legends and lyrics- first series(传奇和抒情歌谣1)-第2章
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her fiance to ask me to dance； which after a little hesitation he did。 And
admirably he danced； as indeed they all didin excellent time； and with a
little more spirit than one sees in a ball…room。 In fact； they were very like
one's ordinary partners； except that they wore earrings and were in their
shirt… sleeves； and truth compels me to state that they decidedly smelt of
garlic。 Some of them had been smoking； but threw away their cigars
when we came in。 The only thing that did not look cheerful was； that the
room was only lighted by two or three oil…lamps； and that there seemed to
be no preparation for refreshments。 Madame B。； seeing this； whispered
to her maid； who disengaged herself from her partner； and ran off to the
house； she and the kitchenmaid presently returning with a large tray
covered with all kinds of cakes （of which we are great consumers and
always have a stock）； and a large hamper full of bottles of wine； with
coffee and sugar。 This seemed all very acceptable。 The fiancee was
requested to distribute the eatables； and a bucket of water being produced
to wash the glasses in； the wine disappeared very quicklyas fast as they
could open the bottles。 But； elated； I suppose； by this； the floor was
sprinkled with water； and the musicians played a Monferrino； which is a
Piedmontese dance。 Madame B。 danced with the farmer's son； and Emily
with another distinguished member of the company。 It was very
fatiguingsomething like a Scotch reel。 My partner was a little man； like
Perrot； and very proud of his dancing。 He cut in the air and twisted about；
until I was out of breath； though my attempts to imitate him were feeble in
the extreme。 At last； after seven or eight dances； I was obliged to sit
down。 We stayed till nine； and I was so dead beat with the heat that I
could hardly crawl about the house； and in an agony with the cramp； it is
so long since I have danced。〃
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A MARRIAGE
The wedding of the farmer's daughter has taken place。 We had
hoped it would have been in the little chapel of our house； but it seems
some special permission was necessary； and they applied for it too late。
They all said； 〃This is the Constitution。 There would have been no
difficulty before！〃 the lower classes making the poor Constitution the
scapegoat for everything they don't like。 So as it was impossible for us to
climb up to the church where the wedding was to be； we contented
ourselves with seeing the procession pass。 It was not a very large one；
for； it requiring some activity to go up； all the old people remained at
home。 It is not etiquette for the bride's mother to go； and no unmarried
woman can go to a weddingI suppose for fear of its making her
discontented with her own position。 The procession stopped at our door；
for the bride to receive our congratulations。 She was dressed in a shot
silk； with a yellow handkerchief； and rows of a large gold chain。 In the
afternoon they sent to request us to go there。 On our arrival we found
them dancing out of doors； and a most melancholy affair it was。 All the
bride's sisters were not to be recognised； they had cried so。 The mother
sat in the house； and could not appear。 And the bride was sobbing so； she
could hardly stand！ The most melancholy spectacle of all to my mind
was； that the bridegroom was decidedly tipsy。 He seemed rather
affronted at all the distress。 We danced a Monferrino； I with the
bridegroom； and the bride crying the whole time。 The company did their
utmost to enliven her by firing pistols； but without success； and at last they
began a series of yells； which reminded me of a set of savages。 But even
this delicate method of consolation failed； and the wishing good…bye
began。 It was altogether so melancholy an affair that Madame B。
dropped a few tears； and I was very near it； particularly when the poor
mother came out to see the last of her daughter； who was finally dragged
off between her brother and uncle； with a last explosion of pistols。 As
she lives quite near； makes an excellent match； and is one of nine children；
it really was a most desirable marriage； in spite of all the show of distress。
Albert was so discomfited by it； that he forgot to kiss the bride as he had
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intended to do； and therefore went to call upon her yesterday； and found
her very smiling in her new house； and supplied the omission。 The cook
came home from the wedding； declaring she was cured of any wish to
marrybut I would not recommend any man to act upon that threat and
make her an offer。 In a couple of days we had some rolls of the bride's first
baking； which they call Madonnas。 The musicians； it seems； were in the
same state as the bridegroom； for； in escorting her home； they all fell down
in the mud。 My wrath against the bridegroom is somewhat calmed by
finding that it is considered bad luck if he does not get tipsy at his
wedding。〃
Those readers of Miss Procter's poems who should suppose from
their tone that her mind was of a gloomy or despondent cast； would be
curiously mistaken。 She was exceedingly humorous； and had a great
delight in humour。 Cheerfulness was habitual with her； she was very
ready at a sally or a reply； and in her laugh （as I remember well） there was
an unusual vivacity； enjoyment； and sense of drollery。 She was perfectly
unconstrained and unaffected： as modestly silent about her productions；
as she was generous with their pecuniary results。 She was a friend who
inspired the strongest attachments； she was a finely sympathetic woman；
with a great accordant heart and a sterling noble nature。 No claim can be
set up for her； thank God； to the possession of any of the conventional
poetical qualities。 She never by any means held the opinion that she was
among the greatest of human beings； she never suspected the existence of
a conspiracy on the part of mankind against her； she never recognised in
her best friends； her worst enemies； she never cultivated the luxury of
being misunderstood and unappreciated； she would far rather have died
without seeing a line of her composition in print； than that I should have
maundered about her； here； as 〃the Poet〃； or 〃the Poetess〃。
With the recollection of Miss Procter as a mere child and as a woman；
fresh upon me； it is natural that I should linger on my way to the close of
this brief record； avoiding its end。 But； even as the close came upon her；
so must it come here。
Always impelled by an intense conviction that her life must not be
dreamed away； and that her indulgence in her favourite pursuits must be
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balanced by action in the real world around her； she was indefatigable in
her endeavours to do some good。 Naturally enthusiastic； and
conscientiously impressed with a deep sense of her Christian duty to her
neighbour； she devoted herself to a variety of benevolent objects。 Now； it
was the visitation of the sick； that had possession of her； now； it was the
sheltering of the houseless； now； it was the elementary teaching of the
densely ignorant； now； it was the raising up of those who had wandered
and got trodden under foot； now； it was the wider employment of her own
sex in the general business of life； now； it was all these things at once。
Perfectly unselfish； swift to sympathise and eager to relieve； she wrought
at such designs with a flushed earnestness that disregarded season；
weather； time of day or night； food； rest。 Under such a hurry of the spirits；
and such incessant occupation； the strongest constitution will commonly
go down。 Hers； neither of the strongest nor the weakest； yielded to the
burden； and began to sink。
To have saved her life； then； by taking action on the warning that
shone in her eyes and sounded in her voice； would have been impossible；
without changing her nature。 As long as the power of moving about in
the old way was left to her； she must exercise it； or be killed by the
restraint。 And so the time came when she could move about no longer；
and took to her bed。
All the restlessness gone then； and all the sweet patience of her natural
disposition purified by the resignation of her soul； she lay upon her bed
through the whole round of changes of the seasons。 She lay upon her bed
through fifteen months。 In all that time； her old cheerfulness never
quitted her。 In all that time； not an impatient or a querulous minute can
be remembered。
At length； at midnight on the second of February； 1864； she turned
down a leaf of a little book she was reading； and shut it up。
The ministering hand that had copied the verses into the tiny album
was soon around her neck； and she quietly asked； as the clock was on the
stroke of one：
〃Do you think I am dying； mamma？〃
〃I think you are very； very ill to…night； my dear！〃
