cranford(克兰弗德)-第38章
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all night if you will allow me； but my house is so far from any
neighbours； and I don't believe we could be heard if we screamed ever
so！〃
〃But；〃 said Miss Matty； 〃what has alarmed you so much？ Have you
seen any men lurking about the house？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 answered Miss Pole。 〃Two very bad…looking men have
gone three times past the house； very slowly； and an Irish beggar…woman
came not half…an…hour ago； and all but forced herself in past Betty；
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saying her children were starving； and she must speak to the mistress。
You see； she said 'mistress；' though there was a hat hanging up in the hall；
and it would have been more natural to have said 'master。' But Betty
shut the door in her face； and came up to me； and we got the spoons
together； and sat in the parlour…window watching till we saw Thomas
Jones going from his work； when we called to him and asked him to take
care of us into the town。〃
We might have triumphed over Miss Pole； who had professed such
bravery until she was frightened； but we were too glad to perceive that
she shared in the weaknesses of humanity to exult over her； and I gave
up my room to her very willingly； and shared Miss Matty's bed for the
night。 But before we retired； the two ladies rummaged up； out of the
recesses of their memory； such horrid stories of robbery and murder that
I quite quaked in my shoes。 Miss Pole was evidently anxious to prove
that such terrible events had occurred within her experience that she was
justified in her sudden panic； and Miss Matty did not like to be outdone；
and capped every story with one yet more horrible； till it reminded me
oddly enough； of an old story I had read somewhere； of a nightingale
and a musician； who strove one against the other which could produce
the most admirable music； till poor Philomel dropped down dead。
One of the stories that haunted me for a long time afterwards was of
a girl who was left in charge of a great house in Cumberland on some
particular fair…day； when the other servants all went off to the gaieties。
The family were away in London； and a pedlar came by； and asked to
leave his large and heavy pack in the kitchen； saying he would call for it
again at night； and the girl （a gamekeeper's daughter）； roaming about in
search of amusement； chanced to hit upon a gun hanging up in the hall；
and took it down to look at the chasing； and it went off through the open
kitchen door； hit the pack； and a slow dark thread of blood came oozing
out。 （How Miss Pole enjoyed this part of the story； dwelling on each
word as if she loved it！） She rather hurried over the further account of
the girl's bravery； and I have but a confused idea that； somehow； she
baffled the robbers with Italian irons； heated red… hot； and then restored to
blackness by being dipped in grease。
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We parted for the night with an awe…stricken wonder as to what we
should hear of in the morning … and； on my part； with a vehement desire
for the night to be over and gone： I was so afraid lest the robbers should
have seen； from some dark lurking…place； that Miss Pole had carried off
her plate； and thus have a double motive for attacking our house。
But until Lady Glenmire came to call next day we heard of nothing
unusual。 The kitchen fire…irons were in exactly the same position
against the back door as when Martha and I had skilfully piled them up；
like spillikins； ready to fall with an awful clatter if only a cat had
touched the outside panels。 I had wondered what we should all do if
thus awakened and alarmed； and had proposed to Miss Matty that we
should cover up our faces under the bedclothes so that there should be
no danger of the robbers thinking that we could identify them； but Miss
Matty； who was trembling very much； scouted this idea； and said we
owed it to society to apprehend them； and that she should certainly do
her best to lay hold of them and lock them up in the garret till morning。
When Lady Glenmire came； we almost felt jealous of her。 Mrs
Jamieson's house had really been attacked； at least there were men's
footsteps to be seen on the flower borders； underneath the kitchen
windows； 〃where nae men should be；〃 and Carlo had barked all through
the night as if strangers were abroad。 Mrs Jamieson had been
awakened by Lady Glenmire； and they had rung the bell which
communicated with Mr Mulliner's room in the third storey； and when his
night…capped head had appeared over the bannisters； in answer to the
summons； they had told him of their alarm； and the reasons for it；
whereupon he retreated into his bedroom； and locked the door （for fear
of draughts； as he informed them in the morning）； and opened the
window； and called out valiantly to say； if the supposed robbers would
come to him he would fight them； but； as Lady Glenmire observed； that
was but poor comfort； since they would have to pass by Mrs Jamieson's
room and her own before they could reach him； and must be of a very
pugnacious disposition indeed if they neglected the opportunities of
robbery presented by the unguarded lower storeys； to go up to a garret；
and there force a door in order to get at the champion of the house。
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Lady Glenmire； after waiting and listening for some time in the drawing…
room； had proposed to Mrs Jamieson that they should go to bed； but that
lady said she should not feel comfortable unless she sat up and watched；
and； accordingly； she packed herself warmly up on the sofa； where she
was found by the housemaid； when she came into the room at six o'clock；
fast asleep； but Lady Glenmire went to bed； and kept awake all night。
When Miss Pole heard of this； she nodded her head in great
satisfaction。 She had been sure we should hear of something
happening in Cranford that night； and we had heard。 It was clear
enough they had first proposed to attack her house； but when they saw
that she and Betty were on their guard； and had carried off the plate； they
had changed their tactics and gone to Mrs Jamieson's； and no one kn
