cranford(克兰弗德)-第16章
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lady's excellent taste and sound discrimination。〃
〃Did Miss Jenkyns know of these tricks？〃 said I。
〃Oh； no！ Deborah would have been too much shocked。 No； no one
knew but me。 I wish I had always known of Peter's plans； but
sometimes he did not tell me。 He used to say the old ladies in the town
wanted something to talk about； but I don't think they did。 They had the
ST JAMES'S CHRONICLE three times a week； just as we have now；
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and we have plenty to say； and I remember the clacking noise there
always was when some of the ladies got together。 But； probably；
schoolboys talk more than ladies。 At last there was a terrible； sad thing
happened。〃 Miss Matty got up； went to the door； and opened it； no one
was there。 She rang the bell for Martha； and when Martha came； her
mistress told her to go for eggs to a farm at the other end of the town。
〃I will lock the door after you； Martha。 You are not afraid to go； are
you？〃
〃No； ma'am； not at all； Jem Hearn will be only too proud to go with
me。〃
Miss Matty drew herself up； and as soon as we were alone； she
wished that Martha had more maidenly reserve。
〃We'll put out the candle； my dear。 We can talk just as well by
firelight； you know。 There！ Well； you see； Deborah had gone from
home for a fortnight or so； it was a very still； quiet day； I remember；
overhead； and the lilacs were all in flower； so I suppose it was spring。
My father had gone out to see some sick people in the parish； I recollect
seeing him leave the house with his wig and shovel…hat and cane。
What possessed our poor Peter I don't know； he had the sweetest temper；
and yet he always seemed to like to plague Deborah。 She never
laughed at his jokes； and thought him ungenteel； and not careful enough
about improving his mind； and that vexed him。
〃Well！ he went to her room； it seems； and dressed himself in her old
gown； and shawl； and bonnet； just the things she used to wear in
Cranford； and was known by everywhere； and he made the pillow into a
little … you are sure you locked the door； my dear； for I should not like
anyone to hear … into … into a little baby； with white long clothes。 It was
only； as he told me afterwards； to make something to talk about in the
town； he never thought of it as affecting Deborah。 And he went and
walked up and down in the Filbert walk … just half…hidden by the rails；
and half…seen； and he cuddled his pillow； just like a baby； and talked to it
all the nonsense people do。 Oh dear！ and my father came stepping
stately up the street； as he always did； and what should he see but a
little black crowd of people … I daresay as many as twenty … all peeping
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through his garden rails。 So he thought； at first； they were only looking
at a new rhododendron that was in full bloom； and that he was very
proud of； and he walked slower； that they might have more time to
admire。 And he wondered if he could make out a sermon from the
occasion； and thought； perhaps； there was some relation between the
rhododendrons and the lilies of the field。 My poor father！ When he
came nearer； he began to wonder that they did not see him； but their
heads were all so close together； peeping and peeping！ My father was
amongst them； meaning； he said； to ask them to walk into the garden
with him； and admire the beautiful vegetable production； when … oh； my
dear； I tremble to think of it … he looked through the rails himself； and
saw … I don't know what he thought he saw； but old Clare told me his
face went quite grey… white with anger； and his eyes blazed out under his
frowning black brows； and he spoke out … oh； so terribly！ … and bade
them all stop where they were … not one of them to go； not one of them
to stir a step； and； swift as light； he was in at the garden door； and down
the Filbert walk； and seized hold of poor Peter； and tore his clothes off
his back … bonnet； shawl； gown； and all … and threw the pillow among the
people over the railings： and then he was very； very angry indeed； and
before all the people he lifted up his cane and flogged Peter！
〃My dear； that boy's trick； on that sunny day； when all seemed going
straight and well； broke my mother's heart； and changed my father for
life。 It did； indeed。 Old Clare said； Peter looked as white as my father；
and stood as still as a statue to be flogged； and my father struck hard！
When my father stopped to take breath； Peter said； 'Have you done
enough； sir？' quite hoarsely； and still standing quite quiet。 I don't know
what my father said … or if he said anything。 But old Clare said； Peter
turned to where the people outside the railing were； and made them a
low bow； as grand and as grave as any gentleman； and then walked
slowly into the house。 I was in the store…room helping my mother to
make cowslip wine。 I cannot abide the wine now； nor the scent of the
flowers； they turn me sick and faint； as they did that day； when Peter
came in； looking as haughty as any man … indeed； looking like a man； not
like a boy。 'Mother！' he said； 'I am come to say； God bless you for
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ever。' I saw his lips quiver as he spoke； and I think he durst not say
anything more loving； for the purpose that was in his heart。 She looked
at him rather frightened； and wondering； and asked him what was to do。
He did not smile or speak； but put his arms round her and kissed her as if
he did not know how to leave off； and before she could speak again； he
was gone。 We talked it over； and could not understand it； and she bade
me go and seek my father； and ask what it was all about。 I found him
walking up and down； looking very highly displeased。
〃'Tell your mother I have flogged Peter； and that he richly deserved
it。'
〃I durst not ask any more questions。 When I told my mother； she
sat down； quite faint； for a minute。 I remember； a few days after； I saw
the poor； withered cowslip flowers thrown out to the leaf heap； to decay
and die there。 There was no making of cowslip wine that year at the
rectory … nor； indeed； ever after。
〃Presently my mother went to my father。 I know I thought of Queen
Esther and King Ahasuerus； for my mother was very pretty and delicate…
looking； and my father looked as terrible as King Ahasuerus。 Some
time after they came out together； and then my mother told me what had
happened； and that she was going up to Peter's room at my father's desire
… though she was not to tell Peter this … to talk the matter over with him。
But no Peter was there。 We looked over the house； no Peter was there！
Even my father； who had not liked to join in the search at first； helped us
before long。 The rectory was a very old house … steps up into a room；
steps down into a room； all through。 At first； my mother went calling
low and soft； as if to reassure the poor boy； 'Peter！ Peter； dear！ it's only
me；' but； by…and…by； as the servants came back from the errands my
father had sent them； in different directions； to find where Peter was … as
we found he was not in the garden； nor the hayloft； nor anywhere about …
my mother's cry grew louder and wilder； Peter！ Peter； my darling！
where are you？' for then she felt and understood that that long kiss
meant some sad kind of 'good…bye。' The afternoon went on … my
mother never resting； but seeking again and again in every possible
place that had been looked into twenty times before； nay； that she had
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looked into over and over again herself。 My father sat with his head in
his hands； not speaking except when his messengers came in； bringing
no tidings； then he lifted up his face； so strong and sad； and told them to
go again in some new direction。 My mother kept passing from room to
room； in and out of the house； moving noiselessly； but never ceasing。
Neither she nor my father durst leave the house； which was the meeting…
place for all the messengers。 At last （and it was nearly dark）； my father
rose up。 He took hold of my mother's arm as she came with wild； sad
pace through one door； and quickly towards another。 She started at the
touch of his hand； for she had forgotten all in the world but Peter。
〃'Molly！' said he； 'I did not think all this would happen。' He looked
into her face for comfort … her poor face all wild and white； for neither
she nor my father had dared to acknowledge …
