David Copperfield

Chapter 45: A Review (2)
Chapter 18 A Review(2)
During this period, apart from the changes in my stature and appearance, and my knowledge, have I changed? Yes.I now wear a gold watch and chain, and a ring on my little finger, and I wear a long-tailed coat, and a lot of bearfat in my hair—this thing, combined with the ring, looks ugly.Am I in love again? Not bad.I began to adore Miss Larkins.

Miss Larkins was not a little girl, she was a tall, dark-skinned, dark-eyed adult.Miss Larkins, the oldest, was no longer a baby, because neither was Miss Larkins, the youngest, and the oldest must be three or four years older.Perhaps the oldest Miss Larkins was nearly 30 years old.My oath to her is beyond all limits.

It was an intolerable thing that the oldest Miss Larkins knew the officers.I saw the officers talking to her in the street, I saw the officers, saw her bonnet and her sister's bonnet, and they ran across the street talking to her as they passed the sidewalk.She is also very happy.I spent most of my free time walking up and down the street, looking forward to meeting her.If I could bow to her once in a day (because I know Mr. Larkins, we have met, and I can bow to her as a greeting), I will be happy all day.I often get the pleasure of bowing.On the night of the horse race I knew Miss Larkins was going to dance there with the soldiers.If God is merciful, there should be a reward for my deep pain.

My enthusiasm for Miss Larkins took me out of the slightest interest in food and made me constantly wear the latest silk scarves.I don't feel at ease without wearing my best fitting clothes and wiping my boots down every now and then.Only by being well-dressed can I seem more worthy of Miss Larkins.Everything that belongs to her, everything related to her, I treasure.Mr. Larkins (a rough old man with a double chin and one eye that didn't move) seemed interesting to me.If I can't meet Miss Larkins, I go where I can probably meet Mr. Larkins, and say to him, "How are you, Mr. Larkins? How are the young lady and the whole family?" Mrs. Straight up, I blushed.

I always think about my age.I'm 17, so what if 17 is too young for Miss Larkins? Besides, I'll be 20 almost immediately.I used to take a walk outside Mr. Larkins' house.It made me sad to see the officers go in, and to hear them talking in the drawing-room where Miss Larkins was playing the harp.Two or three times, even in a dejected manner, when the family was asleep, I went round and round the house again and again, wondering which one was the bedroom of Miss Larkins (I believe now, I admit it) Larkins bedroom).Hoping there would be a fire, and the people there were petrified, and I carried a ladder through the crowd, taped the ladder to her window, rescued her in arms, and went back to get what she left behind, so Died in a sea of ​​flames.As I am generally disinterested in my love affairs, it is enough to wish to show myself to Mademoiselle Larkins and then die.

Usually, but not often.Sometimes brighter beauties appear before me.If there is a ball at Mr. Larkins' house, and I spend two hours getting dressed to go to the party (which I look forward to for three weeks), I gratify my wishes with rich fantasies.I pictured me boldly proposing to Miss Larkins, and I pictured Miss Larkins laying her head on my shoulder and saying, "Oh, Mr. Copperfield, is that true?" Sir was waiting for me next morning, and said to me: "My dear Copperfield, my daughter has said it all. Youth is all right, here is twenty thousand pounds. God bless you!" I imagined my aunt Kindness and prayers were sent for us, and Mr. Dick and Dr. Strong were present at my wedding.I believe—I would say, when I look back—that I was a sensible person, and I was humble.But all these fantasies continued.

I came to the glorious house, where the lights, the talking, the music, the singing, the officers (it made me sad to see), and Miss Larkins, as beautiful as a flame.She was wearing a blue dress, with some blue flowers in her hair—forget-me-nots—as if she needed to wear forget-me-nots.This is the first adult prom I've been invited to and I'm a little embarrassed because I don't seem to know anyone, I'm not related to anyone, and everyone doesn't seem to have anything to say to me except Mr Larkins greeting me Classmates, there is no need for him to do this at all, because I didn't go there to be exposed.

I stood at the door for a moment, feasting my idol's eyes, and after a while she came--she, Miss Larkins!--asked me with pleasure if I should dance.

I said excitedly: "I only want to dance with you, Miss Larkins."

"With no one else?" asked Miss Larkins.

"I'm not happy dancing with other people."

Miss Larkins laughed, blushed too (or so I thought), and said, "Let's do it again, I'd love to dance with you."

The time has finally come. "It's a waltz, I believe," said Miss Larkins doubtfully, when I went to ask her. "Can you waltz? If not, Captain Bailey—"

But I not only could waltz, but I waltzed well, so I led Miss Larkins out, and led her away from Captain Bailey.Captain Bailey was no doubt dissatisfied, but he had nothing to do with me.Haven't I ever been satisfied? I waltzed with Mademoiselle Larkins! I don't know where, with whom, or how long. I just remember floating around with a blue angel, Intoxicated in a kind of incomparable happiness.I found out later that we were resting on a couch in a small room.She complimented the flower on my buttonhole (a red camellia half a crown).I gave it to her and said:

"The price of this flower is incalculable, Miss Larkins."

"Really?" said Miss Larkins.

"You give me a beautiful flower."

"You are a courageous boy," said Miss Larkins. "Here you are."

She gave me the flowers and showed no displeasure.I took the flower and put it to my lips, kissed it, and put it in my arms.Miss Larkins took my arm, and said: "Return me, then, to Captain Bailey."

While I was savoring the delightful meeting and the wonderful waltz, she came to me again, on the arm of a rather unremarkable older man (who had been playing cards all night), and said to me:

"Oh, here is my courageous friend! Mr Wessel wishes to have the honor of making your acquaintance, Mr Copperfield."

I knew at once that he was a friend of the family, and was very content.

"I admire your taste, Mr. Copperfield," said Mr. Wessel. "It shows that your taste is admirable. I suppose you are not much interested in Khub. But I am a Quite a planter. If you'd like to visit our neighborhood—near Ashford—and visit us, you'd be more than welcome to stay as long as you like."

I expressed my deep gratitude to Mr. Wessel for his kindness, and shook hands with him.I seemed to be dreaming a sweet dream, in which I waltzed again with Mademoiselle Larkins—she said I danced very well! I walked home with an indescribable happiness.I imagined the scene of waltzing all night, circling around the dance floor with my arms around the waist of my beloved goddess-like Miss Lakins.For some time thereafter, I was caught up in this happy imagination.But I met her neither in the street nor again on a visit.In the loss, I had no choice but to use that sacred item, that withered flower, to comfort my loss.

"Trouud," said Agnes one day after supper, "do you know who is getting married tomorrow, someone you love."

"I suppose it wasn't you, Agnes?"

"No!" she said, lifting her excited face from the sheet of music she was copying. "Did you hear what he said? Papa! Prettiest Miss Larkins."

"Married to—to Captain Bailey?" I had only strength to ask.

"No, not with any captain, but with Mr. Wessel, a Hub planter." I've been in a bad mood for a week or two.I took off my rings, I wore my worst clothes, and I stopped wearing bear oil.I have often lamented over the wilted flower that formerly belonged to Miss Larkins.At that time, I hated this life and was challenged by the butcher again. I threw the flower and defeated him with honor.

And that thing, I put my rings back on, I re-applied the bear oil, but not as much as before, and that sort of thing was the last recognizable trace of my progression toward 17.

(End of this chapter)