cranford(克兰弗德)-第26节
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words。
〃Who is Lady Glenmire？〃 asked I。
〃Oh； she's the widow of Mr Jamieson … that's Mrs Jamieson's late
husband； you know … widow of his eldest brother。 Mrs Jamieson was a
Miss Walker； daughter of Governor Walker。 'Your ladyship。' My dear；
if they fix on that way of speaking； you must just let me practice a little
on you first； for I shall feel so foolish and hot saying it the first time to
Lady Glenmire。〃
It was really a relief to Miss Matty when Mrs Jamieson came on a
very unpolite errand。 I notice that apathetic people have more quiet
impertinence than others； and Mrs Jamieson came now to insinuate
pretty plainly that she did not particularly wish that the Cranford ladies
should call upon her sister…in…law。 I can hardly say how she made this
clear； for I grew very indignant and warm； while with slow deliberation
she was explaining her wishes to Miss Matty； who； a true lady herself；
could hardly understand the feeling which made Mrs Jamieson wish to
appear to her noble sister… in…law as if she only visited 〃county〃 families。
Miss Matty remained puzzled and perplexed long after I had found out
the object of Mrs Jamieson's visit。
When she did understand the drift of the honourable lady's call； it
was pretty to see with what quiet dignity she received the intimation thus
uncourteously given。 She was not in the least hurt … she was of too
gentle a spirit for that； nor was she exactly conscious of disapproving of
Mrs Jamieson's conduct； but there was something of this feeling in her
mind； I am sure； which made her pass from the subject to others in a less
flurried and more composed manner than usual。 Mrs Jamieson was；
indeed； the more flurried of the two； and I could see she was glad to take
her leave。
A little while afterwards Miss Pole returned； red and indignant。
〃Well！ to be sure！ You've had Mrs Jamieson here； I find from Martha；
and we are not to call on Lady Glenmire。 Yes！ I met Mrs Jamieson；
half…way between here and Mrs Forrester's； and she told me； she took
me so by surprise； I had nothing to say。 I wish I had thought of
something very sharp and sarcastic； I dare say I shall to…night。 And
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Lady Glenmire is but the widow of a Scotch baron after all！ I went on
to look at Mrs Forrester's Peerage； to see who this lady was； that is to be
kept under a glass case： widow of a Scotch peer … never sat in the House
of Lords … and as poor as job； I dare say； and she … fifth daughter of some
Mr Campbell or other。 You are the daughter of a rector； at any rate； and
related to the Arleys； and Sir Peter might have been Viscount Arley；
every one says。〃
Miss Matty tried to soothe Miss Pole； but in vain。 That lady；
usually so kind and good…humoured； was now in a full flow of anger。
〃And I went and ordered a cap this morning； to be quite ready；〃 said
she at last； letting out the secret which gave sting to Mrs Jamieson's
intimation。 〃Mrs Jamieson shall see if it is so easy to get me to make
fourth at a pool when she has none of her fine Scotch relations with
her！〃
In coming out of church； the first Sunday on which Lady Glenmire
appeared in Cranford； we sedulously talked together； and turned our
backs on Mrs Jamieson and her guest。 If we might not call on her； we
would not even look at her； though we were dying with curiosity to
know what she was like。 We had the comfort of questioning Martha in
the afternoon。 Martha did not belong to a sphere of society whose
observation could be an implied compliment to Lady Glenmire； and
Martha had made good use of her eyes。
〃Well； ma'am！ is it the little lady with Mrs Jamieson； you mean？ I
thought you would like more to know how young Mrs Smith was
dressed； her being a bride。〃 （Mrs Smith was the butcher's wife）。
Miss Pole said； 〃Good gracious me！ as if we cared about a Mrs
Smith；〃 but was silent as Martha resumed her speech。
〃The little lady in Mrs Jamieson's pew had on； ma'am； rather an old
black silk； and a shepherd's plaid cloak； ma'am； and very bright black
eyes she had； ma'am； and a pleasant； sharp face； not over young； ma'am；
but yet； I should guess； younger than Mrs Jamieson herself。 She looked
up and down the church； like a bird； and nipped up her petticoats； when
she came out； as quick and sharp as ever I see。 I'll tell you what； ma'am；
she's more like Mrs Deacon； at the 'Coach and Horses；' nor any one。〃
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〃Hush； Martha！〃 said Miss Matty； 〃that's not respectful。〃
〃Isn't it； ma'am？ I beg pardon； I'm sure； but Jem Hearn said so as
well。 He said； she was just such a sharp； stirring sort of a body〃 …
〃Lady；〃 said Miss Pole。
〃Lady … as Mrs Deacon。〃
Another Sunday passed away； and we still averted our eyes from Mrs
Jamieson and her guest； and made remarks to ourselves that we thought
were very severe … almost too much so。 Miss Matty was evidently
uneasy at our sarcastic manner of speaking。
Perhaps by this time Lady Glenmire had found out that Mrs
Jamieson's was not the gayest； liveliest house in the world； perhaps Mrs
Jamieson had found out that most of the county families were in London；
and that those who remained in the country were not so alive as they
might have been to the circumstance of Lady Glenmire being in their
neighbourhood。 Great events spring out of small causes； so I will not
pretend to say what induced Mrs Jamieson to alter her determination of
excluding the Cranford ladies； and send notes of invitation all round for
a small party on the following Tuesday。 Mr Mulliner himself brought
them round。 He WOULD always ignore the fact of there being a back…
door to any house； and gave a louder rat…tat than his mistress； Mrs
Jamieson。 He had three little notes； which he carried in a large basket；
in order to impress his mistress with an idea of their great weight；
though they might easily have gone into his waistcoat pocket。
Miss Matty and I quietly decided that we would have a previous
engagement at home： it was the evening on which Miss Matty usually
made candle…lighters of all the notes and letters of the week； for on
Mondays her accounts were always made straight … not a penny owing
from the week before； so； by a natural arrangement； making candle…
lighters fell upon a Tuesday evening； and gave us a legitimate excuse for
declining Mrs Jamieson's invitation。 But before our answer was
written； in came Miss Pole； with an open note in her hand。
〃So！〃 she said。 〃Ah！ I see you have got your note； too。 Better
late than never。 I could have told my Lady Glenmire she would be glad
enough of our society before a fortnight was over。〃
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〃Yes；〃 said Miss Matty； 〃we're asked for Tuesday evening。 And
perhaps you would just kindly bring your work across and drink tea
