cranford(克兰弗德)-第20章
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members of Parliament。 The rector sealed his epistles with an immense
coat of arms； and showed by the care with which he had performed this
ceremony that he expected they should be cut open； not broken by any
thoughtless or impatient hand。 Now； Miss Jenkyns's letters were of a
later date in form and writing。 She wrote on the square sheet which we
have learned to call old…fashioned。 Her hand was admirably calculated；
together with her use of many…syllabled words； to fill up a sheet； and
then came the pride and delight of crossing。 Poor Miss Matty got sadly
puzzled with this； for the words gathered size like snowballs； and
towards the end of her letter Miss Jenkyns used to become quite
sesquipedalian。 In one to her father； slightly theological and
controversial in its tone； she had spoken of Herod； Tetrarch of Idumea。
Miss Matty read it 〃Herod Petrarch of Etruria；〃 and was just as well
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pleased as if she had been right。
I can't quite remember the date； but I think it was in 1805 that Miss
Jenkyns wrote the longest series of letters … on occasion of her absence
on a visit to some friends near Newcastle…upon…Tyne。 These friends
were intimate with the commandant of the garrison there； and heard
from him of all the preparations that were being made to repel the
invasion of Buonaparte； which some people imagined might take place
at the mouth of the Tyne。 Miss Jenkyns was evidently very much
alarmed； and the first part of her letters was often written in pretty
intelligible English； conveying particulars of the preparations which
were made in the family with whom she was residing against the
dreaded event； the bundles of clothes that were packed up ready for a
flight to Alston Moor （a wild hilly piece of ground between
Northumberland and Cumberland）； the signal that was to be given for
this flight； and for the simultaneous turning out of the volunteers under
arms … which said signal was to consist （if I remember rightly） in ringing
the church bells in a particular and ominous manner。 One day； when
Miss Jenkyns and her hosts were at a dinner…party in Newcastle； this
warning summons was actually given （not a very wise proceeding； if
there be any truth in the moral attached to the fable of the Boy and the
Wolf； but so it was）； and Miss Jenkyns； hardly recovered from her fright；
wrote the next day to describe the sound； the breathless shock； the hurry
and alarm； and then； taking breath； she added； 〃How trivial； my dear
father； do all our apprehensions of the last evening appear； at the present
moment； to calm and enquiring minds！〃 And here Miss Matty broke in
with …
〃But； indeed； my dear； they were not at all trivial or trifling at the
time。 I know I used to wake up in the night many a time and think I
heard the tramp of the French entering Cranford。 Many people talked
of hiding themselves in the salt mines … and meat would have kept
capitally down there； only perhaps we should have been thirsty。 And
my father preached a whole set of sermons on the occasion； one set in
the mornings； all about David and Goliath； to spirit up the people to
fighting with spades or bricks； if need were； and the other set in the
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afternoons； proving that Napoleon （that was another name for Bony； as
we used to call him） was all the same as an Apollyon and Abaddon。 I
remember my father rather thought he should be asked to print this last
set； but the parish had； perhaps； had enough of them with hearing。〃
Peter Marmaduke Arley Jenkyns （〃poor Peter！〃 as Miss Matty began
to call him） was at school at Shrewsbury by this time。 The rector
took up his pen； and rubbed up his Latin once more； to correspond with
his boy。 It was very clear that the lad's were what are called show
letters。 They were of a highly mental description； giving an account of
his studies； and his intellectual hopes of various kinds； with an
occasional quotation from the classics； but； now and then； the animal
nature broke out in such a little sentence as this； evidently written in a
trembling hurry； after the letter had been inspected： 〃Mother dear； do
send me a cake； and put plenty of citron in。〃 The 〃mother dear〃
probably answered her boy in the form of cakes and 〃goody；〃 for there
were none of her letters among this set； but a whole collection of the
rector's； to whom the Latin in his boy's letters was like a trumpet to the
old war…horse。 I do not know much about Latin； certainly； and it is；
perhaps； an ornamental language； but not very useful； I think … at least to
judge from the bits I remember out of the rector's letters。 One was；
〃You have not got that town in your map of Ireland； but BONUS
BERNARDUS NON VIDET OMNIA； as the Proverbia say。〃 Presently it
became very evident that 〃poor Peter〃 got himself into many scrapes。
There were letters of stilted penitence to his father； for some wrong…
doing； and among them all was a badly…written； badly…sealed； badly…
directed； blotted note：… 〃My dear； dear； dear； dearest mother； I will be a
better boy； I will； indeed； but don't； please； be ill for me； I am not worth
it； but I will be good； darling mother。〃
Miss Matty could not speak for crying； after she had read this note。
She gave it to me in silence； and then got up and took it to her sacred
recesses in her own room； for fear； by any chance； it might get burnt。
〃Poor Peter！〃 she said； 〃he was always in scrapes； he was too easy。
They led him wrong； and then left him in the lurch。 But he was too
fond of mischief。 He could never resist a joke。 Poor Peter！〃
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CHAPTER VI … POOR PETER
POOR Peter's career lay before him rather pleasantly mapped out by
kind friends； but BONUS BERNARDUS NON VIDET OMNIA； in this
map too
