cranford(克兰弗德)-第46章
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but the hand met the touch of folds of soft muslin in which she was
always swathed up to her chin； and the sensation recalled a sense of the
unsuitableness of a pearl necklace to her age。 She said； 〃I'm afraid I'm
too old； but it was very kind of you to think of it。 They are just what I
should have liked years ago … when I was young。〃
〃So I thought； my little Matty。 I remembered your tastes； they were
so like my dear mother's。〃 At the mention of that name the brother and
sister clasped each other's hands yet more fondly； and； although they
were perfectly silent； I fancied they might have something to say if they
were unchecked by my presence； and I got up to arrange my room for
Mr Peter's occupation that night； intending myself to share Miss Matty's
bed。 But at my movement； he started up。 〃I must go and settle about
a room at the 'George。' My carpet…bag is there too。〃
〃No！〃 said Miss Matty； in great distress … 〃you must not go； please；
dear Peter … pray； Mary … oh！ you must not go！〃
She was so much agitated that we both promised everything she
wished。 Peter sat down again and gave her his hand； which for better
security she held in both of hers； and I left the room to accomplish my
arrangements。
Long； long into the night； far； far into the morning； did Miss Matty
and I talk。 She had much to tell me of her brother's life and adventures；
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which he had communicated to her as they had sat alone。 She said all
was thoroughly clear to her； but I never quite understood the whole story；
and when in after days I lost my awe of Mr Peter enough to question him
myself； he laughed at my curiosity； and told me stories that sounded so
very much like Baron Munchausen's； that I was sure he was making fun
of me。 What I heard from Miss Matty was that he had been a volunteer
at the siege of Rangoon； had been taken prisoner by the Burmese； and
somehow obtained favour and eventual freedom from knowing how to
bleed the chief of the small tribe in some case of dangerous illness； that
on his release from years of captivity he had had his letters returned
from England with the ominous word 〃Dead〃 marked upon them； and；
believing himself to be the last of his race； he had settled down as an
indigo planter； and had proposed to spend the remainder of his life in the
country to whose inhabitants and modes of life he had become
habituated； when my letter had reached him； and； with the odd
vehemence which characterised him in age as it had done in youth； he
had sold his land and all his possessions to the first purchaser； and come
home to the poor old sister； who was more glad and rich than any
princess when she looked at him。 She talked me to sleep at last； and
then I was awakened by a slight sound at the door； for which she begged
my pardon as she crept penitently into bed； but it seems that when I
could no longer confirm her belief that the long…lost was really here …
under the same roof … she had begun to fear lest it was only a waking
dream of hers； that there never had been a Peter sitting by her all that
blessed evening … but that the real Peter lay dead far away beneath some
wild sea… wave； or under some strange eastern tree。 And so strong had
this nervous feeling of hers become； that she was fain to get up and go
and convince herself that he was really there by listening through the
door to his even； regular breathing … I don't like to call it snoring； but I
heard it myself through two closed doors … and by… and…by it soothed Miss
Matty to sleep。
I don't believe Mr Peter came home from India as rich as a nabob； he
even considered himself poor； but neither he nor Miss Matty cared much
about that。 At any rate； he had enough to live upon 〃very genteelly〃 at
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Cranford； he and Miss Matty together。 And a day or two after his
arrival； the shop was closed； while troops of little urchins gleefully
awaited the shower of comfits and lozenges that came from time to time
down upon their faces as they stood up… gazing at Miss Matty's drawing…
room windows。 Occasionally Miss Matty would say to them （half…
hidden behind the curtains）； 〃My dear children； don't make yourselves
ill；〃 but a strong arm pulled her back； and a more rattling shower than
ever succeeded。 A part of the tea was sent in presents to the Cranford
ladies； and some of it was distributed among the old people who
remembered Mr Peter in the days of his frolicsome youth。 The Indian
muslin gown was reserved for darling Flora Gordon （Miss Jessie
Brown's daughter）。 The Gordons had been on the Continent for the last
few years； but were now expected to return very soon； and Miss Matty；
in her sisterly pride； anticipated great delight in the joy of showing them
Mr Peter。 The pearl necklace disappeared； and about that time many
handsome and useful presents made their appearance in the households
of Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester； and some rare and delicate Indian
ornaments graced the drawing…rooms of Mrs Jamieson and Mrs Fitz…
Adam。 I myself was not forgotten。 Among other things； I had the
handsomest…bound and best edition of Dr Johnson's works that could be
procured； and dear Miss Matty； with tears in her eyes； begged me to
consider it as a present from her sister as well as herself。 In short； no
one was forgotten； and； what was more； every one； however
insignificant； who had shown kindness to Miss Matty at any time； was
sure of Mr Peter's cordial regard。
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CHAPTER XVI … PEACE TO
CRANFORD
IT was not surprising that Mr Peter became such a favourite at
Cranford。 The ladies vied with each other who should admire him
most； and no wonder； for their quiet lives were astonishingly stirred up
by the arrival from India … especially as the person arrived told more
wonderful stories than Sindbad the Sailor； and； as Miss Pole said； was
quite as good as an Arabian Night any evening。 For my own part； I had
vibrated all my life between Drumble and Cranford； and I thought it was
quite possible that all Mr Peter's stories might be true； although
wonderful； but when I found that； if we swallowed an anecdote of
tolerable magnitude one week； we had the dose considerably increased
the next； I began to have my doubts； especially as I noticed that when his
sister was present the accounts of Indian life were comparatively tame；
not that she knew more than we did； perhaps less。 I noticed also that
when the rector came to call； Mr Peter talked in a different way about
the countries he had been in。 But I don't think the ladies in Cranford
would have considered him such a wonderful traveller if they had only
heard him talk in the quiet way he did to him。 They liked him the
better； indeed； for being what they called 〃so very Oriental。〃
One day； at a select party in his honour； which Miss Pole gave； and
from which； as Mrs Jamieson honoured it with her presence； and had
even offered to send Mr Mulliner to wait； Mr and Mrs Hoggins and Mrs
Fitz…Adam were necessarily … excluded one day at Miss Pole's； Mr Peter
said he was tired of sitting upright against the hard… backed uneasy chairs；
and asked if he might not indulge himself in sitting cross…legged。 Miss
Pole's consent was eagerly given； and down he went with the utmost
gravity。 But when Miss Pole asked me； in an audible whisper； 〃if he
did not remind me of the Father of the Faithful？〃 I could not help
thinking of poor Simon Jones； the lame tailor； and while Mrs Jamieson
slowly commented on the elegance and convenience of the attitude； I
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remembered how we had all followed that lady's lead in condemning Mr
Hoggins for vulgarity because he simply crossed his legs as he sat still
on his chair。 Many of Mr Peter's ways of eating were a little strange
amongst such ladies as Miss Pole； and Miss Matty； and Mrs Jamieson；
especially when I recollected the untasted green peas and two… pronged
forks at poor Mr Holbrook's dinner。
The mention of that gentleman's name recalls to my mind a
conversation between Mr Peter and Miss Matty one evening in the
summer after he returned to Cranford。 The day had been very hot； and
Miss Matty had been much oppressed by the weather； in the heat of
which her brother revelled。 I remember that she had been unable to
nurse Martha's baby； which had become her favourite employment of
late； and which w
