cranford(克兰弗德)-第40章
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she wrote to my father。
No！ there was nothing she could teach to the rising generation of
Cranford； unless they had been quick learners and ready imitators of her
patience； her humility； her sweetness； her quiet contentment with all that
she could not do。 I pondered and pondered until dinner was announced
by Martha； with a face all blubbered and swollen with crying。
Miss Matty had a few little peculiarities which Martha was apt to
regard as whims below her attention； and appeared to consider as
childish fancies of which an old lady of fifty…eight should try and cure
herself。 But to…day everything was attended to with the most careful
regard。 The bread was cut to the imaginary pattern of excellence that
existed in Miss Matty's mind； as being the way which her mother had
preferred； the curtain was drawn so as to exclude the dead brick wall of a
neighbour's stable； and yet left so as to show every tender leaf of the
poplar which was bursting into spring beauty。 Martha's tone to Miss
Matty was just such as that good； rough…spoken servant usually kept
sacred for little children； and which I had never heard her use to any
grown…up person。
I had forgotten to tell Miss Matty about the pudding； and I was afraid
she might not do justice to it； for she had evidently very little appetite
this day； so I seized the opportunity of letting her into the secret while
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Martha took away the meat。 Miss Matty's eyes filled with tears； and
she could not speak； either to express surprise or delight； when Martha
returned bearing it aloft； made in the most wonderful representation of a
lion COUCHANT that ever was moulded。 Martha's face gleamed with
triumph as she set it down before Miss Matty with an exultant 〃There！〃
Miss Matty wanted to speak her thanks； but could not； so she took
Martha's hand and shook it warmly； which set Martha off crying； and I
myself could hardly keep up the necessary composure。 Martha burst
out of the room； and Miss Matty had to clear her voice once or twice
before she could speak。 At last she said； 〃I should like to keep this
pudding under a glass shade； my dear！〃 and the notion of the lion
COUCHANT； with his currant eyes； being hoisted up to the place of
honour on a mantelpiece； tickled my hysterical fancy； and I began to
laugh； which rather surprised Miss Matty。
〃I am sure； dear； I have seen uglier things under a glass shade before
now；〃 said she。
So had I； many a time and oft； and I accordingly composed my
countenance （and now I could hardly keep from crying）； and we both
fell to upon the pudding； which was indeed excellent … only every morsel
seemed to choke us； our hearts were so full。
We had too much to think about to talk much that afternoon。 It
passed over very tranquilly。 But when the tea…urn was brought in a
new thought came into my head。 Why should not Miss Matty sell tea …
be an agent to the East India Tea Company which then existed？ I could
see no objections to this plan； while the advantages were many … always
supposing that Miss Matty could get over the degradation of
condescending to anything like trade。 Tea was neither greasy nor
sticky … grease and stickiness being two of the qualities which Miss
Matty could not endure。 No shop…window would be required。 A
small； genteel notification of her being licensed to sell tea would； it is
true； be necessary； but I hoped that it could be placed where no one
would see it。 Neither was tea a heavy article； so as to tax Miss Matty's
fragile strength。 The only thing against my plan was the buying and
selling involved。
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While I was giving but absent answers to the questions Miss Matty
was putting … almost as absently … we heard a clumping sound on the
stairs； and a whispering outside the door； which indeed once opened and
shut as if by some invisible agency。 After a little while Martha came in；
dragging after her a great tall young man； all crimson with shyness； and
finding his only relief in perpetually sleeking down his hair。
〃Please； ma'am； he's only Jem Hearn；〃 said Martha； by way of an
introduction； and so out of breath was she that I imagine she had had
some bodily struggle before she could overcome his reluctance to be
presented on the courtly scene of Miss Matilda Jenkyns's drawing…room。
〃And please； ma'am； he wants to marry me off…hand。 And please；
ma'am； we want to take a lodger … just one quiet lodger； to make our two
ends meet； and we'd take any house conformable； and； oh dear Miss
Matty； if I may be so bold； would you have any objections to lodging
with us？ Jem wants it as much as I do。〃 ＇To Jem ＇ … 〃You great oaf！
why can't you back me！ … But he does want it all the same； very bad …
don't you； Jem？ … only； you see； he's dazed at being called on to speak
before quality。〃
〃It's not that；〃 broke in Jem。 〃It's that you've taken me all on a
sudden； and I didn't think for to get married so soon … and such quick
words does flabbergast a man。 It's not that I'm against it； ma'am〃
（addressing Miss Matty）； 〃only Martha has such quick ways with her
when once she takes a thing into her head； and marriage； ma'am …
marriage nails a man； as one may say。 I dare say I shan't mind it after
it's once over。〃
〃Please； ma'am；〃 said Martha … who had plucked at his sleeve； and
nudged him with her elbow； and otherwise tried to interrupt him all the
time he had been speaking … 〃don't mind him； he'll come to； 'twas only
last night he was an…axing me； and an…axing me； and all the more
because I said I could not think of it for years to come； and now he's
only taken aback with the suddenness of the joy； but you know； Jem； you
are just as full as me about wanting a lodger。〃 （Another great nudge。）
〃Ay！ if Miss Matty would lodge with us … otherwise I've no mind to
be cumbered with strange folk in the house；〃 said Jem； with a want of
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tact which I could see enraged Martha； who was trying to represent a
lodger as the great object they wished to obtain； and that； in fact； Miss
Matty would be smoothing their path and conferring a favour； if she
would only come and live with them。
Miss Matty herself was bewildered by the pair； their； or rather
Martha's sudden resolution in favour of matrimony staggered her； and
stood between her and the contemplation of the plan which Martha had
at heart。 Miss Matty began …
〃Marriage is a very solemn thing； Martha。〃
〃It is indeed； ma'am；〃 quoth Jem。 〃Not that I've no objections to
Martha。〃
〃You've never let me a…be for asking me for to fix when I would be
married；〃 said Martha … her face all a…fire； and ready to cry with vexation
… 〃and now you're shaming me before my missus and all。〃
〃Nay； now！ Martha don't ee！ don't ee！ only a man likes to have
breathing…time；〃 said Jem； trying to possess himself of her hand； but in
vain。 Then seeing that she was more seriously hurt than he had
imagined； he seemed to try to rally his scattered faculties； and with more
straightforward dignity than； ten minutes before； I should have thought it
possible for him to assume； he turned to Miss Matty； and said； 〃I hope；
ma'am； you know that I am bound to respect every one who has been
kind to Martha。 I always looked on her as to be my wife … some time；
and she has often and often spoken of you as the kindest lady that ever
was； and though the plain truth is； I would not like to be troubled with
lodgers of the common run； yet if； ma'am； you'd honour us by living
with us； I'm sure Martha would do her best to make you comfortable；
and I'd keep out of your way as much as I could； which I reckon would
be the best kindness such an awkward chap as me could do。〃
Miss Matty had been very busy with taking off her spectacles；
wiping them； and replacing them； but all she could say was； 〃Don't let
any thought of me hurry you into marriage： pray don't。 Marriage is
such a very solemn thing！〃
〃But Miss Matilda will think of your plan； Martha；〃 said I； struck
with the advantages that it offered； and unwilling to lose the opportunity
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