David Copperfield

Chapter 56
Chapter 22 Old Things New People (3)
"Well said!" cried Steerforth, "listen! listen! Now, my dear Daisy, to satisfy the curiosity of little Fatima, I think I shall leave no room for speculation. Mao Miss Keel, she is currently apprenticed at the Omer-Yoran Company in this town, do you hear me? It is 'Omer and Yoran'. The marriage contract my friend speaks of is with her cousin, named Han M, whose name is Peggotty, is a shipwright, also of this town. She lives with a relation, who has a not very good name, and is a boatman, also of this town. She is the most beautiful woman in the world. The most adorable little fairy. I admire her as much as my friends do. If it doesn't appear to be a disservice to her fiancé (which I know my friends don't), I'd add that she seems to be self-destructing, and I vouch for her It could have been better, she was born to be a lady."

The words were spoken slowly but clearly, and as Miss Molcher listened to them, she turned her head sideways and rolled her eyes into the air, as if still searching for an answer.When he stopped, she brightened up again, and said with startling rapidity:

"Ah, is it over?" she said, trimming his side locks with a pair of little scissors. "It's a long story, but it should be added at the end that they live happily ever after, don't they? Ah, that inlay How do you say it? I love my sweetheart because she's pretty; I hate my sweetheart because she's engaged; I use my sweetheart to symbolize beauty; I persuade my sweetheart to elope with me; her name is Emily , who lives in the East? Ha! Ha! Ha! Am I frivolous, Mr. Copperfield?"

She looked at me with indulgent slyness, and before I could speak, she went on to say:

"Well! If I ever served a scoundrel, it was you, Steerforth. If I ever read anyone's mind in the world, it was you. Do you hear me when I say that? My darling , I understand what you mean," she looked down into his face, "and now, James, you may go. If Mr. Copperfield will take his seat, let's fix him too."

"What do you say, Daisy?" Steerforth asked me, laughing, as he moved his seat out. "You touch up, too?"

"Thank you, Miss Molcher, not tonight."

"Don't say no," said Miss Molcher, looking at me carefully. "A little more eyebrows?"

"Thank you," I said, "sometime else."

"Move it an eighth toward the temple," said Miss Molcher, "and we can do it in a fortnight."

"No, thank you, not now."

"Give me a little trim," she begged, "then let me set up the platform and trim my beard, come on."

I blushed when I refused.Because I found that she touched my sore spot.Miss Molcher also saw that I didn't need her touch-ups at present, nor was I going to be tempted by the little bottle (which she held up to my eyes to encourage me), so she said it would be best if we could start early, and then And begged me to help her down from the height.With my assistance, she jumped down deftly and began to thrust her double chin into the bonnet.

"The pay is—" said Steerforth.

"Five shillings," said Miss Molcher. "That's cheap, my chicken. I'm not frivolous, Mr. Copperfield."

"Not at all," I said politely to her. In fact, I thought she was a little frivolous when she tossed the two half-crowns up, caught them, pocketed them, clapped them again.

"This is the cash drawer," said Miss Molcher, rising from her chair, and bagging the assorted utensils. "Have I got all my utensils? It's nearly there. It can't be like that tall one." Tall Ned Pittwood, when people took him to church 'to marry somebody', he said, 'Forget the bride.' Ha! That guy was a rogue, but it was fun! Now I Know I'm going to make you sad, but I have to go. Be bold. Good-bye, Mr. Copperfield! Beware, knights of Norfolk! I'm nagging, but it's your fault .But I don't blame you. 'Bob Swore' - that's how beginner French say 'good night' and it sounds like English. 'Bob Swore', my darling!"

She slung the bag over her shoulder and swayed to the door, chattering.There she stopped, hesitating whether to give us a lock of her hair. "Am I frivolous or not?" she added, as a note to the proposal, before nudging her fingers and walking away.

Steerforth laughed so hard I couldn't help it, and if he didn't laugh I couldn't be sure I would.After laughing enough, he said that Miss Moocher knew a lot of people and knew how to serve all kinds of people.He said that although some people used her as a plaything, she was very capable, and although her arms were short, she was very smart.What she said about omnipresence was absolutely true, he said.Because she befriends and even knows everyone.I asked him what she was inclined to, whether she was harmful, whether her kindness was always on the right side; after several failed attempts, I avoided asking such questions.But he hurriedly told me a lot about her skills and her income; and said that she was a skilled phlebotomist, and that if I needed surgery, I would just go to her.

She was our main talking point that night, and he even said “Bob Swore” to me from behind the banister when I went downstairs for the night.

When I arrived at Mr. Barkis's house, I was surprised to see Ham walking up and down the door.I was still more surprised when he said that little Emily was there.I then asked him why he was walking up and down the street by himself and not going in.

"You know, sir," he answered hesitantly, "Emily, she's talking inside."

"I thought," I said, laughing, "that's why you're here, Ham."

"Oh, sir, it is so," he went on, "but, Master Wei," he said in a low, serious voice, "it is a woman, sir, not very old. It was Emily who had known her before and should not." Another woman I met."

After hearing these words, I couldn't help thinking of the shadows that followed them that I found a few hours ago.

"She's poor, sir," said Ham, "and the whole town loathes her. There's no more loathsome man buried in a church."

"Ham, is she the one we saw staring at you on the beach tonight?"

"Staring at us," said Ham, "seemed to be, Master Wei, we didn't know she was there at the time, and then she slipped out of Emily's window, and when she saw Emily light the lamp, she whispered, 'Amy Lie, Emily, for God's sake, think of me as a woman, I used to be just like you.' Sounds like, Master Wei, there is some truth in that."

"Yes, Ham, what about Emily?"

"Emily said: 'Martha, is that you? Oh, Martha, could it be you?'—because they worked together in Mr. Omer's shop."

"I remember!" I exclaimed, remembering one of the two young girls I met when I first went there. "I remember her exactly."

"That's Martha Endel," said Ham. "A little older than Emily, but went to school."

"I've never heard her name before," I said. "I don't mean to interrupt you, please go on."

"That's about all I had to say, Master Wyatt," replied Ham, "and she said: 'Emily, Emily, for God's sake, treat me like a woman, I used to be with you Same.' She wanted to talk to Emily, but how could Emily do that, for her uncle came back. Her uncle, Master Wyatt," said Ham, with all sincerity, "was better off keeping them together, Although he has a good temper, even if he gave him all the treasures in the world that are sunk in the sea, he can't let them sit together."

I feel that this is absolutely true, and I understand it very thoroughly at once.

"So Emily wrote something in pencil on a little piece of paper," he went on, "and gave her the note through the window to be brought here. Emily said, 'Take this piece of paper to To my aunt, Mrs. Barkiss, who will take you because of me, and I can come when uncle is away.' She then told me what I told you, and asked me to bring her. I couldn't help it. , she shouldn't associate with such a person, but I saw tears on her face, I can't disobey her."

He put his hands in the pocket of his coarse coat, and cautiously produced a small purse.

"Even if I could say no to her while I'm watching her tear up," Ham said softly, cupping the purse in his palm, "how could I not when she offered me this to hold for her?" Yes--and besides, I know why she has it--how can I refuse her? What a fine little purse, with a little money in it, Emily, my dear!"

When he put away the purse, I shook his hand affectionately—for I found that more satisfying than any words—and we walked in silence for a minute or two.Then the door opened, and Pogo came out, beckoning Ham to let him in.I wanted to walk away, but she let me in too.Even then, I wanted to get away, if that room wasn't the tiled kitchen I was talking about.Since the door opens to the kitchen, I find myself among them before I even think about where to go.

The girl—the girl I met on the beach—approached the fire.She is sitting on the ground with her head and one hand resting on a chair.From the way she looked, I thought, Emily was trying to get up from her chair, but the poor girl was perhaps laying her head on Emily's lap.I couldn't see the girl's face, because her hair was scattered across her face, as if she had smoothed it out with her own hands.But I think she is young and has fair skin.Peggotty had wept.Little Emily cried too.Once we entered, no one spoke.In the silence, the ticking of the Dutch clock by the sideboard seemed unusually loud.

Emily spoke first.

"Martha wants—" she said to Ham, "to go to London."

"Why?" Ham went on.

He stood before them and looked at the girl sprawled on the chair with mixed feelings: half sympathy for her miserable situation, half hatred for her having the friendship of his beloved.I will always know this scene.Both Ham and Emily spoke in soft, low tones, but still clearly audible.

"It's very good there," only the third person—Martha said loudly, but her body didn't move. "No one knows me there, but everyone here knows me."

"What are you doing there?" Ham asked.

She raised her head, gave Ham a vague look, then lowered her head again, wrapping her right hand around her neck.

"She's going to learn," said little Emily. "You don't know what she just said to us. She—did they understand, aunt?"

Peggotty shook his head sympathetically.

"If you'll help me leave," said Martha, "I'm going to try, I'm no worse than here. I can live better." She said, shaking violently, "let me go This town, this town knows me!"

When Emily gave Ham her hand, I saw him put a little canvas bag into her hand.She took it as if it were her own, and took a step or two forward; but when she found it, she went back to Ham, and showed him the bag.

"It's all yours, Emily," said Ham. "What's mine is yours, my dear, and I don't feel happy otherwise."

Tears welled up in her eyes again, but she went over to Martha again.What she gave Martha I did not see clearly.But I saw her bend over and put something in Martha's arms.She whispered something to Martha and asked if there was enough money. "Enough." Martha held her hand and kept kissing her.

At this moment Martha stood up, put on her scarf, covered her face, and walked slowly towards the door, crying loudly.Before she went out, she paused, as if she was about to say something, or turned back, but made no sound.She wore only her shawl, and went away with the same low mournful pitiful moan.

As soon as the door was closed, little Em'ly looked at the three of us impatiently, and then, covering her face in her hands, began to cry.

"No, Emily!" said Ham, patting her on the shoulder. "No, my dear, don't you, dear."

"Oh, Ham!" she cried, still sadly, "I'm not like the girl I should be! I don't know justice at all sometimes."

"Yes, yes, you have!" said Ham.

"No!" cried little Em'ly, shaking her head in pain. "I'm not a good girl. Not like! Not like!"

She continued to cry, as if her heart was broken.

"I'm sorry for your love, I know," she cried, "I've always lost my temper with you, I've been hot and cold with you, and I should be better. You've never been like this to me. I shouldn't have treated you this way, How can I make you happy!"

"You always make me happy," said Ham. "My dear! I am happy to see you, and I am happy to think of you all day long."

"Oh, that won't work!" she cried. "You're like that because you're so nice, not because I'm nice! Oh, my dear, if you love another--someone who's more stable and determined than I am!" Man, a man with a heart for you, never quite as volatile as I am—maybe better for you!"

"My soft heart," said Ham in a low voice, "Martha has got you all confused."

"Aunt," whimpered Emily, "come here, and let me lean on you, I am very sorry to-night. I am not as good as I should be. I am not!"

Peggotty had run to the chair in front of the fire and sat down, and Emily, with her arms about her neck, looked into her face with great affection.

"Oh, Auntie, help me. Ham, dear, help me! Mr. David, try to help me, too, for the sake of the past. I want to be a better man than I am. I want I am a hundred times more informed than I am now. I want to feel even more how sweet it is to be a good man's wife and live a peaceful life. Oh, oh! Oh, my dear, my dear!"

She rested her head on my old nurse's chest, and slowly ceased her pathetic entreaties, half child, half adult (I thought her more earthy and more befitting of her beauty than any other attitude).She was whimpering and my old nanny was soothing her like a baby.

She gradually calmed down, so we all comforted her, sometimes encouraged her, sometimes made a few jokes, until she looked up and spoke to us.She smiled at first, and finally sat up shyly.Peggotty pulled up her straggly hair for her, and wiped away her tears, and set her up again, lest her uncle should wonder why his darling was crying.

That night, I saw her do things I hadn't seen her do before.I saw her passionately kiss her fiancé's face, leaning towards his thick body as if it was her best support.As they walked away together in the fading moonlight, I mentally compared the circumstances of their departure with that of Martha, and I saw her clasping his arm with both hands, drawing closer to him. him some.

(End of this chapter)