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！
three had arrived； we sat down to 〃Preference；〃 I being the unlucky
fourth。 The next four comers were put down immediately to another
table； and presently the tea… trays； which I had seen set out in the store…
room as I passed in the morning； were placed each on the middle of a
8
… Page 9…
Cranford
card…table。 The china was delicate egg…shell； the old…fashioned silver
glittered with polishing； but the eatables were of the slightest description。
While the trays were yet on the tables； Captain and the Miss Browns
came in； and I could see that； somehow or other； the Captain was a
favourite with all the ladies present。 Ruffled brows were smoothed；
sharp voices lowered at his approach。 Miss Brown looked ill； and
depressed almost to gloom。 Miss Jessie smiled as usual； and seemed
nearly as popular as her father。 He immediately and quietly assumed
the man's place in the room； attended to every one's wants； lessened the
pretty maid…servant's labour by waiting on empty cups and bread…and…
butterless ladies； and yet did it all in so easy and dignified a manner； and
so much as if it were a matter of course for the strong to attend to the
weak； that he was a true man throughout。 He played for threepenny
points with as grave an interest as if they had been pounds； and yet； in
all his attention to strangers； he had an eye on his suffering daughter …
for suffering I was sure she was； though to many eyes she might only
appear to be irritable。 Miss Jessie could not play cards： but she talked
to the sitters…out； who； before her coming； had been rather inclined to be
cross。 She sang； too； to an old cracked piano； which I think had been a
spinet in its youth。 Miss Jessie sang； 〃Jock of Hazeldean〃 a little out of
tune； but we were none of us musical； though Miss Jenkyns beat time；
out of time； by way of appearing to be so。
It was very good of Miss Jenkyns to do this； for I had seen that； a
little before； she had been a good deal annoyed by Miss Jessie Brown's
unguarded admission （A PROPOS of Shetland wool） that she had an
uncle； her mother's brother； who was a shop…keeper in Edinburgh。 Miss
Jenkyns tried to drown this confession by a terrible cough … for the
Honourable Mrs Jamieson was sitting at a card…table nearest Miss Jessie；
and what would she say or think if she found out she was in the same
room with a shop…keeper's niece！ But Miss Jessie Brown （who had no
tact； as we all agreed the next morning） WOULD repeat the information；
and assure Miss Pole she could easily get her the identical Shetland wool
required； 〃through my uncle； who has the best assortment of Shetland
goods of any one in Edinbro'。〃 It was to take the taste of this out of our
9
… Page 10…
Cranford
mouths； and the sound of this out of our ears； that Miss Jenkyns
proposed music； so I say again； it was very good of her to beat time to
the song。
When the trays re…appeared with biscuits and wine； punctually at a
quarter to nine； there was conversation； comparing of cards； and talking
over tricks； but by…and…by Captain Brown sported a bit of literature。
〃Have you seen any numbers of 'The Pickwick Papers'？〃 said he。
（They we're then publishing in parts。） 〃Capital thing！〃
Now Miss Jenkyns was daughter of a deceased rector of Cranford；
and； on the strength of a number of manuscript sermons； and a pretty
good library of divinity； considered herself literary； and looked upon any
conversation about books as a challenge to her。 So she answered and
said； 〃Yes； she had seen them； indeed； she might say she had read them。〃
〃And what do you think of them？〃 exclaimed Captain Brown。
〃Aren't they famously good？〃
So urged Miss Jenkyns could not but speak。
〃I must say； I don't think they are by any means equal to Dr Johnson。
Still； perhaps； the author is young。 Let him persevere； and who knows
what he may become if he will take the great Doctor for his model？〃
This was evidently too much for Captain Brown to take placidly； and I
saw the words on the tip of his tongue before Miss Jenkyns had finished
her sentence。
〃It is quite a different sort of thing； my dear madam；〃 he began。
〃I am quite aware of that；〃 returned she。 〃And I make allowances；
Captain Brown。〃
〃Just allow me to read you a scene out of this month's number；〃
pleaded he。 〃I had it only this morning； and I don't think the company
can have read it yet。〃
〃As you please；〃 said she； settling herself with an air of resignation。
He read the account of the 〃swarry〃 which Sam Weller gave at Bath。
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。〃
10
… Page 11…
Cranford
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