cranford(克兰弗德)-第25章
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bell。 I suppose turbans have not got down to Drumble yet？〃
So saying； the dear old lady gently bemoaned herself out of the room；
leaving me to dress for the evening； when； as she informed me； she
expected Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester； and she hoped I should not feel
myself too much tired to join the party。 Of course I should not； and I
made some haste to unpack and arrange my dress； but； with all my speed；
I heard the arrivals and the buzz of conversation in the next room before
I was ready。 Just as I opened the door； I caught the words； 〃I was
foolish to expect anything very genteel out of the Drumble shops； poor
girl！ she did her best； I've no doubt。〃 But； for all that； I had rather that
she blamed Drumble and me than disfigured herself with a turban。
Miss Pole was always the person； in the trio of Cranford ladies now
assembled； to have had adventures。 She was in the habit of spending
the morning in rambling from shop to shop； not to purchase anything
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（except an occasional reel of cotton or a piece of tape）； but to see the
new articles and report upon them； and to collect all the stray pieces of
intelligence in the town。 She had a way； too； of demurely popping
hither and thither into all sorts of places to gratify her curiosity on any
point … a way which； if she had not looked so very genteel and prim；
might have been considered impertinent。 And now； by the expressive
way in which she cleared her throat； and waited for all minor subjects
（such as caps and turbans） to be cleared off the course； we knew she had
something very particular to relate； when the due pause came … and I
defy any people possessed of common modesty to keep up a
conversation long； where one among them sits up aloft in silence；
looking down upon all the things they chance to say as trivial and
contemptible compared to what they could disclose； if properly entreated。
Miss Pole began …
〃As I was stepping out of Gordon's shop to…day； I chanced to go into
the 'George' （my Betty has a second…cousin who is chambermaid there；
and I thought Betty would like to hear how she was）； and； not seeing
anyone about； I strolled up the staircase； and found myself in the passage
leading to the Assembly Room （you and I remember the Assembly
Room； I am sure； Miss Matty！ and the minuets de la cour！）； so I went on；
not thinking of what I was about； when； all at once； I perceived that I
was in the middle of the preparations for to…morrow night … the room
being divided with great clothes…maids； over which Crosby's men were
tacking red flannel； very dark and odd it seemed； it quite bewildered me；
and I was going on behind the screens； in my absence of mind； when a
gentleman （quite the gentleman； I can assure you） stepped forwards and
asked if I had any business he could arrange for me。 He spoke such
pretty broken English； I could not help thinking of Thaddeus of Warsaw；
and the Hungarian Brothers； and Santo Sebastiani； and while I was busy
picturing his past life to myself； he had bowed me out of the room。 But
wait a minute！ You have not heard half my story yet！ I was going
downstairs； when who should I meet but Betty's second…cousin。 So； of
course； I stopped to speak to her for Betty's sake； and she told me that I
had really seen the conjuror … the gentleman who spoke broken English
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was Signor Brunoni himself。 Just at this moment he passed us on the
stairs； making such a graceful bow！ in reply to which I dropped a curtsey
… all foreigners have such polite manners； one catches something of it。
But when he had gone downstairs； I bethought me that I had dropped my
glove in the Assembly Room （it was safe in my muff all the time； but I
never found it till afterwards）； so I went back； and； just as I was creeping
up the passage left on one side of the great screen that goes nearly across
the room； who should I see but the very same gentleman that had met me
before； and passed me on the stairs； coming now forwards from the inner
part of the room； to which there is no entrance … you remember； Miss
Matty … and just repeating； in his pretty broken English； the inquiry if I
had any business there … I don't mean that he put it quite so bluntly； but
he seemed very determined that I should not pass the screen … so； of
course； I explained about my glove； which； curiously enough； I found at
that very moment。〃
Miss Pole； then； had seen the conjuror … the real； live conjuror！ and
numerous were the questions we all asked her。 〃Had he a beard？〃
〃Was he young； or old？〃 〃Fair； or dark？〃 〃Did he look〃 … （unable to
shape my question prudently； I put it in another form） … 〃How did he
look？〃 In short； Miss Pole was the heroine of the evening； owing to her
morning's encounter。 If she was not the rose （that is to say the conjuror）
she had been near it。
Conjuration； sleight of hand； magic； witchcraft； were the subjects of
the evening。 Miss Pole was slightly sceptical； and inclined to think
there might be a scientific solution found for even the proceedings of the
Witch of Endor。 Mrs Forrester believed everything； from ghosts to
death…watches。 Miss Matty ranged between the two … always
convinced by the last speaker。 I think she was naturally more inclined
to Mrs Forrester's side； but a desire of proving herself a worthy sister to
Miss Jenkyns kept her equally balanced … Miss Jenkyns； who would
never allow a servant to call the little rolls of tallow that formed
themselves round candles 〃winding…sheets；〃 but insisted on their being
spoken of as 〃roley…poleys！〃 A sister of hers to be superstitious！ It
would never do。
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After tea； I was despatched downstairs into the dining…parlour for
that volume of the old Encyclopaedia which contained the nouns
beginning with C； in order that Miss Pole might prime herself with
scientific explanations for the tricks of the following evening。 It spoilt
the pool at Preference which Miss Matty and Mrs Forrester had been
looking forward to； for Miss Pole became so much absorbed in her
subject； and the plates by which it was illustrated； that we felt it would
be cruel to disturb her otherwise than by one or two well…timed yawns；
which I threw in now and then； for I was really touched by the meek
way in which the two ladies were bearing their disappointment。 But
Miss Pole only read the more zealously； imparting to us no more
information than this …
〃Ah！ I see； I comprehend perfectly。 A represents the ball。 Put A
between B and D … no！ between C and F； and turn the second joint of the
third finger of your left hand over the wrist of your right H。 Very clear
indeed！ My dear Mrs Forrester； conjuring and witchcraft is a mere
affair of the alphabet。 Do let me read you this one passage？〃
Mrs Forrester implored Miss Pole to spare her； saying； from a child
upwards； she never could understand being read aloud to； and I dropped
the pack of cards； which I had been shuffling very audibly； and by this
discreet movement I obliged Miss Pole to perceive that Preference was
to have been the order of the evening； and to propose； rather unwillingly；
that the pool should commence。 The pleasant brightness that stole over
the other two ladies' faces on this！ Miss Matty had one or two twinges
of self…reproach for having interrupted Miss Pole in her studies： and did
not remember her cards well； or give her full attention to the game； until
she had soothed her conscience by offering to lend the volume of the
Encyclopaedia to Miss Pole； who accepted it thankfully； and said Betty
should take it home when she came with the lantern。
The next evening we were all in a little gentle flutter at the idea of
the gaiety before us。 Miss Matty went up to dress betimes； and hurried
me until I was ready； when we found we had an hour…and…a… half to wait
before the 〃doors opened at seven precisely。〃 And we had only twenty
yards to go！ However； as Miss Matty said； it would not do to get too
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much absorbed in anything； and forget the time； so she thought we had
better sit quietly； without lighting the candles； till five minutes to seven。
So Miss Matty dozed； and I knitted。
At length we set off； and at the door under the carriage…way at the
〃George；〃 we met Mrs Forrester and Miss Pole： the latter was discussing
the subject of the eveni
