David Copperfield

Chapter 74 Returning to the Steerforth House (2)
Chapter 29 Returning to the Steerforth House (2)
"It's become second nature," said Mrs Steerforth without showing any sign of displeasure, "but I remember--I think you must remember--that was not the way you were before, Lo. Sarah. You were less skeptical in your ways back then, and more open and honest."

"I think your words are correct," she replied, "so that a person's bad habits develop without knowing it! Is it really like that? Not as suspicious as now, and can be open and honest? Well, that's true Yes. I should think about how I can become who I used to be.”

"I wish you could," said Mrs Steerforth, smiling.

"Oh, I do want that, you know," she echoed. "I'm going to learn to be honest, but with whom—let me think—with James!"

"You would learn frankness from him, Rosa," Mrs. Steerforth answered her quickly--for there was always a sarcasm in Rosa's words, though she said them as this time--forever. The most unnatural attitude in the world—"This is really nice."

"I think that's right," she replied, with unnatural excitement. "If I believe in anything, you know, of course I think that's right."

Mrs Steerforth regretted her impatience, I thought, for she then said in an amiable tone:

"Well, my dear Rosa, you haven't told us what you want to know."

"Try to find out what?" she replied, speaking with embarrassment. "Oh, I just want to find out whether people who are similar in moral character are—is that the right way to say it?"

"There is nothing inappropriate," said Steerforth.

"Thank you—if any great difference of opinion arises between two persons who are similar in moral character to each other, will not resentment be more likely to arise, and the rift more likely to run deep, than between persons of different temperament? "

"I guess I think it's right," said Steerforth.

"You think so?" she echoed. "My dear! Suppose, then, to give an example, say--anything improbable may be assumed--say, that something happened between you and your mother. A heated argument—"

"Dear Rosa," interrupted Mrs. Steerforth, with a good-natured smile, "find another hypothesis! James and I are aware of our mutual responsibilities, and thank God there will be no such thing. of."

"Oh!" said Miss Dartle, nodding thoughtfully, "that's all very well. Would that avoid disagreement? Ha, of course. It does. Well, I'm foolish enough to use such an analogy. How nice it is to avoid disagreements by doing your duty! So congratulations to you all!"

There is also a little scene involving Miss Dartle which I should never omit.Because, later, when all the irreparable past is clearly revealed, I will definitely think of this scene.In fact, and especially since this period, Steerforth's triumphant knack for turning this paranoid, surly eccentric into a jovial companion is no accident. something unexpected.Her struggle with his delightful skill--I thought, that delightful nature--was not at all unexpected to me.Because I know that she is sometimes stubborn and suspicious.By the end, I saw her visage and attitude slowly change.I saw her looking at him with increasing admiration; I saw her growing weaker and ever more angry, as if reproaching herself for failing, trying to resist his natural enchanting power; Seeing her sharp eyes softened.Her face became very gentle, and I was no longer afraid of her as I used to be all the time. We all sat around the fire together, talking and laughing together, as if we were all children, and there was no bondage at all. .

Whether it was because we sat too long in the dining room, or because Steerforth was determined not to lose the position he had acquired, I don't know, but we were in the dining room less than five minutes after Rosa left.As we came to the drawing-room door, Steerforth said softly to me: "She's playing the harp there. I don't think anyone but my mother has heard her play it these three years." Said so with a peculiar smile that disappears immediately.We went into the house and saw her there alone.

"Don't get up," said Steerforth (she was already on her feet), "my dear Rosa, don't do that. Just do yourself a favor this time, and sing us an Irish song."

"How did you come to like Irish songs?" she replied.

"Very much!" said Steerforth. "I like them more than any other song. This Daisy here loves music too. Give me an Irish song, Rosa!"

He was not near her, nor the chair she had sat in, but just sat there by the harp.She stood for a moment by the harp, and in a very strange manner, stroking it with her right hand, made a movement of playing it, but did not make it sound.At last she sat down, drew the harp suddenly to her, and began to sing as she played.

I knew that there was something in her playing and in her voice that made me listen to it anyway, and I just felt that this song was the most special song I had ever heard or imagined in my life. Feeling familiar means that there is really an element of frightening in it.It was as if the song had been bursting out of her strong feelings.Her feelings were not fully expressed in her low voice, and they curled up again when all was silent.I was stunned when she leaned against the harp again and touched it with her right hand, but did not make any sound from it.

It was only then that I was awakened from my trance--Steerforth rose from his seat, approached her, put his arms around her cheerfully, and said: "There, Lo We're going to love each other from now on, Sarah!" She hit him, threw him away with wild-cat fury, and rushed out of the house.

"What's the matter with Rosa?" asked Mrs. Steerforth, coming in.

"She was an angel for a little while, mother," replied Steerforth, "and so, on the principle of invincibility, she went immediately to the opposite extreme."

"You have to be careful and don't mess with her, James. Her temper has changed, remember."

Rosa never came back, and no one said anything about her until I went to say good night at Steerforth's house.Steerforth laughed at her then, and asked me if I had ever seen such a ferocious and unpredictable little thing.

Expressing as much surprise as I could, I asked him if he could guess why she was suddenly so angry.

"Oh, genius knows," said Steerforth, "what you will--you can say anything or say nothing. She takes everything, including herself. Come and sharpen everything. She's a horny thing, and needs to be handled very seriously. She's always dangerous. Good night!"

"Good-night!" said I. "My dear Steerforth! I shall be leaving in the morning before you wake up. Good-night!"

He didn't want to let me go, he stretched out his arms as he had done in my room, and put his hand on one of my shoulders.

"Daisy," he said with a smile, "although this name is not given to you by your godfather and godmother, but I like to call you by this name very much-I am willing, I am willing, you can give me one like this name!"

"Huh, what's wrong with that?" I said.

"Daisy, if anything should ever separate us, you must miss me at my best. Well, here we go. If anything should ever separate us, you must miss me at my best! "

"In my eyes, Steerforth, you have no good side," I said, "nor the ugliest. You will always be equally adored and cherished in my heart."

For once I had wronged him (although it was only an informed thought, and I was deeply remorseful), and my words were on my lips, and I wanted to speak honestly what I had said.If I hadn't worried that I would have to betray Agnes' friendship, if I hadn't figured out how to ask the question to avoid the danger above, the words would have slipped out before he said "God bless you, Daisy, goodbye!" up.When I was so confused, my words did not come out.So we shook hands and left.

The next morning, I dressed as quietly as I could, and looked into his room.He slept soundly, lying comfortably with his head on his arm the way I used to do in school.

The time came and passed so quickly that I was almost surprised that nothing disturbed his sleep when I looked at him.But he fell asleep as I used to see him at school; then, in this quiet hour, I left him.

Oh God forgive you, Steerforth! Never touch that hand that is negative in love and friendship again.forever and ever!
(End of this chapter)