cranford(克兰弗德)-第6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！
can to alleviate her pain； … God's will be done！〃 He took off his hat at
these last words。 I found； from Miss Matty； that everything had been
done； in fact。 A medical man； of high repute in that country
neighbourhood； had been sent for； and every injunction he had given
was attended to； regardless of expense。 Miss Matty was sure they
denied themselves many things in order to make the invalid comfortable；
16
… Page 17…
Cranford
but they never spoke about it； and as for Miss Jessie！ … 〃I really think
she's an angel；〃 said poor Miss Matty； quite overcome。 〃To see her way
of bearing with Miss Brown's crossness； and the bright face she puts on
after she's been sitting up a whole night and scolded above half of it； is
quite beautiful。 Yet she looks as neat and as ready to welcome the
Captain at breakfast…time as if she had been asleep in the Queen's bed all
night。 My dear！ you could never laugh at her prim little curls or her
pink bows again if you saw her as I have done。〃 I could only feel very
penitent； and greet Miss Jessie with double respect when I met her next。
She looked faded and pinched； and her lips began to quiver； as if she
was very weak； when she spoke of her sister。 But she brightened； and
sent back the tears that were glittering in her pretty eyes； as she said …
〃But； to be sure； what a town Cranford is for kindness！ I don't
suppose any one has a better dinner than usual cooked but the best part
of all comes in a little covered basin for my sister。 The poor people
will leave their earliest vegetables at our door for her。 They speak short
and gruff； as if they were ashamed of it： but I am sure it often goes to my
heart to see their thoughtfulness。〃 The tears now came back and
overflowed； but after a minute or two she began to scold herself； and
ended by going away the same cheerful Miss Jessie as ever。
〃But why does not this Lord Mauleverer do something for the man
who saved his life？〃 said I。
〃Why； you see； unless Captain Brown has some reason for it； he
never speaks about being poor； and he walked along by his lordship
looking as happy and cheerful as a prince； and as they never called
attention to their dinner by apologies； and as Miss Brown was better that
day； and all seemed bright； I daresay his lordship never knew how much
care there was in the background。 He did send game in the winter
pretty often； but now he is gone abroad。〃
I had often occasion to notice the use that was made of fragments
and small opportunities in Cranford； the rose…leaves that were gathered
ere they fell to make into a potpourri for someone who had no garden；
the little bundles of lavender flowers sent to strew the drawers of some
town…dweller； or to burn in the chamber of some invalid。 Things that
17
… Page 18…
Cranford
many would despise； and actions which it seemed scarcely worth while
to perform； were all attended to in Cranford。 Miss Jenkyns stuck an
apple full of cloves； to be heated and smell pleasantly in Miss Brown's
room； and as she put in each clove she uttered a Johnsonian sentence。
Indeed； she never could think of the Browns without talking Johnson；
and； as they were seldom absent from her thoughts just then； I heard
many a rolling； three…piled sentence。
Captain Brown called one day to thank Mist Jenkyns for many little
kindnesses； which I did not know until then that she had rendered。 He
had suddenly become like an old man； his deep bass voice had a
quavering in it； his eyes looked dim； and the lines on his face were deep。
He did not … could not … speak cheerfully of his daughter's state； but he
talked with manly； pious resignation； and not much。 Twice over he said；
〃What Jessie has been to us； God only knows！〃 and after the second time；
he got up hastily； shook hands all round without speaking； and left the
room。
That afternoon we perceived little groups in the street； all listening
with faces aghast to some tale or other。 Miss Jenkyns wondered what
could be the matter for some time before she took the undignified step of
sending Jenny out to inquire。
Jenny came back with a white face of terror。 〃Oh； ma'am！ Oh； Miss
Jenkyns； ma'am！ Captain Brown is killed by them nasty cruel
railroads！〃 and she burst into tears。 She； along with many others； had
experienced the poor Captain's kindness。
〃How？ … where … where？ Good God！ Jenny； don't waste time in
crying； but tell us something。〃 Miss Matty rushed out into the street at
once； and collared the man who was telling the tale。
〃Come in … come to my sister at once； Miss Jenkyns； the rector's
daughter。 Oh； man； man！ say it is not true；〃 she cried； as she brought
the affrighted carter； sleeking down his hair； into the drawing…room；
where he stood with his wet boots on the new carpet； and no one
regarded it。
〃Please； mum； it is true。 I seed it myself；〃 and he shuddered at the
recollection。 〃The Captain was a…reading some new book as he was
18
… Page 19…
Cranford
deep in； a…waiting for the down train； and there was a little lass as
wanted to come to its mammy； and gave its sister the slip； and came
toddling across the line。 And he looked up sudden； at the sound of the
train coming； and seed the child； and he darted on the line and cotched it
up； and his foot slipped； and the train came over him in no time。 O
Lord； Lord！ Mum； it's quite true； and they've come over to tell his
daughters。 The child's safe； though； with only a bang on its shoulder as
he threw it to its mammy。 Poor Captain would be glad of that； mum；
wouldn't he？ God bless him！〃 The great rough carter puckered up his
manly face； and turned away to hide his tears。 I turned to Miss Jenkyns。
She looked very ill； as if she were going to faint； and signed to me to
open the window。
〃Matilda； bring me my bonnet。 I must go to those girls。 God
pardon me； if ever I have spoken contemptuously to the Captain！〃
Miss Jenkyns arrayed herself to go out； telling Miss Matilda to give
the man a glass of wine。 While she was away； Miss Matty and I
huddled over the fire； talking in a low and awe…struck voice。 I know
we cried quietly all the time。
Miss Jenkyns came home in a silent mood； and we durst not ask her
many questions。 She told us that Miss Jessie had fainted； and that she
and Miss Pole had had some difficulty in bringing her round； but that； as
soon as she recovered； she begged one of them to go and sit with her
sister。
〃Mr Hoggins says she cannot live many days； and she shall be spared
this shock；〃 said Miss Jessie； shivering with feelings to which she dared
not give way。
〃But how can you manage； my dear？〃 asked Miss Jenkyns； 〃you
cannot bear up； she must see your tears。〃
〃God will help me … I will not give way … she was asleep when the
