cranford(克兰弗德)-第12节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
with us on Thursday。
She was in a state of silent agitation all the way to Woodley。 She
had evidently never been there before； and； although she little dreamt I
knew anything of her early story； I could perceive she was in a tremor at
the thought of seeing the place which might have been her home； and
round which it is probable that many of her innocent girlish imaginations
had clustered。 It was a long drive there； through paved jolting lanes。
Miss Matilda sat bolt upright； and looked wistfully out of the windows
as we drew near the end of our journey。 The aspect of the country was
quiet and pastoral。 Woodley stood among fields； and there was an old…
fashioned garden where roses and currant…bushes touched each other；
and where the feathery asparagus formed a pretty background to the
35
… Page 36…
Cranford
pinks and gilly…flowers； there was no drive up to the door。 We got out
at a little gate； and walked up a straight box…edged path。
〃My cousin might make a drive； I think；〃 said Miss Pole； who was
afraid of ear…ache； and had only her cap on。
〃I think it is very pretty；〃 said Miss Matty； with a soft plaintiveness
in her voice； and almost in a whisper； for just then Mr Holbrook
appeared at the door； rubbing his hands in very effervescence of
hospitality。 He looked more like my idea of Don Quixote than ever；
and yet the likeness was only external。 His respectable housekeeper
stood modestly at the door to bid us welcome； and； while she led the
elder ladies upstairs to a bedroom； I begged to look about the garden。
My request evidently pleased the old gentleman； who took me all round
the place and showed me his six…and…twenty cows； named after the
different letters of the alphabet。 As we went along； he surprised me
occasionally by repeating apt and beautiful quotations from the poets；
ranging easily from Shakespeare and George Herbert to those of our
own day。 He did this as naturally as if he were thinking aloud； and their
true and beautiful words were the best expression he could find for what
he was thinking or feeling。 To be sure he called Byron 〃my Lord
Byrron；〃 and pronounced the name of Goethe strictly in accordance with
the English sound of the letters … 〃As Goethe says； 'Ye ever…verdant
palaces；'〃 &c。 Altogether； I never met with a man； before or since； who
had spent so long a life in a secluded and not impressive country； with
ever…increasing delight in the daily and yearly change of season and
beauty。
When he and I went in； we found that dinner was nearly ready in the
kitchen … for so I suppose the room ought to be called； as there were oak
dressers and cupboards all round； all over by the side of the fireplace；
and only a small Turkey carpet in the middle of the flag…floor。 The
room might have been easily made into a handsome dark oak dining…
parlour by removing the oven and a few other appurtenances of a
kitchen； which were evidently never used； the real cooking…place being
at some distance。 The room in which we were expected to sit was a
stiffly…furnished； ugly apartment； but that in which we did sit was what
36
… Page 37…
Cranford
Mr Holbrook called the counting… house； where he paid his labourers their
weekly wages at a great desk near the door。 The rest of the pretty
sitting…room … looking into the orchard； and all covered over with
dancing tree…shadows … was filled with books。 They lay on the ground；
they covered the walls； they strewed the table。 He was evidently half
ashamed and half proud of his extravagance in this respect。 They were
of all kinds … poetry and wild weird tales prevailing。 He evidently
chose his books in accordance with his own tastes； not because such and
such were classical or established favourites。
〃Ah！〃 he said； 〃we farmers ought not to have much time for reading；
yet somehow one can't help it。〃
〃What a pretty room！〃 said Miss Matty； SOTTO VOCE。
〃What a pleasant place！〃 said I； aloud； almost simultaneously。
〃Nay！ if you like it；〃 replied he； 〃but can you sit on these great； black
leather； three…cornered chairs？ I like it better than the best parlour； but
I thought ladies would take that for the smarter place。〃
It was the smarter place； but； like most smart things； not at all pretty；
or pleasant； or home…like； so； while we were at dinner； the servant…girl
dusted and scrubbed the counting…house chairs； and we sat there all the
rest of the day。
We had pudding before meat； and I thought Mr Holbrook was going to
make some apology for his old…fashioned ways； for he began …
〃I don't know whether you like newfangled ways。〃
〃Oh； not at all！〃 said Miss Matty。
〃No more do I；〃 said he。 〃My house…keeper WILL have these in her
new fashion； or else I tell her that； when I was a young man； we used to
keep strictly to my father's rule； 'No broth； no ball； no ball； no beef'； and
always began dinner with broth。 Then we had suet puddings； boiled in
the broth with the beef： and then the meat itself。 If we did not sup our
broth； we had no ball； which we liked a deal better； and the beef came
last of all； and only those had it who had done justice to the broth and
the ball。 Now folks begin with sweet things； and turn their dinners
topsy…turvy。〃
When the ducks and green peas came； we looked at each other in
37
… Page 38…
Cranford
dismay； we had only two…pronged； black…handled forks。 It is true the
steel was as bright as silver； but what were we to do？ Miss Matty
picked up her peas； one by one； on the point of the prongs； much as
Amine ate her grains of rice after her previous feast with the Ghoul。
Miss Pole sighed over her delicate young peas as she left them on one
side of her plate untasted； for they WOULD drop between the prongs。
I looked at my host： the peas were going wholesale into his capacious
mouth； shovelled up by his large round…ended knife。 I saw； I imitated； I
survived！ My friends； in spite of my precedent； could not muster up
courage enough to do an ungenteel thing； and； if Mr Holbrook had not
been so heartily hungry； he would probably have seen that the good peas
went away almost untouched。
After dinner； a clay pipe was brought in； and a spittoon； and； asking
us to retire to another room； where he would soon join us； if we disliked
tobacco…smoke； he presented his pipe to Miss Matty； and requested her
to fill the bowl。 This was a compliment to a lady in his youth； but it
was rather inappropriate to propose it as an honour to Miss Matty； who
had been trained by her sister to hold smoking of every kind in utter
abhorrence。 But if it was a shock to her refinement； it was also a
gratification to her feelings to be thus selected； so she daintily stuffed
the strong tobacco into the pipe； and then we withdrew。
〃It is very pleasant dining with a bachelor；〃 said Miss Matty softly；
as we settled ourselves in the counting…house。 〃I only hope it is not
improper； so many pleasant things a
