cranford(克兰弗德)-第23节
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many apologies that she quite excited my curiosity。 〃Her presumption〃
was to be excused。 What had she been doing？ She seemed so over…
powered by it I could only think that she had been writing to Queen
Adelaide to ask for a receipt for washing lace； but the act which she so
characterised was only an invitation she had carried to her sister's former
mistress； Mrs Jamieson。 〃Her former occupation considered； could
Miss Matty excuse the liberty？〃 Ah！ thought I； she has found out that
double cap； and is going to rectify Miss Matty's head…dress。 No！ it was
simply to extend her invitation to Miss Matty and to me。 Miss Matty
bowed acceptance； and I wondered that； in the graceful action； she did
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not feel the unusual weight and extraordinary height of her head…dress。
But I do not think she did； for she recovered her balance； and went on
talking to Miss Betty in a kind； condescending manner； very different
from the fidgety way she would have had if she had suspected how
singular her appearance was。 〃Mrs Jamieson is coming； I think you
said？〃 asked Miss Matty。
〃Yes。 Mrs Jamieson most kindly and condescendingly said she
would be happy to come。 One little stipulation she made； that she
should bring Carlo。 I told her that if I had a weakness； it was for
dogs。〃
〃And Miss Pole？〃 questioned Miss Matty； who was thinking of her
pool at Preference； in which Carlo would not be available as a partner。
〃I am going to ask Miss Pole。 Of course； I could not think of
asking her until I had asked you； madam … the rector's daughter； madam。
Believe me； I do not forget the situation my father held under yours。〃
〃And Mrs Forrester； of course？〃
〃And Mrs Forrester。 I thought； in fact； of going to her before I went
to Miss Pole。 Although her circumstances are changed； madam； she
was born at Tyrrell； and we can never forget her alliance to the Bigges；
of Bigelow Hall。〃
Miss Matty cared much more for the little circumstance of her being
a very good card…player。
〃Mrs Fitz…Adam … I suppose〃 …
〃No； madam。 I must draw a line somewhere。 Mrs Jamieson would
not； I think； like to meet Mrs Fitz…Adam。 I have the greatest respect
for Mrs Fitz…Adam … but I cannot think her fit society for such ladies as
Mrs Jamieson and Miss Matilda Jenkyns。〃
Miss Betty Barker bowed low to Miss Matty； and pursed up her mouth。
She looked at me with sidelong dignity； as much as to say； although a
retired milliner； she was no democrat； and understood the difference of
ranks。
〃May I beg you to come as near half…past six to my little dwelling； as
possible； Miss Matilda？ Mrs Jamieson dines at five； but has kindly
promised not to delay her visit beyond that time … half…past six。〃 And
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with a swimming curtsey Miss Betty Barker took her leave。
My prophetic soul foretold a visit that afternoon from Miss Pole；
who usually came to call on Miss Matilda after any event … or indeed in
sight of any event … to talk it over with her。
〃Miss Betty told me it was to be a choice and select few；〃 said Miss
Pole； as she and Miss Matty compared notes。
〃Yes； so she said。 Not even Mrs Fitz…Adam。〃
Now Mrs Fitz…Adam was the widowed sister of the Cranford surgeon；
whom I have named before。 Their parents were respectable farmers；
content with their station。 The name of these good people was Hoggins。
Mr Hoggins was the Cranford doctor now； we disliked the name and
considered it coarse； but； as Miss Jenkyns said； if he changed it to
Piggins it would not be much better。 We had hoped to discover a
relationship between him and that Marchioness of Exeter whose name
was Molly Hoggins； but the man； careless of his own interests； utterly
ignored and denied any such relationship； although； as dear Miss
Jenkyns had said； he had a sister called Mary； and the same Christian
names were very apt to run in families。
Soon after Miss Mary Hoggins married Mr Fitz…Adam； she
disappeared from the neighbourhood for many years。 She did not
move in a sphere in Cranford society sufficiently high to make any of us
care to know what Mr Fitz…Adam was。 He died and was gathered to his
fathers without our ever having thought about him at all。 And then Mrs
Fitz…Adam reappeared in Cranford （〃as bold as a lion；〃 Miss Pole said）；
a well…to…do widow； dressed in rustling black silk； so soon after her
husband's death that poor Miss Jenkyns was justified in the remark she
made； that 〃bombazine would have shown a deeper sense of her loss。〃
I remember the convocation of ladies who assembled to decide
whether or not Mrs Fitz…Adam should be called upon by the old blue…
blooded inhabitants of Cranford。 She had taken a large rambling house；
which had been usually considered to confer a patent of gentility upon
its tenant； because； once upon a time； seventy or eighty years before； the
spinster daughter of an earl had resided in it。 I am not sure if the
inhabiting this house was not also believed to convey some unusual
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power of intellect； for the earl's daughter； Lady Jane； had a sister； Lady
Anne； who had married a general officer in the time of the American war；
and this general officer had written one or two comedies； which were
still acted on the London boards； and which； when we saw them
advertised； made us all draw up； and feel that Drury Lane was paying a
very pretty compliment to Cranford。 Still； it was not at all a settled
thing that Mrs Fitz…Adam was to be visited； when dear Miss Jenkyns
died； and； with her； something of the clear knowledge of the strict code
of gentility went out too。 As Miss Pole observed； 〃As most of the
ladies of good family in Cranford were elderly spinsters； or widows
without children； if we did not relax a little； and become less exclusive；
by…and…by we should have no society at all。〃
Mrs Forrester continued on the same side。
〃She had always understood that Fitz meant something aristocratic；
there was Fitz…Roy … she thought that some of the King's children had
been called Fitz…Roy； and there was Fitz…Clarence； now … they were the
children of dear good King William the Fourth。 Fitz…Adam！ … it was a
pretty name； and she thought it very probably meant 'Child of Adam。'
No one； who had not some good blood in their veins； would dare to be
called Fitz； there was a deal in a name … she had had a cousin who spelt
his name with two little ffs … ffoulkes … and he always looked down upon
capital letters and said they belonged to lately…invented families。 She
had been afraid he would die a bachelor； he was so very choice。 When
he met with a Mrs ffarringdon； at a watering…place； he took to her
immediately； and a very pretty genteel woman she was … a widow； with a
very good fortune； and 'my cousin；' Mr ffoulkes； married her； and it was
