05-02-大卫·科波菲尔 [63]
Switzerland， and received a packet of letters that had been waiting for me． The first one I opened was from Agnes．She gave me no advice，but she told me simply that she trusted me to find a purpose in life，and that she would always be proud of me， and love me as a sister．
As the light died out of the sky，and I watched the colour of the snow on the mountain tops change， I felt I was waking from my unhappy dream， and I began to understand how much I loved Agnes．She had been the one who had always guided and supported me， and now I realized I needed her love for the rest of my life． Had falling in love with Dora been a mistake？We had both been very young， it is true． I had always called Agnes sister， and now perhaps I no longer had the right to ask whether her love for me was more than sisterly．
However， I decided to return， and travelled home to England， after three years of absence．I was delighted to find that Traddles had married his Sophy， and was doing well as a lawyer． My aunt had moved back to her old Dover house， and was living happily there with Mr Dick and Peggotty． When I visited my aunt， I took the opportunity of asking her about Agnes.
‘Has she—has she any young man she'd like to marry？’ I asked as lightly as possible．
My aunt looked carefully at me as she replied，‘ I suspect she has， David． She's never mentioned it to me， but I think—I feel sure she's going to marry soon．’
I was firm with myself and did not show my feelings． I borrowed a horse and rode to Canterbury to ask Agnes myself．When I saw that beautiful， gentle face again， I knew I had come home． I knew how dear she was to me， and would always be．
‘ Agnes，’I said，‘ I am so grateful to you， for making me what I am ， for helping me to be good！ But I think you have a secret． Let me share it， Agnes， as your brother！ Tell me whom you love！’
Agnes turned away from me and burst into tears． Somehow these tears did not sadden me， but gave me hope．‘ My dear Agnes！Don't cry！’
‘David， leave me！ I can't talk about it now！’ she sobbed．
‘ Agnes， you're dearer to me than anything in the world．Don't think I'll be jealous of any man you choose to marry． I only want you to be happy！’
She had stopped crying now and was calmer．‘ If I have a secret， David， it is—not a new one． It has been my secret—for a long time！’
I was wild with hope．‘ Not a new one’！ Did she mean…？‘Dearest Agnes！ Dare I hope to call you more than a sister！’She was in my arms and sobbing again， but this time with happiness.‘ I went away， Agnes， loving you！I returned home， loving you！’
We held each other for some time， sure now of each other's love．
‘ There is something I must tell you， David，’ she said gently，looking calmly into my face．‘I have loved you all my life！’ She added，‘ And something else—before our sweet Dora died， she asked me—can you guess—to fill the empty place in your heart．’ And Agnes laid her head on my shoulder， and cried． And I cried with her， although we were both so happy．
My story has almost come to an end． I have published several books now， and I am a well-known writer．Agnes and I have been married for twenty years， and live in perfect happiness，with our children around us． We have heard from Daniel Peggotty in Australia． He and Emily have made friends there and are happy．Mr Micawber has become an important figure in a large Australian town， and his family are quite used to living there． My aunt， Mr Dick and Peggotty are all white-haired and old now， but still very fit， and they love playing with our children whenever they can． My old friend Traddles has two sons of his own， and will soon become a judge．
When I think of my friends and family， Agnes's lovely face shines above them all． She
As the light died out of the sky，and I watched the colour of the snow on the mountain tops change， I felt I was waking from my unhappy dream， and I began to understand how much I loved Agnes．She had been the one who had always guided and supported me， and now I realized I needed her love for the rest of my life． Had falling in love with Dora been a mistake？We had both been very young， it is true． I had always called Agnes sister， and now perhaps I no longer had the right to ask whether her love for me was more than sisterly．
However， I decided to return， and travelled home to England， after three years of absence．I was delighted to find that Traddles had married his Sophy， and was doing well as a lawyer． My aunt had moved back to her old Dover house， and was living happily there with Mr Dick and Peggotty． When I visited my aunt， I took the opportunity of asking her about Agnes.
‘Has she—has she any young man she'd like to marry？’ I asked as lightly as possible．
My aunt looked carefully at me as she replied，‘ I suspect she has， David． She's never mentioned it to me， but I think—I feel sure she's going to marry soon．’
I was firm with myself and did not show my feelings． I borrowed a horse and rode to Canterbury to ask Agnes myself．When I saw that beautiful， gentle face again， I knew I had come home． I knew how dear she was to me， and would always be．
‘ Agnes，’I said，‘ I am so grateful to you， for making me what I am ， for helping me to be good！ But I think you have a secret． Let me share it， Agnes， as your brother！ Tell me whom you love！’
Agnes turned away from me and burst into tears． Somehow these tears did not sadden me， but gave me hope．‘ My dear Agnes！Don't cry！’
‘David， leave me！ I can't talk about it now！’ she sobbed．
‘ Agnes， you're dearer to me than anything in the world．Don't think I'll be jealous of any man you choose to marry． I only want you to be happy！’
She had stopped crying now and was calmer．‘ If I have a secret， David， it is—not a new one． It has been my secret—for a long time！’
I was wild with hope．‘ Not a new one’！ Did she mean…？‘Dearest Agnes！ Dare I hope to call you more than a sister！’She was in my arms and sobbing again， but this time with happiness.‘ I went away， Agnes， loving you！I returned home， loving you！’
We held each other for some time， sure now of each other's love．
‘ There is something I must tell you， David，’ she said gently，looking calmly into my face．‘I have loved you all my life！’ She added，‘ And something else—before our sweet Dora died， she asked me—can you guess—to fill the empty place in your heart．’ And Agnes laid her head on my shoulder， and cried． And I cried with her， although we were both so happy．
My story has almost come to an end． I have published several books now， and I am a well-known writer．Agnes and I have been married for twenty years， and live in perfect happiness，with our children around us． We have heard from Daniel Peggotty in Australia． He and Emily have made friends there and are happy．Mr Micawber has become an important figure in a large Australian town， and his family are quite used to living there． My aunt， Mr Dick and Peggotty are all white-haired and old now， but still very fit， and they love playing with our children whenever they can． My old friend Traddles has two sons of his own， and will soon become a judge．
When I think of my friends and family， Agnes's lovely face shines above them all． She