David Copperfield

Chapter 90 Wakefield and Shipp (2)
Chapter 39 Wakefield and Heep (2)
"No!" he said, "I can't."

I said: "What can I mean but to think of Miss Wakefield as a dear sister?"

"Master Copperfield," said he, "I wonder if you will."

I said: "Because Miss Wakefield—"

"My Agnes!" he cried, "please call her Agnes!"

"For Agnes Wakefield's sake—God bless her!"

"Thank you, sir!" he interrupted.

"In any other case, I'd rather tell—Jack Catch than you."

"Tell to whom, sir?" Yulia said.

"Executioner," I answered, "I am engaged to another young lady. That should please you."

"Really?" Julia asked.

Then he squeezed my hand tightly.

"Master Copperfield," said he, "since it has come to pass, I will send mother away at once. I will certainly give you a chance. But you have never treated me as an equal. I know you have never liked me!"

I was pretty much forced to go hand in hand with him.

"Let's go back," said Yulia, the moon had come out. "

I said, "I'm sure Agnes Wakefield is like the moon, beyond you and your hopes!"

"She's quiet, isn't she?" said Julia. "So quiet! Then, in truth, Master Copperfield, you don't like me. I'm not surprised at all. You think me mean?"

"I don't like it when people think they're mean," I replied, "nor do they think they're anything else."

"Come on!" Yulia said. "Am I not clear? My father and I were both in boys' schools, and my mother was adopted by a charity. We are to be humble to others, to take off our hats, to bow; Remember your position and be humble before your superiors. My father and I also received the squad leader's medal for being humble. My father was always known for his behavior in front of superiors, so he was promoted. 'Be humble, Yulia,' my father said to me, 'You're on your way'."

For the first time, I realized that this repulsive mantra of false humility was born in the Heep family.

"When I was young," said Yulia, "I experienced humility and practiced it. I tolerated humiliation. Intellectually, I stayed at the level of humility. When you proposed to teach me Latin, I actually knew better than you. Much. 'People like to be better than you,' said the father. Hitherto I have been very low, Master Copperfield, but I have some power!"

I have always acknowledged his meanness and treachery.But I now understand that this kind of psychology was produced in the long-term depression in the early years.

We walked back together and didn't talk anymore.

He talked a lot at dinner, he asked his mother if he should get married, and stared at Agnes, I wanted to knock him down.

He was even more daring when it was just the three of us men left.He drank little, but he was intoxicated by arrogance.

I noticed that he was trying to induce Mr. Wakefield to drink, so I allowed myself only one drink, and suggested we go to her.But Yulia snatched the head.

"We rarely see this visitor, sir," he said to Mr. Wakefield. "I propose to welcome you with a glass or two, if you have no objection. Your honor, Mr. Copperfield." Cheers to health and happiness!"

"My friend," said Julia, "may I take the liberty of asking you to lead us to a toast for Copperfield's kin!"

"I'd also like to drink to someone who is, in my eyes, the holiest of that sex."

I saw him put down his glass and retreat to the armchair.

"I am lowly and unworthy to wish her health," Yulia continued. "I admire and adore her."

I felt that the mental torture her father suffered was more terrible than the physical pain.

"Agnes," said Yulia, "is the holiest of her sexes. Can I say that among my friends? It is a pride to be her father, but to be her husband—"

Her father gave a cry of exasperation and stood up.

"What's the matter?" Julia said, "Mr. Wakefield, are you not crazy? If I say, I want your Agnes, I have more qualifications than others!"

I hugged Mr. Wickfield, and begged him to be calm, as he was struggling madly.The face was also distorted - it looked horrific.

I urged him to think about Agnes, how Agnes and I had grown up together, how I respected and loved her, how she had made him proud and happy.I tried to bring her image to him as much as possible.Maybe my words had some effect, maybe he had finished venting, he gradually calmed down, and finally said: "I know, Trowood! But look at him!"

He pointed at Yulia, who had miscalculated.

"Look at how he abused me," he said. "To him, I gave up my name and my reputation, my tranquility, my family."

"I've saved this for you," Julia said in horror, "Mr. Wakefield. If I can't accept all this, can I go back? It won't do any harm!"

"I value pure personal ends," said Mr. Wakefield, "and I am content to have him partner with me in the interest of gain. But look what he has become—"

"Copperfield, you'd better dissuade him," cried Julia, "that he must not say what he afterwards regrets and which you should not have heard!"

"I can say anything!" cried Wakefield, "and if I am at your disposal, why shouldn't it be someone else?"

"Listen!" Yulia warned me. "As a friend you should shut him up. Don't you see me trying to be as humble as possible? I'm sorry, but I've gone too far. What else do you want, sir?" "

"Trouwood," said Mr. Wickfield, "what a ruin I have become now! I have gone down a dreadful downhill, and my weakness has ruined me, and I have brought upon my dear Man, I am tormented by my own sorrow, abandon this decadent me!"

He wept helplessly.Yulia came out from his corner.

"What have I done in my stupor," said Mr. Wakefield, "he knows perfectly well," he said, pointing to Julia, "that he is always giving me bad advice. I have nothing more to say up!"

"You don't have to say that," Yulia said. "You wouldn't have said it if you hadn't been drinking too much. If I say more than I mean, what does it matter?"

The door opened and Agnes said, "Daddy, you're not feeling well. Come with me!" They went out together.I could see in her eyes that she knew what was going on.

"I did not expect him to lose his temper so much, Master Copperfield," said Julia, "but I shall be able to make peace with him to-morrow."

I ignored him, went straight upstairs, picked up a book and read it, but didn't know what it was about.Agnes then touched me.

"You're leaving early tomorrow morning, let's say goodbye!"

She has cried.But her face was calm.

"God bless you!" she said.

"Agnes!" I replied, "I understand you don't want to talk about tonight—but there's nothing you can do?"

"Able to depend on God!" she replied.

"I—you relieved me of my troubles, can't I do anything?"

"You have relieved my troubles," she answered, "There is nothing more to do, Trowood."

"Agnes!" I said, "the benevolence, the determination, all the nobility in which you are rich, I lack—you don't disregard yourself for a misunderstood filial piety, do you, Agnes?"

Excited now, she took a step back.

"Say you won't, Agnes! Think of your precious heart, your precious love!"

Many years later, I still see her laughing and saying that she didn't worry about herself at all - and then saying goodbye to me as a brother and going away!

Yulia appeared while I was missing her on my bicycle.

"Copperfield!" said he, "I am pleased to tell you that there is no quarrel between us. We are reconciled. I am a lowly man, but he is of use to him. He knows what is at stake!"

I was forced to say, "I'm glad you apologized."

Julia said, "What's an apology? You picked an unripe pear, Master Copperfield?"

"I think so," I replied.

"I made it last night," Yulia said, "but it has to be cooked. I can wait!"

When the driver came up, he went down.

(End of this chapter)