cranford(克兰弗德)-第40章
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having one of my remaining teeth drawn （for one is terribly at the mercy
of any surgeon…dentist； and I； for one； always speak them fair till I have
got my mouth out of their clutches）； and； after all； Mr Hoggins is too
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much of a man to own that he was robbed last night。〃
〃Not robbed！〃 exclaimed the chorus。
〃Don't tell me！〃 Miss Pole exclaimed； angry that we could be for a
moment imposed upon。 〃I believe he was robbed； just as Betty told me；
and he is ashamed to own it； and； to be sure； it was very silly of him to
be robbed just at his own door； I daresay he feels that such a thing won't
raise him in the eyes of Cranford society； and is anxious to conceal it …
but he need not have tried to impose upon me； by saying I must have
heard an exaggerated account of some petty theft of a neck of mutton；
which； it seems； was stolen out of the safe in his yard last week； he had
the impertinence to add； he believed that that was taken by the cat。 I
have no doubt； if I could get at the bottom of it； it was that Irishman
dressed up in woman's clothes； who came spying about my house； with
the story about the starving children。〃
After we had duly condemned the want of candour which Mr Hoggins
had evinced； and abused men in general； taking him for the
representative and type； we got round to the subject about which we had
been talking when Miss Pole came in； namely； how far； in the present
disturbed state of the country； we could venture to accept an invitation
which Miss Matty had just received from Mrs Forrester； to come as
usual and keep the anniversary of her wedding…day by drinking tea with
her at five o'clock； and playing a quiet pool afterwards。 Mrs Forrester
had said that she asked us with some diffidence； because the roads were；
she feared； very unsafe。 But she suggested that perhaps one of us
would not object to take the sedan； and that the others； by walking
briskly； might keep up with the long trot of the chairmen； and so we
might all arrive safely at Over Place； a suburb of the town。 （No； that is
too large an expression： a small cluster of houses separated from
Cranford by about two hundred yards of a dark and lonely lane。） There
was no doubt but that a similar note was awaiting Miss Pole at home； so
her call was a very fortunate affair； as it enabled us to consult together。
We would all much rather have declined this invitation； but we felt that
it would not be quite kind to Mrs Forrester； who would otherwise be left
to a solitary retrospect of her not very happy or fortunate life。 Miss
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Matty and Miss Pole had been visitors on this occasion for many years；
and now they gallantly determined to nail their colours to the mast； and
to go through Darkness Lane rather than fail in loyalty to their friend。
But when the evening came； Miss Matty （for it was she who was voted
into the chair； as she had a cold）； before being shut down in the sedan；
like jack…in…a…box； implored the chairmen； whatever might befall； not to
run away and leave her fastened up there； to be murdered； and even after
they had promised； I saw her tighten her features into the stern
determination of a martyr； and she gave me a melancholy and ominous
shake of the head through the glass。 However； we got there safely； only
rather out of breath； for it was who could trot hardest through Darkness
Lane； and I am afraid poor Miss Matty was sadly jolted。
Mrs Forrester had made extra preparations； in acknowledgment of our
exertion in coming to see her through such dangers。 The usual forms
of genteel ignorance as to what her servants might send up were all gone
through； and harmony and Preference seemed likely to be the order of
the evening； but for an interesting conversation that began I don't know
how； but which had relation； of course； to the robbers who infested the
neighbourhood of Cranford。
Having braved the dangers of Darkness Lane； and thus having a little
stock of reputation for courage to fall back upon； and also； I daresay；
desirous of proving ourselves superior to men （VIDELICET Mr Hoggins）
in the article of candour； we began to relate our individual fears； and the
private precautions we each of us took。 I owned that my pet
apprehension was eyes … eyes looking at me； and watching me； glittering
out from some dull； flat； wooden surface； and that if I dared to go up to
my looking…glass when I was panic… stricken； I should certainly turn it
round； with its back towards me； for fear of seeing eyes behind me
looking out of the darkness。 I saw Miss Matty nerving herself up for a
confession； and at last out it came。 She owned that； ever since she had
been a girl； she had dreaded being caught by her last leg； just as she was
getting into bed； by some one concealed under it。 She said； when she
was younger and more active； she used to take a flying leap from a
distance； and so bring both her legs up safely into bed at once； but that
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this had always annoyed Deborah； who piqued herself upon getting into
bed gracefully； and she had given it up in consequence。 But now the
old terror would often come over her； especially since Miss Pole's house
had been attacked （we had got quite to believe in the fact of the attack
having taken place）； and yet it was very unpleasant to think of looking
under a bed； and seeing a man concealed； with a great； fierce face staring
out at you； so she had bethought herself of something … perhaps I had
noticed that she had told Martha to buy her a penny ball； such as
children play with … and now she rolled this ball under the bed every
night： if it came out on the other side； well and good； if not she always
took care to have her hand on the bell…rope； and meant to call out John
and Harry； just as if she expected men… servants to answer her ring。
We all applauded this ingenious contrivance； and Miss Matty sank
back into satisfied silence； with a look at Mrs Forrester as if to ask for
HER private weakness。
Mrs Forrester looked askance at Miss Pole； and tried to change the
subject a little by telling us that she had borrowed a boy from one of the
neighbouring
