cranford(克兰弗德)-第2章
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unacknowledged poverty； and this very much acknowledged gentility；
which were not amiss； and which might be introduced into many circles
of society to their great improvement。 For instance； the inhabitants of
Cranford kept early hours； and clattered home in their pattens； under the
guidance of a lantern…bearer； about nine o'clock at night； and the whole
town was abed and asleep by half… past ten。 Moreover； it was considered
〃vulgar〃 （a tremendous word in Cranford） to give anything expensive； in
the way of eatable or drinkable； at the evening entertainments。 Wafer
bread…and…butter and sponge…biscuits were all that the Honourable Mrs
Jamieson gave； and she was sister…in…law to the late Earl of Glenmire；
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although she did practise such 〃elegant economy。〃
〃Elegant economy！〃 How naturally one falls back into the
phraseology of Cranford！ There； economy was always 〃elegant；〃 and
money…spending always 〃vulgar and ostentatious〃； a sort of sour…
grapeism which made us very peaceful and satisfied。 I never shall
forget the dismay felt when a certain Captain Brown came to live at
Cranford； and openly spoke about his being poor … not in a whisper to an
intimate friend； the doors and windows being previously closed； but in
the public street！ in a loud military voice！ alleging his poverty as a
reason for not taking a particular house。 The ladies of Cranford were
already rather moaning over the invasion of their territories by a man
and a gentleman。 He was a half…pay captain； and had obtained some
situation on a neighbouring railroad； which had been vehemently
petitioned against by the little town； and if； in addition to his masculine
gender； and his connection with the obnoxious railroad； he was so
brazen as to talk of being poor … why； then； indeed； he must be sent to
Coventry。 Death was as true and as common as poverty； yet people
never spoke about that； loud out in the streets。 It was a word not to be
mentioned to ears polite。 We had tacitly agreed to ignore that any with
whom we associated on terms of visiting equality could ever be
prevented by poverty from doing anything that they wished。 If we
walked to or from a party； it was because the night was SO fine； or the
air SO refreshing； not because sedan…chairs were expensive。 If we
wore prints； instead of summer silks； it was because we preferred a
washing material； and so on； till we blinded ourselves to the vulgar fact
that we were； all of us； people of very moderate means。 Of course；
then； we did not know what to make of a man who could speak of
poverty as if it was not a disgrace。 Yet； somehow； Captain Brown made
himself respected in Cranford； and was called upon； in spite of all
resolutions to the contrary。 I was surprised to hear his opinions quoted
as authority at a visit which I paid to Cranford about a year after he had
settled in the town。 My own friends had been among the bitterest
opponents of any proposal to visit the Captain and his daughters； only
twelve months before； and now he was even admitted in the tabooed
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hours before twelve。 True； it was to discover the cause of a smoking
chimney； before the fire was lighted； but still Captain Brown walked
upstairs； nothing daunted； spoke in a voice too large for the room； and
joked quite in the way of a tame man about the house。 He had been
blind to all the small slights； and omissions of trivial ceremonies； with
which he had been received。 He had been friendly； though the
Cranford ladies had been cool； he had answered small sarcastic
compliments in good faith； and with his manly frankness had
overpowered all the shrinking which met him as a man who was not
ashamed to be poor。 And； at last； his excellent masculine common
sense； and his facility in devising expedients to overcome domestic
dilemmas； had gained him an extraordinary place as authority among the
Cranford ladies。 He himself went on in his course； as unaware of his
popularity as he had been of the reverse； and I am sure he was startled
one day when he found his advice so highly esteemed as to make some
counsel which he had given in jest to be taken in sober； serious earnest。
It was on this subject： An old lady had an Alderney cow； which she
looked upon as a daughter。 You could not pay the short quarter of an
hour call without being told of the wonderful milk or wonderful
intelligence of this animal。 The whole town knew and kindly regarded
Miss Betsy Barker's Alderney； therefore great was the sympathy and
regret when； in an unguarded moment； the poor cow tumbled into a
lime…pit。 She moaned so loudly that she was soon heard and rescued；
but meanwhile the poor beast had lost most of her hair； and came out
looking naked； cold； and miserable； in a bare skin。 Everybody pitied
the animal； though a few could not restrain their smiles at her droll
appearance。 Miss Betsy Barker absolutely cried with sorrow and
dismay； and it was said she thought of trying a bath of oil。 This
remedy； perhaps； was recommended by some one of the number whose
advice she asked； but the proposal； if ever it was made； was knocked on
the head by Captain Brown's decided 〃Get her a flannel waistcoat and
flannel drawers； ma'am； if you wish to keep her alive。 But my advice is；
kill the poor creature at once。〃
Miss Betsy Barker dried her eyes； and thanked the Captain heartily；
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she set to work； and by…and…by all the town turned out to see the
Alderney meekly going to her pasture； clad in dark grey flannel。 I have
watched her myself many a time。 Do you ever see cows dressed in
grey flannel in London？
Captain Brown had taken a small house on the outskirts of the town；
where he lived with his two daughters。 He must have been upwards of
sixty at the time of the first visit I paid to Cranford after I had left it as a
residence。 But he had a wiry；
