cranford(克兰弗德)-第8节
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she had not wherewithal to maintain it。 She had something above
twenty pounds a year； besides the interest of the money for which the
furniture would sell； but she could not live upon that： and so we talked
over her qualifications for earning money。
〃I can sew neatly；〃 said she； 〃and I like nursing。 I think； too； I
could manage a house； if any one would try me as housekeeper； or I
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would go into a shop as saleswoman； if they would have patience with
me at first。〃
Miss Jenkyns declared； in an angry voice； that she should do no such
thing； and talked to herself about 〃some people having no idea of their
rank as a captain's daughter；〃 nearly an hour afterwards； when she
brought Miss Jessie up a basin of delicately…made arrowroot； and stood
over her like a dragoon until the last spoonful was finished： then she
disappeared。 Miss Jessie began to tell me some more of the plans
which had suggested themselves to her； and insensibly fell into talking
of the days that were past and gone； and interested me so much I neither
knew nor heeded how time passed。 We were both startled when Miss
Jenkyns reappeared； and caught us crying。 I was afraid lest she would
be displeased； as she often said that crying hindered digestion； and I
knew she wanted Miss Jessie to get strong； but； instead； she looked
queer and excited； and fidgeted round us without saying anything。 At
last she spoke。
〃I have been so much startled … no； I've not been at all startled … don't
mind me； my dear Miss Jessie … I've been very much surprised … in fact；
I've had a caller； whom you knew once； my dear Miss Jessie〃 …
Miss Jessie went very white； then flushed scarlet； and looked eagerly
at Miss Jenkyns。
〃A gentleman； my dear； who wants to know if you would see him。〃
〃Is it？ … it is not〃 … stammered out Miss Jessie … and got no farther。
〃This is his card；〃 said Miss Jenkyns； giving it to Miss Jessie； and
while her head was bent over it； Miss Jenkyns went through a series of
winks and odd faces to me； and formed her lips into a long sentence； of
which； of course； I could not understand a word。
〃May he come up？〃 asked Miss Jenkyns at last。
〃Oh； yes！ certainly！〃 said Miss Jessie； as much as to say； this is your
house； you may show any visitor where you like。 She took up some
knitting of Miss Matty's and began to be very busy； though I could see
how she trembled all over。
Miss Jenkyns rang the bell； and told the servant who answered it to
show Major Gordon upstairs； and； presently； in walked a tall； fine； frank…
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looking man of forty or upwards。 He shook hands with Miss Jessie；
but he could not see her eyes； she kept them so fixed on the ground。
Miss Jenkyns asked me if I would come and help her to tie up the
preserves in the store…room； and though Miss Jessie plucked at my gown；
and even looked up at me with begging eye； I durst not refuse to go
where Miss Jenkyns asked。 Instead of tying up preserves in the store…
room； however； we went to talk in the dining…room； and there Miss
Jenkyns told me what Major Gordon had told her； how he had served in
the same regiment with Captain Brown； and had become acquainted
with Miss Jessie； then a sweet… looking； blooming girl of eighteen； how
the acquaintance had grown into love on his part； though it had been
some years before he had spoken； how； on becoming possessed； through
the will of an uncle； of a good estate in Scotland； he had offered and
been refused； though with so much agitation and evident distress that he
was sure she was not indifferent to him； and how he had discovered that
the obstacle was the fell disease which was； even then； too surely
threatening her sister。 She had mentioned that the surgeons foretold
intense suffering； and there was no one but herself to nurse her poor
Mary； or cheer and comfort her father during the time of illness。 They
had had long discussions； and on her refusal to pledge herself to him as
his wife when all should be over； he had grown angry； and broken off
entirely； and gone abroad； believing that she was a cold…hearted person
whom he would do well to forget。
He had been travelling in the East； and was on his return home when；
at Rome； he saw the account of Captain Brown's death in GALIGNANI。
Just then Miss Matty； who had been out all the morning； and had
only lately returned to the house； burst in with a face of dismay and
outraged propriety。
〃Oh； goodness me！〃 she said。 〃Deborah； there's a gentleman sitting
in the drawing…room with his arm round Miss Jessie's waist！〃 Miss
Matty's eyes looked large with terror。
Miss Jenkyns snubbed her down in an instant。
〃The most proper place in the world for his arm to be in。 Go away；
Matilda； and mind your own business。〃 This from her sister； who had
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hitherto been a model of feminine decorum； was a blow for poor Miss
Matty； and with a double shock she left the room。
The last time I ever saw poor Miss Jenkyns was many years after
this。 Mrs Gordon had kept up a warm and affectionate intercourse with
all at Cranford。 Miss Jenkyns； Miss Matty； and Miss Pole had all been
to visit her； and returned with wonderful accounts of her house； her
husband； her dress； and her looks。 For； with happiness； something of
her early bloom returned； she had been a year or two younger than we
had taken her for。 Her eyes were always lovely； and； as Mrs Gordon；
her dimples were not out of place。 At the time to which I have referred；
when I last saw Miss Jenkyns； that lady was old and feeble； and had lost
something of her strong mind。 Little Flora Gordon was staying with the
Misses Jenkyns； and when I came in she was reading aloud to Miss
Jenkyns； who lay feeble and changed on the sofa。 Flora put down the
RAMBLER when I came in。
〃Ah！〃 said Miss Jenkyns； 〃you find me changed； my dear。 If can't
see as I used to do。 I Flora were not here to read to me； I hardly know
how I should get through the day。 Did you ever read the RAMBLER？
It's a wonderful book … wonderful！ and the most improving reading for
Flora〃 （which I daresay it would have been； if she could have read half
the words without spelling； and could have understood the meaning of a
third）； 〃better than that strange old book； with the queer name； poor
Captain Brown was killed for reading … that book by Mr Boz； you know
… 'Old Poz'； when I was a girl … but that's a long time ago … I acted Lucy
in 'Old Poz。'〃 She babbled on long enough for Flora to get a good long
spell at the 〃Christmas Carol；〃 which Miss Matty had left on the table。
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CHAPTER III … A LOVE AFFAIR
OF LONG AGO
I THOUGHT that probably my connection with Cranford would cease
after Miss Jenk
