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！
she never could believe that the earth was moving constantly； and that
she would not believe it if she could； it made her feel so tired and dizzy
whenever she thought about it。
In our pattens we picked our way home with extra care that night； so
refined and delicate were our perceptions after drinking tea with 〃my
lady。〃
91
… Page 92…
Cranford
CHAPTER IX … SIGNOR
BRUNONI
SOON after the events of which I gave an account in my last paper； I
was summoned home by my father's illness； and for a time I forgot； in
anxiety about him； to wonder how my dear friends at Cranford were
getting on； or how Lady Glenmire could reconcile herself to the dulness
of the long visit which she was still paying to her sister…in…law； Mrs
Jamieson。 When my father grew a little stronger I accompanied him to
the seaside； so that altogether I seemed banished from Cranford； and was
deprived of the opportunity of hearing any chance intelligence of the
dear little town for the greater part of that year。
Late in November … when we had returned home again； and my father
was once more in good health … I received a letter from Miss Matty； and
a very mysterious letter it was。 She began many sentences without
ending them； running them one into another； in much the same confused
sort of way in which written words run together on blotting…paper。 All
I could make out was that； if my father was better （which she hoped he
was）； and would take warning and wear a great…coat from Michaelmas to
Lady…day； if turbans were in fashion； could I tell her？ Such a piece of
gaiety was going to happen as had not been seen or known of since
Wombwell's lions came； when one of them ate a little child's arm； and
she was； perhaps； too old to care about dress； but a new cap she must
have； and； having heard that turbans were worn； and some of the county
families likely to come； she would like to look tidy； if I would bring her
a cap from the milliner I employed； and oh； dear！ how careless of her to
forget that she wrote to beg I would come and pay her a visit next
Tuesday； when she hoped to have something to offer me in the way of
amusement； which she would not now more particularly describe； only
sea…green was her favourite colour。 So she ended her letter； but in a P。S。
she added； she thought she might as well tell me what was the peculiar
attraction to Cranford just now； Signor Brunoni was going to exhibit his
92
… Page 93…
Cranford
wonderful magic in the Cranford Assembly Rooms on Wednesday and
Friday evening in the following week。
I was very glad to accept the invitation from my dear Miss Matty；
independently of the conjuror； and most particularly anxious to prevent
her from disfiguring her small； gentle； mousey face with a great
Saracen's head turban； and accordingly； I bought her a pretty； neat；
middle…aged cap； which； however； was rather a disappointment to her
when； on my arrival； she followed me into my bedroom； ostensibly to
poke the fire； but in reality； I do believe； to see if the sea…green turban
was not inside the cap…box with which I had travelled。 It was in vain
that I twirled the cap round on my hand to exhibit back and side fronts：
her heart had been set upon a turban； and all she could do was to say；
with resignation in her look and voice …
〃I am sure you did your best； my dear。 It is just like the caps all the
ladies in Cranford are wearing； and they have had theirs for a year； I dare
say。 I should have liked something newer； I confess … something more
like the turbans Miss Betty Barker tells me Queen Adelaide wears； but it
is very pretty； my dear。 And I dare say lavender will wear better than
sea…green。 Well； after all； what is dress； that we should care anything
about it？ You'll tell me if you want anything； my dear。 Here is the
bell。 I suppose turbans have not got down to Drumble yet？〃
So saying； the dear old lady gently bemoaned herself out of the room；
leaving me to dress for the evening； when； as she informed me； she
expected Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester； and she hoped I should not feel
myself too much tired to join the party。 Of course I should not； and I
made some haste to unpack and arrange my dress； but； with all my speed；
I heard the arrivals and the buzz of conversation in the next room before
I was ready。 Just as I opened the door； I caught the words； 〃I was
foolish to expect anything very genteel out of the Drumble shops； poor
girl！ she did her best； I've no doubt。〃 But； for all that； I had rather that
she blamed Drumble and me than disfigured herself with a turban。
Miss Pole was always the person； in the trio of Cranford ladies now
assembled； to have had adventures。 She was in the habit of spending
the morning in rambling from shop to shop； not to purchase anything
93
… Page 94…
Cranford
（except an occasional reel of cotton or a piece of tape）； but to see the
new articles and report upon them； and to collect all the stray pieces of
intelligence in the town。 She had a way； too； of demurely popping
hither and thither into all sorts of places to gratify her curiosity on any
point … a way which； if she had not looked so very genteel and prim；
might have been considered impertinent。 And now； by the expressive
way in which she cleared her throat； and waited for all minor subjects
（such as caps and turbans） to be cleared off the course； we knew she had
something very particular to