David Copperfield

Chapter 57 Confirming what I heard, choosing a career (1)
Chapter 23 Confirm what you hear, select occupation(1)
I awoke next morning thinking very much of little Em'ly, and of how she had felt after Martha had gone the night before.I think we knew, as if in holy friendship, the difficulties and privacy of this family, and it would have been wrong to divulge to Steerforth.I feel more attached to this little girl who was my childhood playmate than to anyone else, because I believe that I will, and will, until the moment of my death, love her dearly.To tell anyone, even Steerforth, what she happened to reveal to me, I would consider an act of cruelty, sorry for the light of our innocent childhood (which I have often seen around my head) .Because of that, I decided to keep the thing inside, where she added another beauty.

While we were having breakfast, a letter came from my aunt.On account of what was written in the letter, I thought that Steerforth could give me some advice, which I would be happy to discuss with him, and so I made it the subject of our discussion on our way home.But for now, we can't take care of that because we're busy enough saying goodbye to all our friends.Mr. Barkis is so far behind in this respect that I now think that if he would have kept us at Yarmouth two days longer he would have opened the box again and sacrificed another guinea.Peggotty and all her family were devastated that we were going away.Omer-Yoran's all saw us off, and there were so many boatmen at Steerforth's service when our bags were loaded that we didn't have porters to carry no matter how much we carried.In short, our departure has saddened all concerned, and saddened many after us.

"Are you going to stay here long, Ritimo?" I asked Ritimo who was standing there delivering the car.

"No, sir," he answered, "not long."

"He's not sure yet," said Steerforth. "He knows what he's supposed to do, and he'll do it."

"Of course." I said.

Ritimo thanked us by touching the hat with his hand, and I felt younger.He touched his hat again, and wished us a safe journey.He stood on the sidewalk as our car pulled away, an enigma as respectable as an Egyptian pyramid.

There were times when we didn't talk, and Steerforth was uncharacteristically silent, and I wondered when I'd be here again, and what would have changed since I was gone.Afterwards Steerforth, becoming gay and talkative, capable of changing his mood at any moment, touched me on the arm:

"Speak up, David. Where did you get that letter you were talking about when we were having breakfast?"

"Oh," I said, taking the letter out of my pocket, "it's from my aunt."

"What did she say, do you have any consideration?"

"She told me, Steerforth," I said, "that I'm traveling this time to broaden my horizons, but also to reflect."

"So you did it all?"

"To be honest, I can't say I did. In fact, I'm afraid I've forgotten about it."

"Then, now carefully make up for your neglect!" said Steerforth. "To the right, you can see a flat land with many marshes on it; to the left, you can see the same thing. Look forward, look back See, there is no difference."

"What is your aunt's opinion on the matter?" said Steerforth, looking at the letter in my hand.

"Oh, she asked me," I said, "would I like being a lawyer? What do you think?"

"Oh, I don't know," replied Steerforth dryly, "I suppose you do that just as much as you do anything else."

I couldn't help laughing, feeling that he took all occupations lightly.

"What's the matter with the Prosecutor, Steerforth?" I asked.

"It's a sort of Abbey lawyer," replied Steerforth, "with the Doctor's College—an old, sleepy corner near St. That's how the courts are. I've explained the Doctor's College, and you'll understand what an Advocate is. It's a secluded little place. They try so-called canon law cases there, and play tricks with the old Acts of Congress. These Three-quarters of the world's people do not know about the bill, and the rest think it is an antique unearthed in the Edwardian era. That place has an ancient tradition in the people's will proceedings and the people's marriage proceedings, and in the disputes over ships and boats. patent."

"No, Steerforth," I cried, "do you really think there is any connection between the events of the voyage and the events of the Church?"

"Of course I wouldn't say that," he replied. "I'm just saying that the two types of cases are tried and decided by the same people in the same doctor's house. You will see them collide for the Nansui." 'The Sierra Gyth', or read the whole of Young's Dictionary for Mr Peggotty and the other Yarmouth boatmen sailing in a gale with anchor and cable to rescue the wrecked 'Nelson' ;or else you'd see them bury themselves in the evidence for and against a misbehaving priest. You'd also see the judge who tried the priest be the judge who tried the maritime case, and so on. A judge, now not a judge; now this, now that; and so on; but it is a private drama with a certain audience, which is pleasant and profitable."

"So attorneys and advocates are the same thing?" I was a little confused.

"Different," said Steerforth, "the advocates are civil jurists—a doctorate at the university—how else would I understand such a thing. Advocates are hired by attorneys, and there are good ones on both sides." Together, they are a strong and close gang. Anyway, I advise you to go to the doctor's school, David. They are all there to claim their status, if that can satisfy you."

I can forgive Steerforth's joking manner on the matter.I associated a serious, old-fashioned, stately air with that "old, lazy, out-of-the-way corner near St. Paul's Church."Thinking about it in light of that atmosphere, I wasn't offended by my aunt's proposal.She left the proposal to my own weight, and said without hesitation that she had recently gone to her own attorney at the Doctor's College to make a will of me as heir, and therefore made the proposal.

"At any rate, my aunt's step is commendable," said Steerforth, when I told what had happened. "I am delighted, Daisy, that you have entered the Doctor's College."

I decided to do that.I then told Steerforth that I knew from my letter that my aunt had been staying some days at an inn in Lincoln Court Square, and that she was waiting for me there.Because she was convinced that every night in London there was a possibility of fire, she chose such an inn with stone steps and a convenient door in the roof.

We walked happily through the rest of the journey, talking about the Doctor's College from time to time, and anticipating my future as an attorney there. Steerforth made us both laugh a lot by describing all kinds of humorous situations. .At the end of the journey, he came home and agreed to come to see me in two days. I drove to Lincoln Court Square, but my aunt was still up and hadn't had dinner.

Even if I travel the world after we part, we won't be happier when we meet again.My aunt took me in her arms and immediately began to cry, and pretended to smile, saying that if my poor mother was alive, no doubt the poor little fool would be very sad.

"Did you keep Mr. Dick at home, Auntie?" I said. "It makes me very sorry. Oh, Jenny, how are you?"

Jenny greeted me while saluting, and I saw my aunt's face darken.

"I feel sad too," my aunt said, wiping her nose. "I've been worried since the day I came here."

"I believe," said my aunt, laying her hand on the table with a melancholy but determined air, "that Dick's character is not such that he can keep the donkey in check. I think he lacks firm will. I should leave Jenny At home, then I may be at ease. If a donkey stepped into my lawn," my aunt emphasized, "it must be four o'clock this afternoon. For I had a cold feeling from head to toe. , I'm sure it's a donkey."

I tried to comfort her, but she wouldn't listen.

"That must be a donkey," said my aunt, "and the short-tailed donkey that Miss Modeling rode when she came to my house." Miss Murdstone's special name, which my aunt knew. "If the Buddha has a donkey, its courage is more intolerable to me than other donkeys," my aunt said, slapping the table, "it must be the beast!"

Jenny ventured to remind her that perhaps she was asking for trouble, and that she believed that the donkey my aunt said was carrying stones and not ruining the grass, but my aunt would not listen to her.

The dinner was to our liking. Although my aunt's room was on a higher floor, the dinner was still hot when it was served. There was a roast chicken, fried meat, and some vegetables. I didn't miss any of these. up.But my aunt had her own taste for London food and ate very little of it.

"I suppose the poor chicken must have been raised in the cellar," said my aunt, "that never sees the sun except on the battered menu. How I wish the fry was beef, but I don't think so, and here From my point of view, everything except garbage is fake.”

"Don't you believe this chicken is from the country?" I suggested.

"Of course not, a London merchant wouldn't sell anything worthy of the name," said my aunt.

I dare not disagree, but eat a lot.My aunt was very happy about it.After supper, Jenny helped her pull her hair up and put on her nightcap, which was so ingeniously constructed, my aunt said, "in case of fire," and she folded her big coat over her knees, as she was used to warming herself before going to bed.In this way, according to the old rules that have never changed, I prepared a glass of boiling white wine and water for her, and a piece of toast cut into thin strips.So it was just the two of us to spend the evening.My aunt sat opposite me and drank; dipped in wine and water before eating her toast; looked kindly at me from between the brim of her nightcap.

"Hey, Troy," she began, "what do you think of the attorney's plan?"

"I have considered it, my dear aunt, and I have discussed it with Steerforth, and I like the idea very much, very much."

"It's such a joy," said my aunt.

"Just one thing, Auntie."

"I would like to ask, Auntie. It is said that this seems to be a limited job. I need a lot of money to do this kind of work?"

"You go and study," replied my aunt, "for exactly a thousand pounds."

"Then, my dear aunt," I said, leaning closer to my chair, "I am very sorry about that. Such a large sum of money. You have invested a great deal, and treated me well in every way. You have been quite generous. I think there must be some way to have a future without any cost. As long as you have the will and work hard, you can definitely succeed. Don’t you think I can give it a try? You will definitely say that you have the power to spend so much, but with such use Is it justified? You are like my mother, you stop thinking about it, you decide now?"

My aunt finished the slice of bread she was eating, and kept looking at me; then, putting her glass on the hob, and putting her hand on the folded hem, replied:

"Trow, my boy, if I have one thing in my life, it is to make you an honest, sensible, happy man. That's what I want to do, and so is Dick. I want everybody to listen to Dick. Clark's talk on the subject. His words are very subtle and amazing. But no one knows his wisdom except me!"

She paused, took my hand and said:

"Trow, it does us no good to look back, and maybe I should have been better friends with your poor father. Even after your sister Bessie Trowood broke my heart, I and your poor father Poor child, poor mother, perhaps ought to be a closer friend. Perhaps I thought so when you came to see me, a little child, covered in dust and tired of running. From that time to now, Trol You will always be my glory, my happiness and my pride. I have no other thoughts about my money, at least"—here she startled me a little hesitantly, a little confused—"no, nothing else My claim—you are my adopted child. At this age, only you, a kind child, tolerate my eccentric thoughts. You have done more to an old woman who failed to be happy in her youth than she has done to you. It's gone beyond that."

It was the first time I heard my aunt mention her past.There was a quality of magnanimity in the deliberate way in which she mentioned it and put it down in this way, which again increased my respect for her.

"Well, Troy, it's all clear between us," said my aunt. "We needn't talk any more. Give me a kiss, and we'll go to the doctor's house after breakfast to-morrow."

Before bedtime we had a deep talk in front of the fire.My bedroom is on the same floor as my aunt's.That night, as soon as she heard a carriage or cart, she knocked on my door and asked, "Did you hear the fire engine?" So I was disturbed, but towards morning she slept better, and I Also slept better.

About noon we set off for Spenlow-Jorkins & Associates.Another idea my aunt had of London was that everyone she saw was a thief.So she gave me the purse, which contained ten guineas and some silver pieces, for safekeeping.

We stopped for a while at a toy shop in Fleet Street to watch the wooden giants of St. Mary's Stein ring the bells—we timed our way so we could see them ringing at twelve o'clock—and went on from there. Raqite Hill and St. Paul's Church.When we passed the previous place, I suddenly noticed that my aunt had greatly accelerated her pace, and also showed a disturbed expression.At the same time I saw a sullen, ragged man (who had stopped in front of us to look at us), approaching us, following us, and getting close enough to touch her behind.

(End of this chapter)