David Copperfield

Chapter 43 A person appeared (3)
Chapter No.17 A Person Appears (3)
"We'll go and see Mrs. Micawber, shall we?" I said, trying to distract Mr. Micawber.

"If you will do her a favor, Copperfield," replied Mr. Micawber, "I may also say, in the presence of my friends here, that I have been in financial difficulty for many years as a person. "I knew he was going to say something like this, he never pretended to be his own difficulties. "Sometimes I overcome difficulties, sometimes difficulties overwhelm me - in short, defeat me. Sometimes I attack, but if my difficulties are too much, I have to back down, in Cato's words: 'Plato, you That's right. It's all over now. I can't fight any more.' But in all my life," said Mr. Micawber, "I have never been more proud than to have devoted all my sorrows to science. Bofill's bosom (if I may use that term to describe the trouble chiefly caused by the warrant of defense and the two-month and four-month promissory notes)."

Mr. Micawber added at last: "Good-bye, Mr. Heep! Good-bye, Mrs. Heep!" and went out with me in his most dignified manner.When we walked out the door, he made a lot of noise on the sidewalk with his shoes, humming a little tune.

Mr. Micawber lived in a small room in a small hotel with only a single partition, which was partitioned off by an agent's office, and therefore reeked strongly of tobacco.I think there is a kitchen under the house because there seems to be a very hot greasy fume coming out of the cracks in the floor and the walls are still damp.I knew it was near the liquor store because I could smell the alcohol and hear the glasses.Here I see Mrs. Micawber, leaning back on the sofa (on which there is a picture of a racing horse), her head pressed against the fireplace, her feet sweeping the mustard seeds on the small dining table at the far end of the room.Mr. Micawber went in first, and said to her, "My dear, let me introduce you to a student of Dr. Strong's school."

I mention that, though Mr. Micawber was as confused as ever about my age and position, he always knew that I was a student at Dr. Strong's, which was a matter of refinement.

Mrs. Micawber was startled, but excited to see me.I was also excited to meet her.After we exchanged affectionate wishes, I sat down on the small sofa next to her.

"My dear," said Mr. Micawber, "you'll tell Copperfield how we stand, and he'll be very interested. I'm going to read the papers for a while, and see if there's an opportunity advertised."

"I thought you were at Primus, madam," I said to Mrs. Micawber, as he went out.

"My dear Master Copperfield," she answered, "we went there."

"Wait for the opportunity nearby." I gestured.

"That's right," said Mrs. Micawber, "wait nearby. But in reality the Customs House needs no one. My natal family's power in the country is not in a position to obtain anything at that pass for a man of Mr. Micawber's caliber." They don't want a man of Mr. Micawber's talents. He can only show other people's worthlessness. Besides," said Mrs. Micawber, "to tell the truth, my dear Copperfield Well, when my natal family, who settled at Primus, learned that Mr. Micawber had brought me, little Wilkin, and his sister and twins, they did not welcome him. In fact,' Mrs. Micawber whispered, "I can only say this to you—we have been treated very badly."

"There is such a thing!" I said.

"Yes," said Mrs. Micawber, "that was very sad indeed, Master Copperfield. But we were treated badly, that is certain. In fact, we were not there In a week those of my natal family in Primus are being rude to Mr Micawber."

I say they should be ashamed and humiliated.

"But, being so," went on Mrs. Micawber, "what could a man of Mr. Micawber's backbone do in that case? There was only one way, to borrow money from my mother's London, get out of there anyway."

"So you're back again, ma'am?" I said.

"Yes," replied Mrs. Micawber, "and since then I have consulted with my natal family another course which would best suit Mr. Micawber--because I insist that he must find a way of earning a living, Master Copperfield. ’” said Mrs. Micawber in a contentious tone.

"Of course, ma'am," I said.

"It is the opinion of the rest of my natal family," continued Mrs. Micawber, "that Mr. Micawber should turn his attention to coal."

"What, ma'am?"

"The coal industry," said Mrs. Micawber. "After inquiries, Mr. Micawber also thinks that in the coal industry in Medway, a door can be opened for a man of Mr. Micawber's ability. Then, Micawber Mr Copper is quite right that the first step to be taken is to see Medway himself. So here we come, and I say we, Master Copperfield, for I shall never," said Micawber The wife said affectionately, "Because I will never abandon Mr. Micawber."

I vaguely express my appreciation and support.

"Let's go," repeated Mrs. Micawber. "Medway, my opinion about the coal industry on the Medway is that it may require talent, but it must have capital. On facts. I think , as it was so near here, Mr. Micawber thought he ought to come and see the cathedral. First, because it was very worth seeing, and I had never seen it; In town, some chance might arise. We have been here three days," said Mrs. Micawber, "and there has been no chance. My dear Master Copperfield, if you know that we are expecting a remittance from London, To pay our debts at this hotel, you may not be surprised, but a stranger must be very surprised. Until the remittance comes," Mrs. Micawber said now with great sadness, "I can't go home (she means It's Ben Downville's apartment) and couldn't bear to see my son and daughter, and couldn't bear to see my twins either."

I felt deep pity for Mr. and Mrs. Micawber in their distress, and I expressed it honestly to Mr. Micawber, who had just returned.And at the same time, I wish I could get him the money they need.Mr. Micawber's answer expressed his uneasiness.He shook my hand and said, "Copperfield, my true friend. But there is always a friend in the worst of times." Mrs. Micawber threw her arms around her mistress at this pitiful confession. Mr Cobb's neck, begging him to be quiet.Mr. Micawber wept, but soon regained his interest, rang for the waiter, and ordered a warm loin pudding and a plate of prawns for tomorrow's dessert.

When I took their leave, both of them invited me to dine before they left with such earnestness that it was hard for me to refuse.However, I could not go on the third day, because I had a lot of homework to do in the evening, so Mr. Micawber decided to visit Dr. Strong's school next morning (he felt that the remittance was sent by the postman), if it was convenient. , you can come back another day.Sure enough, the next morning, when I was called out of class, I found Mr. Micawber in the drawing room.He came to tell me that dinner was going as planned.When I asked him if the remittance had arrived, he just shook my hand and left.

On the same evening, when I looked out of the window, I saw, to my surprise and to my disquiet, Mr. Micawber and Julia passing arm in arm.Julia humbly feels Mr. Micawber's favor, and Mr. Micawber seems very contented because of his favor to Julia.But when I went to the inn next day at the appointed time (it was four o'clock), I learned from Mr. Micawber's words that he had gone home with Julia and had drunk at Mrs. Heep's, which It surprised me even more.

"I have said, my dear Copperfield," said Mr. Micawber, "that your friend Heep is a young man who would be chief advocate. If, at the time of my danger, I were to be acquainted with this Young man, I can say, I dare say the creditors will suffer."

Mr. Micawber did not in fact repay them at all, and I don't see how that is possible, but I don't want to ask.I also don't like to say that I want him not to be too frank with Heep; and I don't like to ask if they talked a lot about me.I was afraid of offending Mr. Micawber's pride, or, at any rate, offending Mrs. Micawber, who was very sensitive.But I felt very uneasy about it, and I often think about it afterwards.

Our little supper was very fine, a fresh fish, a roasted veal loin, a sausage, a quail, and a pudding; with wine and strong ale.After the meal, Mrs. Micawber personally made a bowl of hot cooking wine.

Mr. Micawber was very happy.I never saw him so happy.Adding cooking wine made his face light up.It looked as if his face had been smeared with oil.He took an interest in the town and toasted it.He said Mrs Micawber and himself were very happy there and they would remember their time in Canterbury.Then he blessed me; he, Mrs. Micawber, and I, relived our old friendship, so we relived our old experience of selling all our property, and then gave Mrs. Micawber A toast to blessing.Or, at least I said politely: "If you will allow me, Mrs. Micawber, I now wish you good health, ma'am." Always been his mentor, thinker, friend.He proposed that when I reached marriageable age, I should marry a woman like her—if such a woman existed.

Mr. Micawber became kinder and happier when the wine was gone.Mrs. Micawber became more excited too, and we sang "Remember the Old Time".When we sang "here is a hand, my faithful friend", we held arms around the table, and when we sang "take a right gude willie wanght", although we didn't understand the true meaning of that sentence, but We wept deeply.

In short, I never saw a man quite as gay as Mr. Micawber, until the very last moment of the evening, when I said good-bye to his docile wife.As a result, to my surprise, at seven o'clock the next morning, I received the following letter, which was written at 09:30 in the evening, a quarter of an hour after I said goodbye to them.The letter reads:

my dear young friend

The chess game has been decided, and everything is a thing of the past.I didn't tell you tonight that remittances were hopeless! I masked my painful wounds with hideous laughter.In this case shameful to endure, shameful to think, and shameful to narrate, I have settled the debt here by a promissory note, agreeing fourteen days later in London--Bendownville--my Residential cashing.The promissory note will never be cashed.The result must be destruction.The thunder is about to strike, and the tree must fall to the ground.

Write now to your poor soul as a warning for your life, my dear Copperfield.For this purpose, for hope, he wrote this letter.If he could think himself useful, perhaps a ray of sunshine would shine into the gloomy dungeon of the rest of his life—though his health, at the moment (trying to say the best), was extremely questionable.

This is the last letter you will receive from me, my dear Copperfield.

vagabond beggar

Wilkin Micawber

I was so startled by the content of this letter that I ran at once to the inn, planning to detour there to Dr. Strong's school, and trying to persuade Mr. Micawber as best I could.But, halfway, I met a London-bound bicycle with Mr. and Mrs. Micawber on board.The poised Mr. Micawber listened to Mrs. Micawber with a smile on his face, and ate walnuts from a paper bag, with a bottle in his breast pocket.Since they didn't see me, I thought it best not to see them.So, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my heart, I turned into the alley closest to the school. Generally speaking, I felt relieved because they were gone.However, I still like them.

(End of this chapter)