cranford(克兰弗德)-第25章
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〃That's Martha back？ No！ I'LL go； my dear； I can always find my
way in the dark； you know。 And a blow of fresh air at the door will do
my head good； and it's rather got a trick of aching。〃
So she pattered off。 I had lighted the candle； to give the room a
cheerful appearance against her return。
〃Was it Martha？〃 asked I。
〃Yes。 And I am rather uncomfortable； for I heard such a strange
noise； just as I was opening the door。〃
〃Where？' I asked； for her eyes were round with affright。
〃In the street … just outside … it sounded like〃 …
〃Talking？〃 I put in； as she hesitated a little。
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〃No！ kissing〃 …
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CHAPTER VII … VISITING
ONE morning； as Miss Matty and I sat at our work … it was before
twelve o'clock； and Miss Matty had not changed the cap with yellow
ribbons that had been Miss Jenkyns's best； and which Miss Matty was
now wearing out in private； putting on the one made in imitation of Mrs
Jamieson's at all times when she expected to be seen … Martha came up；
and asked if Miss Betty Barker might speak to her mistress。 Miss
Matty assented； and quickly disappeared to change the yellow ribbons；
while Miss Barker came upstairs； but； as she had forgotten her
spectacles； and was rather flurried by the unusual time of the visit； I was
not surprised to see her return with one cap on the top of the other。 She
was quite unconscious of it herself； and looked at us； with bland
satisfaction。 Nor do I think Miss Barker perceived it； for； putting aside
the little circumstance that she was not so young as she had been； she
was very much absorbed in her errand； which she delivered herself of
with an oppressive modesty that found vent in endless apologies。
Miss Betty Barker was the daughter of the old clerk at Cranford who
had officiated in Mr Jenkyns's time。 She and her sister had had pretty
good situations as ladies' maids； and had saved money enough to set up a
milliner's shop； which had been patronised by the ladies in the
neighbourhood。 Lady Arley； for instance； would occasionally give
Miss Barkers the pattern of an old cap of hers； which they immediately
copied and circulated among the elite of Cranford。 I say the ELITE； for
Miss Barkers had caught the trick of the place； and piqued themselves
upon their 〃aristocratic connection。〃 They would not sell their caps and
ribbons to anyone without a pedigree。 Many a farmer's wife or
daughter turned away huffed from Miss Barkers' select millinery； and
went rather to the universal shop； where the profits of brown soap and
moist sugar enabled the proprietor to go straight to （Paris； he said； until
he found his customers too patriotic and John Bullish to wear what the
Mounseers wore） London； where； as he often told his customers； Queen
Adelaide had appeared； only the very week before； in a cap exactly like
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the one he showed them； trimmed with yellow and blue ribbons； and had
been complimented by King William on the becoming nature of her
head…dress。
Miss Barkers； who confined themselves to truth； and did not approve
of miscellaneous customers； throve notwithstanding。 They were self…
denying； good people。 Many a time have I seen the eldest of them （she
that had been maid to Mrs Jamieson） carrying out some delicate mess to
a poor person。 They only aped their betters in having 〃nothing to do〃
with the class immediately below theirs。 And when Miss Barker died；
their profits and income were found to be such that Miss Betty was
justified in shutting up shop and retiring from business。 She also （as I
think I have before said） set up her cow； a mark of respectability in
Cranford almost as decided as setting up a gig is among some people。
She dressed finer than any lady in Cranford； and we did not wonder at it；
for it was understood that she was wearing out all the bonnets and caps
and outrageous ribbons which had once formed her stock…in…trade。 It
was five or six years since she had given up shop； so in any other place
than Cranford her dress might have been considered PASSEE。
And now Miss Betty Barker had called to invite Miss Matty to tea at
her house on the following Tuesday。 She gave me also an impromptu
invitation； as I happened to be a visitor … though I could see she had a
little fear lest； since my father had gone to live in Drumble； he might
have engaged in that 〃horrid cotton trade；〃 and so dragged his family
down out of 〃aristocratic society。〃 She prefaced this invitation with so
many apologies that she quite excited my curiosity。 〃Her presumption〃
was to be excused。 What had she been doing？ She seemed so over…
powered by it I could only think that she had been writing to Queen
Adelaide to ask for a receipt for washing lace； but the act which she so
characterised was only an invitation she had carried to her sister's former
mistress； Mrs Jamieson。 〃Her former occupation considered； could
Miss Matty excuse the liberty？〃 Ah！ thought I； she has found out that
double cap； and is going to rectify Miss Matty's head…dress。 No！ it was
simply to extend her invitation to Miss Matty and to me。 Miss Matty
bowed acceptance； and I wondered that； in the graceful action； she did
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not feel the unusual weight and extraordinary height of her head…dress。
But I do not think she did； for she recovered her balance； and went on
talking to Miss Betty in a kind； condescending manner； very different
from the fidgety way she would have had if she had suspected how
singular her appearance was。 〃Mrs Jamieson is coming； I think you
said？〃 asked Miss Matty。
〃Yes。 Mrs Jamieson most kindly and condescendingly said she
would be happy to come。 One little stipulation she made； that she
should bring Carlo。 I told her that if I had a weakness； it was for
dogs。〃
〃And Miss Pole？〃 questioned Miss Matty； who was thinking of her
pool at Preference； in which Carlo would not be available as a partner。
〃I am going to ask Miss Pole。 Of course； I could
