cranford(克兰弗德)-第53节
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more radiant in the afternoon； when they； too； made their first
appearance。 Mrs Jamieson soothed the turbulence of her soul by
having the blinds of her windows drawn down； as if for a funeral； on the
day when Mr and Mrs Hoggins received callers； and it was with some
difficulty that she was prevailed upon to continue the ST JAMES'S
CHRONICLE； so indignant was she with its having inserted the
announcement of the marriage。
Miss Matty's sale went off famously。 She retained the furniture of
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her sitting…room and bedroom； the former of which she was to occupy
till Martha could meet with a lodger who might wish to take it； and into
this sitting…room and bedroom she had to cram all sorts of things； which
were （the auctioneer assured her） bought in for her at the sale by an
unknown friend。 I always suspected Mrs Fitz…Adam of this； but she
must have had an accessory； who knew what articles were particularly
regarded by Miss Matty on account of their associations with her early
days。 The rest of the house looked rather bare； to be sure； all except
one tiny bedroom； of which my father allowed me to purchase the
furniture for my occasional use in case of Miss Matty's illness。
I had expended my own small store in buying all manner of comfits
and lozenges； in order to tempt the little people whom Miss Matty loved
so much to come about her。 Tea in bright green canisters； and comfits
in tumblers … Miss Matty and I felt quite proud as we looked round us on
the evening before the shop was to be opened。 Martha had scoured the
boarded floor to a white cleanness； and it was adorned with a brilliant
piece of oil…cloth； on which customers were to stand before the table…
counter。 The wholesome smell of plaster and whitewash pervaded the
apartment。 A very small 〃Matilda Jenkyns； licensed to sell tea；〃 was
hidden under the lintel of the new door； and two boxes of tea； with
cabalistic inscriptions all over them； stood ready to disgorge their
contents into the canisters。
Miss Matty； as I ought to have mentioned before； had had some
scruples of conscience at selling tea when there was already Mr Johnson
in the town； who included it among his numerous commodities； and；
before she could quite reconcile herself to the adoption of her new
business； she had trotted down to his shop； unknown to me； to tell him of
the project that was entertained； and to inquire if it was likely to injure
his business。 My father called this idea of hers 〃great nonsense；〃 and
〃wondered how tradespeople were to get on if there was to be a
continual consulting of each other's interests； which would put a stop to
all competition directly。〃 And； perhaps； it would not have done in
Drumble； but in Cranford it answered very well； for not only did Mr
Johnson kindly put at rest all Miss Matty's scruples and fear of injuring
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his business； but I have reason to know he repeatedly sent customers to
her； saying that the teas he kept were of a common kind； but that Miss
Jenkyns had all the choice sorts。 And expensive tea is a very favourite
luxury with well…to…do tradespeople and rich farmers' wives； who turn
up their noses at the Congou and Souchong prevalent at many tables of
gentility； and will have nothing else than Gunpowder and Pekoe for
themselves。
But to return to Miss Matty。 It was really very pleasant to see how
her unselfishness and simple sense of justice called out the same good
qualities in others。 She never seemed to think any one would impose
upon her； because she should be so grieved to do it to them。 I have
heard her put a stop to the asseverations of the man who brought her
coals by quietly saying； 〃I am sure you would be sorry to bring me
wrong weight；〃 and if the coals were short measure that time； I don't
believe they ever were again。 People would have felt as much ashamed
of presuming on her good faith as they would have done on that of a
child。 But my father says 〃such simplicity might be very well in
Cranford； but would never do in the world。〃 And I fancy the world
must be very bad； for with all my father's suspicion of every one with
whom he has dealings； and in spite of all his many precautions； he lost
upwards of a thousand pounds by roguery only last year。
I just stayed long enough to establish Miss Matty in her new mode of
life； and to pack up the library； which the rector had purchased。 He had
written a very kind letter to Miss Matty； saying 〃how glad he should be
to take a library； so well selected as he knew that the late Mr Jenkyns's
must have been； at any valuation put upon them。〃 And when she
agreed to this； with a touch of sorrowful gladness that they would go
back to the rectory and be arranged on the accustomed walls once more；
he sent word that he feared that he had not room for them all； and
perhaps Miss Matty would kindly allow him to leave some volumes on
her shelves。 But Miss Matty said that she had her Bible and 〃Johnson's
Dictionary；〃 and should not have much time for reading； she was afraid；
still； I retained a few books out of consideration for the rector's
kindness。
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The money which he had paid； and that produced by the sale； was
partly expended in the stock of tea； and part of it was invested against a
rainy day … I。E。 old age or illness。 It was but a small sum； it is true； and
it occasioned a few evasions of truth and white lies （all of which I think
very wrong indeed … in theory … and would rather not put them in
practice）； for we knew Miss Matty would be perplexed as to her duty if
she were aware of any little reserve … fund being made for her while the
debts of the bank remained unpaid。 Moreover； she had never been told
of the way in which her friends were contributing to pay the rent。 I
should have liked to tell her this； but the mystery of the affair gave a
piquancy to their deed of kindness which the ladies were unwilling to
give up； and at first Martha had to shirk many a perplexed question as to
her ways and means of living in such a house； but by…and…by Miss
Matty's prudent uneasiness sank down into acquiescence with the
existing arrangement。
I left Miss Matty with a good heart。 Her sales of tea during the first
two days had surpassed my most sanguine expectations。 The whole
country round seemed to be all out of tea at once。 The only alteration I
could have desired in Miss Matty's way of doing business was； that she
should not have so plaintively entreated some of her customers not to
buy green tea … running it down as a slow poison； sure to destroy the
nerves； and produce all manner of evil。 Their pertinacity in taking it； in
spite of all her warnings； dist
