while, looked at the long buildings and gray churches again; recalled how I walked through this ancient city in the past, and how I unconsciously passed through the house where I lived. Pass by.When I came back, I saw Yulia Shipp preparing to leave the office.Out of a sense of friendliness, I walked in to greet him and shake his hand in farewell.But alas! His hand was so cold and wet that it hardly seemed human.Afterwards, when I rubbed my hands, trying to warm them up, I also tried to rub his hands off.

Such a cold hand, until I went back to the house, still cannot be erased from my memory.Leaning out of the window, and seeing the strange face at the end of the beam looking at me sideways, I thought that Julia Heep had gotten there somehow, and I closed the window at once to keep him out.

(End of this chapter)