'Oh dear！'I said．'Poor Peggotty will be so sad！''Yes，it's bad luck，'replied Steerforth carelessly．'But people die in this world every minute...
'Oh dear！'I said．'Poor Peggotty will be so sad！'
'Yes，it's bad luck，'replied Steerforth carelessly．'But people die in this world every minute．I'm not afraid of death！I want to live life in my own way，and nobody can stop me！'He threw his head back proudly．I looked into his handsome face，wondering why he was so excited，which was unusual for him．
'Steerforth，I think I'll have to go to Yarmouth myself，'I said．'Perhaps I can help Peggotty at this difficult time．'
Smiling，he put his hands on my shoulders．'I wish I could be as good as you！David，promise me that if anything ever happens to separate us，you'll think of me at my best！Promise me that！'
'Steerforth，you have no best or worst for me，'I answered．'You will always have your place in my heart！'
And as he turned to go，he gave me his hand， and smiled in his old friendly way．That is how I like to remember him，now that I shall never touch his hand again，or see him smile．
When I arrived in Yarmouth，I went straight to Barkis's house．In the sitting－room I found Daniel，Ham and Emily．Ham was standing by the door，while Emily was sobbing in Daniel's arms．None of them seemed surprised to see me．
'Emily's very young，Master David，'explained Daniel．'It's hard for her to accept death．That's why she's crying．Now cheer up，Emily my dear，Ham has come to take you home．what's that？'He bent his grey head down to hear her whispered reply．'You want to stay here with your old uncle？But you should go with Ham—he'll be your husband soon！'
'That's all right，'said Ham．'If it makes Emily happy，it'll make me happy． I'll go home alone．'He went over to Emily and gave her a gentle kiss．She seemed to turn away from him a little．As Ham went out，I went upstairs to see poor Barkis．
He was lying unconscious in bed，looking very pale and ill．Peggotty was sitting beside him．She jumped up and took me delightedly in her arms，just as she used to do．Then she turned to her husband．'Barkis，my dear，'she said almost cheerfully，' here's Master David，who brought us together，you remember？He carried your messages for you． Can you speak to him？'
Barkis lay silently there，not moving．We sat beside him all through that long night．In the early morning， he suddenly opened his eyes，reached out his hand to me，and said clearly，With a pleasant smile，'Barkis is willing！'And then he closed his eyes，and died．
'He was a good man！'said Peggotty，with tears in her eyes．'I shall miss him！'
I was able to help Peggotty with the arrangements for the funeral．Barkis was buried in Blunderstone churchyard，close to my mother and little brother．We discovered that Barkis had saved quite a lot of money，which he left to Peggotty and Daniel．So I knew that Peggotty would not need to work in future．
On the day before the funeral，we all arranged to meet at the old boat．It was my last evening in Yarmouth，as I was re－turning to London the following day．When I arrived，I was surprised to see that Ham and Emily were not there．Peggotty was feeling more cheerful now，and Daniel was talking to her．Just then Ham came to the door．
'Master David，come outside a minute，would you？' he asked．I stepped outside，and Ham shut the door carefully．It was raining heavily，and as we stood on the lonely beach，I noticed how very pale Ham's face was．
'Ham！'I cried．'What's the matter？'
'Master David！'he sobbed wildly．I had never seen such a strong man cry like that before．'It's Emily！I'd have died for her！I love her with all my heart！But she's run away and—worse than that！Oh，how I wish God had saved her from this ruin！'
I shall never fonget his desperate face turned towards me，and the pain in his honest eyes．
'You're educated，Master David！'he continued．'You know how to express yourself！Help me！How can I ever ex－plain to him in there？He loves her even more than I do！'
I saw the door open，and tried to stop Ham speaking，but it was too late．Daniel Peggotty came out，and when he saw us，he seemed to realize immediately what we were talking about．The expression on his face changed in a moment，and he pulled us both back inside．I found myself with a letter in my hand which Ham had given me．
'Read it，sir，'said Daniek，his face pale and trembling and his eyes wild．'Read it slowly，please．'
The room was completely silent as I read aloud：
Dear Ham，
Please， please， forgive me for running away and leaving you．When you see this，I'll be far away．I shall never return to my dear home unless he marries me and brings me back as a lady．Oh，I'm so sorry，and so ashamed！I know this will break your heart，but believe me，I'm not good enough for you！I'm too wicked．Tell Uncle I'll always love him，even if he can never love me again．And I'll always think of you，dear Ham，even if you hate me for what I've done．Forgive me，and goodbye！
Emily
Daniel did not move for a long time after I had finished reading．I took his hand，but he did not notice．Suddenly he appeared to wake up，and said in a low voice，
'Who's the man？I want to know his name．'
Ham looked quickly at me，and I felt a shock run through my whole body．I fell on to a chair and could not speak．
'Don't listen，Master David，'Ham said，hesitating，'we don't blame you for it．'Peggotty put her arm round my neck，but I could not move．'A—gentleman's been here very often recently，'continued Ham in a broken voice，'and—to－day people saw Emily driving off with him in his coach！'
'Tell me！'cried Daniel wildly．'Is his name Steerforth？'
'It is！'replied Ham just as wildly，'and I'm sorry，Master David，but he's the wickedest man I've ever known！'
After a moment Daniel spoke．He looked suddenly much older．'I wish I'd drowned him when I had the chance！But it's too late now．There's no peace for me here while my dear girl is away．I'm going to look for her，and bring her back home．Don't any of you try to stop me！Ham，you must stay here in Yarmouth．Keep a light always burning in the window of this house，so that if the poor girl ever comes back，she can find her way home across the sand．I'm going to London，and France，and all over the world if necessary．I'm prepared to spend my whole life travelling until I find her．If anything happens to me，if I don't come back，tell her I forgive her—tell her my love for her is unchanged！'
And although we all tried hard to persuade him to stay，he refused to listen．He took his coat，hat，bag and stick，and stepped out into the darkness．We watched him walking along the London road，until he disappeared from sight．I often thought of that lonely figure in the next few weeks and months，walking through strange streets in foreign cities，looking for his adopted child．When I thought of him，I remembered his last words to us：If anything happens to me，if I don't come back，tell her forgive her—tell her my love for her is unchanged！
"噢，老天！"我说，"可怜的辟果提该会有多伤心！"
"是的，运气不佳，"斯提福兹满不在乎地说道，"可这个世上每分钟都有人死去。我一点都不怕死！我想以我自己的方式生活，没有人能阻止我！"他桀骜不驯地仰了仰头。我看着他英俊的脸，奇怪他怎么这么激动，激动得有点儿失常。
"斯提福兹，我想我该自己去一趟雅茅斯，"我说，"或许我能在辟果提困难的时候帮她一把。"
他把手搭在我肩上，笑了笑。"真希望我能像你这么好！大卫，答应我，如果有什么事发生使我俩分开，你要多想想我的好处！答应我吧！"
"斯提福兹，对我来说，你身上没有好坏之分，"我回答，"在我心目中永远有你的位置！"
当他转身要走时，他伸出手，以他惯常那种友好的方式笑了笑。这是我记得他的模样，可如今我再不能握他的手，再见不着他笑了。
到达雅茅斯后，我径直来到了巴克斯家。走进客厅，我看见丹尼尔、哈姆和埃米莉都在。哈姆站在门边，埃米莉倒在丹尼尔的臂弯里哭泣。见着我他们谁也不吃惊。
"埃米莉还年轻，大卫少爷，"丹尼尔解释说，"她很难接受死亡。所以她哭了。现在，高兴点，我亲爱的埃米莉，哈姆来接你回家。你说什么？"他低下满是灰发的头，凑近她听她轻声地回答，"你想和你的老叔叔呆在这儿？可你得和哈姆回去——他就要成为你的丈夫了！"
"没关系，"哈姆说，"如果埃米莉高兴，我也就高兴。我可以一个人回家。"他走到埃米莉跟前，轻轻地吻了她一下。她似乎略微回避了一下。哈姆走后，我上楼去看可怜的巴克斯。
他昏睡在床上，脸色苍白，病得不轻。辟果提坐在他身边。她跟以前一样跳起来高兴地拥抱了我。然后她转向她丈夫。"巴克斯，亲爱的，"她几乎是兴奋地说道，"大卫少爷来了，是他使我俩走在一起，记得吗？他把你的口信捎给我。你能跟他说话吗？"
巴克斯静静地躺着，一动不动。我们彻夜守在他身边。第二天一早，他突然睁开眼睛，伸出手握住我，带着高兴的微笑，清楚地说了一句："巴克斯很愿意！"然后就闭上眼睛，死了。
"他是个好人！"辟果提两眼噙着泪，说，"我不会忘了他！"
我帮助辟果提安排了后事。巴克斯葬在布兰德斯通的教堂墓地，离我母亲和小弟弟不远。我们得知巴克斯存有一大笔钱，留给辟果提和丹尼尔。所以，我知道辟果提今后不需要工作了。
葬礼前一天，我们决定在船屋碰头。这是我在雅茅斯的最后一晚，因为我第二天就要回伦敦了。到那儿以后，我很奇怪没有见着哈姆和埃米莉，辟果提情绪好多了，丹尼尔在跟她聊天。这时，哈姆来到门口。
"大卫少爷，请出来一下好吗？"他说。我走了出来，哈姆轻轻地关好门。雨下得很大，当我们俩孤零零地站在海滩上时，我发现哈姆脸色十分苍白。
"哈姆！"我叫道，"出什么事了？"
"大卫少爷！"他失声痛哭。我从未见过这样一个强壮的男子如此伤心地哭过。
"是埃米莉！我情愿为她而死！我全身心地爱她！可她离家出走了——甚至更糟糕！噢，真希望上帝能把她从这场灾难中解救出来！"
我永远忘不了他转向我时脸上那绝望的表情，忘不了他诚实的眼睛里流露出的痛苦。
"你是受过教育的人，大卫少爷！"他继续道，"你知道如何表达自己！帮帮我！我怎么能跟那边的他解释？他甚至比我更爱她！"
我看见门开了，想制止哈姆继续往下说，可已经晚了。丹尼尔.辟果提已经走出来了。他看见我们时似乎立刻意识到我们在说什么。一时间他脸上的表情改变了，他把我俩拉回屋里。我这才发现我手上拿着哈姆刚给我的一封信。
"念念，先生，"丹尼尔说道，他脸色苍白，浑身发颤，目光咄咄逼人，"请念慢一点。"
屋子里一片寂静，我开始念道：
亲爱的哈姆：
请，请你原谅，我离开家，离开你。你读到此信时，我已经在很远的地方了，我将不再回我亲爱的家，除非他娶了我并以夫人的身份把我带回家。噢，真是很对不起，我非常惭愧！我知道这会伤透你的心，但相信我，我配不上你！我太卑贱了。告诉叔叔我会永远爱他，即便他永不再爱我。我会永远记得你，亲爱的哈姆，即便你恨我的所作所为。原谅我，再见！
埃米莉
我读完信后，丹尼尔很长时间一动不动。我握住他的手，他没有反应。突然他像是刚苏醒似地低声问道：
"那个男人是谁？我想知道他的名字。"
哈姆很快看了我一眼，我感觉浑身一阵颤栗，我跌坐在椅子上，说不出话来。
"你可以不听，
大卫少爷。"哈姆迟疑地说道，"我们不会怪你的。"辟果提把手臂搭在我脖子上，可我动弹不了。"一位——先生最近总在这儿出现。"哈姆断断续续地继续道，"然后——今天，有人看见埃米莉坐在他的马车上走了！"
"告诉我！"丹尼尔疯狂地叫起来，"他的名字是斯提福兹？"
"是的！"哈姆同样疯狂地回答，"很抱歉，
大卫少爷，可他是我所知道的最为卑劣的人！"
过了一会儿，丹尼尔说话了，他突然像是苍老了许多。"要是有机会我会溺死他！但现在一切都晚了！我亲爱的孩子不在这儿了，我是不会安宁的。我要去找她，把她带回家。你们谁也别拦我！哈姆，你必须守在雅茅斯。让屋子窗户上永远亮一盏灯，这样，可怜的孩子一旦回来，也好让她穿过沙滩找到回家的路。我要去伦敦、法国，以至全世界，如果必要的话。要准备一辈子流浪下去，直到我找到她。要是我出了什么事，要是我回不来了，告诉她我原谅她——告诉她我对她的爱永远不变！"
虽然我们大家都竭力劝他不要去，但他听不进去。他拿起外套、帽子、背包和手杖，走出屋子，踏进夜色之中。我们目送他走上去往伦敦的路，直到看不见为止。在此后的几周直至几个月中，我时常想起这个孤独的身影，想象他走上异乡陌生的街头，寻找他的养女。想到他我就记起他跟我们说的最后几句话：要是我出了什么事，要是我回不来了，告诉她我原谅她——告诉她我对她的爱永远不变！
原文章地址是：http://www.cuyoo.com/html/xiaoshuoyuedu/daweikeboweier/2009/0329/2529.html
