cranford(克兰弗德)-第13节
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as we settled ourselves in the counting…house。 〃I only hope it is not
improper； so many pleasant things are！〃
〃What a number of books he has！〃 said Miss Pole； looking round the
room。 〃And how dusty they are！〃
〃I think it must be like one of the great Dr Johnson's rooms；〃 said
Miss Matty。 〃What a superior man your cousin must be！〃
〃Yes！〃 said Miss Pole； 〃he's a great reader； but I am afraid he has got
into very uncouth habits with living alone。〃
〃Oh！ uncouth is too hard a word。 I should call him eccentric； very
clever people always are！〃 replied Miss Matty。
When Mr Holbrook returned； he proposed a walk in the fields； but
the two elder ladies were afraid of damp； and dirt； and had only very
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unbecoming calashes to put on over their caps； so they declined； and I
was again his companion in a turn which he said he was obliged to take
to see after his men。 He strode along； either wholly forgetting my
existence； or soothed into silence by his pipe … and yet it was not silence
exactly。 He walked before me with a stooping gait； his hands clasped
behind him； and； as some tree or cloud； or glimpse of distant upland
pastures； struck him； he quoted poetry to himself； saying it out loud in a
grand sonorous voice； with just the emphasis that true feeling and
appreciation give。 We came upon an old cedar tree； which stood at one
end of the house …
〃The cedar spreads his dark…green layers of shade。〃
〃Capital term … 'layers！' Wonderful man！〃 I did not know whether
he was speaking to me or not； but I put in an assenting 〃wonderful；〃
although I knew nothing about it； just because I was tired of being
forgotten； and of being consequently silent。
He turned sharp round。 〃Ay！ you may say 'wonderful。' Why； when I
saw the review of his poems in BLACKWOOD； I set off within an hour；
and walked seven miles to Misselton （for the horses were not in the way）
and ordered them。 Now； what colour are ash…buds in March？〃
Is the man going mad？ thought I。 He is very like Don Quixote。
〃What colour are they； I say？〃 repeated he vehemently。
〃I am sure I don't know； sir；〃 said I； with the meekness of ignorance。
〃I knew you didn't。 No more did I … an old fool that I am！ … till this
young man comes and tells me。 Black as ash…buds in March。 And I've
lived all my life in the country； more shame for me not to know。 Black：
they are jet…black； madam。〃 And he went off again； swinging along to
the music of some rhyme he had got hold of。
When we came back； nothing would serve him but he must read us the
poems he had been speaking of； and Miss Pole encouraged him in his
proposal； I thought； because she wished me to hear his beautiful reading；
of which she had boasted； but she afterwards said it was because she had
got to a difficult part of her crochet； and wanted to count her stitches
without having to talk。 Whatever he had proposed would have been
right to Miss Matty； although she did fall sound asleep within five
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minutes after he had begun a long poem； called 〃Locksley Hall；〃 and
had a comfortable nap； unobserved； till he ended； when the cessation of
his voice wakened her up； and she said； feeling that something was
expected； and that Miss Pole was counting … 〃What a pretty book！〃
〃Pretty； madam！ it's beautiful！ Pretty； indeed！〃
〃Oh yes！ I meant beautiful〃 said she； fluttered at his disapproval of
her word。 〃It is so like that beautiful poem of Dr Johnson's my sister
used to read … I forget the name of it； what was it； my dear？〃 turning to
me。
〃Which do you mean； ma'am？ What was it about？〃
〃I don't remember what it was about； and I've quite forgotten what
the name of it was； but it was written by Dr Johnson； and was very
beautiful； and very like what Mr Holbrook has just been reading。〃
〃I don't remember it；〃 said he reflectively。 〃But I don't know Dr
Johnson's poems well。 I must read them。〃
As we were getting into the fly to return； I heard Mr Holbrook say he
should call on the ladies soon； and inquire how they got home； and this
evidently pleased and fluttered Miss Matty at the time he said it； but
after we had lost sight of the old house among the trees her sentiments
towards the master of it were gradually absorbed into a distressing
wonder as to whether Martha had broken her word； and seized on the
opportunity of her mistress's absence to have a 〃follower。〃 Martha
looked good； and steady； and composed enough； as she came to help us
out； she was always careful of Miss Matty； and to…night she made use of
this unlucky speech …
〃Eh！ dear ma'am； to think of your going out in an evening in such a
thin shawl！ It's no better than muslin。 At your age； ma'am； you
should be careful。〃
〃My age！〃 said Miss Matty； almost speaking crossly； for her； for she
was usually gentle … 〃My age！ Why； how old do you think I am； that
you talk about my age？〃
〃Well； ma'am； I should say you were not far short of sixty： but folks'
looks is often against them … and I'm sure I meant no harm。〃
〃Martha； I'm not yet fifty…two！〃 said Miss Matty； with grave
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emphasis； for probably the remembrance of her youth had come very
vividly before her this day； and she was annoyed at finding that golden
time so far away in the past。
But she never spoke of any former and more intimate acquaintance
with Mr Holbrook。 She had probably met with so little sympathy in
her early love； that she had shut it up close in her heart； and it was only
by a sort of watching； which I could hardly avoid since Miss Pole's
confidence； that I saw how faithful her poor heart had been in its sorrow
and its silence。
She gave me some good reason for wearing her best cap every day；
and sat near the window； in spite of her rheumatism； in order to see；
without being seen； down into the street。
He came。 He put his open palms upon his knees； which were far
apart； as he sat with his head bent down； whistling； after we had replied
to his inquiries about our safe return。 Suddenly he jumped up …
〃Well； madam！ have you any commands for Paris？ I am going there
in a week or two。〃
〃To Paris！〃 we both exclaimed。
〃Yes； madam！ I've never been there； and always had a wish to go；
and I think if I don't go soon； I mayn't go at all； so as soon as the hay is
got in I shall go； before harvest time。〃
We were so much astonished that we had no commissions。
Just as he was going out of the room； he turned back； with his
favourite exclamation …
〃God bless my soul； madam！ but I nearly forgot half my errand。
Here are the poems for you you admired so much the other evening at
my house。〃 He tugged away at a parcel in his coat…pocket。 〃Good… bye；
miss；〃 said he； 〃good…bye； Matty！ take care of yourself。〃 And he was
gone。
But he had given her a book； and he had called her Matty； just as he
used to do t
