David Copperfield

Chapter 70 Mr. Micawber's Challenge (2)
Chapter 28 Mr. Micawber's Challenge (2)
"Then," said Mr. Micawber, "if my friend Copperfield will excuse me from being worldly, and let me be free, I will do it for my friend Copperfield and myself in our younger days. , have a toast to those days when we fought side by side in the world. Speaking of my relationship with Copperfield, I can use the sentence we sang together before to describe——

'We walked the hills together,

Pick that beautiful daisy together. '

Mr Micawber said in his old sonorous voice, with indescribable, eloquent air: "What a daisy is I don't know, but I do know that Copperfield and I used to call that flower Fold it in your hand, if that can be done."

Mr. Micawber, at that moment, drank a glass of wine.We all did as well.Traddles was evidently bewildered as to how long ago Mr. Micawber and I had been comrades in arms.

"Ha!" said Mr. Micawber, coughing and clearing his throat, and being warmed by the wine and the fire. "Another drink, my dear?"

Mrs. Micawber said only a little more.But we filled her glass instead.

"As there is no stranger here, Mr. Copperfield," said Mrs. Micawber, sipping her rum, "Mr. Traddles is a part of our family life, and I should very much like to know , what do you think of Mr. Micawber's future, because of such a business as grain," said Mrs. Micawber methodically, "I have said that to Mr. Micawber more than once, and it may be regarded as respectable. What people do, but the profit is too small. Two shillings and ninepence in two weeks' work, no matter how low our original intention, it is not a good deal."

We all fully agree with that.

"So," said Mrs. Micawber, wise and conceited, "then let me ask myself this question: If grain is a bad business, what is it? Is coal reliable? Not at all." Reliable. We tried that too, on the advice of my mother's family. But it turned out that this attempt at distraction was wrong."

Mr. Micawber leaned back in his chair, put his hands in his pockets, and squinted at us sideways, and nodded to us, as if to say that it was so, and could not be more plainly stated.

"Since the grain and coal trades," said Mrs. Micawber well-founded, "are equally unreliable, it is natural, Mr. Copperfield, for us to have a look around society, and to rely on Mr. Micawber's What can I do to make a difference? I have come to the conclusion that all commissions must be ruled out, because commissions are unreliable. For a person with an extraordinary personality like Mr. Micawber, it is most suitable. The industry should be a safe business, and I have no doubts about this."

Traddles and I both said in a sympathetic murmur that this great discovery must be worthy of Mr. Micawber, and he deserved it.

"To tell you the truth, my dear Mr. Copperfield," said Mrs. Micawber, "I have long thought that the business of brewing was particularly suitable for Mr. Micawber. Look at Buckley— Pockins & Co.! Look at Truman, Hambury, Buxton & Co.! From what I know of him, I predict that Mr. Micawber will build on that broad base in the future. ; and, I hear, the income is great--great! But if Mr. Micawber can't break into those institutions--they don't answer his letters when he goes even as a subordinate. Well, if that's the case, then what's the use of talking? It's no use, I'm sure, with Mr. Micawber's manner—"

"Hmph! Really, my dear?" put in Mr. Micawber.

"Don't interrupt, my dear," said Mrs. Micawber, putting her brown glove in his hand, "I think, Mr. Copperfield, that Mr. Micawber's manners are so well suited to the banking business that I might even do it myself. I said that if there is a deposit, the demeanor of Mr. Micawber on behalf of that bank will certainly inspire confidence and deepen the relationship. But if the banks refuse to use Mr. Micawber's talents, or use insolence If we accept Mr. Micawber's intention of volunteering to serve them, then what's the use of us talking nonsense about this idea? Well, if they will lend money to Mr. Micawber, they can set up such an institution. But if they won't put the money into Mr. Micawber's hands--they won't--what's the point? ? I still have to say, we are not further than before."

I shook my head, and said, "It's no use at all." Traddles also shook his head, and said, "It's no use at all."

"What do I infer from this?" continued Mrs. Micawber, still making the matter plain. "My dear Mr. Copperfield, what is my helpless hope? If I said, obviously we ought to live on, am I right in saying that?"

I replied, "Yes!" and Traddles said, "Exactly!" and I added afterwards, in a separate philosopher's manner, that a man must die if he cannot live.

"That's right," went on Mrs. Micawber. "It's true, indeed, my dear Copperfield, that we cannot live without something quite different from what we have now. At present I'm convinced of it myself, and I've pointed it out to Micawber, that we can't expect opportunity to come by itself. We should help it to come, more or less. I may be wrong, but that's what I've made up my mind about .”

Traddles and I both applauded this remark greatly.

"Well," said Mrs. Micawber, "what shall I say, then? On the one hand, Mr. Micawber has all the qualifications—great talent—"

"Yes, my love?" said Mr. Micawber.

"My dear, please let me finish. On the one hand, Mr. Micawber has every qualification and great talent--very genius, I should say, but that may be my wife's prejudice-- "

"It's not prejudice," Traddles and I murmured.

"But on the other hand, Mr. Micawber does not have a suitable position or occupation. Who is responsible for that? It is obvious that society should bear it. Then I will publish such a shameful fact that, Let everybody know. Proclaim boldly to society that it should rectify the fact. It seems to me, dear Mr. Copperfield," Mrs. Micawber emphasized, "that what Mr. Micawber must do is Send a letter of challenge to the society and see who dares to take up the challenge. If anyone dares, let him come out immediately."

I ventured to ask Mrs. Micawber how the matter should be done.

"Advertise in the papers," said Mrs. Micawber, "and I think that to do himself as well as his family, I might even say that to do justice to the society which has always neglected him, Mr. Micawber must Advertise in all the newspapers, and write clearly and clearly that he is such a person and has such qualifications. Finally, say that, now, give me a profitable position and hire me. Reply Send (postage prepaid) Camden District Post Office, Wilkin Micawber."

"Advertising is expensive," I said dubiously.

"Indeed!" said Mrs. Micawber, still maintaining her methodical air. "Yes, my dear Mr. Copperfield! I have said the same thing to Mr. Micawber. For that reason alone, I It seemed to Mr. Micawber that (as I have already said, in order to do himself, his family, and society) a sum of money--by promissory notes first."

Mr. Micawber leaned back in his chair, fiddling with his legless spectacles, and looking up at the ceiling.I noticed, however, that he was also keeping an eye on Traddles, who was watching the fire.

"If no one of my natal family would take pity on us, and give money to guarantee that promissory note—I believe there is a better commercial term for what I mean—"

Still staring at the ceiling, Mr. Micawber enlightened: "Discount."

"Discount that note," said Mrs. Micawber. "I mean, Mr. Micawber should go to town and put that note in the money market for as much discount as he can get. If the money market Mr. Micawber must make a great loss in the conscience of those on the Internet. I firmly regard this money as an investment. I also persuade Mr. Micawber to believe that I If so, see it as a guaranteed profitable activity, and be determined to accept any sacrifice."

It seemed to me (and I did not know why myself) that it was only a sacrificial obstinacy on Mrs. Micawber's part.I said so in a low voice, and Traddles, who still had his eyes on the fire, repeated in a low voice.

"I don't want to," Mrs. Micawber drank a large bowl of wine, pulled the scarf over her shoulders, and wanted to retreat to my bedroom, "I don't want to talk about Mr. Micawber The talk of finances has dragged on too long. At your fireside, dear Mr. Copperfield, and in the presence of Mr. Traddles, who, though not an old friend of ours like you, may be called So complete a family that I cannot help telling the course which I advised Mr. Micawber to take. The time has come, I think, for Mr. Micawber to recover - I would say - to develop. It has arrived. I think that the way I just said is the way he wants to achieve his goal. I am only a woman myself, and it is generally believed that a man's judgment is more appropriate in discussing such topics, but I still can't Forget, when I was living with my father and mother, my father often said this: "Although Enma's body is weak, she has the same views on an issue as anyone else." My father was a little too partial to me , I understand this very well. But he is more or less a sensible person, this is an undeniable fact whether I judge it as a daughter or by the way I see things."

(End of this chapter)