cranford(克兰弗德)-第30章
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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 cottages and promised his parents a hundredweight of
coals at Christmas； and his supper every evening； for the loan of him at
nights。 She had instructed him in his possible duties when he first
came； and； finding him sensible； she had given him the Major's sword
（the Major was her late husband）； and desired him to put it very
carefully behind his pillow at night； turning the edge towards the head of
the pillow。 He was a sharp lad； she was sure； for； spying out the
Major's cocked hat； he had said； if he might have that to wear； he was
sure he could frighten two Englishmen； or four Frenchmen any day。
But she had impressed upon him anew that he was to lose no time in
putting on hats or anything else； but； if he heard any noise； he was to run
at it with his drawn sword。 On my suggesting that some accident might
occur from such slaughterous and indiscriminate directions； and that he
might rush on Jenny getting up to wash； and have spitted her before he
had discovered that she was not a Frenchman； Mrs Forrester said she did
not think that that was likely； for he was a very sound sleeper； and
generally had to be well shaken or cold… pigged in a morning before they
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could rouse him。 She sometimes thought such dead sleep must be
owing to the hearty suppers the poor lad ate； for he was half…starved at
home； and she told Jenny to see that he got a good meal at night。
Still this was no confession of Mrs Forrester's peculiar timidity； and
we urged her to tell us what she thought would frighten her more than
anything。 She paused； and stirred the fire； and snuffed the candles； and
then she said； in a sounding whisper …
〃Ghosts！〃
She looked at Miss Pole； as much as to say； she had declared it； and
would stand by it。 Such a look was a challenge in itself。 Miss Pole
came down upon her with indigestion； spectral illusions； optical
delusions； and a great deal out of Dr Ferrier and Dr Hibbert besides。
Miss Matty had rather a leaning to ghosts； as I have mentioned before；
and what little she did say was all on Mrs Forrester's side； who；
emboldened by sympathy； protested that ghosts were a part of her
religion； that surely she； the widow of a major in the army； knew what to
be frightened at； and what not； in short； I never saw Mrs Forrester so
warm either before or since； for she was a gentle； meek； enduring old
lady in most things。 Not all the elder…wine that ever was mulled could
this night wash out the remembrance of this difference between Miss
Pole and her hostess。 Indeed； when the elder…wine was brought in； it
gave rise to a new burst of discussion； for Jenny； the little maiden who
staggered under the tray； had to give evidence of having seen a ghost
with her own eyes； not so many nights ago； in Darkness Lane； the very
lane we were to go through on our way home。
In spite of the uncomfortable feeling which this last consideration
gave me； I could not help being amused at Jenny's position； which was
exceedingly like that of a witness being examined and cross… examined by
two counsel who are not at all scrupulous about asking leading questions。
The conclusion I arrived at was； that Jenny had certainly seen something
beyond what a fit of indigestion would have caused。 A lady all in white；
and without her head； was what she deposed and adhered to； supported
by a consciousness of the secret sympathy of her mistress under the
withering scorn with which Miss Pole regarded her。 And not only she；
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but many others； had seen this headless lady； who sat by the roadside
wringing her hands as in deep grief。 Mrs Forrester looked at us from
time to time with an air of conscious triumph； but then she had not to
pass through Darkness Lane before she could bury herself beneath her
own familiar bed…clothes。
We preserved a discreet silence as to the headless lady while we
were putting on our things to go home； for there was no knowing how
near the ghostly head and ears might be； or what spiritual connection
they might be keeping up with the unhappy body in Darkness Lane； and；
therefore； even Miss Pole felt that it was as well not to speak lightly on
such subjects； for fear of vexing or insulting that woebegone trunk。 At
least； so I conjecture； for； instead of the busy clatter usual in the
operation； we tied on our cloaks as sadly as mutes at a funeral。 Miss
Matty drew the curtains round the windows of the chair to shut out
disagreeable sights； and the men （either because they were in spirits that
their labours were so nearly ended； or because they were going down
hill）； set off at such a round and merry pace； that it was all Miss Pole and
I could do to keep up with them。 She had breath for nothing beyond an
imploring 〃Don't leave me！〃 uttered as she clutched my arm so tightly
that I could not have quitted her； ghost or no ghost。 What a relief it was
when the men； weary of their burden and their quick trot； stopped just
where Headingley Causeway branches off from Darkness Lane！ Miss
Pole unloosed me and caught at one of the men …
〃Could not you … could not you take Miss Matty round by Headingley
Causeway？ … the pavement in Darkness Lane jolts so； and she is not very
strong。〃
A smothered voice was heard from the inside of the chair …
〃Oh！ pray go on！ What is the matter？ What is the matter？ I will
give you sixpence more to go on very fast； pray don't stop here。〃
〃And I'll give you a shilling；〃 said Miss Pole； with tremulous dignity；
〃if you'll go by Headingley Causeway。〃
The two men grunted acquiescence and took up the chair； and went
along the causeway； which certainly answered Miss Pole's kind purpose
of saving Miss Matty's bones； for it was covered with soft； thick mud；
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and even a fall there would have been easy till the getting…up came；
when there might have been some difficulty in extrication。
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CHAPTER XI … SAMUEL
BROWN
THE next morning I met Lady Glenmire and Miss Pole setting out on
a long walk to find some old woman who was famous in the
neighbourhood for her skill in knitting woollen stockings。 Miss Pole
said to me； with a smile half…kindly and half…contemptuous upon her
countenance； 〃I have been just telling Lady Glenmire of our poor friend
Mrs Forrester； and her terror of ghosts。 It comes from living so much
alone； and listening to the bug…a…boo stories of that Jenny of hers。〃 She
was so calm and so much above superstitious fears herself that I was
almost ashamed to say how glad I had been of her Headingley Causeway
proposition the night before； and turned off the conversation to
something else。
In the afternoon Miss Pole called on Miss Matty to tell her of the
adventure … the real adventure they had met with on their morning's walk。
They had been perplexed about the exact path which they were to take
across the fields in order to find the knitting old woman； and had
stopped to inquire at a little wayside public…house； standing on the high
road to London； about three miles from Cranford。 The good woman
had asked them to sit down and rest themselves while she fetched her
husband； who could direct them better than she could； and； while they
were sitting in the sanded parlour； a little girl came in。 They thought
that she belonged to the landlady； and began some trifling conversation
with her； but； on Mrs Roberts's return； she told them that the little thing
was the only child of a couple who were staying in the house。 And
then she began a long story； out o
