cranford(克兰弗德)-第31节
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shape my question prudently； I put it in another form） … 〃How did he
look？〃 In short； Miss Pole was the heroine of the evening； owing to her
morning's encounter。 If she was not the rose （that is to say the conjuror）
she had been near it。
Conjuration； sleight of hand； magic； witchcraft； were the subjects of
the evening。 Miss Pole was slightly sceptical； and inclined to think
there might be a scientific solution found for even the proceedings of the
Witch of Endor。 Mrs Forrester believed everything； from ghosts to
death…watches。 Miss Matty ranged between the two … always
convinced by the last speaker。 I think she was naturally more inclined
to Mrs Forrester's side； but a desire of proving herself a worthy sister to
Miss Jenkyns kept her equally balanced … Miss Jenkyns； who would
never allow a servant to call the little rolls of tallow that formed
themselves round candles 〃winding…sheets；〃 but insisted on their being
spoken of as 〃roley…poleys！〃 A sister of hers to be superstitious！ It
would never do。
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After tea； I was despatched downstairs into the dining…parlour for
that volume of the old Encyclopaedia which contained the nouns
beginning with C； in order that Miss Pole might prime herself with
scientific explanations for the tricks of the following evening。 It spoilt
the pool at Preference which Miss Matty and Mrs Forrester had been
looking forward to； for Miss Pole became so much absorbed in her
subject； and the plates by which it was illustrated； that we felt it would
be cruel to disturb her otherwise than by one or two well…timed yawns；
which I threw in now and then； for I was really touched by the meek
way in which the two ladies were bearing their disappointment。 But
Miss Pole only read the more zealously； imparting to us no more
information than this …
〃Ah！ I see； I comprehend perfectly。 A represents the ball。 Put A
between B and D … no！ between C and F； and turn the second joint of the
third finger of your left hand over the wrist of your right H。 Very clear
indeed！ My dear Mrs Forrester； conjuring and witchcraft is a mere
affair of the alphabet。 Do let me read you this one passage？〃
Mrs Forrester implored Miss Pole to spare her； saying； from a child
upwards； she never could understand being read aloud to； and I dropped
the pack of cards； which I had been shuffling very audibly； and by this
discreet movement I obliged Miss Pole to perceive that Preference was
to have been the order of the evening； and to propose； rather unwillingly；
that the pool should commence。 The pleasant brightness that stole over
the other two ladies' faces on this！ Miss Matty had one or two twinges
of self…reproach for having interrupted Miss Pole in her studies： and did
not remember her cards well； or give her full attention to the game； until
she had soothed her conscience by offering to lend the volume of the
Encyclopaedia to Miss Pole； who accepted it thankfully； and said Betty
should take it home when she came with the lantern。
The next evening we were all in a little gentle flutter at the idea of
the gaiety before us。 Miss Matty went up to dress betimes； and hurried
me until I was ready； when we found we had an hour…and…a… half to wait
before the 〃doors opened at seven precisely。〃 And we had only twenty
yards to go！ However； as Miss Matty said； it would not do to get too
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much absorbed in anything； and forget the time； so she thought we had
better sit quietly； without lighting the candles； till five minutes to seven。
So Miss Matty dozed； and I knitted。
At length we set off； and at the door under the carriage…way at the
〃George；〃 we met Mrs Forrester and Miss Pole： the latter was discussing
the subject of the evening with more vehemence than ever； and throwing
X's and B's at our heads like hailstones。 She had even copied one or
two of the 〃receipts〃 … as she called them … for the different tricks； on
backs of letters； ready to explain and to detect Signor Brunoni's arts。
We went into the cloak…room adjoining the Assembly Room； Miss
Matty gave a sigh or two to her departed youth； and the remembrance of
the last time she had been there； as she adjusted her pretty new cap
before the strange； quaint old mirror in the cloak…room。 The Assembly
Room had been added to the inn； about a hundred years before； by the
different county families； who met together there once a month during
the winter to dance and play at cards。 Many a county beauty had first
swung through the minuet that she afterwards danced before Queen
Charlotte in this very room。 It was said that one of the Gunnings had
graced the apartment with her beauty； it was certain that a rich and
beautiful widow； Lady Williams； had here been smitten with the noble
figure of a young artist； who was staying with some family in the
neighbourhood for professional purposes； and accompanied his patrons
to the Cranford Assembly。 And a pretty bargain poor Lady Williams
had of her handsome husband； if all tales were true。 Now； no beauty
blushed and dimpled along the sides of the Cranford Assembly Room；
no handsome artist won hearts by his bow； CHAPEAU BRAS in hand；
the old room was dingy； the salmon…coloured paint had faded into a
drab； great pieces of plaster had chipped off from the fine wreaths and
festoons on its walls； but still a mouldy odour of aristocracy lingered
about the place； and a dusty recollection of the days that were gone
made Miss Matty and Mrs Forrester bridle up as they entered； and walk
mincingly up the room； as if there were a number of genteel observers；
instead of two little boys with a stick of toffee between them with which
to beguile the time。 We stopped short at the second front row； I could
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hardly understand why； until I heard Miss Pole ask a stray waiter if any
of the county families were expected； and when he shook his head； and
believed not； Mrs Forrester and Miss Matty moved forwards； and our
party represented a conversational square。 The front row was soon
augmented and enriched by Lady Glenmire and Mrs Jamieson。 We six
occupied the two front rows； and our aristocratic seclusion was respected
by the groups of shop…keepers who strayed in from time to time and
huddled together on the back benches。 At least I conjectured so； from
the noise they made； and the sonorous bumps they gave in sitting down；
but when； in weariness of the obstinate green curtain that would not
draw up； but would stare at me with two odd eyes； seen through holes； as
in the old tapestry story； I would fain have looked round at the merry
chattering people behind me； Miss Pole clutched my arm； and begged
me not to turn； for 〃it was not the thing。〃 What 〃the thing〃 was； I never
could find out； but it must have been something em
