cranford(克兰弗德)-第43章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on in Miss Matty's present abode； the sum which the Cranford ladies had
agreed to contribute annually being sufficient to meet the greater part of
the rent； and leaving Martha free to appropriate what Miss Matty should
pay for her lodgings to any little extra comforts required。 About the
sale； my father was dubious at first。 He said the old rectory furniture；
however carefully used and reverently treated； would fetch very little；
and that little would be but as a drop in the sea of the debts of the
Town and County Bank。 But when I represented how Miss Matty's
tender conscience would be soothed by feeling that she had done what
she could； he gave way； especially after I had told him the five…pound
note adventure； and he had scolded me well for allowing it。 I then
alluded to my idea that she might add to her small income by selling tea；
and； to my surprise （for I had nearly given up the plan）； my father
grasped at it with all the energy of a tradesman。 I think he reckoned his
chickens before they were hatched； for he immediately ran up the profits
of the sales that she could effect in Cranford to more than twenty pounds
a year。 The small dining…parlour was to be converted into a shop；
without any of its degrading characteristics； a table was to be the
counter； one window was to be retained unaltered； and the other changed
into a glass door。 I evidently rose in his estimation for having made
this bright suggestion。 I only hoped we should not both fall in Miss
Matty's。
But she was patient and content with all our arrangements。 She
knew； she said； that we should do the best we could for her； and she only
hoped； only stipulated； that she should pay every farthing that she could
be said to owe； for her father's sake； who had been so respected in
Cranford。 My father and I had agreed to say as little as possible about
161
… Page 162…
Cranford
the bank； indeed never to mention it again； if it could be helped。 Some
of the plans were evidently a little perplexing to her； but she had seen
me sufficiently snubbed in the morning for want of comprehension to
venture on too many inquiries now； and all passed over well with a hope
on her part that no one would be hurried into marriage on her account。
When we came to the proposal that she should sell tea； I could see it was
rather a shock to her； not on account of any personal loss of gentility
involved； but only because she distrusted her own powers of action in a
new line of life； and would timidly have preferred a little more privation
to any exertion for which she feared she was unfitted。 However； when
she saw my father was bent upon it； she sighed； and said she would try；
and if she did not do well； of course she might give it up。 One good
thing about it was； she did not think men ever bought tea； and it was of
men particularly she was afraid。 They had such sharp loud ways with
them； and did up accounts； and counted their change so quickly！ Now；
if she might only sell comfits to children； she was sure she could please
them！
162
… Page 163…
Cranford
CHAPTER XV … A HAPPY
RETURN
BEFORE I left Miss Matty at Cranford everything had been
comfortably arranged for her。 Even Mrs Jamieson's approval of her
selling tea had been gained。 That oracle had taken a few days to
consider whether by so doing Miss Matty would forfeit her right to the
privileges of society in Cranford。 I think she had some little idea of
mortifying Lady Glenmire by the decision she gave at last； which was to
this effect： that whereas a married woman takes her husband's rank by
the strict laws of precedence； an unmarried woman retains the station her
father occupied。 So Cranford was allowed to visit Miss Matty； and；
whether allowed or not； it intended to visit Lady Glenmire。
But what was our surprise … our dismay … when we learnt that Mr and
MRS HOGGINS were returning on the following Tuesday！ Mrs Hoggins！
Had she absolutely dropped her title； and so； in a spirit of bravado； cut
the aristocracy to become a Hoggins！ She； who might have been called
Lady Glenmire to her dying day！ Mrs Jamieson was pleased。 She
said it only convinced her of what she had known from the first； that the
creature had a low taste。 But 〃the creature〃 looked very happy on
Sunday at church； nor did we see it necessary to keep our veils down on
that side of our bonnets on which Mr and Mrs Hoggins sat； as Mrs
Jamieson did； thereby missing all the smiling glory of his face； and all
the becoming blushes of hers。 I am not sure if Martha and Jem looked
more radiant in the afternoon； when they； too； made their first
appearance。 Mrs Jamieson soothed the turbulence of her soul by
having the blinds of her windows drawn down； as if for a funeral； on the
day when Mr and Mrs Hoggins received callers； and it was with some
difficulty that she was prevailed upon to continue the ST JAMES'S
CHRONICLE； so indignant was she with its having inserted the
announcement of the marriage。
Miss Matty's sale went off famously。 She retained the furniture of
163
… Page 164…
Cranford
her sitting…room and bedroom； the former of which she was to occupy
till Martha could meet with a lodger who might wish to take it； and into
this sitting…room and bedroom she had to cram all sorts of things； which
were （the auctioneer assured her） bought in for her at the sale by an
unknown friend。 I always suspected Mrs Fitz…Adam of this； but she
must have had an accessory； who knew what articles were particularly
regarded by Miss Matty on account of their associations with her early
days。 The rest of the house looked rather bare； to be sure； all except
one tiny bedroom； of which my father allowed me to purchase the
furniture for my occasional use in case of Miss Matty's illness。
I had expended my own small store in buying all manner of comfits
and lozenges； in order to tempt the little people whom Miss Matty loved
so much to come about her。 Tea in bright green canisters； and comfits
in tumblers … Miss Matty and I felt quite proud as we looked round us on
the evening before the shop was to be opened。 Martha had scoured the
boarded floor to a white cleanness； and it was adorned with a brilliant
piece of oil…cloth； on which customers were to stand before the table…
counter。 The wholesome smell of plaster and whitewash pervaded the
apartment。 A very small 〃Matilda Jenkyns； licensed to sell tea；〃 was
hidden under the lintel of the new door； and two boxes of tea； with
cabalistic inscriptions all over them； stood ready to disgorge their
contents into the canisters。
Miss Matty； as I ought to have mentioned before； had had some
scruples of conscience at selling tea when there was already Mr Johnson
in the town； who included it among his numerous commodities； and；
before she could quite reconcile herself to the adoption of her new
business； she had trotted down to his shop； unknown to me； to tell him of
the project that was entertained； and to inquire if it was likely to injure
his business。 My father called this idea of hers 〃great nonsense；〃 and
〃wondered how tradespeople were to get on if there was to be a
continual consulting of each other's interests； which would put a stop to
all competition directly。〃 And； perhaps； it would not have done in
Drumble； but in Cranford it answered very well； for not only did Mr
Johnson kindly put at rest all Miss Matty's scruples and fear of injuring
164
… Page 165…
Cranford
his business； but I have reason to know he repeatedly sent customers to
her； saying that the teas he kept were of a common kind； but that Miss
Jenkyns had all the choice sorts。 And expensive tea is a very favourite
luxury with well…to…do tradespeople and rich farmers' wives； who turn
up their noses at the Congou and Souchong prevalent at many tables of
gentility； and will have nothing else than Gunpowder and Pekoe for
themselves。
But to return to Miss Matty。 It was really very pleasant to see how
her unselfishness and simple sense of justice called out the same good
qualities in others。 She never seemed to think any one would impose
upon her； because she should be so grieved to do it to them。 I have
heard her put a stop to the asseverations of the man who brought her
coals by quietly
