cranford(克兰弗德)-第6章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
anxious； I confess； to ascertain in what manner Captain Brown； with his
limited establishment； could receive so distinguished a guest； and I
discovered that his lordship retired to rest； and； let us hope； to refreshing
slumbers； at the Angel Hotel； but shared the Brunonian meals during the
two days that he honoured Cranford with his august presence。 Mrs
Johnson； our civil butcher's wife； informs me that Miss Jessie purchased
a leg of lamb； but； besides this； I can hear of no preparation whatever to
give a suitable reception to so distinguished a visitor。 Perhaps they
entertained him with 'the feast of reason and the flow of soul'； and to us；
who are acquainted with Captain Brown's sad want of relish for 'the
pure wells of English undefiled；' it may be matter for congratulation that
he has had the opportunity of improving his taste by holding converse
with an elegant and refined member of the British aristocracy。 But
from some mundane failings who is altogether free？〃
Miss Pole and Miss Matty wrote to me by the same post。 Such a
piece of news as Lord Mauleverer's visit was not to be lost on the
Cranford letter…writers： they made the most of it。 Miss Matty humbly
apologised for writing at the same time as her sister； who was so much
more capable than she to describe the honour done to Cranford； but in
spite of a little bad spelling； Miss Matty's account gave me the best idea
of the commotion occasioned by his lordship's visit； after it had occurred；
for； except the people at the Angel； the Browns； Mrs Jamieson； and a
little lad his lordship had sworn at for driving a dirty hoop against the
aristocratic legs； I could not hear of any one with whom his lordship had
held conversation。
My next visit to Cranford was in the summer。 There had been
neither births； deaths； nor marriages since I was there last。 Everybody
lived in the same house； and wore pretty nearly the same well…preserved；
old…fashioned clothes。 The greatest event was； that Miss Jenkyns had
15
… Page 16…
Cranford
purchased a new carpet for the drawing…room。 Oh； the busy work Miss
Matty and I had in chasing the sunbeams； as they fell in an afternoon
right down on this carpet through the blindless window！ We spread
newspapers over the places and sat down to our book or our work； and；
lo！ in a quarter of an hour the sun had moved； and was blazing away on
a fresh spot； and down again we went on our knees to alter the position
of the newspapers。 We were very busy； too； one whole morning； before
Miss Jenkyns gave her party； in following her directions； and in cutting
out and stitching together pieces of newspaper so as to form little paths
to every chair set for the expected visitors； lest their shoes might dirty or
defile the purity of the carpet。 Do you make paper paths for every
guest to walk upon in London？
Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns were not very cordial to each other。
The literary dispute； of which I had seen the beginning； was a 〃raw；〃 the
slightest touch on which made them wince。 It was the only difference
of opinion they had ever had； but that difference was enough。 Miss
Jenkyns could not refrain from talking at Captain Brown； and； though he
did not reply； he drummed with his fingers； which action she felt and
resented as very disparaging to Dr Johnson。 He was rather ostentatious
in his preference of the writings of Mr Boz； would walk through the
streets so absorbed in them that he all but ran against Miss Jenkyns； and
though his apologies were earnest and sincere； and though he did not； in
fact； do more than startle her and himself； she owned to me she had
rather he had knocked her down； if he had only been reading a higher
style of literature。 The poor； brave Captain！ he looked older； and more
worn； and his clothes were very threadbare。 But he seemed as bright
and cheerful as ever； unless he was asked about his daughter's health。
〃She suffers a great deal； and she must suffer more： we do what we
can to alleviate her pain； … God's will be done！〃 He took off his hat at
these last words。 I found； from Miss Matty； that everything had been
done； in fact。 A medical man； of high repute in that country
neighbourhood； had been sent for； and every injunction he had given
was attended to； regardless of expense。 Miss Matty was sure they
denied themselves many things in order to make the invalid comfortable；
16
… Page 17…
Cranford
but they never spoke about it； and as for Miss Jessie！ … 〃I really think
she's an angel；〃 said poor Miss Matty； quite overcome。 〃To see her way
of bearing with Miss Brown's crossness； and the bright face she puts on
after she's been sitting up a whole night and scolded above half of it； is
quite beautiful。 Yet she looks as neat and as ready to welcome the
Captain at breakfast…time as if she had been asleep in the Queen's bed all
night。 My dear！ you could never laugh at her prim little curls or her
pink bows again if you saw her as I have done。〃 I could only feel very
penitent； and greet Miss Jessie with double respect when I met her next。
She looked faded and pinched； and her lips began to quiver； as if she
was very weak； when she spoke of her sister。 But she brightened； and
sent back the tears that were glittering in her pretty eyes； as she said …
〃But； to be sure； what a town Cranford is for kindness！ I don't
suppose any one has a better dinner than usual cooked but the best part
of all comes in a little covered basin for my sister。 The poor people
will leave their earliest vegetables at our door for her。 They speak short
and gruff； as if they were ashamed of it： but I am sure it often goes to my
heart to see their thoughtfulness。〃 The tears now came back and
overflowed； but after a minute or two she began to scold herself； and
ended by going away the same cheerful Miss Jessie as ever。
〃But why does not this Lord Mauleverer do something for the man
who saved his life？〃 said I。
〃Why； you see； unless Captain Brown has some reason for it； he
never speaks about being poor； and he walked along by his lordship
looking as happy and cheerful as a prince； and as they never called
attention to their dinner by apologies； and as Miss Brown wa
