cranford(克兰弗德)-第21章
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〃I do believe there's spirit in it。〃
〃Only a little drop … just necessary to make it keep；〃 said Miss
Barker。 〃You know we put brandy…pepper over our preserves to make
them keep。 I often feel tipsy myself from eating damson tart。〃
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I question whether damson tart would have opened Mrs Jamieson's
heart as the cherry…brandy did； but she told us of a coming event；
respecting which she had been quite silent till that moment。
〃My sister…in…law； Lady Glenmire； is coming to stay with me。〃
There was a chorus of 〃Indeed！〃 and then a pause。 Each one rapidly
reviewed her wardrobe； as to its fitness to appear in the presence of a
baron's widow； for； of course； a series of small festivals were always
held in Cranford on the arrival of a visitor at any of our friends' houses。
We felt very pleasantly excited on the present occasion。
Not long after this the maids and the lanterns were announced。 Mrs
Jamieson had the sedan…chair； which had squeezed itself into Miss
Barker's narrow lobby with some difficulty； and most literally 〃stopped
the way。〃 It required some skilful manoeuvring on the part of the old
chairmen （shoemakers by day； but when summoned to carry the sedan
dressed up in a strange old livery … long great… coats； with small capes；
coeval with the sedan； and similar to the dress of the class in Hogarth's
pictures） to edge； and back； and try at it again； and finally to succeed in
carrying their burden out of Miss Barker's front door。 Then we heard
their quick pit…a… pat along the quiet little street as we put on our calashes
and pinned up our gowns； Miss Barker hovering about us with offers of
help； which； if she had not remembered her former occupation； and
wished us to forget it； would have been much more pressing。
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CHAPTER VIII … 〃YOUR
LADYSHIP〃
EARLY the next morning … directly after twelve … Miss Pole made her
appearance at Miss Matty's。 Some very trifling piece of business was
alleged as a reason for the call； but there was evidently something
behind。 At last out it came。
〃By the way； you'll think I'm strangely ignorant； but； do you really
know； I am puzzled how we ought to address Lady Glenmire。 Do you
say； 'Your Ladyship；' where you would say 'you' to a common person？
I have been puzzling all morning； and are we to say 'My Lady；' instead
of 'Ma'am？' Now you knew Lady Arley … will you kindly tell me the
most correct way of speaking to the peerage？〃
Poor Miss Matty！ she took off her spectacles and she put them on
again … but how Lady Arley was addressed； she could not remember。
〃It is so long ago；〃 she said。 〃Dear！ dear！ how stupid I am！ I
don't think I ever saw her more than twice。 I know we used to call Sir
Peter； 'Sir Peter' … but he came much oftener to see us than Lady Arley
did。 Deborah would have known in a minute。 'My lady' … 'your
ladyship。' It sounds very strange； and as if it was not natural。 I never
thought of it before； but； now you have named it； I am all in a puzzle。〃
It was very certain Miss Pole would obtain no wise decision from
Miss Matty； who got more bewildered every moment； and more
perplexed as to etiquettes of address。
〃Well； I really think；〃 said Miss Pole； 〃I had better just go and tell
Mrs Forrester about our little difficulty。 One sometimes grows nervous；
and yet one would not have Lady Glenmire think we were quite ignorant
of the etiquettes of high life in Cranford。〃
〃And will you just step in here； dear Miss Pole； as you come back；
please； and tell me what you decide upon？ Whatever you and Mrs
Forrester fix upon； will be quite right； I'm sure。 'Lady Arley；' 'Sir
Peter；'〃 said Miss Matty to herself； trying to recall the old forms of
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words。
〃Who is Lady Glenmire？〃 asked I。
〃Oh； she's the widow of Mr Jamieson … that's Mrs Jamieson's late
husband； you know … widow of his eldest brother。 Mrs Jamieson was a
Miss Walker； daughter of Governor Walker。 'Your ladyship。' My dear；
if they fix on that way of speaking； you must just let me practice a little
on you first； for I shall feel so foolish and hot saying it the first time to
Lady Glenmire。〃
It was really a relief to Miss Matty when Mrs Jamieson came on a
very unpolite errand。 I notice that apathetic people have more quiet
impertinence than others； and Mrs Jamieson came now to insinuate
pretty plainly that she did not particularly wish that the Cranford ladies
should call upon her sister…in…law。 I can hardly say how she made this
clear； for I grew very indignant and warm； while with slow deliberation
she was explaining her wishes to Miss Matty； who； a true lady herself；
could hardly understand the feeling which made Mrs Jamieson wish to
appear to her noble sister… in…law as if she only visited 〃county〃 families。
Miss Matty remained puzzled and perplexed long after I had found out
the object of Mrs Jamieson's visit。
When she did understand the drift of the honourable lady's call； it
was pretty to see with what quiet dignity she received the intimation thus
uncourteously given。 She was not in the least hurt … she was of too
gentle a spirit for that； nor was she exactly conscious of disapproving of
Mrs Jamieson's conduct； but there was something of this feeling in her
mind； I am sure； which made her pass from the subject to others in a less
flurried and more composed manner than usual。 Mrs Jamieson was；
indeed； the more flurried of the two； and I could see she was glad to take
her leave。
A little while afterwards Miss Pole returned； red and indignant。
〃Well！ to be sure！ You've had Mrs Jamieson here； I find from Martha；
and we are not to call on Lady Glenmire。 Yes！ I met Mrs Jamieson；
half…way between here and Mrs Forrester's； and she told me； she took
me so by surprise； I had nothing to say。 I wish I had thought of
something very sharp and sarcastic； I dare say I shall to…night。 And
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Lady Glenmire is but the widow of a Scotch baron after all！ I went on
to look at Mrs Forrester's Peerage； to see who this lady was； that is to be
kept under a glass case： widow of a Scotch peer … never sat in the House
of Lords … and as poor as job； I dare say； and she … fifth daughter of some
Mr Campbell or other。 You are the daughter of a rector； at any rate； and
related to the Arleys； and Sir Peter might have been Viscount Arley；
every one says。〃
Miss Matty tried to soothe Miss Pole； but in vain。 That lady；
usually so kind and good…humoured； was now in a full flow of anger。
〃And I went and ordered a cap this morning； to be quite ready；〃 said
she at last； letting out the secret which gave sting to Mrs Jamieson's
intimation。 〃Mrs Jamieson shall see if it is so easy to get me to make
fourth at a pool when she has none of her fine Scotch relations with
her！〃
In coming out of church； the first Sunday on which Lady Glenmire
appeared in Cranford； we sedulously talked together； and turned our
backs on Mrs Jamieson and her guest。 If we might not call on her； we
would not even look at her； though we were dying with curiosity to
know what she was like。 We had the comfort of questioning Martha in
the afternoon。 Martha did not belong to a sphere of society whose
observation could be an implied compliment to Lady Glenmire； and
Martha had made good use of her eyes。
〃Well； ma'am！ is it the little lady with Mrs Jamieson； you mean？ I
thought you would like more to know how young Mrs Smith was
dressed； her being a bride。〃 （Mrs Smith was the butcher's wife）。
Miss Pole said； 〃Good gracious me！ as if we cared about a Mrs
Smith；〃 but was silent as Martha resumed her speech。
〃The little lady in Mrs Jamieson's pew had on； ma'am； rather an old
black silk； and a shepherd's plaid cloak； ma'am； and very bright black
eyes she had； ma'am； and a pleasant； sharp face； not over young； ma'am；
but yet； I should guess； younger than Mrs Jamieson herself。 She looked
up and down the church； like a bird； and nipped up her petticoats； when
she came out； as quick and sharp as ever I see。 I'll tell you what； ma'am；
she's more like Mrs Deacon； at the 'Coach and Horses；' nor any one。〃
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〃Hush； Martha！〃 said Miss Matty； 〃that's not respectful。〃
〃Isn't it； ma'am？ I beg pardon； I'm sure； but Je
