cranford(克兰弗德)-第32节
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could find out； but it must have been something eminently dull and
tiresome。 However； we all sat eyes right； square front； gazing at the
tantalising curtain； and hardly speaking intelligibly； we were so afraid of
being caught in the vulgarity of making any noise in a place of public
amusement。 Mrs Jamieson was the most fortunate； for she fell asleep。
At length the eyes disappeared … the curtain quivered … one side went
up before the other； which stuck fast； it was dropped again； and； with a
fresh effort； and a vigorous pull from some unseen hand； it flew up；
revealing to our sight a magnificent gentleman in the Turkish costume；
seated before a little table； gazing at us （I should have said with the same
eyes that I had last seen through the hole in the curtain） with calm and
condescending dignity； 〃like a being of another sphere；〃 as I heard a
sentimental voice ejaculate behind me。
〃That's not Signor Brunoni！〃 said Miss Pole decidedly； and so
audibly that I am sure he heard； for he glanced down over his flowing
beard at our party with an air of mute reproach。 〃Signor Brunoni had
no beard … but perhaps he'll come soon。〃 So she lulled herself into
patience。 Meanwhile； Miss Matty had reconnoitred through her eye…
glass； wiped it； and looked again。 Then she turned round； and said to
me； in a kind； mild； sorrowful tone …
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〃You see； my dear； turbans ARE worn。〃
But we had no time for more conversation。 The Grand Turk； as Miss
Pole chose to call him； arose and announced himself as Signor Brunoni。
〃I don't believe him！〃 exclaimed Miss Pole； in a defiant manner。 He
looked at her again； with the same dignified upbraiding in his
countenance。 〃I don't！〃 she repeated more positively than ever。
〃Signor Brunoni had not got that muffy sort of thing about his chin； but
looked like a close…shaved Christian gentleman。〃
Miss Pole's energetic speeches had the good effect of wakening up
Mrs Jamieson； who opened her eyes wide； in sign of the deepest
attention … a proceeding which silenced Miss Pole and encouraged the
Grand Turk to proceed； which he did in very broken English … so broken
that there was no cohesion between the parts of his sentences； a fact
which he himself perceived at last； and so left off speaking and
proceeded to action。
Now we WERE astonished。 How he did his tricks I could not
imagine； no； not even when Miss Pole pulled out her pieces of paper and
began reading aloud … or at least in a very audible whisper … the separate
〃receipts〃 for the most common of his tricks。 If ever I saw a man
frown and look enraged； I saw the Grand Turk frown at Miss Pole； but；
as she said； what could be expected but unchristian looks from a
Mussulman？ If Miss Pole were sceptical； and more engrossed with her
receipts and diagrams than with his tricks； Miss Matty and Mrs Forrester
were mystified and perplexed to the highest degree。 Mrs Jamieson kept
taking her spectacles off and wiping them； as if she thought it was
something defective in them which made the legerdemain； and Lady
Glenmire； who had seen many curious sights in Edinburgh； was very
much struck with the tricks； and would not at all agree with Miss Pole；
who declared that anybody could do them with a little practice； and that
she would； herself； undertake to do all he did； with two hours given to
study the Encyclopaedia and make her third finger flexible。
At last Miss Matty and Mrs Forrester became perfectly awestricken。
They whispered together。 I sat just behind them； so I could not help
hearing what they were saying。 Miss Matty asked Mrs Forrester 〃if she
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thought it was quite right to have come to see such things？ She could
not help fearing they were lending encouragement to something that was
not quite〃 … A little shake of the head filled up the blank。 Mrs
Forrester replied； that the same thought had crossed her mind； she too
was feeling very uncomfortable； it was so very strange。 She was quite
certain that it was her pocket… handkerchief which was in that loaf just
now； and it had been in her own hand not five minutes before。 She
wondered who had furnished the bread？ She was sure it could not be
Dakin； because he was the churchwarden。 Suddenly Miss Matty half…
turned towards me …
〃Will you look； my dear … you are a stranger in the town； and it won't
give rise to unpleasant reports … will you just look round and see if the
rector is here？ If he is； I think we may conclude that this wonderful
man is sanctioned by the Church； and that will be a great relief to my
mind。
I looked； and I saw the tall； thin； dry； dusty rector； sitting surrounded
by National School boys； guarded by troops of his own sex from any
approach of the many Cranford spinsters。 His kind face was all agape
with broad smiles； and the boys around him were in chinks of laughing。
I told Miss Matty that the Church was smiling approval； which set her
mind at ease。
I have never named Mr Hayter； the rector； because I； as a well…to… do
and happy young woman； never came in contact with him。 He was an
old bachelor； but as afraid of matrimonial reports getting abroad about
him as any girl of eighteen： and he would rush into a shop or dive down
an entry； sooner than encounter any of the Cranford ladies in the street；
and； as for the Preference parties； I did not wonder at his not accepting
invitations to them。 To tell the truth； I always suspected Miss Pole of
having given very vigorous chase to Mr Hayter when he first came to
Cranford； and not the less； because now she appeared to share so vividly
in his dread lest her name should ever be coupled with his。 He found
all his interests among the poor and helpless； he had treated the National
School boys this very night to the performance； and virtue was for once
its own reward； for they guarded him right and left； and clung round him
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as if he had been the queen…bee and they the swarm。 He felt so safe in
their environment that he could even afford to give our party a bow as
we filed out。 Miss Pole ignored his presence； and pretended to be
absorbed in convincing us that we had been cheated； and had not seen
Signor Brunoni after all。
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CHAPTER X … THE PANIC
I THINK a series of circumstances dated from Signor Brunoni's visit
to Cranford； which seemed at the time connected in our minds with him；
though I don't know that he had anything really to do with them。 All at
once all sorts of uncomfortable rumours got afloat in the town。 There
were one or two robberies … real BONA FIDE robberies； men had up
before the magistrates and committed for trial … and that seemed to make
us all afraid of being robbed； and for a long
