cranford(克兰弗德)-第38节
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was Samuel Brown … 〃Sam；〃 she called him … but to the last we preferred
calling him 〃the Signor〃； it sounded so much better。
The end of their conversation with the Signora Brunoni was that it
was agreed that he should be placed under medical advice； and for any
expense incurred in procuring this Lady Glenmire promised to hold
herself responsible； and had accordingly gone to Mr Hoggins to beg him
to ride over to the 〃Rising Sun〃 that very afternoon； and examine into
the signor's real state； and； as Miss Pole said； if it was desirable to
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remove him to Cranford to be more immediately under Mr Hoggins's
eye； she would undertake to see for lodgings and arrange about the rent。
Mrs Roberts had been as kind as could be all throughout； but it was
evident that their long residence there had been a slight inconvenience。
Before Miss Pole left us； Miss Matty and I were as full of the
morning's adventure as she was。 We talked about it all the evening；
turning it in every possible light； and we went to bed anxious for the
morning； when we should surely hear from someone what Mr Hoggins
thought and recommended； for； as Miss Matty observed； though Mr
Hoggins did say 〃Jack's up；〃 〃a fig for his heels；〃 and called Preference
〃Pref。〃 she believed he was a very worthy man and a very clever surgeon。
Indeed； we were rather proud of our doctor at Cranford； as a doctor。
We often wished； when we heard of Queen Adelaide or the Duke of
Wellington being ill； that they would send for Mr Hoggins； but； on
consideration； we were rather glad they did not； for； if we were ailing；
what should we do if Mr Hoggins had been appointed physician…in…
ordinary to the Royal Family？ As a surgeon we were proud of him； but
as a man … or rather； I should say； as a gentleman … we could only shake
our heads over his name and himself； and wished that he had read Lord
Chesterfield's Letters in the days when his manners were susceptible of
improvement。 Nevertheless； we all regarded his dictum in the signor's
case as infallible； and when he said that with care and attention he might
rally； we had no more fear for him。
But； although we had no more fear； everybody did as much as if
there was great cause for anxiety … as indeed there was until Mr Hoggins
took charge of him。 Miss Pole looked out clean and comfortable； if
homely； lodgings； Miss Matty sent the sedan…chair for him； and Martha
and I aired it well before it left Cranford by holding a warming…pan full
of red…hot coals in it； and then shutting it up close； smoke and all； until
the time when he should get into it at the 〃Rising Sun。〃 Lady Glenmire
undertook the medical department under Mr Hoggins's directions； and
rummaged up all Mrs Jamieson's medicine glasses； and spoons； and bed…
tables； in a free…and…easy way； that made Miss Matty feel a little anxious
as to what that lady and Mr Mulliner might say； if they knew。 Mrs
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Forrester made some of the bread…jelly； for which she was so famous； to
have ready as a refreshment in the lodgings when he should arrive。 A
present of this bread…jelly was the highest mark of favour dear Mrs
Forrester could confer。 Miss Pole had once asked her for the receipt；
but she had met with a very decided rebuff； that lady told her that she
could not part with it to any one during her life； and that after her death
it was bequeathed； as her executors would find； to Miss Matty。 What
Miss Matty； or； as Mrs Forrester called her （remembering the clause in
her will and the dignity of the occasion）； Miss Matilda Jenkyns … might
choose to do with the receipt when it came into her possession … whether
to make it public； or to hand it down as an heirloom … she did not know；
nor would she dictate。 And a mould of this admirable； digestible；
unique bread…jelly was sent by Mrs Forrester to our poor sick conjuror。
Who says that the aristocracy are proud？ Here was a lady by birth a
Tyrrell； and descended from the great Sir Walter that shot King Rufus；
and in whose veins ran the blood of him who murdered the little princes
in the Tower； going every day to see what dainty dishes she could
prepare for Samuel Brown； a mountebank！ But； indeed； it was
wonderful to see what kind feelings were called out by this poor man's
coming amongst us。 And also wonderful to see how the great Cranford
panic； which had been occasioned by his first coming in his Turkish
dress； melted away into thin air on his second coming … pale and feeble；
and with his heavy； filmy eyes； that only brightened a very little when
they fell upon the countenance of his faithful wife； or their pale and
sorrowful little girl。
Somehow we all forgot to be afraid。 I daresay it was that finding
out that he； who had first excited our love of the marvellous by his
unprecedented arts； had not sufficient every…day gifts to manage a
shying horse； made us feel as if we were ourselves again。 Miss Pole
came with her little basket at all hours of the evening； as if her lonely
house and the unfrequented road to it had never been infested by that
〃murderous gang〃； Mrs Forrester said she thought that neither Jenny nor
she need mind the headless lady who wept and wailed in Darkness Lane；
for surely the power was never given to such beings to harm those who
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went about to try to do what little good was in their power； to which
Jenny tremblingly assented； but the mistress's theory had little effect on
the maid's practice until she had sewn two pieces of red flannel in the
shape of a cross on her inner garment。
I found Miss Matty covering her penny ball … the ball that she used to
roll under her bed … with gay…coloured worsted in rainbow stripes。
〃My dear；〃 said she； 〃my heart is sad for that little careworn child。
Although her father is a conjuror； she looks as if she had never had a
good game of play in her life。 I used to make very pretty balls in this
way when I was a girl； and I thought I would try if I could not make this
one smart and take it to Phoebe this afternoon。 I think 'the gang' must
have left the neighbourhood； for one does not hear any more of their
violence and robbery now。〃
We were all of us far too full of the signor's precarious state to talk
either about robbers or ghosts。 Indeed； Lady Glenmire said she never
had heard of any actual robberies； except that two little boys had stolen
some apples from Farmer Benson's orchard； and that some eggs had
been missed on a market…day off Widow Hayward's stall。 But that was
expecting too much of us； we could not acknowledge that we had only
had this small foundation for all our panic。 Miss Pole drew herself up
at this remark of Lady Glenmire's； and said 〃that she wished she could
agree with her as to the very small reason we had had for alarm； but with
the recollection of a man disguised
