cranford(克兰弗德)-第32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！
very pleasant。
Mrs Jamieson； meanwhile； was absorbed in wonder why Mr Mulliner
did not bring the tea； and at length the wonder oozed out of her mouth。
〃I had better ring the bell； my dear； had not I？〃 said Lady Glenmire
briskly。
〃No … I think not … Mulliner does not like to be hurried。〃
We should have liked our tea； for we dined at an earlier hour than
Mrs Jamieson。 I suspect Mr Mulliner had to finish the ST JAMES'S
CHRONICLE before he chose to trouble himself about tea。 His
mistress fidgeted and fidgeted； and kept saying； I can't think why
Mulliner does not bring tea。 I can't think what he can be about。〃 And
Lady Glenmire at last grew quite impatient； but it was a pretty kind of
87
… Page 88…
Cranford
impatience after all； and she rang the bell rather sharply； on receiving a
half…permission from her sister…in…law to do so。 Mr Mulliner appeared
in dignified surprise。 〃Oh！〃 said Mrs Jamieson； 〃Lady Glenmire rang
the bell； I believe it was for tea。〃
In a few minutes tea was brought。 Very delicate was the china； very
old the plate； very thin the bread and butter； and very small the lumps of
sugar。 Sugar was evidently Mrs Jamieson's favourite economy。 I
question if the little filigree sugar…tongs； made something like scissors；
could have opened themselves wide enough to take up an honest； vulgar
good…sized piece； and when I tried to seize two little minnikin pieces at
once； so as not to be detected in too many returns to the sugar…basin；
they absolutely dropped one； with a little sharp clatter； quite in a
malicious and unnatural manner。 But before this happened we had had
a slight disappointment。 In the little silver jug was cream； in the larger
one was milk。 As soon as Mr Mulliner came in； Carlo began to beg；
which was a thing our manners forebade us to do； though I am sure we
were just as hungry； and Mrs Jamieson said she was certain we would
excuse her if she gave her poor dumb Carlo his tea first。 She
accordingly mixed a saucerful for him； and put it down for him to lap；
and then she told us how intelligent and sensible the dear little fellow
was； he knew cream quite well； and constantly refused tea with only
milk in it： so the milk was left for us； but we silently thought we were
quite as intelligent and sensible as Carlo； and felt as if insult were added
to injury when we were called upon to admire the gratitude evinced by
his wagging his tail for the cream which should have been ours。
After tea we thawed down into common…life subjects。 We were
thankful to Lady Glenmire for having proposed some more bread and
butter； and this mutual want made us better acquainted with her than we
should ever have been with talking about the Court； though Miss Pole
did say she had hoped to know how the dear Queen was from some one
who had seen her。
The friendship begun over bread and butter extended on to cards。
Lady Glenmire played Preference to admiration； and was a complete
authority as to Ombre and Quadrille。 Even Miss Pole quite forgot to
88
… Page 89…
Cranford
say 〃my lady；〃 and 〃your ladyship；〃 and said 〃Basto！ ma'am〃； 〃you have
Spadille； I believe；〃 just as quietly as if we had never held the great
Cranford Parliament on the subject of the proper mode of addressing a
peeress。
As a proof of how thoroughly we had forgotten that we were in the
presence of one who might have sat down to tea with a coronet； instead
of a cap； on her head； Mrs Forrester related a curious little fact to Lady
Glenmire … an anecdote known to the circle of her intimate friends； but
of which even Mrs Jamieson was not aware。 It related to some fine old
lace； the sole relic of better days； which Lady Glenmire was admiring on
Mrs Forrester's collar。
〃Yes；〃 said that lady； 〃such lace cannot be got now for either love or
money； made by the nuns abroad； they tell me。 They say that they can't
make it now even there。 But perhaps they can； now they've passed the
Catholic Emancipation Bill。 I should not wonder。 But； in the
meantime； I treasure up my lace very much。 I daren't even trust the
washing of it to my maid〃 （the little charity school…girl I have named
before； but who sounded well as 〃my maid〃）。 〃I always wash it myself。
And once it had a narrow escape。 Of course； your ladyship knows that
such lace must never be starched or ironed。 Some people wash it in
sugar and water； and some in coffee； to make it the right yellow colour；
but I myself have a very good receipt for washing it in milk； which
stiffens it enough； and gives it a very good creamy colour。 Well； ma'am；
I had tacked it together （and the beauty of this fine lace is that； when it
is wet； it goes into a very little space）； and put it to soak in milk； when；
unfortunately； I left the room； on my return； I found pussy on the table；
looking very like a thief； but gulping very uncomfortably； as if she was
half…chocked with something she wanted to swallow and could not。
And； would you believe it？ At first I pitied her； and said 'Poor pussy！
poor pussy！' till； all at once； I looked and saw the cup of milk empty …
cleaned out！ 'You naughty cat！' said I； and I believe I was provoked
enough to give her a slap； which did no good； but only helped the lace
down … just as one slaps a choking child on the back。 I could have cried；
I was so vexed； but I determined I would not give the lace up without a
89
… Page 90…
Cranford
struggle for it。 I hoped the lace might disagree with her； at any rate； but
it would have been too much for Job； if he had seen； as I did； that cat
come in； quite placid and purring； not a quarter of an hour after； and
almost expecting to be stroked。 'No； pussy！' said I； 'if you have any
conscience you ought not to expect that！' And then a thought struck me；
and I rang the bell for my maid； and sent her to Mr Hoggins； with my
compliments； and would he be kind enough to lend me one of his top…
boots for an hour？ I did not think there was anything odd in the
message； but Jenny said the young men in the surgery laughed as if they
would be ill at my wanting a top…boot。
