cranford(克兰弗德)-第10节
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thought her sister would approve。 Many a domestic rule and regulation
had been a subject of plaintive whispered murmur to me during Miss
Jenkyns's life； but now that she was gone； I do not think that even I； who
was a favourite； durst have suggested an alteration。 To give an instance：
we constantly adhered to the forms which were observed； at meal…times；
in 〃my father； the rector's house。〃 Accordingly； we had always wine
and dessert； but the decanters were only filled when there was a party；
and what remained was seldom touched； though we had two wine… glasses
apiece every day after dinner； until the next festive occasion arrived；
when the state of the remainder wine was examined into in a family
council。 The dregs were often given to the poor： but occasionally；
when a good deal had been left at the last party （five months ago； it
might be）； it was added to some of a fresh bottle； brought up from the
cellar。 I fancy poor Captain Brown did not much like wine； for I
noticed he never finished his first glass； and most military men take
several。 Then； as to our dessert； Miss Jenkyns used to gather currants
and gooseberries for it herself； which I sometimes thought would have
tasted better fresh from the trees； but then； as Miss Jenkyns observed；
there would have been nothing for dessert in summer…time。 As it was；
we felt very genteel with our two glasses apiece； and a dish of
gooseberries at the top； of currants and biscuits at the sides； and two
decanters at the bottom。 When oranges came in； a curious proceeding
was gone through。 Miss Jenkyns did not like to cut the fruit； for； as she
observed； the juice all ran out nobody knew where； sucking （only I think
she used some more recondite word） was in fact the only way of
enjoying oranges； but then there was the unpleasant association with a
ceremony frequently gone through by little babies； and so； after dessert；
in orange season； Miss Jenkyns and Miss Matty used to rise up； possess
themselves each of an orange in silence； and withdraw to the privacy of
their own rooms to indulge in sucking oranges。
I had once or twice tried； on such occasions； to prevail on Miss
Matty to stay； and had succeeded in her sister's lifetime。 I held up a
screen； and did not look； and； as she said； she tried not to make the noise
very offensive； but now that she was left alone； she seemed quite
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horrified when I begged her to remain with me in the warm dining…
parlour； and enjoy her orange as she liked best。 And so it was in
everything。 Miss Jenkyns's rules were made more stringent than ever；
because the framer of them was gone where there could be no appeal。
In all things else Miss Matilda was meek and undecided to a fault。 I
have heard Fanny turn her round twenty times in a morning about dinner；
just as the little hussy chose； and I sometimes fancied she worked on
Miss Matilda's weakness in order to bewilder her； and to make her feel
more in the power of her clever servant。 I determined that I would not
leave her till I had seen what sort of a person Martha was； and； if I found
her trustworthy； I would tell her not to trouble her mistress with every
little decision。
Martha was blunt and plain…spoken to a fault； otherwise she was a
brisk； well…meaning； but very ignorant girl。 She had not been with us a
week before Miss Matilda and I were astounded one morning by the
receipt of a letter from a cousin of hers； who had been twenty or thirty
years in India； and who had lately； as we had seen by the 〃Army List；〃
returned to England； bringing with him an invalid wife who had never
been introduced to her English relations。 Major Jenkyns wrote to
propose that he and his wife should spend a night at Cranford； on his
way to Scotland … at the inn； if it did not suit Miss Matilda to receive
them into her house； in which case they should hope to be with her as
much as possible during the day。 Of course it MUST suit her； as she
said； for all Cranford knew that she had her sister's bedroom at liberty；
but I am sure she wished the Major had stopped in India and forgotten
his cousins out and out。
〃Oh！ how must I manage？〃 asked she helplessly。 〃If Deborah had
been alive she would have known what to do with a gentleman… visitor。
Must I put razors in his dressing…room？ Dear！ dear！ and I've got none。
Deborah would have had them。 And slippers； and coat…brushes？〃 I
suggested that probably he would bring all these things with him。
〃And after dinner； how am I to know when to get up and leave him to his
wine？ Deborah would have done it so well； she would have been quite
in her element。 Will he want coffee； do you think？〃 I undertook the
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management of the coffee； and told her I would instruct Martha in the art
of waiting … in which it must be owned she was terribly deficient … and
that I had no doubt Major and Mrs Jenkyns would understand the quiet
mode in which a lady lived by herself in a country town。 But she was
sadly fluttered。 I made her empty her decanters and bring up two fresh
bottles of wine。 I wished I could have prevented her from being
present at my instructions to Martha； for she frequently cut in with some
fresh direction； muddling the poor girl's mind as she stood open…
mouthed； listening to us both。
〃Hand the vegetables round；〃 said I （foolishly； I see now … for it was
aiming at more than we could accomplish with quietness and simplicity）；
and then； seeing her look bewildered； I added； 〃take the vegetables
round to people； and let them help themselves。〃
〃And mind you go first to the ladies；〃 put in Miss Matilda。 〃Always
go to the ladies before gentlemen when you are waiting。〃
〃I'll do it as you tell me； ma'am；〃 said Martha； 〃but I like lads best。〃
We felt very uncomfortable and shocked at this speech of Martha's；
yet I don't think she meant any harm； and； on the whole； she attended
very well to our directions； except that she 〃nudged〃 the Major when he
did not help himself as soon as she expected to the potatoes； while she
was handing them round。
The major and his wife were quiet unpretending people enough when
they did come； languid； as all East Indians are； I suppose。 We were
rather dismayed at their bringing two servants with them； a Hindoo
body…servant for the Major； and a steady elderly maid for his wife； but
they slept at the inn； and took off a good deal of the responsibility by
attending carefully to their master's and mistress's comfort。 Martha； to
be sure； had never ended her staring at the East Indian's white turban and
brown complexion； and I saw that Miss Matilda shrunk away from him a
little as he waited at dinner。 Indeed； she asked me； when they were
gone； if he did not remind me of Blue Beard？ On the whole； the visit
was most satisfactory； and is a subject of conversation even now with
Miss Matilda； at the time it greatly ex
