cranford(克兰弗德)-第48章
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come； and knew that their chairs were very high。 Miss Pole had picked
this piece of news up； and from it she conjectured all sorts of things； and
bemoaned yet more。 〃If Peter should marry； what would become of
poor dear Miss Matty？ And Mrs Jamieson； of all people！〃 Miss Pole
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seemed to think there were other ladies in Cranford who would have
done more credit to his choice； and I think she must have had someone
who was unmarried in her head； for she kept saying； 〃It was so wanting
in delicacy in a widow to think of such a thing。〃
When I got back to Miss Matty's I really did begin to think that Mr
Peter might be thinking of Mrs Jamieson for a wife； and I was as
unhappy as Miss Pole about it。 He had the proof sheet of a great
placard in his hand。 〃Signor Brunoni； Magician to the King of Delhi；
the Rajah of Oude； and the great Lama of Thibet；〃 &c。 &c。； was going to
〃perform in Cranford for one night only；〃 the very next night； and Miss
Matty； exultant； showed me a letter from the Gordons； promising to
remain over this gaiety； which Miss Matty said was entirely Peter's
doing。 He had written to ask the signor to come； and was to be at all
the expenses of the affair。 Tickets were to be sent gratis to as many as
the room would hold。 In short； Miss Matty was charmed with the plan；
and said that to… morrow Cranford would remind her of the Preston Guild；
to which she had been in her youth … a luncheon at the 〃George；〃 with
the dear Gordons； and the signor in the Assembly Room in the evening。
But I … I looked only at the fatal words：…
〃UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE HONOURABLE MRS
JAMIESON。〃
She； then； was chosen to preside over this entertainment of Mr
Peter's； she was perhaps going to displace my dear Miss Matty in his
heart； and make her life lonely once more！ I could not look forward to
the morrow with any pleasure； and every innocent anticipation of Miss
Matty's only served to add to my annoyance。
So； angry and irritated； and exaggerating every little incident which
could add to my irritation； I went on till we were all assembled in the
great parlour at the 〃George。〃 Major and Mrs Gordon and pretty Flora
and Mr Ludovic were all as bright and handsome and friendly as could
be； but I could hardly attend to them for watching Mr Peter； and I saw
that Miss Pole was equally busy。 I had never seen Mrs Jamieson so
roused and animated before； her face looked full of interest in what Mr
Peter was saying。 I drew near to listen。 My relief was great when I
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caught that his words were not words of love； but that； for all his grave
face； he was at his old tricks。 He was telling her of his travels in India；
and describing the wonderful height of the Himalaya mountains： one
touch after another added to their size； and each exceeded the former in
absurdity； but Mrs Jamieson really enjoyed all in perfect good faith。 I
suppose she required strong stimulants to excite her to come out of her
apathy。 Mr Peter wound up his account by saying that； of course； at
that altitude there were none of the animals to be found that existed in
the lower regions； the game； … everything was different。 Firing one day
at some flying creature； he was very much dismayed when it fell； to find
that he had shot a cherubim！ Mr Peter caught my eye at this moment；
and gave me such a funny twinkle； that I felt sure he had no thoughts of
Mrs Jamieson as a wife from that time。 She looked uncomfortably
amazed …
〃But； Mr Peter； shooting a cherubim … don't you think … I am afraid
that was sacrilege！〃
Mr Peter composed his countenance in a moment； and appeared
shocked at the idea； which； as he said truly enough； was now presented
to him for the first time； but then Mrs Jamieson must remember that he
had been living for a long time among savages … all of whom were
heathens … some of them； he was afraid； were downright Dissenters。
Then； seeing Miss Matty draw near； he hastily changed the conversation；
and after a little while； turning to me； he said； 〃Don't be shocked； prim
little Mary； at all my wonderful stories。 I consider Mrs Jamieson fair
game； and besides I am bent on propitiating her； and the first step
towards it is keeping her well awake。 I bribed her here by asking her to
let me have her name as patroness for my poor conjuror this evening；
and I don't want to give her time enough to get up her rancour against
the Hogginses； who are just coming in。 I want everybody to be friends；
for it harasses Matty so much to hear of these quarrels。 I shall go at it
again by…and…by； so you need not look shocked。 I intend to enter the
Assembly Room to…night with Mrs Jamieson on one side； and my lady；
Mrs Hoggins； on the other。 You see if I don't。〃
Somehow or another he did； and fairly got them into conversation
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together。 Major and Mrs Gordon helped at the good work with their
perfect ignorance of any existing coolness between any of the
inhabitants of Cranford。
Ever since that day there has been the old friendly sociability in
Cranford society； which I am thankful for； because of my dear Miss
Matty's love of peace and kindliness。 We all love Miss Matty； and I
somehow think we are all of us better when she is near us。
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