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！
but was now converted into a temporary dressing…room。 There we
unpinned and shook ourselves； and arranged our features before the
glass into a sweet and gracious company…face； and then； bowing
backwards with 〃After you； ma'am；〃 we allowed Mrs Forrester to take
precedence up the narrow staircase that led to Miss Barker's drawing…
room。 There she sat； as stately and composed as though we had never
heard that odd…sounding cough； from which her throat must have been
even then sore and rough。 Kind； gentle； shabbily…dressed Mrs Forrester
was immediately conducted to the second place of honour … a seat
arranged something like Prince Albert's near the Queen's … good； but not
74
… Page 75…
Cranford
so good。 The place of pre…eminence was； of course； reserved for the
Honourable Mrs Jamieson； who presently came panting up the stairs …
Carlo rushing round her on her progress； as if he meant to trip her up。
And now Miss Betty Barker was a proud and happy woman！ She
stirred the fire； and shut the door； and sat as near to it as she could；
quite on the edge of her chair。 When Peggy came in； tottering under
the weight of the tea…tray； I noticed that Miss Barker was sadly afraid
lest Peggy should not keep her distance sufficiently。 She and her
mistress were on very familiar terms in their every…day intercourse； and
Peggy wanted now to make several little confidences to her； which Miss
Barker was on thorns to hear； but which she thought it her duty； as a lady；
to repress。 So she turned away from all Peggy's asides and signs； but
she made one or two very malapropos answers to what was said； and at
last； seized with a bright idea； she exclaimed； 〃Poor； sweet Carlo！ I'm
forgetting him。 Come downstairs with me； poor ittie doggie； and it
shall have its tea； it shall！〃
In a few minutes she returned； bland and benignant as before； but I
thought she had forgotten to give the 〃poor ittie doggie〃 anything to eat；
judging by the avidity with which he swallowed down chance pieces of
cake。 The tea…tray was abundantly loaded … I was pleased to see it； I
was so hungry； but I was afraid the ladies present might think it vulgarly
heaped up。 I know they would have done at their own houses； but
somehow the heaps disappeared here。 I saw Mrs Jamieson eating seed…
cake； slowly and considerately； as she did everything； and I was rather
surprised； for I knew she had told us； on the occasion of her last party；
that she never had it in her house； it reminded her so much of scented
soap。 She always gave us Savoy biscuits。 However； Mrs Jamieson
was kindly indulgent to Miss Barker's want of knowledge of the customs
of high life； and； to spare her feelings； ate three large pieces of seed…cake；
with a placid； ruminating expression of countenance； not unlike a cow's。
After tea there was some little demur and difficulty。 We were six in
number； four could play at Preference； and for the other two there was
Cribbage。 But all； except myself （I was rather afraid of the Cranford
ladies at cards； for it was the most earnest and serious business they ever
75
… Page 76…
Cranford
engaged in）； were anxious to be of the 〃pool。〃 Even Miss Barker；
while declaring she did not know Spadille from Manille； was evidently
hankering to take a hand。 The dilemma was soon put an end to by a
singular kind of noise。 If a baron's daughter…in…law could ever be
supposed to snore； I should have said Mrs Jamieson did so then； for；
overcome by the heat of the room； and inclined to doze by nature； the
temptation of that very comfortable arm…chair had been too much for her；
and Mrs Jamieson was nodding。 Once or twice she opened her eyes
with an effort； and calmly but unconsciously smiled upon us； but by…
and…by； even her benevolence was not equal to this exertion； and she was
sound asleep。
〃It is very gratifying to me；〃 whispered Miss Barker at the card… table
to her three opponents； whom； notwithstanding her ignorance of the
game； she was 〃basting〃 most unmercifully … 〃very gratifying indeed； to
see how completely Mrs Jamieson feels at home in my poor little
dwelling； she could not have paid me a greater compliment。〃
Miss Barker provided me with some literature in the shape of three
or four handsomely…bound fashion…books ten or twelve years old；
observing； as she put a little table and a candle for my especial benefit；
that she knew young people liked to look at pictures。 Carlo lay and
snorted； and started at his mistress's feet。 He； too； was quite at home。
The card…table was an animated scene to watch； four ladies' heads；
with niddle…noddling caps； all nearly meeting over the middle of the
table in their eagerness to whisper quick enough and loud enough： and
every now and then came Miss Barker's 〃Hush； ladies！ if you please；
hush！ Mrs Jamieson is asleep。〃
It was very difficult to steer clear between Mrs Forrester's deafness
and Mrs Jamieson's sleepiness。 But Miss Barker managed her arduous
task well。 She repeated the whisper to Mrs Forrester； distorting her
face considerably； in order to show； by the motions of her lips； what was
said； and then she smiled kindly all round at us； and murmured to herself；
〃Very gratifying； indeed； I wish my poor sister had been alive to see this
day。〃
Presently the door was