cranford(克兰弗德)-第4章
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happened that when I went to visit Miss Pole I saw more of the Browns
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than I had done while staying with Miss Jenkyns； who had never got
over what she called Captain Brown's disparaging remarks upon Dr
Johnson as a writer of light and agreeable fiction。 I found that Miss
Brown was seriously ill of some lingering； incurable complaint； the pain
occasioned by which gave the uneasy expression to her face that I had
taken for unmitigated crossness。 Cross； too； she was at times； when the
nervous irritability occasioned by her disease became past endurance。
Miss Jessie bore with her at these times； even more patiently than she
did with the bitter self…upbraidings by which they were invariably
succeeded。 Miss Brown used to accuse herself； not merely of hasty and
irritable temper； but also of being the cause why her father and sister
were obliged to pinch； in order to allow her the small luxuries which
were necessaries in her condition。 She would so fain have made
sacrifices for them； and have lightened their cares； that the original
generosity of her disposition added acerbity to her temper。 All this was
borne by Miss Jessie and her father with more than placidity … with
absolute tenderness。 I forgave Miss Jessie her singing out of tune； and
her juvenility of dress； when I saw her at home。 I came to perceive that
Captain Brown's dark Brutus wig and padded coat （alas！ too often
threadbare） were remnants of the military smartness of his youth； which
he now wore unconsciously。 He was a man of infinite resources；
gained in his barrack experience。 As he confessed； no one could black
his boots to please him except himself； but； indeed； he was not above
saving the little maid…servant's labours in every way … knowing； most
likely； that his daughter's illness made the place a hard one。
He endeavoured to make peace with Miss Jenkyns soon after the
memorable dispute I have named； by a present of a wooden fire… shovel
（his own making）； having heard her say how much the grating of an iron
one annoyed her。 She received the present with cool gratitude； and
thanked him formally。 When he was gone； she bade me put it away in
the lumber…room； feeling； probably； that no present from a man who
preferred Mr Boz to Dr Johnson could be less jarring than an iron fire…
shovel。
Such was the state of things when I left Cranford and went to
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Drumble。 I had； however； several correspondents； who kept me AU
FAIT as to the proceedings of the dear little town。 There was Miss Pole；
who was becoming as much absorbed in crochet as she had been once in
knitting； and the burden of whose letter was something like； 〃But don't
you forget the white worsted at Flint's〃 of the old song； for at the end of
every sentence of news came a fresh direction as to some crochet
commission which I was to execute for her。 Miss Matilda Jenkyns
（who did not mind being called Miss Matty； when Miss Jenkyns was not
by） wrote nice； kind； rambling letters； now and then venturing into an
opinion of her own； but suddenly pulling herself up； and either begging
me not to name what she had said； as Deborah thought differently； and
SHE knew； or else putting in a postscript to the effect that； since writing
the above； she had been talking over the subject with Deborah； and was
quite convinced that； etc。 … （here probably followed a recantation of
every opinion she had given in the letter）。 Then came Miss Jenkyns …
Deborah； as she liked Miss Matty to call her； her father having once said
that the Hebrew name ought to be so pronounced。 I secretly think she
took the Hebrew prophetess for a model in character； and； indeed； she
was not unlike the stern prophetess in some ways； making allowance； of
course； for modern customs and difference in dress。 Miss Jenkyns
wore a cravat； and a little bonnet like a jockey…cap； and altogether had
the appearance of a strong…minded woman； although she would have
despised the modern idea of women being equal to men。 Equal； indeed！
she knew they were superior。 But to return to her letters。 Everything
in them was stately and grand like herself。 I have been looking them
over （dear Miss Jenkyns； how I honoured her！） and I will give an
extract； more especially because it relates to our friend Captain Brown：…
〃The Honourable Mrs Jamieson has only just quitted me； and； in the
course of conversation； she communicated to me the intelligence that she
had yesterday received a call from her revered husband's quondam
friend； Lord Mauleverer。 You will not easily conjecture what brought
his lordship within the precincts of our little town。 It was to see Captain
Brown； with whom； it appears； his lordship was acquainted in the
'plumed wars；' and who had the privilege of averting destruction from
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his lordship's head when some great peril was impending over it； off the
misnomered Cape of Good Hope。 You know our friend the Honourable
Mrs Jamieson's deficiency in the spirit of innocent curiosity； and you
will therefore not be so much surprised when I tell you she was quite
unable to disclose to me the exact nature of the peril in question。 I was
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
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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 re
