David Copperfield

Chapter 91 The Wanderer

Chapter 40 Wanderer

We talked about it that night back in Buckingham Street after the family turmoil.My aunt missed them very much, and she walked up and down the house for a long time with her arms folded.Mr. Dick and I watched her in silence.

When Mr. Dick went to rest, and my aunt and I were alone in the house, I began to write to the two old ladies.At this time, my aunt was tired from walking, so she sat down and looked at me. "I'm calm," she says, "but I'm a little restless and worried!"

In the morning my aunt read my letter to the two old ladies, and she agreed.I mailed the letter, and I waited for a reply.

One snowy night a week later, as I was walking through St. Martin's Church Lane, I saw a woman's face around the corner.I think I've seen her somewhere.

On the steps of the church, I saw a stooped figure, and was surprised to find that it was Mr. Peggotty.

All at once I remembered that the woman was Martha, to whom Emily had given money.

We shake hands.

"Master Wei!" he said, "Nice to see you. Nice to meet you!"

"Hello, old friend!" I said.

"I was going to see you, master," said he, "but your aunt lives with you—I fear it's getting late. I ought to see you before I leave early tomorrow morning, master."

"Going again?" I said.

"Yes," he said, "to-morrow."

"Where did you want to go?" I asked him.

He said: "Go to a place to stay for a night."

We entered a tavern with a burning fire.

"Master Wei," he said, "I want to tell you everything I've heard. Because I've been to many places."

His expression was serious.

"When she was little," he said, "she used to tell me a lot about the sea. I reckon her father was drowned, maybe she hoped—he floated to the point where the flowers bloomed and the land was bright. place."

"It's probably a childish fantasy," I said.

"When she—disappeared," said Mr. Peggotty, "I thought he might have taken her to those places. When we saw his mother, I confirmed my guess."

Then the door moved, and a hand came in and stuck it there.

"I found a powerful Englishman," said Mr. Peggotty, "and I told him that I was looking for my niece. He gave me the papers necessary for my passage—how much I owe him! Then I left France."

"Are you alone?" I said.

"Mostly," he answered, "sometimes in a wagon; sometimes in an empty carriage."

I was able to understand the situation at that time from his conversation.

"Everywhere I go," he said, "I go to an inn, expecting someone who knows English, and it usually doesn't work. So I tell them about me, and they tell me where to find a nice guy, I will stay there and watch people like her come in and out."

Outside the door is Martha.I could see her face very clearly.I was afraid that he would also see her when he turned his head.

"Some well-meaning people used to put their little ones—daughters especially," said Mr. Peggotty, "on my knees, as if they were my children."

He wept bitterly.I put my hand on his. "Thank you, master," he said, "please rest assured."

After a while, he went on to tell his story.

"Finally, I came to the sea. It was easy for me to try to get to Italy. I got there, wandering as before, and people treated me as well. A man who knew his servant saw all three of them. In Switzerland, and tell me their exact address. Master Wei, I am traveling day and night to Switzerland. At the same time thinking, what should I do when I see her?"

"I have always trusted her," said Mr. Peggotty, "only to have her look at my face, and hear my voice—just to stand before her, and if she had been a lady, she would have under my feet! I know this well. I have dreamed many times of her calling: 'Uncle!' and I say: 'Emily, dear, I forgive you and take you home!'"

"I'm thinking only of Emily now. I don't think she'll ever leave me again. Put her in the country dress I bought her, and throw away what she was wearing—and then we'll come back together, and that's all I think about. I wouldn't look at him. But I was too late, and they had gone away, and I couldn't find out where they were. I had to look around and go home."

"How long have you been back?" I asked.

"For four days," said Mr. Peggotty, "I came to the old ship after dark, and found the faithful Mrs. Gummidge sitting by the fire, as promised. I never thought that the old ship The boat will become unfamiliar!"

He took out a paper bag and put it on the table.

"This first letter," he said, choosing one of them, "came within a week of my departure. A check for fifty pounds, left outside the door during the night. I saw her handwriting."

"Here is a letter to Mrs. Gummidge from two or three months ago," said he, opening another. "Read it, sir."

"What will you think when you see this letter from my guilty hand! But, for the sake of my uncle's kindness, be kind to me and have mercy on me, please tell me how he is now, I will Sincerely beg you, be merciful and merciful to me, and tell me what happened to him. But hear my pain, and write to me a little about my uncle whom I shall never see again in my life!"

If your heart is not moved for me--without mercy, before you decide to refuse my poor entreaty, ask my most sorry him whom I would have been his wife! Tell him only generously, Instead of others, tell him that if I am dying, I will use my last words and breath to pray for him and my uncle!"

The letter contained five pounds and some change.He folded it as it was.The letter also specifies the address for return letters.But it is still difficult to make a definite judgment on where she is hiding.

"Have you written any reply?" I asked Mr. Peggotty.

He replied: "Master, Ham typed a draft for her and asked her to copy a copy. They told Emily that I went out to find her, and what I said before I left."

"Is that another letter in your hand?" I asked.

"No, it's money, sir," said Mr Peggotty, "you see, ten pounds, marked: 'From a faithful friend,' as it was the first time. But this time it came from the post office the day before yesterday. Yes. I'm going to find her according to the postmark on the letter."

That postmark is a small town on the Rhine.

I asked him how Ham was.

"He worked as hard as he could," he said. "He had a great reputation around there, and he was never seen complaining. But his heart was broken."

"Poor man."

"It seems, Master Wei," said Mr. Peggotty, "that he doesn't care about anything anymore, that he is where there is danger."

He sorted out those letters, put them in the original paper bag, and sent them back to his arms.The people outside the door disappeared.

"Okay!" he said, "I feel much better after seeing you tonight, Master Wei, and I'm leaving early tomorrow morning."

We shook hands with each other before leaving.

"If I had traveled ten thousand miles," said he, "I would have put the money before him. I shall be satisfied if I can do this and find my Emily. Her uncle till the last hour of his life Still looking for her."

I walked him across Westminster Bridge and said goodbye to him on the banks of Zurich.

(End of this chapter)