cranford(克兰弗德)-第4节
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Some of us laughed heartily。 I did not dare； because I was staying in
the house。 Miss Jenkyns sat in patient gravity。 When it was ended；
she turned to me； and said with mild dignity …
〃Fetch me 'Rasselas；' my dear； out of the book…room。〃
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When I had brought it to her； she turned to Captain Brown …
〃Now allow me to read you a scene； and then the present company can
judge between your favourite； Mr Boz； and Dr Johnson。〃
She read one of the conversations between Rasselas and Imlac； in a
high…pitched； majestic voice： and when she had ended； she said； 〃I
imagine I am now justified in my preference of Dr Johnson as a writer of
fiction。〃 The Captain screwed his lips up； and drummed on the table；
but he did not speak。 She thought she would give him a finishing blow
or two。
〃I consider it vulgar； and below the dignity of literature； to publish in
numbers。〃
〃How was the RAMBLER published； ma'am？〃 asked Captain Brown
in a low voice； which I think Miss Jenkyns could not have heard。
〃Dr Johnson's style is a model for young beginners。 My father
recommended it to me when I began to write letters … I have formed my
own style upon it； I recommended it to your favourite。〃
〃I should be very sorry for him to exchange his style for any such
pompous writing；〃 said Captain Brown。
Miss Jenkyns felt this as a personal affront； in a way of which the
Captain had not dreamed。 Epistolary writing she and her friends
considered as her FORTE。 Many a copy of many a letter have I seen
written and corrected on the slate； before she 〃seized the half… hour just
previous to post…time to assure〃 her friends of this or of that； and Dr
Johnson was； as she said； her model in these compositions。 She drew
herself up with dignity； and only replied to Captain Brown's last remark
by saying； with marked emphasis on every syllable； 〃I prefer Dr Johnson
to Mr Boz。〃
It is said … I won't vouch for the fact … that Captain Brown was heard
to say； SOTTO VOCE； 〃D…n Dr Johnson！〃 If he did； he was penitent
afterwards； as he showed by going to stand near Miss Jenkyns' arm…chair；
and endeavouring to beguile her into conversation on some more
pleasing subject。 But she was inexorable。 The next day she made the
remark I have mentioned about Miss Jessie's dimples。
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CHAPTER II … THE CAPTAIN
IT was impossible to live a month at Cranford and not know the
daily habits of each resident； and long before my visit was ended I knew
much concerning the whole Brown trio。 There was nothing new to be
discovered respecting their poverty； for they had spoken simply and
openly about that from the very first。 They made no mystery of the
necessity for their being economical。 All that remained to be
discovered was the Captain's infinite kindness of heart； and the various
modes in which； unconsciously to himself； he manifested it。 Some
little anecdotes were talked about for some time after they occurred。
As we did not read much； and as all the ladies were pretty well suited
with servants； there was a dearth of subjects for conversation。 We
therefore discussed the circumstance of the Captain taking a poor old
woman's dinner out of her hands one very slippery Sunday。 He had
met her returning from the bakehouse as he came from church； and
noticed her precarious footing； and； with the grave dignity with which he
did everything； he relieved her of her burden； and steered along the
street by her side； carrying her baked mutton and potatoes safely home。
This was thought very eccentric； and it was rather expected that he
would pay a round of calls； on the Monday morning； to explain and
apologise to the Cranford sense of propriety： but he did no such thing：
and then it was decided that he was ashamed； and was keeping out of
sight。 In a kindly pity for him； we began to say； 〃After all； the Sunday
morning's occurrence showed great goodness of heart；〃 and it was
resolved that he should be comforted on his next appearance amongst us；
but； lo！ he came down upon us； untouched by any sense of shame；
speaking loud and bass as ever； his head thrown back； his wig as jaunty
and well…curled as usual； and we were obliged to conclude he had
forgotten all about Sunday。
Miss Pole and Miss Jessie Brown had set up a kind of intimacy on
the strength of the Shetland wool and the new knitting stitches； so it
happened that when I went to visit Miss Pole I saw more of the Browns
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than I had done while staying with Miss Jenkyns； who had never got
over what she called Captain Brown's disparaging remarks upon Dr
Johnson as a writer of light and agreeable fiction。 I found that Miss
Brown was seriously ill of some lingering； incurable complaint； the pain
occasioned by which gave the uneasy expression to her face that I had
taken for unmitigated crossness。 Cross； too； she was at times； when the
nervous irritability occasioned by her disease became past endurance。
Miss Jessie bore with her at these times； even more patiently than she
did with the bitter self…upbraidings by which they were invariably
succeeded。 Miss Brown used to accuse herself； not merely of hasty and
irritable temper； but also of being the cause why her father and sister
were obliged to pinch； in order to allow her the small luxuries which
were necessaries in her condition。 She would so fain have made
sacrifices for them； and have lightened their cares； that the original
generosity of her disposition added acerbity to her temper。 All this was
borne by Miss Jessie and her father with more than placidity … with
absolute tenderness。 I forgave Miss Jessie her singing out of tune； and
her juvenility of dress； when I saw her at home。 I came to perceive that
Captain Brown's dark Brutus wig and padded coat （alas！ too often
threadbare） were remnants of the military smartness of his youth； which
he now wore unconsciously。 He was a man of infinite resources；
gained in his barrack experience。 As he confessed； no one could black
his boots to please him except himself； but； indeed； he was not above
saving the little maid…servant's labours in every way … knowing； most
likely； that his daughter's illness made the place a hard one。
He endeavoured to make peace with Miss Jenkyns soon after the
memorable dispute I have named； by a present of a wooden fire… shovel
（his own making）； having heard her say how much the grating of an iron
one annoyed her。 She received the present with cool gratitude； and
thanked him formally。 When he was gone； she bade me put it away in
the lumber…room； feeling； probably； that no present from a man who
preferred Mr Boz to Dr Johnson could be less jarring than an iron fire…
shovel。
