silas marner(织工马南)-第31节
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Nancy’s cheek and neck look otherwise than pretty； and when at
last she stood complete in her silvery twilled silk； her lace tucker；
her coral necklace； and coral eardrops； the Miss Gunns could see
nothing to criticise except her hands； which bore the traces of
butter…making； cheese…crushing； and even still coarser work。 But
Miss Nancy was not ashamed of that； for while she was dressing
she narrated to her aunt how she and Priscilla had packed their
boxes yesterday； because this morning was baking morning； and
since they were leaving home； it was desirable to make a good
supply of meat…pies for the kitchen； and as she concluded this
judicious remark； she turned to the Miss Gunns that she might not
commit the rudeness of not including them in the conversation。
The Miss Gunns smiled stiffly； and thought what a pity it was that
these rich country…people； who could afford to buy such good
clothes （really Miss Nancy’s lace and silk were very costly）； should
be brought up in utter ignorance and vulgarity。 She actually said
“mate” for “meat”； “appen” for “perhaps”； and “oss” for “horse”；
which； to young ladies living in good Lytherly society； who
habitually said “‘orse”； even in domestic privacy； and only said
“‘appen” on the right occasions； was necessarily shocking。 Miss
Nancy； indeed； had never been to any school higher than Dame
Tedman’s： her acquaintance with profane literature hardly went
beyond the rhymes she had worked in her large sampler under the
lamb and the shepherdess； and in order to balance an account； she
was obliged to effect her subtraction by removing visible metallic
shillings and sixpences from a visible metallic total。 There is
hardly a servant…maid in these days who is not better informed
than Miss Nancy； yet she had the essential attributes of a lady—
high veracity； delicate honour in her dealings； deference to others；
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and refined personal habits—and lest these should not suffice to
convince grammatical fair ones that her feelings can at all
resemble theirs； I will add that she was slightly proud and
exacting； and as constant in her affection towards a baseless
opinion as towards an erring lover。
The anxiety about sister Priscilla； which had grown rather
active by the time the coral necklace was clasped； was happily
ended by the entrance of that cheerful…looking lady herself； with a
face made blowsy by cold and damp。 After the first questions and
greetings； she turned to Nancy； and surveyed her from head to
foot； then wheeled her round； to ascertain that the back view was
equally faultless。
“What do you think o’ these gowns； aunt Osgood？” said
Priscilla； while Nancy helped her to unrobe。
“Very handsome indeed； niece；” said Mrs。 Osgood； with a slight
increase of formality。 She always thought niece Priscilla too rough。
“I’m obliged to have the same as Nancy； you know； for all I’m
five years older； and it makes me look yallow； for she never will
have anything without I have mine just like it； because she wants
us to look like sisters。 And I tell her； folks ’ull think it’s my
weakness makes me fancy as I shall look pretty in what she looks
pretty in。 For I am ugly—there’s no denying that： I feature my
father’s family。 But； law！ I don’t mind； do you？” Priscilla here
turned to the Miss Gunns； rattling on in too much preoccupation
with the delight of talking； to notice that her candour was not
appreciated。 “The pretty uns do for fly…catchers—they keep the
men off us。 I’ve no opinion o’ the men； Miss Gunn—I don’t know
what you have。 And as for fretting and stewing about what they’ll
think of you from morning till night； and making your life uneasy
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about what they’re doing when they’re out o’ your sight—as I tell
Nancy； it’s a folly no woman need be guilty of； if she’s got a good
father and a good home： let her leave it to them as have got no
fortin； and can’t help themselves。 As I say； Mr。 Have…your…own…
way is the best husband； and the only one I’d ever promise to
obey。 I know it isn’t pleasant； when you’ve been used to living in a
big way； and managing hogsheads and all that； to go and put your
nose in by somebody else’s fireside； or to sit down by yourself to a
scrag or a knuckle； but； thank God！ my father’s a sober man and
likely to live； and if you’ve got a man by the chimney…corner； it
doesn’t matter if he’s childish—the business needn’t be broke up。”
The delicate process of getting her narrow gown over her head
without injury to her smooth curls obliged Miss Priscilla to pause
in this rapid survey of life； and Mrs。 Osgood seized the opportunity
of rising and saying—“Well； niece； you’ll follow us。 The Miss
Gunns will like to go down。”
“Sister；” said Nancy； when they were alone； “you’ve offended
the Miss Gunns； I’m sure。”
“What have I done； child？” said Priscilla； in some alarm。
“Why； you asked them if they minded about being ugly—you’re
so very blunt。”
“Law； did I？ Well； it popped out： it’s a mercy I said no more； for
I’m a bad ’un to live with folks when they don’t like the truth。 But
as for being ugly； look at me； child； in this silver…coloured silk—I
told you how it ’ud be—I look as yallow as a daffadil。 Anybody ’ud
say you wanted to make a mawkin of me。”
“No； Priscy； don’t say so。 I begged and prayed of you not to let
us have this silk if you’d like another better。 I was willing to have
your choice； you know I was；” said Nancy； in anxious self…
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vindication。
“Nonsense； child！ you know you’d set your heart on this； and
reason good； for you’re the colour o’ cream。 It ’ud be fine doings
for you to dress yourself to suit my skin。 What I find fault with is
that notion o’ yours as I must dress myself just like you。 But you
do as you like with me—you always did； from when first you begun
to walk。 If you wanted to go the field’s length； the field’s length
you’d go； and there was no whipping you； for you looked as prim
and innicent as a daisy all the while。”
“Priscy；” said Nancy； gently； as she fastened a coral necklace；
exactly like her own； round Priscilla’s neck； which was very far
from being like her own； “I’m sure I’m willing to give way as far as
is right； but who shouldn’t dress alike if it isn’t sisters？ Would you
have us go about looking as if we were no kin to one another—us
that have got no mother and not another sister in the world？ I’d do
what was right； if I dressed in a gown dyed with cheese…colouring；
and I’d rather you’d choose； and let me wear what pleases you。”
“There you go again！ You’d come round to the same thing if
one talked to you from Saturday night till Saturday morning。 It’ll
be fine fun to see how you’ll master your husband and never raise
your voice above the singing o’ the kettle all the while。 I like to see
the men mastered！”
“Don’t talk so； Priscy；” said Nancy； blushing。 “You know I don’t
mean ever to be married。”
“Oh； you never mean a fiddlestick’s end！” said Priscilla； as she
arranged her discarded dress； and closed her bandbox。 “Who shall
I have to work for when father’s gone； if you are to go and take
notions in your head and be an old maid； because some folks are
no better than they should be？ I haven’t a bit o
