cranford(克兰弗德)-第7章
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house； you may show any visitor where you like。 She took up some
knitting of Miss Matty's and began to be very busy； though I could see
how she trembled all over。
Miss Jenkyns rang the bell； and told the servant who answered it to
show Major Gordon upstairs； and； presently； in walked a tall； fine； frank…
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looking man of forty or upwards。 He shook hands with Miss Jessie；
but he could not see her eyes； she kept them so fixed on the ground。
Miss Jenkyns asked me if I would come and help her to tie up the
preserves in the store…room； and though Miss Jessie plucked at my gown；
and even looked up at me with begging eye； I durst not refuse to go
where Miss Jenkyns asked。 Instead of tying up preserves in the store…
room； however； we went to talk in the dining…room； and there Miss
Jenkyns told me what Major Gordon had told her； how he had served in
the same regiment with Captain Brown； and had become acquainted
with Miss Jessie； then a sweet… looking； blooming girl of eighteen； how
the acquaintance had grown into love on his part； though it had been
some years before he had spoken； how； on becoming possessed； through
the will of an uncle； of a good estate in Scotland； he had offered and
been refused； though with so much agitation and evident distress that he
was sure she was not indifferent to him； and how he had discovered that
the obstacle was the fell disease which was； even then； too surely
threatening her sister。 She had mentioned that the surgeons foretold
intense suffering； and there was no one but herself to nurse her poor
Mary； or cheer and comfort her father during the time of illness。 They
had had long discussions； and on her refusal to pledge herself to him as
his wife when all should be over； he had grown angry； and broken off
entirely； and gone abroad； believing that she was a cold…hearted person
whom he would do well to forget。
He had been travelling in the East； and was on his return home when；
at Rome； he saw the account of Captain Brown's death in GALIGNANI。
Just then Miss Matty； who had been out all the morning； and had
only lately returned to the house； burst in with a face of dismay and
outraged propriety。
〃Oh； goodness me！〃 she said。 〃Deborah； there's a gentleman sitting
in the drawing…room with his arm round Miss Jessie's waist！〃 Miss
Matty's eyes looked large with terror。
Miss Jenkyns snubbed her down in an instant。
〃The most proper place in the world for his arm to be in。 Go away；
Matilda； and mind your own business。〃 This from her sister； who had
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hitherto been a model of feminine decorum； was a blow for poor Miss
Matty； and with a double shock she left the room。
The last time I ever saw poor Miss Jenkyns was many years after
this。 Mrs Gordon had kept up a warm and affectionate intercourse with
all at Cranford。 Miss Jenkyns； Miss Matty； and Miss Pole had all been
to visit her； and returned with wonderful accounts of her house； her
husband； her dress； and her looks。 For； with happiness； something of
her early bloom returned； she had been a year or two younger than we
had taken her for。 Her eyes were always lovely； and； as Mrs Gordon；
her dimples were not out of place。 At the time to which I have referred；
when I last saw Miss Jenkyns； that lady was old and feeble； and had lost
something of her strong mind。 Little Flora Gordon was staying with the
Misses Jenkyns； and when I came in she was reading aloud to Miss
Jenkyns； who lay feeble and changed on the sofa。 Flora put down the
RAMBLER when I came in。
〃Ah！〃 said Miss Jenkyns； 〃you find me changed； my dear。 If can't
see as I used to do。 I Flora were not here to read to me； I hardly know
how I should get through the day。 Did you ever read the RAMBLER？
It's a wonderful book … wonderful！ and the most improving reading for
Flora〃 （which I daresay it would have been； if she could have read half
the words without spelling； and could have understood the meaning of a
third）； 〃better than that strange old book； with the queer name； poor
Captain Brown was killed for reading … that book by Mr Boz； you know
… 'Old Poz'； when I was a girl … but that's a long time ago … I acted Lucy
in 'Old Poz。'〃 She babbled on long enough for Flora to get a good long
spell at the 〃Christmas Carol；〃 which Miss Matty had left on the table。
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CHAPTER III … A LOVE AFFAIR
OF LONG AGO
I THOUGHT that probably my connection with Cranford would cease
after Miss Jenkyns's death； at least； that it would have to be kept up by
correspondence； which bears much the same relation to personal
intercourse that the books of dried plants I sometimes see （〃Hortus
Siccus；〃 I think they call the thing） do to the living and fresh flowers in
the lines and meadows。 I was pleasantly surprised； therefore； by
receiving a letter from Miss Pole （who had always come in for a
supplementary week after my annual visit to Miss Jenkyns） proposing
that I should go and stay with her； and then； in a couple of days after my
acceptance； came a note from Miss Matty； in which； in a rather
circuitous and very humble manner； she told me how much pleasure I
should confer if I could spend a week or two with her； either before or
after I had been at Miss Pole's； 〃for；〃 she said； 〃since my dear sister's
death I am well aware I have no attractions to offer； it is only to the
kindness of my friends that I can owe their company。〃
Of course I promised to come to dear Miss Matty as soon as I had
ended my visit to Miss Pole； and the day after my arrival at Cranford I
went to see her； much wondering what the house would be like without
Miss Jenkyns； and rather dreading the changed aspect of things。 Miss
Matty began to cry as soon as she saw me。 She was evidently nervous
from having anticipated my call。 I comforted her as well as I could；
and I found the best consolation I could give was the honest praise that
came from my heart as I spoke of the deceased。 Miss Matty slowly
shook her head over each virtue as it was named and attributed to her
sister； and at last she could not restrain the tears which had long been
silently flowing； but hid her face behind her handkerchief and sobbed
aloud。
〃Dear Miss Matty；〃 said I； taking her hand … for indeed I did not
know in what way to tell her how sorry I was for her； left deserted in the
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world。 She put down her handkerchief and said …
〃My dear； I'd rather you did not call me Matty。 She did not like it；
but I did many a thing she did not like； I'm afraid … and now she's gone！
If you please； my love； will you call me Matilda？〃
I promised faithfully； and began to practise the new name with Miss
Pole that very day； and； by degrees； Miss Matilda's feeling on the subject
was known through Cranford； and we all tried to drop the more familiar
name； but with so little success that by…and…by we gave up the attempt。
My visit to Miss Pole was very quiet。 Miss Jenkyns had so long
taken the lead in Cranford that now she was gone； they hardly knew how
to give a party。 The Honourable Mrs Jamieson； to whom Miss Jenkyns
herself had always yielded the post of honour； was fat and inert； and
very much at the mercy of her old servants。 If they chose that she
should give a party； they reminded her of the necessity for so doing： if
not； she let it alone。 There was all the more time for me to hear old…
world stories from Miss Pole； while she sat knitting； and I making my
father's shirts。 I always took a quantity of plain sewing to Cranford； for；
as we did not read much； or walk much； I found it a capital time to get
through my work。 One of Miss Pole's stories related to a shadow of a
love affair that was dimly perceived or suspected long years before。
Presently； the time arrived when I was to remove to Miss Matilda's
house。 I found her timid and anxious about the arrangements for my
comfort。 Many a time； while I was unpacking； did she come
backwards and forwards to stir the fire which burned all the worse for
being so frequently poked。
〃Have you drawers enough； dear？〃 asked she。 〃I don't know exactly
how my sister used to arrange them。 She had capital methods。 I am
sure she would have trained a servant in a week to make a be
