cranford(克兰弗德)-第8章
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sure she would have trained a servant in a week to make a better fire
than this； and Fanny has been with me four months。〃
This subject of servants was a standing grievance； and I could not
wonder much at it； for if gentlemen were scarce； and almost unheard of
in the 〃genteel society〃 of Cranford； they or their counterparts …
handsome young men … abounded in the lower classes。 The pretty neat
servant…maids had their choice of desirable 〃followers〃； and their
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mistresses； without having the sort of mysterious dread of men and
matrimony that Miss Matilda had； might well feel a little anxious lest the
heads of their comely maids should be turned by the joiner； or the
butcher； or the gardener； who were obliged； by their callings； to come to
the house； and who； as ill…luck would have it； were generally handsome
and unmarried。 Fanny's lovers； if she had any … and Miss Matilda
suspected her of so many flirtations that； if she had not been very pretty；
I should have doubted her having one … were a constant anxiety to her
mistress。 She was forbidden； by the articles of her engagement； to have
〃followers〃； and though she had answered； innocently enough； doubling
up the hem of her apron as she spoke； 〃Please； ma'am； I never had more
than one at a time；〃 Miss Matty prohibited that one。 But a vision of a
man seemed to haunt the kitchen。 Fanny assured me that it was all
fancy； or else I should have said myself that I had seen a man's coat…tails
whisk into the scullery once； when I went on an errand into the store…
room at night； and another evening； when； our watches having stopped； I
went to look at the clock； there was a very odd appearance； singularly
like a young man squeezed up between the clock and the back of the
open kitchen…door： and I thought Fanny snatched up the candle very
hastily； so as to throw the shadow on the clock face； while she very
positively told me the time half…an…hour too early； as we found out
afterwards by the church clock。 But I did not add to Miss Matty's
anxieties by naming my suspicions； especially as Fanny said to me； the
next day； that it was such a queer kitchen for having odd shadows about
it； she really was almost afraid to stay； 〃for you know； miss；〃 she
added； 〃I don't see a creature from six o'clock tea； till Missus rings the
bell for prayers at ten。〃
However； it so fell out that Fanny had to leave and Miss Matilda
begged me to stay and 〃settle her〃 with the new maid； to which I
consented； after I had heard from my father that he did not want me at
home。 The new servant was a rough； honest…looking； country girl； who
had only lived in a farm place before； but I liked her looks when she
came to be hired； and I promised Miss Matilda to put her in the ways of
the house。 The said ways were religiously such as Miss Matilda
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thought her sister would approve。 Many a domestic rule and regulation
had been a subject of plaintive whispered murmur to me during Miss
Jenkyns's life； but now that she was gone； I do not think that even I； who
was a favourite； durst have suggested an alteration。 To give an instance：
we constantly adhered to the forms which were observed； at meal…times；
in 〃my father； the rector's house。〃 Accordingly； we had always wine
and dessert； but the decanters were only filled when there was a party；
and what remained was seldom touched； though we had two wine… glasses
apiece every day after dinner； until the next festive occasion arrived；
when the state of the remainder wine was examined into in a family
council。 The dregs were often given to the poor： but occasionally；
when a good deal had been left at the last party （five months ago； it
might be）； it was added to some of a fresh bottle； brought up from the
cellar。 I fancy poor Captain Brown did not much like wine； for I
noticed he never finished his first glass； and most military men take
several。 Then； as to our dessert； Miss Jenkyns used to gather currants
and gooseberries for it herself； which I sometimes thought would have
tasted better fresh from the trees； but then； as Miss Jenkyns observed；
there would have been nothing for dessert in summer…time。 As it was；
we felt very genteel with our two glasses apiece； and a dish of
gooseberries at the top； of currants and biscuits at the sides； and two
decanters at the bottom。 When oranges came in； a curious proceeding
was gone through。 Miss Jenkyns did not like to cut the fruit； for； as she
observed； the juice all ran out nobody knew where； sucking （only I think
she used some more recondite word） was in fact the only way of
enjoying oranges； but then there was the unpleasant association with a
ceremony frequently gone through by little babies； and so； after dessert；
in orange season； Miss Jenkyns and Miss Matty used to rise up； possess
themselves each of an orange in silence； and withdraw to the privacy of
their own rooms to indulge in sucking oranges。
I had once or twice tried； on such occasions； to prevail on Miss
Matty to stay； and had succeeded in her sister's lifetime。 I held up a
screen； and did not look； and； as she said； she tried not to make the noise
very offensive； but now that she was left alone； she seemed quite
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horrified when I begged her to remain with me in the warm dining…
parlour； and enjoy her orange as she liked best。 And so it was in
everything。 Miss Jenkyns's rules were made more stringent than ever；
because the framer of them was gone where there could be no appeal。
In all things else Miss Matilda was meek and undecided to a fault。 I
have heard Fanny turn her round twenty times in a morning about dinner；
just as the little hussy chose； and I sometimes fancied she worked on
Miss Matilda's weakness in order to bewilder her； and to make her feel
more in the power of her clever servant。 I determined that I would not
leave her till I had seen what sort of a person Martha was； and； if I found
her trustworthy； I would tell her not to trouble her mistress with every
little decision。
Martha was blunt and plain…spoken to a fault； otherwise she was a
brisk； well…meaning； but very ignorant girl。 She had not been with us a
week before Miss Matilda and I were astounded one morning by the
receipt of a letter from a cousin of hers； who had been twenty or thirty
years in India； and who had lately； as we had seen by the 〃Army List；〃
returned to England； bringing with him an invalid wife who had never
been introduced to her English relations。 Major Jenkyns wrote to
propose that he and his wife should spend a night at Cranford； on his
way to Scotland … at the inn； if it did not suit Miss Matilda to receive
them into her house； in which case they should hope to be with her as
much as possible during the day。 Of course it MUST suit her； as she
said； for all Cranford knew that she had her sister's bedroom at liberty；
but I am sure she wished the Major had stopped in India and forgotten
his cousins out and out。
〃Oh！ how must I manage？〃 asked she helplessly。 〃If Deborah had
been alive she would have known what to do with a gentleman… visitor。
Must I put razors in his dressing…room？ Dear！ dear！ and I've got none。
Deborah would have had them。 And slippers； and coat…brushes？〃 I
suggested that probably he would bring all these things with him。
〃And after dinner； how am I to know when to get up and leave him to his
wine？ Deborah would have done it so well； she would have been quite
in her element。 Will he want coffee； do you think？〃 I undertook the
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management of the coffee； and told her I would instruct Martha in the art
of waiting … in which it must be owned she was terribly deficient … and
that I had no doubt Major and Mrs Jenkyns would understand the quiet
mode in which a lady lived by herself in a country town。 But she was
sadly fluttered。 I made her empty her decanters and bring up two fresh
bottles of wine。 I wished I could have prevented her from being
present at my instructions to Martha； for she frequently cut in with some
fresh direction； muddling the poor girl's mind as she stood open…
mouthed； listening to us both。
〃Hand the vegetables round；〃 said I （foolishly； I see now … for it
