cranford(克兰弗德)-第1节
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Cranford
Cranford
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Cranford
CHAPTER I … OUR SOCIETY
IN the first place； Cranford is in possession of the Amazons； all the
holders of houses above a certain rent are women。 If a married couple
come to settle in the town； somehow the gentleman disappears； he is
either fairly frightened to death by being the only man in the Cranford
evening parties； or he is accounted for by being with his regiment； his
ship； or closely engaged in business all the week in the great
neighbouring commercial town of Drumble； distant only twenty miles
on a railroad。 In short； whatever does become of the gentlemen； they
are not at Cranford。 What could they do if they were there？ The
surgeon has his round of thirty miles； and sleeps at Cranford； but every
man cannot be a surgeon。 For keeping the trim gardens full of choice
flowers without a weed to speck them； for frightening away little boys
who look wistfully at the said flowers through the railings； for rushing
out at the geese that occasionally venture in to the gardens if the gates
are left open； for deciding all questions of literature and politics without
troubling themselves with unnecessary reasons or arguments； for
obtaining clear and correct knowledge of everybody's affairs in the
parish； for keeping their neat maid…servants in admirable order； for
kindness （somewhat dictatorial） to the poor； and real tender good offices
to each other whenever they are in distress； the ladies of Cranford are
quite sufficient。 〃A man；〃 as one of them observed to me once； 〃is SO
in the way in the house！〃 Although the ladies of Cranford know all
each other's proceedings； they are exceedingly indifferent to each other's
opinions。 Indeed； as each has her own individuality； not to say
eccentricity； pretty strongly developed； nothing is so easy as verbal
retaliation； but； somehow； good…will reigns among them to a
considerable degree。
The Cranford ladies have only an occasional little quarrel； spirited
out in a few peppery words and angry jerks of the head； just enough to
prevent the even tenor of their lives from becoming too flat。 Their
dress is very independent of fashion； as they observe； 〃What does it
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Cranford
signify how we dress here at Cranford； where everybody knows us？〃
And if they go from home； their reason is equally cogent； 〃What does it
signify how we dress here； where nobody knows us？〃 The materials of
their clothes are； in general； good and plain； and most of them are nearly
as scrupulous as Miss Tyler； of cleanly memory； but I will answer for it；
the last gigot； the last tight and scanty petticoat in wear in England； was
seen in Cranford … and seen without a smile。
I can testify to a magnificent family red silk umbrella； under which a
gentle little spinster； left alone of many brothers and sisters； used to
patter to church on rainy days。 Have you any red silk umbrellas in
London？ We had a tradition of the first that had ever been seen in
Cranford； and the little boys mobbed it； and called it 〃a stick in
petticoats。〃 It might have been the very red silk one I have described；
held by a strong father over a troop of little ones； the poor little lady …
the survivor of all … could scarcely carry it。
Then there were rules and regulations for visiting and calls； and they
were announced to any young people who might be staying in the town；
with all the solemnity with which the old Manx laws were read once a
year on the Tinwald Mount。
〃Our friends have sent to inquire how you are after your journey to…
night； my dear〃 （fifteen miles in a gentleman's carriage）； 〃they will give
you some rest to…morrow； but the next day； I have no doubt； they will
call； so be at liberty after twelve … from twelve to three are our calling
hours。〃
Then； after they had called …
〃It is the third day； I dare say your mamma has told you； my dear；
never to let more than three days elapse between receiving a call and
returning it； and also； that you are never to stay longer than a quarter of
an hour。〃
〃But am I to look at my watch？ How am I to find out when a quarter
of an hour has passed？〃
〃You must keep thinking about the time； my dear； and not allow
yourself to forget it in conversation。〃
As everybody had this rule in their minds； whether they received or
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paid a call； of course no absorbing subject was ever spoken about。 We
kept ourselves to short sentences of small talk； and were punctual to our
time。
I imagine that a few of the gentlefolks of Cranford were poor； and
had some difficulty in making both ends meet； but they were like the
Spartans； and concealed their smart under a smiling face。 We none of
us spoke of money； because that subject savoured of commerce and
trade； and though some might be poor； we were all aristocratic。 The
Cranfordians had that kindly ESPRIT DE CORPS which made them
overlook all deficiencies in success when some among them tried to
conceal their poverty。 When Mrs Forrester； for instance； gave a party
in her baby…house of a dwelling； and the little maiden disturbed the
ladies on the sofa by a request that she might get the tea…tray out from
underneath； everyone took this novel proceeding as the most natural
thing in the world； and talked on about household forms and ceremonies
as if we all believed that our hostess had a regular servants' hall； second
table； with housekeeper and steward； instead of the one little charity…
school maiden； whose short ruddy arms could never have been strong
enough to carry the tray upstairs； if she had not been assisted in private
by her mistress； who now sat in state； pretending not to know what cakes
were sent up； though she knew； and we knew； and she knew that we
knew； and we knew that she knew that we knew； she had been busy all
the morning making tea…bread and sponge…cakes。
There were one or two consequences arising from this general but
unacknowledged poverty； and this very much acknowledged gentility；
which were not amiss； and which might be introduced into many circles
of society to their great improvement。 For instance； the inhabitants of
Cranford kept early hours； and clattered home in their pattens； under the
guidance of a lantern…bearer； about nine o'clock at night； and the whole
town was abed and asleep by half… past ten。 Moreover； it was considered
〃vulgar〃 （a tremendous word in Cranford） to give anything expensive； in
the way of eatable or drinkable； at the evening entertainments。 Wafer
bread…and…butter and sponge…biscuits were all that the Honourable Mrs
Jamieson gave； and she was sister…in…law to the late Earl of Glenmire；
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although she did practise such 〃elegant econom
