cranford(克兰弗德)-第24章
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〃Yes；〃 said that lady； 〃such lace cannot be got now for either love or
money； made by the nuns abroad； they tell me。 They say that they can't
make it now even there。 But perhaps they can； now they've passed the
Catholic Emancipation Bill。 I should not wonder。 But； in the
meantime； I treasure up my lace very much。 I daren't even trust the
washing of it to my maid〃 （the little charity school…girl I have named
before； but who sounded well as 〃my maid〃）。 〃I always wash it myself。
And once it had a narrow escape。 Of course； your ladyship knows that
such lace must never be starched or ironed。 Some people wash it in
sugar and water； and some in coffee； to make it the right yellow colour；
but I myself have a very good receipt for washing it in milk； which
stiffens it enough； and gives it a very good creamy colour。 Well； ma'am；
I had tacked it together （and the beauty of this fine lace is that； when it
is wet； it goes into a very little space）； and put it to soak in milk； when；
unfortunately； I left the room； on my return； I found pussy on the table；
looking very like a thief； but gulping very uncomfortably； as if she was
half…chocked with something she wanted to swallow and could not。
And； would you believe it？ At first I pitied her； and said 'Poor pussy！
poor pussy！' till； all at once； I looked and saw the cup of milk empty …
cleaned out！ 'You naughty cat！' said I； and I believe I was provoked
enough to give her a slap； which did no good； but only helped the lace
down … just as one slaps a choking child on the back。 I could have cried；
I was so vexed； but I determined I would not give the lace up without a
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struggle for it。 I hoped the lace might disagree with her； at any rate； but
it would have been too much for Job； if he had seen； as I did； that cat
come in； quite placid and purring； not a quarter of an hour after； and
almost expecting to be stroked。 'No； pussy！' said I； 'if you have any
conscience you ought not to expect that！' And then a thought struck me；
and I rang the bell for my maid； and sent her to Mr Hoggins； with my
compliments； and would he be kind enough to lend me one of his top…
boots for an hour？ I did not think there was anything odd in the
message； but Jenny said the young men in the surgery laughed as if they
would be ill at my wanting a top…boot。 When it came； Jenny and I put
pussy in； with her forefeet straight down； so that they were fastened； and
could not scratch； and we gave her a teaspoonful of current…jelly in
which （your ladyship must excuse me） I had mixed some tartar emetic。
I shall never forget how anxious I was for the next half… hour。 I took
pussy to my own room； and spread a clean towel on the floor。 I could
have kissed her when she returned the lace to sight； very much as it had
gone down。 Jenny had boiling water ready； and we soaked it and
soaked it； and spread it on a lavender… bush in the sun before I could touch
it again； even to put it in milk。 But now your ladyship would never
guess that it had been in pussy's inside。〃
We found out； in the course of the evening； that Lady Glenmire was
going to pay Mrs Jamieson a long visit； as she had given up her
apartments in Edinburgh； and had no ties to take her back there in a
hurry。 On the whole； we were rather glad to hear this； for she had made
a pleasant impression upon us； and it was also very comfortable to find；
from things which dropped out in the course of conversation； that； in
addition to many other genteel qualities； she was far removed from the
〃vulgarity of wealth。〃
〃Don't you find it very unpleasant walking？〃 asked Mrs Jamieson； as
our respective servants were announced。 It was a pretty regular
question from Mrs Jamieson； who had her own carriage in the coach…
house； and always went out in a sedan…chair to the very shortest
distances。 The answers were nearly as much a matter of course。
〃Oh dear； no！ it is so pleasant and still at night！〃 〃Such a
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refreshment after the excitement of a party！〃 〃The stars are so
beautiful！〃 This last was from Miss Matty。
〃Are you fond of astronomy？〃 Lady Glenmire asked。
〃Not very；〃 replied Miss Matty； rather confused at the moment to
remember which was astronomy and which was astrology … but the
answer was true under either circumstance； for she read； and was slightly
alarmed at Francis Moore's astrological predictions； and； as to
astronomy； in a private and confidential conversation； she had told me
she never could believe that the earth was moving constantly； and that
she would not believe it if she could； it made her feel so tired and dizzy
whenever she thought about it。
In our pattens we picked our way home with extra care that night； so
refined and delicate were our perceptions after drinking tea with 〃my
lady。〃
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CHAPTER IX … SIGNOR
BRUNONI
SOON after the events of which I gave an account in my last paper； I
was summoned home by my father's illness； and for a time I forgot； in
anxiety about him； to wonder how my dear friends at Cranford were
getting on； or how Lady Glenmire could reconcile herself to the dulness
of the long visit which she was still paying to her sister…in…law； Mrs
Jamieson。 When my father grew a little stronger I accompanied him to
the seaside； so that altogether I seemed banished from Cranford； and was
deprived of the opportunity of hearing any chance intelligence of the
dear little town for the greater part of that year。
Late in November … when we had returned home again； and my father
was once more in good health … I received a letter from Miss Matty； and
a very mysterious letter it was。 She began many sentences without
ending them； running them one into another； in much the same confused
sort of way in which written words run together on blotting…paper。 All
I could make out was that； if my father was better （which she hoped he
was）； and would take warning and wear a great…coat from Michaelmas to
Lady…day； if turbans were in fashion； could I tell her？ Such a piece of
gaiety was going to happen as had not been seen or known of since
Wombwell's lions came； when one of them ate a little child's arm； and
she was； perhaps； too old to care about dress； but a new cap she must
have； and； having heard that turbans were worn； and some of the county
families likely to come； she would like to look tidy； if I would bring her
a cap from the milliner I employed； and oh； dear！ how careless of her to
forget that she wrote to beg I would come and pay her a visit next
Tuesday； when she hoped to have something to offer me in the way of
amusement； which she would not now more particularly describe； only
sea…green was her favourite colour。 So she ended her letter； but in a P。S。
she added； she thought she might as well tell me what was the peculiar
attraction to Cranford just now； Signor Brunoni was going to exhibit his
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wonderful magic in the Cranford Assembly Rooms on Wednesday and
Friday evening in the following week。
I was very glad to accept the invitation from my dear Miss Matty；
independently of the conjuror； and most particularly anxious to prevent
her from disfiguring her small； gentle； mousey face with a great
Saracen's head turban； and accordingly； I bought her a pretty； neat；
middle…aged cap； which； however； was rather a disappointment to her
when； on my arrival； she followed me into my bedroom； ostensibly to
poke the fire； but in reality； I do believe； to see if the sea…green turban
was not inside the cap…box with which I had travelled。 It was in vain
that I twirled the cap round on my hand to exhibit back and side fronts：
her heart had been set upon a turban； and all she could do was to say；
with resignation in her look and voice …
〃I am sure you did your best； my dear。 It is just like the caps all the
ladies in Cranford are wearing； and they have had theirs for a year； I dare
say。 I should have liked something newer； I confess … something more
like the turbans Miss Betty Barker tells me Queen Adelaide wears； but it
is very pretty； my dear。 And I dare say lavender will wear better than
sea…green。 Well； after all； what is dress； that we should care anything
about it？ You'll tell me if you want anything； my dear。 Here is the
bell。 I suppose turbans have not got down to Drumble yet？〃
So saying； the dear old lady gen
