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！
Peruvian bonds； and the share market； and her poor opinion of joint…
stock banks in general； and of that one in particular in which Miss
Matty's money was invested。 In vain I put in 〃When was it … in what
year was it that you heard that Mr Peter was the Great Lama？〃 They
only joined issue to dispute whether llamas were carnivorous animals or
not； in which dispute they were not quite on fair grounds； as Mrs
Forrester （after they had grown warm and cool again） acknowledged that
she always confused carnivorous and graminivorous together； just as she
did horizontal and perpendicular； but then she apologised for it very
prettily； by saying that in her day the only use people made of four…
syllabled words was to teach how they should be spelt。
The only fact I gained from this conversation was that certainly Peter
had last been heard of in India； 〃or that neighbourhood〃； and that this
scanty intelligence of his whereabouts had reached Cranford in the year
when Miss Pole had brought her Indian muslin gown； long since worn
out （we washed it and mended it； and traced its decline and fall into a
window…blind before we could go on）； and in a year when Wombwell
came to Cranford； because Miss Matty had wanted to see an elephant in
order that she might the better imagine Peter riding on one； and had seen
a boa…constrictor too； which was more than she wished to imagine in her
fancy…pictures of Peter's locality； and in a year when Miss Jenkyns had
learnt some piece of poetry off by heart； and used to say； at all the
Cranford parties； how Peter was 〃surveying mankind from China to
Peru；〃 which everybody had thought very grand； and rather appropriate；
because India was between China and Peru； if you took care to turn the
globe to the left instead of the right。
128
… Page 129…
Cranford
I suppose all these inquiries of mine； and the consequent curiosity
excited in the minds of my friends； made us blind and deaf to what was
going on around us。 It seemed to me as if the sun rose and shone； and
as if the rain rained on Cranford； just as usual； and I did not notice any
sign of the times that could be considered as a prognostic of any
uncommon event； and； to the best of my belief； not only Miss Matty and
Mrs Forrester； but even Miss Pole herself； whom we looked upon as a
kind of prophetess； from the knack she had of foreseeing things before
they came to pass … although she did not like to disturb her friends by
telling them her foreknowledge … even Miss Pole herself was breathless
with astonishment when she came to tell us of the astounding piece of
news。 But I must recover myself； the contemplation of it； even at this
distance of time； has taken away my breath and my grammar； and unless
I subdue my emotion； my spelling will go too。
We were sitting … Miss Matty and I … much as usual； she in the blue
chintz easy…chair； with her back to the light； and her knitting in her hand；
I reading aloud the ST JAMES'S CHRONICLE。 A few minutes more；
and we should have gone to make the little alterations in dress usual
before calling…time （twelve o'clock） in Cranford。 I remember the scene
and the date well。 We had been talking of the signor's rapid recovery
since the warmer weather had set in； and praising Mr Hoggins's skill；
and lamenting his want of refinement and manner （it seems a curious
coincidence that this should have been our subject； but so it was）； when
a knock was heard … a caller's knock … three distinct taps … and we were
flying （that is to say； Miss Matty could not walk very fast； having had a
touch of rheumatism） to our rooms； to change cap and collars； when
Miss Pole arrested us by calling out； as she came up the stairs； 〃Don't go
… I can't wait … it is not twelve； I know … but never mind your dress … I
must speak to you。〃 We did our best to look as if it was not we who
had made the hurried movement； the sound of which she had heard； for；
of course； we did not like to have it supposed that we had any old
clothes that it was convenient to wear out in the 〃sanctuary of home；〃 as
Miss Jenkyns once prettily called the back parlour； where she was tying
up preserves。 So we threw our gentility with double force into our
129
… Page 130…
Cranford
manners； and very genteel we were for two minutes while Miss Pole
recovered breath； and excited our curiosity strongly by lifting up her
hands in amazement； and bringing them down in silence； as if what she
had to say was too big for words； and could only be expressed by
pantomime。
〃What do you think； Miss Matty？ What DO you think？ Lady
Glenmire is to marry … is to be married； I mean … Lady Glenmire … Mr
Hoggins … Mr Hoggins is going to marry Lady Glenmire！〃
〃Marry！〃 said we。 〃Marry！ Madness！〃
〃Marry！〃 said Miss Pole； with the decision that belonged to her
character。 〃I said marry！ as you do； and I also said； 'What a fool my
lady is going to make of herself！' I could have said 'Madness！' but I
controlled myself； for it was in a public shop that I heard of it。 Where
feminine delicacy is gone to； I don't know！ You and I； Miss Matty；
would have been ashamed to have known that our marriage was spoken
of in a grocer's shop； in the hearing of shopmen！〃
〃But；〃 said Miss Matty； sighing as one recovering from a blow；
〃perhaps it is not true。 Perhaps we are doing her injustice。〃
〃No；〃 said Miss Pole。 〃I have taken care to ascertain that。 I went
straight to Mrs Fitz…Adam； to borrow a cookery…boo