cranford(克兰弗德)-第48章
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married couple as Lady Glenmire and Mr Hoggins？ But would they be
visited？ Would Mrs Jamieson let us？ Or must we choose between the
Honourable Mrs Jamieson and the degraded Lady Glenmire？ We all
liked Lady Glenmire the best。 She was bright； and kind； and sociable；
and agreeable； and Mrs Jamieson was dull； and inert； and pompous； and
tiresome。 But we had acknowledged the sway of the latter so long； that
it seemed like a kind of disloyalty now even to meditate disobedience to
the prohibition we anticipated。
Mrs Forrester surprised us in our darned caps and patched collars；
and we forgot all about them in our eagerness to see how she would bear
the information； which we honourably left to Miss Pole； to impart；
although； if we had been inclined to take unfair advantage； we might
have rushed in ourselves； for she had a most out…of…place fit of coughing
for five minutes after Mrs Forrester entered the room。 I shall never
forget the imploring expression of her eyes； as she looked at us over her
pocket…handkerchief。 They said； as plain as words could speak； 〃Don't
let Nature deprive me of the treasure which is mine； although for a time I
can make no use of it。〃 And we did not。
Mrs Forrester's surprise was equal to ours； and her sense of injury
rather greater； because she had to feel for her Order； and saw more fully
than we could do how such conduct brought stains on the aristocracy。
When she and Miss Pole left us we endeavoured to subside into
calmness； but Miss Matty was really upset by the intelligence she had
heard。 She reckoned it up； and it was more than fifteen years since she
had heard of any of her acquaintance going to be married； with the one
exception of Miss Jessie Brown； and； as she said； it gave her quite a
shock； and made her feel as if she could not think what would happen
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next。
I don't know whether it is a fancy of mine； or a real fact； but I have
noticed that； just after the announcement of an engagement in any set；
the unmarried ladies in that set flutter out in an unusual gaiety and
newness of dress； as much as to say； in a tacit and unconscious manner；
〃We also are spinsters。〃 Miss Matty and Miss Pole talked and thought
more about bonnets； gowns； caps； and shawls； during the fortnight that
succeeded this call； than I had known them do for years before。 But it
might be the spring weather； for it was a warm and pleasant March； and
merinoes and beavers； and woollen materials of all sorts were but
ungracious receptacles of the bright sun's glancing rays。 It had not
been Lady Glenmire's dress that had won Mr Hoggins's heart； for she
went about on her errands of kindness more shabby than ever。
Although in the hurried glimpses I caught of her at church or elsewhere
she appeared rather to shun meeting any of her friends； her face seemed
to have almost something of the flush of youth in it； her lips looked
redder and more trembling full than in their old compressed state； and
her eyes dwelt on all things with a lingering light； as if she was learning
to love Cranford and its belongings。 Mr Hoggins looked broad and
radiant； and creaked up the middle aisle at church in a brand…new pair of
top…boots … an audible； as well as visible； sign of his purposed change of
state； for the tradition went； that the boots he had worn till now were the
identical pair in which he first set out on his rounds in Cranford twenty…
five years ago； only they had been new…pieced； high and low； top and
bottom； heel and sole； black leather and brown leather； more times than
any one could tell。
None of the ladies in Cranford chose to sanction the marriage by
congratulating either of the parties。 We wished to ignore the whole
affair until our liege lady； Mrs Jamieson； returned。 Till she came back
to give us our cue； we felt that it would be better to consider the
engagement in the same light as the Queen of Spain's legs … facts which
certainly existed； but the less said about the better。 This restraint upon
our tongues … for you see if we did not speak about it to any of the
parties concerned； how could we get answers to the questions that we
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longed to ask？ … was beginning to be irksome； and our idea of the dignity
of silence was paling before our curiosity； when another direction was
given to our thoughts； by an announcement on the part of the principal
shopkeeper of Cranford； who ranged the trades from grocer and
cheesemonger to man…milliner； as occasion required； that the spring
fashions were arrived； and would be exhibited on the following Tuesday
at his rooms in High Street。 Now Miss Matty had been only waiting
for this before buying herself a new silk gown。 I had offered； it is true；
to send to Drumble for patterns； but she had rejected my proposal； gently
implying that she had not forgotten her disappointment about the sea…
green turban。 I was thankful that I was on the spot now； to counteract
the dazzling fascination of any yellow or scarlet silk。
I must say a word or two here about myself。 I have spoken of my
father's old friendship for the Jenkyns family； indeed； I am not sure if
there was not some distant relationship。 He had willingly allowed me
to remain all the winter at Cranford； in consideration of a letter which
Miss Matty had written to him about the time of the panic； in which I
suspect she had exaggerated my powers and my bravery as a defender of
the house。 But now that the days were longer and more cheerful； he
was beginning to urge the necessity of my return； and I only delayed in a
sort of odd forlorn hope that if I could obtain any clear information； I
might make the account given by the signora of the Aga Jenkyns tally
with that of 〃poor Peter；〃 his appearance and disappearance； which I had
winnowed out of the conversation of Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester。
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CHAPTER XIII … STOPPED
PAYMENT
THE very Tuesday morning on which Mr Johnson was going to show
the fashions； the post…woman brought
