cranford(克兰弗德)-第28节
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Cranford
streaming into it； and the large square window was clustered round with
flowers。 The furniture was white and gold； not the later style； Louis
Quatorze； I think they call it； all shells and twirls； no； Mrs Jamieson's
chairs and tables had not a curve or bend about them。 The chair and
table legs diminished as they neared the ground； and were straight and
square in all their corners。 The chairs were all a…row against the walls；
with the exception of four or five which stood in a circle round the fire。
They were railed with white bars across the back and knobbed with gold；
neither the railings nor the knobs invited to ease。 There was a japanned
table devoted to literature； on which lay a Bible； a Peerage； and a
Prayer…Book。 There was another square Pembroke table dedicated to
the Fine Arts； on which were a kaleidoscope； conversation…cards； puzzle…
cards （tied together to an interminable length with faded pink satin
ribbon）； and a box painted in fond imitation of the drawings which
decorate tea…chests。 Carlo lay on the worsted… worked rug； and
ungraciously barked at us as we entered。 Mrs Jamieson stood up；
giving us each a torpid smile of welcome； and looking helplessly beyond
us at Mr Mulliner； as if she hoped he would place us in chairs； for； if he
did not； she never could。 I suppose he thought we could find our way
to the circle round the fire； which reminded me of Stonehenge； I don't
know why。 Lady Glenmire came to the rescue of our hostess； and；
somehow or other； we found ourselves for the first time placed agreeably；
and not formally； in Mrs Jamieson's house。 Lady Glenmire； now we
had time to look at her； proved to be a bright little woman of middle age；
who had been very pretty in the days of her youth； and who was even yet
very pleasant…looking。 I saw Miss Pole appraising her dress in the first
five minutes； and I take her word when she said the next day …
〃My dear！ ten pounds would have purchased every stitch she had on …
lace and all。〃
It was pleasant to suspect that a peeress could be poor； and partly
reconciled us to the fact that her husband had never sat in the House of
Lords； which； when we first heard of it； seemed a kind of swindling us
out of our prospects on false pretences； a sort of 〃A Lord and No Lord〃
business。
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Cranford
We were all very silent at first。 We were thinking what we could
talk about； that should be high enough to interest My Lady。 There had
been a rise in the price of sugar； which； as preserving…time was near； was
a piece of intelligence to all our house…keeping hearts； and would have
been the natural topic if Lady Glenmire had not been by。 But we were
not sure if the peerage ate preserves … much less knew how they were
made。 At last； Miss Pole； who had always a great deal of courage and
SAVOIR FAIRE； spoke to Lady Glenmire； who on her part had seemed
just as much puzzled to know how to break the silence as we were。
〃Has your ladyship been to Court lately？〃 asked she； and then gave a
little glance round at us； half timid and half triumphant； as much as to
say； 〃See how judiciously I have chosen a subject befitting the rank of
the stranger。〃
〃I never was there in my life；〃 said Lady Glenmire； with a broad
Scotch accent； but in a very sweet voice。 And then； as if she had been
too abrupt； she added： 〃We very seldom went to London … only twice； in
fact； during all my married life； and before I was married my father had
far too large a family〃 （fifth daughter of Mr Campbell was in all our
minds； I am sure） 〃to take us often from our home； even to Edinburgh。
Ye'll have been in Edinburgh； maybe？〃 said she； suddenly brightening up
with the hope of a common interest。 We had none of us been there； but
Miss Pole had an uncle who once had passed a night there； which was
very pleasant。
Mrs Jamieson； meanwhile； was absorbed in wonder why Mr Mulliner
did not bring the tea； and at length the wonder oozed out of her mouth。
〃I had better ring the bell； my dear； had not I？〃 said Lady Glenmire
briskly。
〃No … I think not … Mulliner does not like to be hurried。〃
We should have liked our tea； for we dined at an earlier hour than
Mrs Jamieson。 I suspect Mr Mulliner had to finish the ST JAMES'S
CHRONICLE before he chose to trouble himself about tea。 His
mistress fidgeted and fidgeted； and kept saying； I can't think why
Mulliner does not bring tea。 I can't think what he can be about。〃 And
Lady Glenmire at last grew quite impatient； but it was a pretty kind of
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impatience after all； and she rang the bell rather sharply； on receiving a
half…permission from her sister…in…law to do so。 Mr Mulliner appeared
in dignified surprise。 〃Oh！〃 said Mrs Jamieson； 〃Lady Glenmire rang
the bell； I believe it was for tea。〃
In a few minutes tea was brought。 Very delicate was the china； very
old the plate； very thin the bread and butter； and very small the lumps of
sugar。 Sugar was evidently Mrs Jamieson's favourite economy。 I
question if the little filigree sugar…tongs； made something like scissors；
could have opened themselves wide enough to take up an honest； vulgar
good…sized piece； and when I tried to seize two little minnikin pieces at
once； so as not to be detected in too many returns to the sugar…basin；
they absolutely dropped one； with a little sharp clatter； quite in a
malicious and unnatural manner。 But before this happened we had had
a slight disappointment。 In the little silver jug was cream； in the larger
one was milk。 As soon as Mr Mulliner came in； Carlo began to beg；
which was a thing our manners forebade us to do； though I am sure we
were just as hungry； and Mrs Jamieson said she was certain we would
excuse her if she gave her poor dumb Carlo his tea first。 She
accordingly mixed a saucerful for him； and put it down for him to lap；
and then she told us how intelligent and sensible the dear little fellow
was； he knew cream quite well； and constantly refused tea with only
milk in it： so the milk was left for us； but we silently thought we were
quite as intelligent and sensible as Carlo； and felt as if insult were added
to injury when we were called upon to admire the gratitude evinced by
his wagging his tail for the cream which should have been ours。
After tea we thawed down into common…life subjects。 We were
thankful to Lady Glenmire for having proposed some more bread and
butter； and this mutual want made us better acquainted with her than we
should ever have been with talking about the Court； though Miss Pole
did say she had hoped to know how the dear Queen was from some one
who had seen her。
The friendship begun over bread and butter extended on to cards。
Lady Glenmire played Preference to admiration； and was a complete
authority as to Ombre and Quadrille。 Even Miss Pole quite forgot to
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