David Copperfield

Chapter 38 I am a new student in more than one sense (1)
Chapter No.16 I am a new student in more than one sense (1)
Early the next morning, after breakfast, I walked into the school again.Mr. Wickfield accompanied me to the place where I was going to study - a solemn and quiet building in a courtyard, the building was enveloped in an academic atmosphere, it seemed very suitable to fly down from the top of the chapel, and walk on the lawn with a priestly air. crows and burrowing birds.Mr. Wakefield took me to my teacher, Dr. Strong.

I feel that Dr. Strong's appearance is almost as rusty as the high iron railings and gates outside the school building, and is almost as hard and heavy as the large stone urns beside the railings and gates. On the red brick wall that surrounds the yard, like skittles for Old Man Time, Dr. Strong sits in his library, his clothes not brushed, his hair not brushed, and his shorts Not hoisted, his long black leggings unbuttoned, and his shoes gaping like two black holes in the hearth rug.His vacant eyes reminded me of a one-eyed old horse I had forgotten for a long time.The old horse used to graze in Brandstone's cemetery and often tripped over the grave.He looked at me with dull eyes, as if saying that he liked me very much.Then he held out his hand, and I don't know what to do with that hand, because he didn't move.

But beside Dr. Strong, a fine-looking young woman at work--he called her Anne, and I think she was his daughter--she relieved me, and she Dr. Strong put on her shoes and put on her leggings, which she did with great joy, and we went to class together, and Mr. Wickfield greeted her by calling her "Mrs. Strong," and let me Surprised.I was wondering whether this woman was Dr. Strong's daughter-in-law or his wife, when Dr. Strong himself inadvertently reassured me.

"Wakefield," he said, stopping in an aisle with his hand on my shoulder, "you haven't found a suitable job for my wife's cousin?"

"No," said Mr. Wakefield, "not yet, sorry."

"I only wish it could be done as quickly as possible, Wakefield," said Dr. Strong, "for Jack Melton is lazy, and sometimes worse. Dr. Watts said, " He looked at me, nodded rhythmically, and said, "The devil can find some bad things for idlers to do."

"Well, Doctor," replied Mr. Wakefield, "if Dr. Watts had known men, he would have written in the same sense, 'The devil can find some bad things for busy men to do.' There are many bad things that have been done in the world, and you can agree with me. Those who are busy fighting for power these days, what are they doing? Isn’t it also bad things?”

"I don't think Jack Melton will be busy with these things." Dr. Strong stroked his chin and said thoughtfully.

"Perhaps so," said Mr. Wickfield. "Your remarks make me feel that it is time to get down to business. Please forgive me for interrupting. No, I don't know how to arrange Mr. Jack Melton. I think," he said. He said with some hesitation, "I saw through your purpose, which made things even more difficult."

"My object," said Dr. Strong, "is that Jack is Anne's cousin, and Anne's playmate from childhood, and that a place should be found for him."

"Yes, I understand," said Mr. Wakefield, "at home or abroad?"

"Yes!" replied the doctor, obviously wondering why he emphasized the words, "either at home or abroad."

"You said," said Mr. Wakefield, "that it is possible abroad."

"Of course!" replied the doctor, "of course, or abroad."

"One way or another! You don't want to try something else?" said Mr. Wakefield.

"No." The doctor replied.

"No?" asked Mr. Wakefield in surprise.

"of course."

"Is there no motivation to want to be abroad or not at home?" Wakefield said.

"No." The doctor replied.

"It seems I can only trust you," said Mr. Wakefield. "It would have been easier if I had known that beforehand. But I think I have thought otherwise."

Dr. Strong looked at him with a questioning look that almost immediately gave me a smile of courage.Because the smile is full of kindness and kindness, which actually reveals a kind of innocence and simplicity, and this kind of simplicity is very attractive and hopeful to a young student like me.Dr. Strong, repeating "nothing," and other short words of equal significance, walked up and down in front of us with a characteristic stride, and we followed closely behind.Mr. Wickfield, I saw, was solemnly shaking his head, not noticing that I was looking at him.

The classroom is a large hall, located on the quietest side of the school building, opposite to five or six large urns, and one can see the doctor's ancient and secluded garden, and the peaches in the garden are ripening on the south-facing wall.On the lawn outside the hall, there are two large agaves, which remind me that I have never thought that its wide and straight leaves are a symbol of silence.When we walked in, we saw 25 students concentrating on their studies.They rose to greet the Doctor, and stood still when they saw Mr. Wakefield and me.

"A new student, youths," said the doctor, "Troud Copperfield."

So a monitor named Adams stepped out of his seat to welcome me.He looked like a little pastor with a white scarf, but his attitude was very kind and enthusiastic. He pointed me to my seat and introduced me to other teachers. His attitude was very polite.If there was one thing that disturbed me then, it was his affability.

However, I have been away from such students for so long, or any companions of the same age (except Mick Walker and Sai Baifen? Potatoes), and I seem to feel a strangeness that I have never felt before.All the situations I've been through, they don't understand, the experience I got from it is completely different from my age, appearance and identity as one of them. I am very sensitive about this. I almost believe that I came there as an ordinary schoolboy. , is simply a fraud.When I was at Murdstone & Grinber, I was not at all unfamiliar with the games of the students, but now I know how incompetent I am at what they consider the most commonplace things.The little things I had learned were lost in my morning and evening worries about earning a living.Now, when it came time to test what I knew, I didn't know anything, so they had to put me on the lowest level in the school.

Not only that, I am not only troubled by my lack of game skills and book knowledge, but also considering that what I know and what I don't know distances me from my companions, which makes me more uneasy, and I always think, What would they think if they knew that I was acquainted with the High Court prison? What would they think if my words and deeds betrayed me in connection with the Micawbers--buying, selling, eating suppers? How would I feel? How would I cope if some pupils had seen me weary, ragged, and down through Canterbury and recognized me? If they knew how I saved up my halfpence , to buy sausages and beer, or slices of pudding, what will they say? They who know nothing about London life and London streets, once they find that I have a great knowledge (and ashamed to do so) in the meanest aspects of London. ), how would they react? When I was a freshman on my first day, all of this was always on my mind, and even the slightest thing made me uneasy.Anytime any of my new classmates approached me, I ran away.As soon as the school bell rang, I ran away, fearful that any kindness or accost would reveal something of myself.

But Mr. Wickfield's old house had an invisible power, and as I knocked at the door with my new school-book under my arm, I felt all uneasiness fade away.As I approached my airy old house, the heavy shadow of the staircase seemed to cover all my cares and fears, and make old things fade away.I sat there, absorbed in my reading, and did not go downstairs until it was supper time (school was over at three o'clock), with the idea that I might be a passable student again.

Agnes was waiting in the break room for her father, who was being entangled in the office by someone.She greeted me with her cheerful smile and asked me if I fit in with that school.I am not used to it.

"You never went to school did you?" I said.

"Oh, yes, every day."

"Oh, you mean here, in your own home?"

"Father doesn't allow me to go anywhere else," she replied with a smile and shaking her head, "You know, his butler should be at home."

"I believe he loves you very much."

She nodded her assent, and ran to the door to hear if he was coming up, so that she could meet him on the stairs.But, because he wasn't there, she ran back again.

"My mother left us as soon as I was born." She said calmly. "I have only seen her portrait downstairs. I saw you pay attention to that portrait yesterday. Have you guessed who it is?"

I told her "yes" because the portrait was so resembling her.

"Papa said that too," Agnes said cheerfully, "you hear papa is coming!"

When she got up to meet him, when their father and daughter entered hand in hand, her lively and peaceful face revealed joy.Mr. Wickfield greeted me kindly, and told me that I should be happy under the tutelage of Dr. Strong, who was the kindest of men.

"Would anyone--I don't know--could abuse that of him," said Mr. Wakefield. "Never do anything like that, Troy. Strong is the least suspicious of men." ; whether this is a merit or a drawback, it must be taken into account in all dealings with the Doctor, whether great or small."

I think when he said that, he seemed tired, or dissatisfied with something.However, I did not continue to think about it, because it happened that the servant announced that dinner was served, so I went downstairs and took my seat as usual.

No sooner had we sat down than Julia Heep stuck in his red head and thin hands, and said:

"Mr. Melton is here, sir."

"I have just dismissed Mr. Melton," said his master.

"Yes, sir," replied Yulia, "but he is back again, and I beg you to have a word with you."

When Yulia opened the door, I always felt that he was looking at me, Agnes, the food on the table, the plates, everything in the room, but he didn't seem to be doing that.Assuming the way he always gazed humbly at his Master with his red eyes.

"Excuse me, I thought about it and just wanted to say," said a man behind Yulia, while his head was replaced by the speaker's head, "I'm sorry to bother you. I just wanted to say, as if in this I had no choice in the matter, and the sooner I went abroad the better. When I was talking with my cousin Anne. She had said that she would rather have her relatives by her side than deport them, and the old doctor— "

"You mean Dr. Strong?" interposed Wakefield solemnly.

"Naturally, it refers to Dr. Strong," the other party replied, "whatever you call it, it's all the same, you understand."

"I don't understand," said Mr. Wakefield.

"Well, Dr. Strong," said the other, "he has the same idea, I think. But it seems that you have changed his opinion for my plan, and there is nothing to be done. The sooner you leave the better. Good. So, I thought, I should come back and tell you, the sooner the better. If you must jump into the water, why wait on the shore? It's no use."

"Don't worry, this matter will be dealt with as soon as possible," said Mr. Wakefield.

"Thank you," said the other party, "thank you very much. I can't be dissatisfied with other people's kindness to me, otherwise it is too undeserved. I believe that my cousin can arrange according to her wishes without any difficulty. I think that with The old doctor said—”

"You mean that all will be well if Mrs. Strong tells her husband?" said Mr. Wickfield.

"Yes," replied the other, "suffice it to say that she made something so and so, and there can be no doubt that it is so and so."

"Why no doubts, Mr. Melton?" said Wakefield, eating leisurely.

"The reason is that Anne is a pleasant young girl, and the old doctor—I mean Dr. Strong—isn't quite a lovely young man," laughed Jack Melton. "I I don't mean to offend anyone, Mr Wakefield, but I just mean that there must be some kind of compensation in their marriage to be fair."

"You mean compensation to the lady?" asked Mr. Wakefield gravely.

"Yes, Mr. Wakefield." Mr. Jack Melton replied with a smile.However, he seemed to see Mr. Wakefield still eating with the same seriousness, and did not allow the muscles of his face to relax for a moment, and he continued:

"Since I have finished what I want to say when I come back, I apologize again for the interruption, and I can leave. Of course, this is entirely a matter between us. I hope it will not be mentioned in the doctor's house."

"Stay to dinner?" said Mr. Wakefield, making a motion of his hand towards the table.

"Thank you. I'm going to dine with my cousin Anne. Good-bye!" said Mr. Melton.

Mr. Wickfield did not rise, but watched him go thoughtfully.In my opinion, Mr. Melton has no substance, a good-looking face, quick conversation, pompous and self-confident.This is our first meeting.I heard about him from the Doctor that morning, and did not expect to see him so soon.

After we had dined, we went upstairs again, just as usual.Agnes sat in the corner as usual, and took out her glass and bottle, and Mr. Wickfield sat down to drink wine, and drank a lot.Agnes played the piano for a while, then sat down to talk, work, and play cards with me.She prepared refreshments when appropriate; when I brought the book upstairs, she read it, then told me that she had learned something in the book (although she said it was a trivial matter, but it was not), and told me to read it. The best way to understand it.When I write these words, I seem to see her gentle, serene, and calm attitude again, and hear her soft and melodious voice.Her subsequent good influence on me had already begun to sow the seeds in my heart by then.I love little Emily, I don't love Agnes--no, not at all the same kind--but I feel that wherever Agnes is, there is kindness, peace, truth; and many years ago I The soft light from the stained windows of the chapel I had seen had been covering her; and as I approached her it fell on me, and surrounded her.

When it was time for her to go to bed, and when she left, I gave Mr. Wickfield my hand, and was about to leave too.But he stopped me: "Trouud, would you like to live here, or go somewhere else?"

"Want to be here," I said quickly.

"Really?"

"As long as you like."

(End of this chapter)