cranford(克兰弗德)-第37章
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Cranford
honest…looking man； however； made his way up to the counter at which
we stood； and boldly asked to look at a shawl or two。 The other
country folk confined themselves to the grocery side； but our neighbour
was evidently too full of some kind intention towards mistress； wife or
daughter； to be shy； and it soon became a question with me； whether he
or Miss Matty would keep their shopmen the longest time。 He thought
each shawl more beautiful than the last； and； as for Miss Matty； she
smiled and sighed over each fresh bale that was brought out； one colour
set off another； and the heap together would； as she said； make even
the rainbow look poor。
〃I am afraid；〃 said she； hesitating； 〃Whichever I choose I shall wish I
had taken another。 Look at this lovely crimson！ it would be so warm in
winter。 But spring is coming on； you know。 I wish I could have a
gown for every season；〃 said she； dropping her voice … as we all did in
Cranford whenever we talked of anything we wished for but could not
afford。 〃However；〃 she continued in a louder and more cheerful tone；
〃it would give me a great deal of trouble to take care of them if I had
them； so； I think； I'll only take one。 But which must it be； my dear？〃
And now she hovered over a lilac with yellow spots； while I pulled
out a quiet sage…green that had faded into insignificance under the more
brilliant colours； but which was nevertheless a good silk in its humble
way。 Our attention was called off to our neighbour。 He had chosen a
shawl of about thirty shillings' value； and his face looked broadly happy；
under the anticipation； no doubt； of the pleasant surprise he would give
to some Molly or Jenny at home； he had tugged a leathern purse out of
his breeches…pocket； and had offered a five…pound note in payment for
the shawl； and for some parcels which had been brought round to him
from the grocery counter； and it was just at this point that he attracted
our notice。 The shopman was examining the note with a puzzled；
doubtful air。
〃Town and County Bank！ I am not sure； sir； but I believe we have
received a warning against notes issued by this bank only this morning。
I will just step and ask Mr Johnson； sir； but I'm afraid I must trouble you
for payment in cash； or in a note of a different bank。〃
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I never saw a man's countenance fall so suddenly into dismay and
bewilderment。 It was almost piteous to see the rapid change。
〃Dang it！〃 said he； striking his fist down on the table； as if to try
which was the harder； 〃the chap talks as if notes and gold were to be had
for the picking up。〃
Miss Matty had forgotten her silk gown in her interest for the man。
I don't think she had caught the name of the bank； and in my nervous
cowardice I was anxious that she should not； and so I began admiring
the yellow…spotted lilac gown that I had been utterly condemning only a
minute before。 But it was of no use。
〃What bank was it？ I mean； what bank did your note belong to？〃
〃Town and County Bank。〃
〃Let me see it；〃 said she quietly to the shopman； gently taking it out
of his hand； as he brought it back to return it to the farmer。
Mr Johnson was very sorry； but； from information he had received；
the notes issued by that bank were little better than waste paper。
〃I don't understand it；〃 said Miss Matty to me in a low voice。 〃That
is our bank； is it not？ … the Town and County Bank？〃
〃Yes；〃 said I。 〃This lilac silk will just match the ribbons in your
new cap； I believe；〃 I continued； holding up the folds so as to catch the
light； and wishing that the man would make haste and be gone； and yet
having a new wonder； that had only just sprung up； how far it was wise
or right in me to allow Miss Matty to make this expensive purchase； if
the affairs of the bank were really so bad as the refusal of the note
implied。
But Miss Matty put on the soft dignified manner； peculiar to her；
rarely used； and yet which became her so well； and laying her hand
gently on mine； she said …
〃Never mind the silks for a few minutes； dear。 I don't understand
you； sir；〃 turning now to the shopman； who had been attending to the
farmer。 〃Is this a forged note？〃
〃Oh； no； ma'am。 It is a true note of its kind； but you see； ma'am； it
is a joint…stock bank； and there are reports out that it is likely to break。
Mr Johnson is only doing his duty； ma'am； as I am sure Mr Dobson
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knows。〃
But Mr Dobson could not respond to the appealing bow by any
answering smile。 He was turning the note absently over in his fingers；
looking gloomily enough at the parcel containing the lately…chosen
shawl。
〃It's hard upon a poor man；〃 said he； 〃as earns every farthing with
the sweat of his brow。 However； there's no help for it。 You must take
back your shawl； my man； Lizzle must go on with her cloak for a while。
And yon figs for the little ones … I promised them to 'em … I'll take them；
but the 'bacco； and the other things〃 …
〃I will give you five sovereigns for your note； my good man；〃 said
Miss Matty。 〃I think there is some great mistake about it； for I am one
of the shareholders； and I'm sure they would have told me if things had
not been going on right。〃
The shopman whispered a word or two across the table to Miss Matty。
She looked at him with a dubious air。
〃Perhaps so；〃 said she。 〃But I don't pretend to understand business；
I only know that if it is going to fail； and if honest people are to lose
their money because they have taken our notes … I can't explain myself；〃
said she； suddenly becoming aware that she had got into a long sentence
with four people for audience； 〃only I would rather exchange my gold
for the note； if you please；〃 turning to the farmer； 〃and then you can take
your wife the shawl。 It is only going without my gown a few days
longer；〃 she continued； speaking to me。 〃Then； I have no doubt；
everything will be cleared up。〃
〃But if it is cleared up the wrong way？〃 said I。
〃Why； then it will only have been common honesty in me； as a
shareholder； to have given this good man the money。 I am quite clear
about it in my own mind； but； you know； I can never speak quite as
comprehensibly as others can； only you must give me your note； Mr
Dobson； if you please； and go on with your purchases with these
sovereigns。〃
The man looked at her with silent gratitude … too awkward to put his
thanks into words； but he hung back for a minute or two； fumbling with
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his note。
〃I'm loth to make another one lose instead of me； if it is a loss； but；
you see； five pounds is a deal of money to a man with a family； and； as
you say； ten to one in a day or two the note will be as good as gold
again。〃
〃No hope of that； my friend；〃 said the shopman。
〃The more reason why I should take it；〃 said Miss Matty quietly。
She pushed her sovereigns towards the man； who slowly laid his note
down in exchange。 〃Thank you。 I will wait a day or two before I
purchase any of these silks； perhaps you will then have a greater choice。
My dear； will you come upstairs？〃
We inspected the fashions with as minute and curious an interest as
if the gown to be made after them had been bought。 I could not see that
the little event in the shop below had in the least damped Miss Matty's
curiosity as to the make of sleeves or the sit of skirts。 She once or
twice exchanged congratulations with me on our private and leisurely
view of the bonnets and shawls； but I was； all the time； not so sure that
our examination was so utterly private； for I caught glimpses of a figure
dodging behind the cloaks and mantles； and； by a dexterous move； I
came face to face with Miss Pole； also in morning costume （the principal
feature of which was her being without teeth； and wearing a veil to
conceal the deficiency）； come on the same errand as ourselves。 But she
quickly took her departure； because； as she said； she had a bad headache；
and did not feel herself up to conversation。
As we came down through the shop； the civil Mr Johnson was
awaiting us； he had been informed of the exchange of the note for gold；
and with much good feeling and real kindness； but with a little want of
tact； he wished to condole with Miss Matty； and impress upon her the
true state of t
