cranford(克兰弗德)-第3章
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sharp voices lowered at his approach。 Miss Brown looked ill； and
depressed almost to gloom。 Miss Jessie smiled as usual； and seemed
nearly as popular as her father。 He immediately and quietly assumed
the man's place in the room； attended to every one's wants； lessened the
pretty maid…servant's labour by waiting on empty cups and bread…and…
butterless ladies； and yet did it all in so easy and dignified a manner； and
so much as if it were a matter of course for the strong to attend to the
weak； that he was a true man throughout。 He played for threepenny
points with as grave an interest as if they had been pounds； and yet； in
all his attention to strangers； he had an eye on his suffering daughter …
for suffering I was sure she was； though to many eyes she might only
appear to be irritable。 Miss Jessie could not play cards： but she talked
to the sitters…out； who； before her coming； had been rather inclined to be
cross。 She sang； too； to an old cracked piano； which I think had been a
spinet in its youth。 Miss Jessie sang； 〃Jock of Hazeldean〃 a little out of
tune； but we were none of us musical； though Miss Jenkyns beat time；
out of time； by way of appearing to be so。
It was very good of Miss Jenkyns to do this； for I had seen that； a
little before； she had been a good deal annoyed by Miss Jessie Brown's
unguarded admission （A PROPOS of Shetland wool） that she had an
uncle； her mother's brother； who was a shop…keeper in Edinburgh。 Miss
Jenkyns tried to drown this confession by a terrible cough … for the
Honourable Mrs Jamieson was sitting at a card…table nearest Miss Jessie；
and what would she say or think if she found out she was in the same
room with a shop…keeper's niece！ But Miss Jessie Brown （who had no
tact； as we all agreed the next morning） WOULD repeat the information；
and assure Miss Pole she could easily get her the identical Shetland wool
required； 〃through my uncle； who has the best assortment of Shetland
goods of any one in Edinbro'。〃 It was to take the taste of this out of our
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mouths； and the sound of this out of our ears； that Miss Jenkyns
proposed music； so I say again； it was very good of her to beat time to
the song。
When the trays re…appeared with biscuits and wine； punctually at a
quarter to nine； there was conversation； comparing of cards； and talking
over tricks； but by…and…by Captain Brown sported a bit of literature。
〃Have you seen any numbers of 'The Pickwick Papers'？〃 said he。
（They we're then publishing in parts。） 〃Capital thing！〃
Now Miss Jenkyns was daughter of a deceased rector of Cranford；
and； on the strength of a number of manuscript sermons； and a pretty
good library of divinity； considered herself literary； and looked upon any
conversation about books as a challenge to her。 So she answered and
said； 〃Yes； she had seen them； indeed； she might say she had read them。〃
〃And what do you think of them？〃 exclaimed Captain Brown。
〃Aren't they famously good？〃
So urged Miss Jenkyns could not but speak。
〃I must say； I don't think they are by any means equal to Dr Johnson。
Still； perhaps； the author is young。 Let him persevere； and who knows
what he may become if he will take the great Doctor for his model？〃
This was evidently too much for Captain Brown to take placidly； and I
saw the words on the tip of his tongue before Miss Jenkyns had finished
her sentence。
〃It is quite a different sort of thing； my dear madam；〃 he began。
〃I am quite aware of that；〃 returned she。 〃And I make allowances；
Captain Brown。〃
〃Just allow me to read you a scene out of this month's number；〃
pleaded he。 〃I had it only this morning； and I don't think the company
can have read it yet。〃
〃As you please；〃 said she； settling herself with an air of resignation。
He read the account of the 〃swarry〃 which Sam Weller gave at Bath。
Some of us laughed heartily。 I did not dare； because I was staying in
the house。 Miss Jenkyns sat in patient gravity。 When it was ended；
she turned to me； and said with mild dignity …
〃Fetch me 'Rasselas；' my dear； out of the book…room。〃
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When I had brought it to her； she turned to Captain Brown …
〃Now allow me to read you a scene； and then the present company can
judge between your favourite； Mr Boz； and Dr Johnson。〃
She read one of the conversations between Rasselas and Imlac； in a
high…pitched； majestic voice： and when she had ended； she said； 〃I
imagine I am now justified in my preference of Dr Johnson as a writer of
fiction。〃 The Captain screwed his lips up； and drummed on the table；
but he did not speak。 She thought she would give him a finishing blow
or two。
〃I consider it vulgar； and below the dignity of literature； to publish in
numbers。〃
〃How was the RAMBLER published； ma'am？〃 asked Captain Brown
in a low voice； which I think Miss Jenkyns could not have heard。
〃Dr Johnson's style is a model for young beginners。 My father
recommended it to me when I began to write letters … I have formed my
own style upon it； I recommended it to your favourite。〃
〃I should be very sorry for him to exchange his style for any such
pompous writing；〃 said Captain Brown。
Miss Jenkyns felt this as a personal affront； in a way of which the
Captain had not dreamed。 Epistolary writing she and her friends
considered as her FORTE。 Many a copy of many a letter have I seen
written and corrected on the slate； before she 〃seized the half… hour just
previous to post…time to assure〃 her friends of this or of that； and Dr
Johnson was； as she said； her model in these compositions。 She drew
herself up with dignity； and only replied to Captain Brown's last remark
by saying； with marked emphasis on every syllable； 〃I prefer Dr Johnson
to Mr Boz。〃
It is said … I won't vouch for the fact … that Captain Brown was heard
to say； SOTTO VOCE； 〃D…n Dr Johnson！〃 If he did； he was penitent
afterwards； as he showed by going to stand near Miss Jenkyns' arm…chair；
and endeavouring to beguile her into conversation on some more
pleasing subject。 But she was inexorable。 The next day she made the
remark I have mentioned about Miss Jessie's dimples。
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CHAPTER II … THE CAPTAIN
IT was impossible to live a month at Cranford and not know the
daily habits of each resident； and long before my visit was ended I knew
much concerning the whole Brown trio。 There was nothing new to be
discovered respecting their poverty； for they had spoken simply and
openly about that from the very first。 They made no mystery of the
necessity for their being economical。 All that remained to be
discovered was the Captain's infinite kindness of heart； and the various
modes in which； unconsciously to himself； he manifested it。 Some
little anecdotes were talked about for some time after they occurred。
As we did not read much； and as all the ladies were pretty well suited
with servants； there was a dearth of subjects for conversation。 We
therefore discussed the circumstance of the Captain taking a poor old
woman's dinner out of her hands one very slippery Sunday。 He had
met her returning from the bakehouse as he came from church； and
noticed her precarious footing； and； with the grave dignity with which he
did everything； he relieved her of her burden； and steered along the
street by her side； carrying her baked mutton and potatoes safely home。
This was thought very eccentric； and it was rather expected that he
would pay a round of calls； on the Monday morning； to explain and
apologise to the Cranford sense of propriety： but he did no such thing：
and then it was decided that he was ashamed； and was keeping out of
sight。 In a kindly pity for him； we began to say； 〃After all； the Sunday
morning's occurrence showed great goodness of heart；〃 and it was
resolved that he should be comforted on his next appearance amongst us；
but； lo！ he came down upon us； untouched by any sense of shame；
speaking loud and bass as ever； his head thrown back； his wig as jaunty
and well…curled as usual； and we were obliged to conclude he had
forgotten all about Sunday。
Miss Pole and Miss Jessie Brown had set up a kind of intimacy on
the strength of the Shetland wool and the new knitting stitches； so it
happened that when I went to visit Miss Pole I saw more of the Browns
