cranford(克兰弗德)-第21章
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kind friends； but BONUS BERNARDUS NON VIDET OMNIA； in this
map too。 He was to win honours at the Shrewsbury School； and carry
them thick to Cambridge； and after that； a living awaited him； the gift
of his godfather； Sir Peter Arley。 Poor Peter！ his lot in life was very
different to what his friends had hoped and planned。 Miss Matty told
me all about it； and I think it was a relief when she had done so。
He was the darling of his mother； who seemed to dote on all her
children； though she was； perhaps； a little afraid of Deborah's superior
acquirements。 Deborah was the favourite of her father； and when Peter
disappointed him； she became his pride。 The sole honour Peter brought
away from Shrewsbury was the reputation of being the best good fellow
that ever was； and of being the captain of the school in the art of
practical joking。 His father was disappointed； but set about remedying
the matter in a manly way。 He could not afford to send Peter to read
with any tutor； but he could read with him himself； and Miss Matty told
me much of the awful preparations in the way of dictionaries and
lexicons that were made in her father's study the morning Peter began。
〃My poor mother！〃 said she。 〃I remember how she used to stand in
the hall； just near enough the study…door； to catch the tone of my father's
voice。 I could tell in a moment if all was going right； by her face。
And it did go right for a long time。〃
〃What went wrong at last？〃 said I。 〃That tiresome Latin； I dare
say。〃
〃No！ it was not the Latin。 Peter was in high favour with my father；
for he worked up well for him。 But he seemed to think that the
Cranford people might be joked about； and made fun of； and they did not
like it； nobody does。 He was always hoaxing them； 'hoaxing' is not a
pretty word； my dear； and I hope you won't tell your father I used it； for I
should not like him to think that I was not choice in my language； after
living with such a woman as Deborah。 And be sure you never use it
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yourself。 I don't know how it slipped out of my mouth； except it was
that I was thinking of poor Peter and it was always his expression。 But
he was a very gentlemanly boy in many things。 He was like dear
Captain Brown in always being ready to help any old person or a child。
Still； he did like joking and making fun； and he seemed to think the old
ladies in Cranford would believe anything。 There were many old ladies
living here then； we are principally ladies now； I know； but we are not so
old as the ladies used to be when I was a girl。 I could laugh to think of
some of Peter's jokes。 No； my dear； I won't tell you of them； because
they might not shock you as they ought to do； and they were very
shocking。 He even took in my father once； by dressing himself up as a
lady that was passing through the town and wished to see the Rector of
Cranford； 'who had published that admirable Assize Sermon。' Peter
said he was awfully frightened himself when he saw how my father took
it all in； and even offered to copy out all his Napoleon Buonaparte
sermons for her … him； I mean … no； her； for Peter was a lady then。 He
told me he was more terrified than he ever was before； all the time my
father was speaking。 He did not think my father would have believed
him； and yet if he had not； it would have been a sad thing for Peter。 As
it was； he was none so glad of it； for my father kept him hard at work
copying out all those twelve Buonaparte sermons for the lady … that was
for Peter himself； you know。 He was the lady。 And once when he
wanted to go fishing； Peter said； 'Confound the woman！' … very bad
language； my dear； but Peter was not always so guarded as he should
have been； my father was so angry with him； it nearly frightened me out
of my wits： and yet I could hardly keep from laughing at the little
curtseys Peter kept making； quite slyly； whenever my father spoke of the
lady's excellent taste and sound discrimination。〃
〃Did Miss Jenkyns know of these tricks？〃 said I。
〃Oh； no！ Deborah would have been too much shocked。 No； no one
knew but me。 I wish I had always known of Peter's plans； but
sometimes he did not tell me。 He used to say the old ladies in the town
wanted something to talk about； but I don't think they did。 They had the
ST JAMES'S CHRONICLE three times a week； just as we have now；
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and we have plenty to say； and I remember the clacking noise there
always was when some of the ladies got together。 But； probably；
schoolboys talk more than ladies。 At last there was a terrible； sad thing
happened。〃 Miss Matty got up； went to the door； and opened it； no one
was there。 She rang the bell for Martha； and when Martha came； her
mistress told her to go for eggs to a farm at the other end of the town。
〃I will lock the door after you； Martha。 You are not afraid to go； are
you？〃
〃No； ma'am； not at all； Jem Hearn will be only too proud to go with
me。〃
Miss Matty drew herself up； and as soon as we were alone； she
wished that Martha had more maidenly reserve。
〃We'll put out the candle； my dear。 We can talk just as well by
firelight； you know。 There！ Well； you see； Deborah had gone from
home for a fortnight or so； it was a very still； quiet day； I remember；
overhead； and the lilacs were all in flower； so I suppose it was spring。
My father had gone out to see some sick people in the parish； I recollect
seeing him leave the house with his wig and shovel…hat and cane。
What possessed our poor Peter I don't know； he had the sweetest temper；
and yet he always seemed to like to plague Deborah。 She never
laughed at his jokes； and thought him ungenteel； and not careful enough
about improving his mind； and that vexed him。
〃Well！ he went to her room； it seems； and dressed himself in her old
gown； and shawl； and bonnet； just the things she used to wear in
Cranford； and was known by everywhere； and he made the pillow into a
little … you are sure you locked the door； my dear； for I should not like
anyone to hear … into … into a little baby； with white long clothes。 It was
only； as he told me afterwards； to make something to talk about in the
town； he n
