cranford(克兰弗德)-第58节
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was out all had come round in a far more satisfactory way。
I received two Cranford letters on one auspicious October morning。
Both Miss Pole and Miss Matty wrote to ask me to come over and meet
the Gordons； who had returned to England alive and well with their two
children； now almost grown up。 Dear Jessie Brown had kept her old
kind nature； although she had changed her name and station； and she
wrote to say that she and Major Gordon expected to be in Cranford on
the fourteenth； and she hoped and begged to be remembered to Mrs
Jamieson （named first； as became her honourable station）； Miss Pole and
Miss Matty … could she ever forget their kindness to her poor father and
sister？ … Mrs Forrester； Mr Hoggins （and here again came in an allusion
to kindness shown to the dead long ago）； his new wife； who as such
must allow Mrs Gordon to desire to make her acquaintance； and who
was； moreover； an old Scotch friend of her husband's。 In short； every
one was named； from the rector … who had been appointed to Cranford in
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the interim between Captain Brown's death and Miss Jessie's marriage；
and was now associated with the latter event … down to Miss Betty
Barker。 All were asked to the luncheon； all except Mrs Fitz…Adam； who
had come to live in Cranford since Miss Jessie Brown's days； and whom
I found rather moping on account of the omission。 People wondered at
Miss Betty Barker's being included in the honourable list； but； then； as
Miss Pole said； we must remember the disregard of the genteel
proprieties of life in which the poor captain had educated his girls； and
for his sake we swallowed our pride。 Indeed； Mrs Jamieson rather took
it as a compliment； as putting Miss Betty （formerly HER maid） on a
level with 〃those Hogginses。〃
But when I arrived in Cranford； nothing was as yet ascertained of
Mrs Jamieson's own intentions； would the honourable lady go； or would
she not？ Mr Peter declared that she should and she would； Miss Pole
shook her head and desponded。 But Mr Peter was a man of resources。
In the first place； he persuaded Miss Matty to write to Mrs Gordon； and
to tell her of Mrs Fitz…Adam's existence； and to beg that one so kind； and
cordial； and generous； might be included in the pleasant invitation。 An
answer came back by return of post； with a pretty little note for Mrs Fitz…
Adam； and a request that Miss Matty would deliver it herself and explain
the previous omission。 Mrs Fitz…Adam was as pleased as could be； and
thanked Miss Matty over and over again。 Mr Peter had said； 〃Leave
Mrs Jamieson to me；〃 so we did； especially as we knew nothing that we
could do to alter her determination if once formed。
I did not know； nor did Miss Matty； how things were going on； until
Miss Pole asked me； just the day before Mrs Gordon came； if I thought
there was anything between Mr Peter and Mrs Jamieson in the
matrimonial line； for that Mrs Jamieson was really going to the lunch at
the 〃George。〃 She had sent Mr Mulliner down to desire that there
might be a footstool put to the warmest seat in the room； as she meant to
come； and knew that their chairs were very high。 Miss Pole had picked
this piece of news up； and from it she conjectured all sorts of things； and
bemoaned yet more。 〃If Peter should marry； what would become of
poor dear Miss Matty？ And Mrs Jamieson； of all people！〃 Miss Pole
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seemed to think there were other ladies in Cranford who would have
done more credit to his choice； and I think she must have had someone
who was unmarried in her head； for she kept saying； 〃It was so wanting
in delicacy in a widow to think of such a thing。〃
When I got back to Miss Matty's I really did begin to think that Mr
Peter might be thinking of Mrs Jamieson for a wife； and I was as
unhappy as Miss Pole about it。 He had the proof sheet of a great
placard in his hand。 〃Signor Brunoni； Magician to the King of Delhi；
the Rajah of Oude； and the great Lama of Thibet；〃 &c。 &c。； was going to
〃perform in Cranford for one night only；〃 the very next night； and Miss
Matty； exultant； showed me a letter from the Gordons； promising to
remain over this gaiety； which Miss Matty said was entirely Peter's
doing。 He had written to ask the signor to come； and was to be at all
the expenses of the affair。 Tickets were to be sent gratis to as many as
the room would hold。 In short； Miss Matty was charmed with the plan；
and said that to… morrow Cranford would remind her of the Preston Guild；
to which she had been in her youth … a luncheon at the 〃George；〃 with
the dear Gordons； and the signor in the Assembly Room in the evening。
But I … I looked only at the fatal words：…
〃UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF THE HONOURABLE MRS
JAMIESON。〃
She； then； was chosen to preside over this entertainment of Mr
Peter's； she was perhaps going to displace my dear Miss Matty in his
heart； and make her life lonely once more！ I could not look forward to
the morrow with any pleasure； and every innocent anticipation of Miss
Matty's only served to add to my annoyance。
So； angry and irritated； and exaggerating every little incident which
could add to my irritation； I went on till we were all assembled in the
great parlour at the 〃George。〃 Major and Mrs Gordon and pretty Flora
and Mr Ludovic were all as bright and handsome and friendly as could
be； but I could hardly attend to them for watching Mr Peter； and I saw
that Miss Pole was equally busy。 I had never seen Mrs Jamieson so
roused and animated before； her face looked full of interest in what Mr
Peter was saying。 I drew near to listen。 My relief was great when I
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caught that his words were not words of love； but that； for all his grave
face； he was at his old tricks。 He was telling her of his travels in India；
and describing the wonderful height of the Himalaya mountains： one
touch after another added to their size； and each exceeded the former in
absurdity； but Mrs Jamieson really enjoyed all in perfect good faith。 I
suppose she required strong stimulants to excite her to come out of her
apathy。 Mr Peter wound up his account by saying that； of course； at
that altitude there were none of the animals to be found that existed in
the lower regions； the game； … everything was different。 Firing one day
at some flying creature； he was very much dismayed when it fell； to find
that he had shot a cherubim！ Mr Peter caught my eye at this moment；
and gave me such a funny twinkle； that I felt sure he had no thoughts of
Mrs Jamieson as a wife from that time。 She looked uncomfortably
amazed …
〃But； Mr Peter； shooting a cherubim … don't you think … I am afraid
that was sacrilege！〃
Mr Peter composed his countenance in a moment； and appeared
shocked at the idea； which； as he said truly enough； was now presented
to him for the first time； but then Mrs Jamieson must remember that he
had been living for a long time among savages … all of whom were
heathens … some of them； he was afraid
