CHAPTERI.OURSOCIETY
Inthefirstplace,Cranfordisin
حوزة
possessionoftheAmazons;alltheholdersofhouses
فوق
aboveacertainrentarewomen.إذا
Ifamarriedcouplecometosettleinthetown,ما
somehowthegentlemandisappears;heiseitherfairlyfrightenedto
الموت
deathbybeingtheonlyالرجل
manintheCranfordeveningparties,أو
orheisaccountedforbybeingمع
withhisregiment,hisship,أو
orcloselyengagedinbusinessalltheweekinthegreatneighbouringcommercialمدينة
townofDrumble,distantonlytwentymilesonarailroad.Inshort,
مهما
whateverdoesbecomeofthegentlemen,theyarenotatCranford.Whatcouldtheydo
إذا
iftheywerethere?Thesurgeonhashisroundofthirtymiles,andsleepsatCranford;
لكن
buteverymancannotbeasurgeon.Forkeepingthetrimgardensfullofchoiceflowerswithout
على
aweedtospeckthem;forfrighteningawaylittleboyswholookwistfullyatthesaidflowers
خلال
throughtherailings;forrushingoutatthegeese
التي
thatoccasionallyventureintothegardensإذا
ifthegatesareleftمفتوحة
open;fordecidingallquestionsofliteratureandpolitics
دون
withouttroublingthemselveswithunnecessaryreasonsأو
orarguments;forobtainingclearandcorrect
معرفة
knowledgeofeverybody’saffairsintheparish;forkeepingtheirneatmaid-servantsinadmirableorder;
forkindness(somewhatdictatorial)tothe
الفقراء
poor,andrealtendergoodofficestoeachotherwhenevertheyareindistress,theladiesofCranfordarequiteكافية
sufficient.“Aman,”asoneofthemobservedtomeonce,“issointhewayinthehouse!”
الرغم
AlthoughtheladiesofCranfordknowجميع
alleachother’sproceedings,theyareexceedinglyindifferenttoeachother’sopinions.الواقع
Indeed,aseachhasherالخاصة
ownindividuality,nottosayeccentricity,prettystronglydeveloped,شيء
nothingissoeasyasverbalretaliation;but,somehow,good-willreignsamongthemtoa
كبير
considerabledegree.TheCranfordladieshave
سوى
onlyanoccasionallittlequarrel,spiritedoutinafewpepperywordsandالغاضبة
angryjerksofthehead;فقط
justenoughtopreventtheحتى
eventenoroftheirlivesfrombecomingجدا
tooflat.Theirdressisvery
مستقلة
independentoffashion;astheyobserve,“Whatdoesitsignify
كيفية
howwedresshereatCranford,حيث
whereeverybodyknowsus?”Andiftheygofromhome,theirreasonisequallycogent,“Whatdoesitsignify
كيفية
howwedresshere,whereأحد
nobodyknowsus?”Thematerialsoftheirclothesare,in
عام
general,goodandplain,andmostofthemarenearlyasscrupulousasالآنسة
MissTyler,ofcleanlymemory;butIwillanswerfor
ذلك
it,thelastgigot,theآخر
lasttightandscantypetticoatinwearinEngland,wasseeninCranford—andseenدون
withoutasmile.Icantestifytoamagnificent
عائلية
familyredsilkumbrella,underالتي
whichagentlelittlespinster,leftوحدها
aloneofmanybrothersandsisters,تستخدم
usedtopattertochurchonrainydays.لديك
HaveyouanyredsilkumbrellasinLondon?Wehada
تقليد
traditionofthefirstthathadeverbeenseeninCranford;و
andthelittleboysmobbedit,و
andcalledit“astickinpetticoats.”Itmight
يكون
havebeentheveryredsilkoneIيكون
havedescribed,heldbyaقوي
strongfatheroveratroopoflittleones;thepoorlittlelady—thesurvivorofall—couldscarcelycarryit.
Then
هناك
therewererulesandregulationsforvisitingandcalls;andtheywereannouncedtoanyyoungpeoplewhomightbestayinginthe
البلدة
town,withallthesolemnitywithالتي
whichtheoldManxlawswereتقرأ
readonceayearontheTinwaldMount.“Ourfriendshavesenttoinquire
كيف
howyouareafteryourjourneyالليلة
to-night,mydear”(fifteenmilesinagentleman’scarriage);“they
سوف
willgiveyousomerestto-morrow,لكن
butthenextday,Ihavenodoubt,theyسوف
willcall;sobeatliberty
بعد
aftertwelve—fromtwelvetothreeareourcallinghours.”Then,
بعد
aftertheyhadcalled—.“Itisthethird
اليوم
day;Idaresayyourmammahastoldyou,my
عزيزي
dear,nevertoletmoreمن
thanthreedayselapsebetweenreceivingعلى
acallandreturningit;andalso,thatyouarenevertostaylongerthana
ربع
quarterofanhour.”“ButamItolookatmywatch?
كيف
HowamItofindoutعندما
whenaquarterofanhourhaspassed?”“You
يجب
mustkeepthinkingabouttheالوقت
time,mydear,andnotتسمح
allowyourselftoforgetitinconversation.”As
الجميع
everybodyhadthisruleintheirminds,سواء
whethertheyreceivedorpaidعلى
acall,ofcoursenoabsorbingموضوع
subjectwaseverspokenabout.Wekeptourselvesto
قصيرة
shortsentencesofsmalltalk,andwerepunctualtoourtime.I
أتخيل
imaginethatafewofthegentlefolksofCranfordwereفقراء
poor,andhadsomedifficultyinmakingbothendsتلبية
meet;buttheywereliketheSpartans,andconcealedtheirsmart
تحت
underasmilingface.Wenoneofusspokeofmoney,becausethat
الموضوع
subjectsavouredofcommerceandtrade,andthoughsomemightbepoor,wewereجميعا
allaristocratic.TheCranfordianshadthatkindlyespritdecorpswhichmadethemoverlook
كل
alldeficienciesinsuccesswhensomeamongthemtriedtoconcealtheirpoverty.WhenMrsForrester,forinstance,gaveapartyinherbaby-houseofadwelling,andthelittlemaidendisturbedtheladiesonthesofabyarequestthatshemightgetthetea-trayoutfromunderneath,
الجميع
everyonetookthisnovelproceedingasthemostnaturalthingintheworld,andtalkedonعن
abouthouseholdformsandceremoniesasifweجميعا
allbelievedthatourhostesshadaregularservants’قاعة
hall,secondtable,withhousekeeperandsteward,insteadoftheonelittlecharity-schoolmaiden,whoseshortruddyarmscouldلم
neverhavebeenstrongenoughtocarrytheعلبة
trayupstairs,ifshehadnotbeenassistedinخاص
privatebyhermistress,whoالآن
nowsatinstate,pretendingnottoتعرف
knowwhatcakesweresentup,thoughsheknew,andweknew,andsheknewthatweknew,andweknewthatsheknewthatweknew,shehadbeenbusyجميعا
allthemorningmakingtea-breadandsponge-cakes.هناك
Therewereoneortwoconsequencesarisingfromهذا
thisgeneralbutunacknowledgedpoverty,andهذا
thisverymuchacknowledgedgentility,whichwerenotamiss,andwhichmightbeintroducedintoالعديد
manycirclesofsocietytotheirgreatimprovement.Forinstance,theinhabitantsofCranfordkeptearlyhours,andclatteredhomeintheirpattens,
تحت
undertheguidanceofalantern-bearer,حوالي
aboutnineo’clockatnight;and
في
thewholetownwasabedandasleepbyhalf-pastten.Moreover,itwasconsidered“vulgar”
على
(atremendouswordinCranford)togiveأي شيء
anythingexpensive,inthewayofeatableأو
ordrinkable,attheeveningentertainments.Waferbread-and-butterandsponge-biscuitswere
كل
allthattheHonourableMrsJamiesongave;andshewassister-in-lawtothelateEarlofGlenmire,
الرغم
althoughshedidpractisesuch“eleganteconomy.”“Eleganteconomy!”
كم
Hownaturallyonefallsbackintoفي
thephraseologyofCranford!There,
الاقتصاد
economywasalways“elegant,”andmoney-spendingدائما
always“vulgarandostentatious”;a
نوع
sortofsour-grapeismwhichmadeusجدا
verypeacefulandsatisfied.Inevershallforgetthedismayfelt
عندما
whenacertainCaptainBrowncametoliveatCranford,andopenlyspokeعن
abouthisbeingpoor—notinawhispertoanintimatefriend,thedoorsandwindowsbeingpreviouslyclosed,butinthepublicالشارع
street!inaloudmilitaryvoice!
alleginghispovertyasareasonfornottakinga
معين
particularhouse.TheladiesofCranfordwerealreadyrathermoaningovertheinvasionoftheirterritoriesbya
رجل
manandagentleman.Hewasahalf-paycaptain,andhadobtained
بعض
somesituationonaneighbouringrailroad,whichhadbeenvehementlypetitionedagainstbythelittleالبلدة
town;andif,inadditiontohismasculinegender,andhisconnectionwiththeobnoxiousrailroad,hewassobrazenastotalkofbeingpoor—why,then,indeed,he
يجب
mustbesenttoCoventry.الموت
Deathwasastrueandascommonasالفقر
poverty;yetpeopleneverspoke
عن
aboutthat,loudoutinthestreets.Itwasa
كلمة
wordnottobementionedtoearspolite.Wehadtacitlyagreedto
تجاهل
ignorethatanywithwhomweassociatedontermsofvisitingequalitycouldeverbepreventedbyالفقر
povertyfromdoinganythingthattheywished.إذا
Ifwewalkedtoorfromaparty,itwasbecausethenightwassofine,أو
ortheairsorefreshing,notbecausesedan-chairswereباهظة الثمن
expensive.Ifweworeprints,insteadofsummersilks,itwasbecausewepreferredawashing
مادة
material;andsoon,tillweblindedourselvestothevulgar
الحقيقة
factthatwewere,allofus,peopleofverymoderatemeans.Ofcourse,then,wedidnotknowwhattomakeofa
رجل
manwhocouldspeakofالفقر
povertyasifitwasnotadisgrace.Yet,
ما
somehow,CaptainBrownmadehimselfrespectedinCranford,andwascalledupon,inالرغم
spiteofallresolutionstothecontrary.Iwassurprisedtohearhisopinionsquotedasauthorityata
زيارة
visitwhichIpaidtoCranfordحوالي
aboutayearafterhehadsettledintheالبلدة
town.Myownfriendshadbeen
بين
amongthebitterestopponentsofanyاقتراح
proposaltovisittheCaptainandhisdaughters,فقط
onlytwelvemonthsbefore;andnowhewas
حتى
evenadmittedinthetabooedhoursقبل
beforetwelve.True,itwastodiscoverthecauseofasmokingchimney,
قبل
beforethefirewaslighted;butstill
الكابتن
CaptainBrownwalkedupstairs,nothingdaunted,spokeinعلى
avoicetoolargefortheالغرفة
room,andjokedquiteintheطريقة
wayofatamemanحول
aboutthehouse.Hehadbeen
أعمى
blindtoallthesmallslights,andomissionsoftrivialceremonies,withالتي
whichhehadbeenreceived.Hehadbeenfriendly,thoughtheCranfordladieshadbeencool;
hehadanswered
صغيرة
smallsarcasticcomplimentsingoodنية
faith;andwithhismanlyfranknesshadoverpowered
كل
alltheshrinkingwhichmethimasعلى
amanwhowasnotيخجل
ashamedtobepoor.And,atlast,his
الممتاز
excellentmasculinecommonsense,andhisfacilityindevisingexpedientstoovercomedomesticdilemmas,hadgainedhimعلى
anextraordinaryplaceasauthorityبين
amongtheCranfordladies.Hehimselfwentoninhiscourse,asunawareofhispopularityashehadbeenofthereverse;
andIam
متأكد
surehewasstartledoneيوم
daywhenhefoundhisadvicesohighlyesteemedastoجعل
makesomecounselwhichhehadgiveninjesttobetakeninsober,seriousearnest.Itwason
هذا
thissubject:AnoldladyhadanAlderney
بقرة
cow,whichshelookeduponasadaughter.Youcouldnot
تدفع
paytheshortquarterofanساعة
hourcallwithoutbeingtoldofthewonderfulالحليب
milkorwonderfulintelligenceofthisالحيوان
animal.Thewholetownknewandkindlyregarded
الآنسة
MissBetsyBarker’sAlderney;thereforegreatwasthe
التعاطف
sympathyandregretwhen,inanunguardedلحظة
moment,thepoorcowtumbledintoalime-pit.Shemoanedsoloudlythatshewas
سرعان ما
soonheardandrescued;butmeanwhilethepoorbeasthad
فقدت
lostmostofherhair,andcameoutlookingnaked,باردة
cold,andmiserable,inabareجلد
skin.Everybodypitiedtheanimal,though
على
afewcouldnotrestraintheirsmilesatherdrollappearance.الآنسة
MissBetsyBarkerabsolutelycriedwithsorrowanddismay;anditwassaidshethoughtoftryinga
حمام
bathofoil.Thisremedy,
ربما
perhaps,wasrecommendedbysomeأحد
oneofthenumberwhoseadvicesheasked;لكن
buttheproposal,ifeveritwasmade,wasknockedontheالرأس
headbyCaptainBrown’sdecided“Getheraflannelwaistcoatandflanneldrawers,ma’am,إذا
ifyouwishtokeepheralive.لكن
Butmyadviceis,killtheالمسكين
poorcreatureatonce.”MissBetsyBarkerdriedhereyes,andthankedthe
الكابتن
Captainheartily;shesettowork,andby-and-by
كل
allthetownturnedouttoseetheAlderneymeeklygoingtoherpasture,cladinالداكن
darkgreyflannel.Ihavewatchedhermyselfmanyatime.
هل
DoyoueverseecowsdressedingreyflannelinLondon?الكابتن
CaptainBrownhadtakenasmallhouseontheoutskirtsofthetown,حيث
wherehelivedwithhistwodaughters.He
لا بد
musthavebeenupwardsofsixtyattheوقت
timeofthefirstvisitIpaidtoCranfordبعد
afterIhadleftitasaresidence.لكن
Buthehadawiry,well-trained,elasticشخصية
figure,astiffmilitarythrow-backofhishead,andaspringingstep,whichmadehimيبدو
appearmuchyoungerthanhewas.Hiseldest
ابنته
daughterlookedalmostasoldashimself,andbetrayedفي
thefactthathisrealwasmoreمن
thanhisapparentage.Miss
براون
Brownmusthavebeenforty;shehadasickly,pained,carewornexpressiononherface,andlookedasifthegaietyof
الشباب
youthhadlongfadedoutofالبصر
sight.Evenwhenyoungshe
لا بد
musthavebeenplainandhard-featured.الآنسة
MissJessieBrownwastenyearsyoungerمن
thanhersister,andtwentyshadesprettier.Herfacewasroundanddimpled.
الآنسة
MissJenkynsoncesaid,inaشغف
passionagainstCaptainBrown(thecauseofالذي
whichIwilltellyoupresently),“thatshethoughtitwasالوقت
timeforMissJessietoتترك
leaveoffherdimples,andnotalwaystobetryingtoتبدو
looklikeachild.”Itwastrue
هناك
therewassomethingchildlikeinherface;and
هناك
therewillbe,Ithink,tillshedies,thoughsheshouldتعيش
livetoahundred.Hereyeswere
كبيرة
largebluewonderingeyes,lookingمباشرة
straightatyou;hernosewasunformed
و
andsnub,andherlipswereحمراء
redanddewy;sheworeher
شعرها
hair,too,inlittlerowsofcurls,مما
whichheightenedthisappearance.Idonot
أعرف
knowwhethershewasprettyornot;butIlikedherface,andsodideverybody,andIdonot
أعتقد
thinkshecouldhelpherdimples.Shehad
شيء
somethingofherfather’sjauntinessofgaitandmanner;andanyfemaleobservermightdetectaslightdifferenceintheattireofthetwosisters—thatof
الآنسة
MissJessiebeingabouttwopoundsperannumأكثر
moreexpensivethanMissBrown’s.TwopoundswasalargesuminCaptainBrown’sannualdisbursements.
هذا
Suchwastheimpressionmadeuponmebytheبراون
BrownfamilywhenIfirstsawthemalltogetherinCranfordكنيسة
Church.TheCaptainIhadmetbefore—onthe
مناسبة
occasionofthesmokychimney,التي
whichhehadcuredbyبعض
somesimplealterationintheflue.In
الكنيسة
church,heheldhisdoubleeye-glasstohiseyesأثناء
duringtheMorningHymn,andthenlifteduphisرأسه
headerectandsangoutloudandjoyfully.Hemadetheresponseslouderthantheclerk—anold
رجل
manwithapipingfeebleصوت
voice,who,Ithink,feltaggrievedattheCaptain’ssonorousbass,andquiveredhigherandhigherinنتيجة
consequence.Oncomingoutof
الكنيسة
church,thebriskCaptainpaidthemostgallantattentiontohistwodaughters.Henoddedandsmiledtohisacquaintances;
لكنه
butheshookhandswithnoneuntilhehadhelpedالآنسة
MissBrowntounfurlherumbrella,hadrelievedherofherprayer-book,andhadwaitedpatientlytillshe,withtremblingnervoushands,hadtakenuphergowntowalkعبر
throughthewetroads.IwonderwhattheCranfordladiesdid
مع
withCaptainBrownattheirparties.Wehadoftenrejoiced,informerdays,that
هناك
therewasnogentlemantobeattendedto,andtofindمحادثة
conversationfor,atthecard-parties.Wehadcongratulatedourselvesuponthesnugnessoftheevenings;
و
and,inourloveforgentility,و
anddistasteofmankind,wehadتقريبا
almostpersuadedourselvesthattobeaالرجل
manwastobe“vulgar”;sothat
عندما
whenIfoundmyfriendandhostess,الآنسة
MissJenkyns,wasgoingtohaveعلى
apartyinmyhonour,andthatالكابتن
CaptainandtheMissBrownswereinvited,Iwonderedmuchwhatwouldbethecourseoftheالمساء
evening.Card-tables,withgreenbaizetops,weresetoutbydaylight,justas
المعتاد
usual;itwasthethirdweekin
نوفمبر
November,sotheeveningsclosedinحوالي
aboutfour.Candles,andcleanpacksofcards,werearrangedon
كل
eachtable.Thefirewasmadeup;
theneatmaid-servanthadreceivedher
آخر
lastdirections;andtherewestood,dressedinour
أفضل
best,eachwithacandle-lighterinourhands,readytodartatthecandlesassoonastheالأولى
firstknockcame.PartiesinCranfordweresolemnfestivities,makingtheladiesfeelgravelyelatedastheysattogetherintheirbestdresses.
Assoonasthreehadarrived,wesatdownto“Preference,”Ibeingtheunluckyfourth.
Thenext
الأربعة
fourcomerswereputdownالفور
immediatelytoanothertable;andpresentlythetea-trays,
التي
whichIhadseensetoutinthestore-roomasIpassedintheالصباح
morning,wereplacedeachonthemiddleofacard-table.Thechinawasdelicateegg-shell;
theold-fashioned
الفضة
silverglitteredwithpolishing;buttheeatableswereoftheslightest
وصف
description.Whilethetrayswereyetonthetables,
الكابتن
CaptainandtheMissBrownscamein;andIcould
أرى
seethat,somehoworother,theالكابتن
Captainwasafavouritewithجميع
alltheladiespresent.Ruffledbrowsweresmoothed,
الحادة
sharpvoicesloweredathisapproach.الآنسة
MissBrownlookedill,anddepressedتقريبا
almosttogloom.MissJessiesmiledasusual,andseemednearlyas
شعبية
popularasherfather.He
الفور
immediatelyandquietlyassumedtheman’sمكان
placeintheroom;attendedtoeveryone’swants,lessenedtheprettymaid-servant’slabourbywaitingon
الفارغة
emptycupsandbread-and-butterlessladies;andyetdidit
كل
allinsoeasyanddignifiedamanner,andsomuchasifitwereamatterofcoursefortheالقوي
strongtoattendtotheweak,thathewasatruemanthroughout.Heplayedforthreepennypoints
مع
withasgraveaninterestasلو
iftheyhadbeenpounds;andyet,in
كل
allhisattentiontostrangers,hehadanعين
eyeonhissufferingdaughter—forsufferingIwassureshewas,thoughtoالعديد
manyeyesshemightonlyappeartobeirritable.الآنسة
MissJessiecouldnotplaycards:لكنها
butshetalkedtothesitters-out,الذين
who,beforehercoming,hadbeenratherinclinedtobecross.Shesang,too,toan
قديم
oldcrackedpiano,whichIthinkhadbeenaspinetinitsyouth.الآنسة
MissJessiesang,“JockofHazeldean”alittleoutoftune;لكن
butwewerenoneofusmusical,thoughالآنسة
MissJenkynsbeattime,outofالوقت
time,bywayofappearingtobeso.Itwasverygoodof
الآنسة
MissJenkynstodothis;forIhadseen
ذلك
that,alittlebefore,shehadbeenagooddealannoyedbyالآنسة
MissJessieBrown’sunguardedadmission(àproposofShetlandصوف
wool)thatshehadanuncle,hermother’sشقيق
brother,whowasashopkeeperinEdinburgh.الآنسة
MissJenkynstriedtodrownهذا
thisconfessionbyaterriblecough—fortheHonourableMrsJamiesonwassittingatعلى
acard-tablenearestMissJessie,andwhatwouldshesayأو
orthinkifshefoundoutshewasintheنفس
sameroomwithashop-keeper’sniece!لكن
ButMissJessieBrown(whohadnotact,asweallagreedthenextالصباح
morning)wouldrepeattheinformation,andassureالآنسة
MissPoleshecouldeasilyالحصول
gethertheidenticalShetlandصوف
woolrequired,“throughmyuncle,whohastheأفضل
bestassortmentofShetlandgoodsofanyواحد
oneinEdinbro’.”Itwastotakethe
طعم
tasteofthisoutofourmouths,andthesoundofthisoutofourears,thatالآنسة
MissJenkynsproposedmusic;soI
أقول
sayagain,itwasverygoodofhertobeatالوقت
timetothesong.Whenthetraysre-appeared
مع
withbiscuitsandwine,punctuallyatعلى
aquartertonine,therewasمحادثة
conversation,comparingofcards,andtalkingovertricks;لكن
butby-and-byCaptainBrownsportedabitofالأدب
literature.“Haveyouseenanynumbersof‘ThePickwickPapers’?”
saidhe.
(Theywerethenpublishinginparts.)
“Capitalthing!”
الآن
NowMissJenkynswasdaughterofadeceasedrectorofCranford;and,onthestrengthofa
عدد
numberofmanuscriptsermons,andaprettyجيدة
goodlibraryofdivinity,consideredherselfliterary,andlookeduponأي
anyconversationaboutbooksasaتحدي
challengetoher.Sosheansweredandsaid,“Yes,shehadseenthem;
indeed,shemight
تقول
sayshehadreadthem.”“Andwhatdoyouthinkofthem?”
exclaimed
الكابتن
CaptainBrown.“Aren’ttheyfamouslygood?”
Sourged
الآنسة
MissJenkynscouldnotbutspeak.“I
يجب
mustsay,Idon’tthinktheyarebyanymeansequaltoDrJohnson.Still,perhaps,theauthorisyoung.
Lethimpersevere,andwhoknowswhathe
قد
maybecomeifhewillأخذ
takethegreatDoctorforhismodel?”هذا
ThiswasevidentlytoomuchforCaptainبراون
Browntotakeplacidly;andIsawthewordsonthetipofhis
لسانه
tonguebeforeMissJenkynshadfinishedhersentence.“Itisquiteadifferent
نوع
sortofthing,mydearmadam,”hebegan.“Iamquiteawareofthat,”returnedshe.
“AndImakeallowances,
الكابتن
CaptainBrown.”“Justallowmetoreadyouasceneoutof
هذا
thismonth’snumber,”pleadedhe.“Ihaditonly
هذا
thismorning,andIdon’tأعتقد
thinkthecompanycanhavereadityet.”“Asyouplease,”saidshe,settlingherself
مع
withanairofresignation.Hereadtheaccountofthe“swarry”
التي
whichSamWellergaveatباث
Bath.Someofuslaughedheartily.
Ididnotdare,becauseIwasstayinginthe
المنزل
house.