CHAPTERI.OURSOCIETY
In
na
thefirstplace,Cranfordisinpossessionofna
theAmazons;alltheholdersofhouses
iznad
aboveacertainrentarewomen.Ako
Ifamarriedcouplecometosettleinthegrad
town,somehowthegentlemandisappears;heiseither
prilično
fairlyfrightenedtodeathbybeingtheonlyčovjek
manintheCranfordeveningparties,orheisaccountedforbybeingsa
withhisregiment,hisship,orblisko
closelyengagedinbusinessallthetjedan
weekinthegreatneighbouringcommercialgradu
townofDrumble,distantonlytwentymilesonarailroad.Inshort,
god
whateverdoesbecomeofthegentlemen,theyarenotatCranford.Whatcouldthey
učiniti
doiftheywerethere?The
kirurg
surgeonhashisroundofthirtymiles,i
andsleepsatCranford;but
svaki
everymancannotbeakirurg
surgeon.Forkeepingthetrimgardensfullofchoiceflowers
bez
withoutaweedtospeckih
them;forfrighteningawaylittleboys
koji
wholookwistfullyatthesaidflowerskroz
throughtherailings;forrushingoutatthegeese
koje
thatoccasionallyventureintothegardensako
ifthegatesareleftopen;fordeciding
svim
allquestionsofliteratureandpoliticsbez
withouttroublingthemselveswithunnecessaryreasonsili
orarguments;forobtainingclear
i
andcorrectknowledgeofeverybody’saffairsinthežupi
parish;forkeepingtheirneatmaid-servantsinadmirableorder;
for
ljubaznost
kindness(somewhatdictatorial)tothepoor,i
andrealtendergoodofficestojedni
eachotherwhenevertheyareinnevolji
distress,theladiesofCranfordaresasvim
quitesufficient.“Aman,”as
jedan
oneofthemobservedtomejednom
once,“issointheputu
wayinthehouse!”AlthoughtheladiesofCranfordknow
sve
alleachother’sproceedings,theyareexceedinglyindifferenttoeachother’sopinions.Zaista
Indeed,aseachhasherownindividualnost
individuality,nottosayeccentricity,prilično
prettystronglydeveloped,nothingissolako
easyasverbalretaliation;but,
nekako
somehow,good-willreignsamongthemtoaconsiderabledegree.TheCranfordladies
imaju
haveonlyanoccasionallittlesvađe
quarrel,spiritedoutinanekoliko
fewpepperywordsandangryjerksofthehead;samo
justenoughtopreventtheeventenoroftheirlivesfrombecomingpreviše
tooflat.Theirdressis
vrlo
veryindependentoffashion;astheyobserve,“Whatdoesitsignify
kako
howwedresshereatCranford,gdje
whereeverybodyknowsus?”And
ako
iftheygofromhome,theirrazlog
reasonisequallycogent,“Whatdoesitsignifykako
howwedresshere,wherenitko
nobodyknowsus?”Thematerialsoftheirclothes
su
are,ingeneral,goodandplain,andvećina
mostofthemarenearlyasscrupulousasMissTyler,ofcleanlypamćenje
memory;butIwillanswerfor
to
it,thelastgigot,thelasttighti
andscantypetticoatinwearinEngland,wasseeninCranford—andseenbez
withoutasmile.Ican
svjedočiti
testifytoamagnificentfamilycrveni
redsilkumbrella,underwhichje
agentlelittlespinster,leftsama
aloneofmanybrothersandsisters,usedtopattertocrkvu
churchonrainydays.HaveyouanyredsilkumbrellasinLondon?
Wehad
je
atraditionofthefirstkoja
thathadeverbeenseeninCranford;i
andthelittleboysmobbedga
it,andcalledit“astickinpetticoats.”Itmighthavebeenthe
vrlo
veryredsilkoneIhavedescribed,heldbyje
astrongfatheroveratroopoflittleones;the
jadna
poorlittlelady—thesurvivorofall—couldjedva
scarcelycarryit.Thentherewererules
i
andregulationsforvisitingandcalls;i
andtheywereannouncedtoanyyoungpeoplewhomightbestayinginthegradu
town,withallthesolemnitywithwhichthestari
oldManxlawswerereadjednom
onceayearontheTinwaldMount.“Ourfriendshavesenttoinquire
kako
howyouareafteryourjourneyvečeras
to-night,mydear”(fifteenmilesinagentleman’scarriage);“they
će
willgiveyousomerestsutra
to-morrow,butthenextday,Ihavene
nodoubt,theywillcall;sobeatliberty
nakon
aftertwelve—fromtwelvetothreeareourcallinghours.”Then,
nakon
aftertheyhadcalled—.“Itisthe
treći
thirdday;Idaresayyourmammahastoldyou,my
draga
dear,nevertoletmoreod
thanthreedayselapsebetweenreceivingje
acallandreturningit;i
andalso,thatyouarenevertostaylongerthanaquarterofanhour.”“ButamItolookatmywatch?
Kako
HowamItofindoutkad
whenaquarterofansata
hourhaspassed?”“Youmustkeepthinkingabout
na
thetime,mydear,andnotdopustiti
allowyourselftoforgetitinconversation.”As
svi
everybodyhadthisruleintheirminds,whethertheyreceivedili
orpaidacall,ofnaravno
coursenoabsorbingsubjectwaseverspokeno
about.Wekeptourselvestoshortsentencesofsmalltalk,
i
andwerepunctualtoourvrijeme
time.Iimaginethata
nekoliko
fewofthegentlefolksofCranfordwerepoor,i
andhadsomedifficultyinmakingoba
bothendsmeet;buttheywere
kao
liketheSpartans,andconcealedtheirsmartispod
underasmilingface.We
nijedan
noneofusspokeofmoney,jer
becausethatsubjectsavouredofcommercei
andtrade,andthoughsomemightbesiromašni
poor,wewereallaristocratic.TheCranfordianshadthatkindlyespritdecorpswhichmadethemoverlook
sve
alldeficienciesinsuccesswhenneki
someamongthemtriedtoconcealtheirpoverty.Kad
WhenMrsForrester,forinstance,gaveje
apartyinherbaby-houseofje
adwelling,andthelittlemaidendisturbedtheladiesonthesofabyje
arequestthatshemightgetthetea-trayoutfromunderneath,everyonetookovaj
thisnovelproceedingasthemostnaturalstvar
thingintheworld,andtalkedono
abouthouseholdformsandceremoniesasifweallbelievedthatourhostesshadje
aregularservants’hall,secondstol
table,withhousekeeperandsteward,insteadofthejedne
onelittlecharity-schoolmaiden,whoseshortruddyarmscouldnikada
neverhavebeenstrongenoughtonose
carrythetrayupstairs,ifshehadnotbeenassistedinprivatebyhermistress,whosada
nowsatinstate,pretendingnottoknowwhatcakesweresentup,thoughsheknew,andweknew,andsheknewthatweknew,andweknewthatsheknewthatweknew,shehadbeenbusyallthemorningmakingtea-breadandsponge-cakes.Therewere
jedne
oneortwoconsequencesarisingfromthisgeneralali
butunacknowledgedpoverty,andthisvrlo
verymuchacknowledgedgentility,whichwerenotamiss,i
andwhichmightbeintroducedintomnoge
manycirclesofsocietytotheirgreatimprovement.For
primjer
instance,theinhabitantsofCranfordkeptranim
earlyhours,andclatteredhomeintheirpattens,pod
undertheguidanceofalantern-bearer,oko
aboutnineo’clockatnight;i
andthewholetownwasabedi
andasleepbyhalf-pastten.Moreover,itwasconsidered“vulgar”
Je
(atremendouswordinCranford)togiveanythingexpensive,inthewayofeatableili
ordrinkable,attheeveningentertainments.Waferbread-and-butterandsponge-biscuitswere
sve
allthattheHonourableMrsJamiesongave;i
andshewassister-in-lawtothelateEarlofGlenmire,iako
althoughshedidpractisesuch“eleganteconomy.”“Eleganteconomy!”
Kako
HownaturallyonefallsbackintothephraseologyofCranford!Tamo
There,economywasalways“elegant,”andmoney-spendinguvijek
always“vulgarandostentatious”;asortofsour-grapeism
koja
whichmadeusverypeacefuli
andsatisfied.Inevershall
zaboraviti
forgetthedismayfeltwhenje
acertainCaptainBrowncametoživjeti
liveatCranford,andopenlyspokeo
abouthisbeingpoor—notinje
awhispertoanintimatefriend,thedoorsi
andwindowsbeingpreviouslyclosed,butinthepublicstreet!inaloudmilitaryvoice!
alleginghispovertyas
je
areasonfornottakingje
aparticularhouse.TheladiesofCranfordwere
već
alreadyrathermoaningovertheinvazije
invasionoftheirterritoriesbyamani
andagentleman.Hewas
je
ahalf-paycaptain,andhadobtainedsomesituationonje
aneighbouringrailroad,whichhadbeenvehementlypetitionedprotiv
againstbythelittletown;i
andif,inadditiontohismasculinegender,i
andhisconnectionwiththeobnoxiousrailroad,hewassobrazenastotalkofbeingpoor—why,then,zaista
indeed,hemustbesenttoCoventry.Smrt
Deathwasastrueandasuobičajena
commonaspoverty;yetpeople
nikada
neverspokeaboutthat,loudoutinna
thestreets.Itwasa
riječ
wordnottobementionedtoearspolite.Wehadtacitlyagreedto
zanemariti
ignorethatanywithwhomweassociatedontermsofvisitingequalitycouldeverbepreventedbypovertyfromdoinganythingthattheywished.Ako
Ifwewalkedtoorfromje
aparty,itwasbecausethenoć
nightwassofine,orthezrak
airsorefreshing,notbecausesedan-chairswereskupe
expensive.Ifweworeprints,insteadofsummersilks,itwas
zato što
becausewepreferredawashingmaterijal
material;andsoon,tillweblindedourselvestothevulgarfactthatwewere,
svi
allofus,peopleofvrlo
verymoderatemeans.Ofcourse,then,wedidnotknowwhattomakeof
je
amanwhocouldspeakofpovertyasifitwasnotje
adisgrace.Yet,somehow,Captain
Brown
BrownmadehimselfrespectedinCranford,i
andwascalledupon,inunatoč
spiteofallresolutionstothecontrary.Iwassurprisedto
čuo
hearhisopinionsquotedasautoritet
authorityatavisitwhichIpaidtoCranfordaboutayearnakon
afterhehadsettledinthegradu
town.Myownfriendshadbeen
među
amongthebitterestopponentsofbilo
anyproposaltovisittheCaptaini
andhisdaughters,onlytwelvemonthsprije
before;andnowhewas
čak
evenadmittedinthetabooedhoursprije
beforetwelve.True,itwastodiscoverthe
uzrok
causeofasmokingchimney,prije
beforethefirewaslighted;ali
butstillCaptainBrownwalkedgore
upstairs,nothingdaunted,spokeinavoicetoolargeforna
theroom,andjokedquiteinna
thewayofatamemano
aboutthehouse.Hehadbeen
slijep
blindtoallthesmallslights,i
andomissionsoftrivialceremonies,s
withwhichhehadbeenreceived.Hehadbeen
prijateljski
friendly,thoughtheCranfordladieshadbeencool;hehadanswered
male
smallsarcasticcomplimentsingoodvjeri
faith;andwithhismanlyfranknesshadoverpowered
sve
alltheshrinkingwhichmethimasje
amanwhowasnotashamedtobepoor.I
And,atlast,hisexcellentmasculinecommonsense,i
andhisfacilityindevisingexpedientstoprevladati
overcomedomesticdilemmas,hadgainedhimanextraordinarymjesto
placeasauthorityamongtheCranfordladies.Hehimselfwentoninhiscourse,asunawareofhis
popularnost
popularityashehadbeenoftheobrnuto
reverse;andIamsurehewasstartledone
dana
daywhenhefoundhisadvicesovisoko
highlyesteemedastomakeneki
somecounselwhichhehadgiveninjesttobetakeninsober,seriousearnest.Itwason
ovu
thissubject:AnoldladyhadanAlderney
kravu
cow,whichshelookeduponasje
adaughter.Youcouldnot
platiti
paytheshortquarterofansata
hourcallwithoutbeingtoldofthewonderfulmilkili
orwonderfulintelligenceofthisanimal.The
cijeli
wholetownknewandkindlyregardedMissBetsyBarker’sAlderney;thereforegreatwasthesympathy
i
andregretwhen,inanunguardedmoment,thejadna
poorcowtumbledintoalime-pit.Shemoanedso
glasno
loudlythatshewassoonheardi
andrescued;butmeanwhilethe
jadna
poorbeasthadlostmostofherkose
hair,andcameoutlookingnaked,cold,i
andmiserable,inabarekoži
skin.Everybodypitiedtheanimal,
iako
thoughafewcouldnotrestraintheirsmilesatherdrollappearance.MissBetsyBarker
apsolutno
absolutelycriedwithsorrowanddismay;i
anditwassaidshethoughtoftryingje
abathofoil.This
lijek
remedy,perhaps,wasrecommendedbyneki
someoneofthenumberčiji
whoseadvicesheasked;butthe
prijedlog
proposal,ifeveritwasmade,wasknockedontheheadbyCaptainBrown’sdecided“Getherje
aflannelwaistcoatandflanneldrawers,ma’am,ako
ifyouwishtokeepheralive.Ali
Butmyadviceis,killthepoorstvorenje
creatureatonce.”MissBetsyBarkerdriedhereyes,
i
andthankedtheCaptainheartily;shesetto
raditi
work,andby-and-byallthegrad
townturnedouttoseena
theAlderneymeeklygoingtoherpasture,cladintamno
darkgreyflannel.Ihavewatchedhermyself
mnogo
manyatime.DoyoueverseecowsdressedingreyflannelinLondon?
Captain
Brown
Brownhadtakenasmallkuću
houseontheoutskirtsofthegrada
town,wherehelivedwithhisdvije
twodaughters.Hemusthavebeenupwardsofsixtyatthe
vrijeme
timeofthefirstvisitIpaidtoCranfordnakon
afterIhadleftitasje
aresidence.Buthehad
je
awiry,well-trained,elasticfigure,je
astiffmilitarythrow-backofhishead,i
andaspringingstep,whichmadehimappearmnogo
muchyoungerthanhewas.His
najstarija
eldestdaughterlookedalmostasstara
oldashimself,andbetrayedthefactda
thathisrealwasmoreod
thanhisapparentage.Miss
Brown
Brownmusthavebeenforty;shehad
je
asickly,pained,carewornexpressiononherface,i
andlookedasifthegaietyofyouthhadlongfadedoutofiz vida
sight.Evenwhenyoungshemusthavebeenplain
i
andhard-featured.MissJessieBrownwas
deset
tenyearsyoungerthanhersister,i
andtwentyshadesprettier.Her
lice
facewasroundanddimpled.MissJenkyns
jednom
oncesaid,inapassionprotiv
againstCaptainBrown(thecauseofwhichIwilltellyoupresently),“thatshethoughtitwasvrijeme
timeforMissJessietoleaveoffherdimples,a
andnotalwaystobetryingtolookkao
likeachild.”Itwas
istina
truetherewassomethingchildlikeinherface;i
andtherewillbe,Ithink,tillshedies,iako
thoughsheshouldlivetoahundred.Hereyeswerelargebluewonderingeyes,looking
ravno
straightatyou;hernosewasunformedandsnub,andherlipswereredanddewy;
sheworeher
kosu
hair,too,inlittlerowsofcurls,što
whichheightenedthisappearance.Idonot
znam
knowwhethershewasprettyili
ornot;butIlikedher
lice
face,andsodideverybody,i
andIdonotthinkshecouldpomoći
helpherdimples.Shehad
nešto
somethingofherfather’sjauntinessofgaiti
andmanner;andanyfemale
promatrač
observermightdetectaslightdifferenceintheattireofthedvije
twosisters—thatofMissJessiebeingoko
abouttwopoundsperannummoreexpensivethanGđice
MissBrown’s.Twopoundswasalarge
suma
suminCaptainBrown’sannualdisbursements.Takav
SuchwastheimpressionmadeuponmebytheBrown
BrownfamilywhenIfirstsawthemallzajedno
togetherinCranfordChurch.TheCaptainIhadmetbefore—onthe
povodom
occasionofthesmokychimney,koji
whichhehadcuredbysomesimplealterationintheflue.In
crkvi
church,heheldhisdoubleeye-glasstohiseyestijekom
duringtheMorningHymn,andthenlifteduphisglavu
headerectandsangoutglasno
loudandjoyfully.Hemadetheresponseslouder
od
thantheclerk—anoldmans
withapipingfeeblevoice,koji
who,Ithink,feltaggrievedattheCaptain’ssonorousbas
bass,andquiveredhigherandhigherinconsequence.Oncomingoutof
crkve
church,thebriskCaptainpaidthemostgallantpažnju
attentiontohistwodaughters.Henodded
i
andsmiledtohisacquaintances;ali
butheshookhandswithnonedok
untilhehadhelpedMissBrown
Browntounfurlherumbrella,hadrelievedherofherprayer-book,i
andhadwaitedpatientlytillona
she,withtremblingnervoushands,hadtakenuphergowntohoda
walkthroughthewetroads.I
pitam
wonderwhattheCranfordladiesdids
withCaptainBrownattheirparties.Wehad
često
oftenrejoiced,informerdays,thattherewasnogentlemantobeattendedto,i
andtofindconversationfor,atthecard-parties.Wehadcongratulatedourselvesupon
na
thesnugnessoftheevenings;i
and,inourloveforgentility,i
anddistasteofmankind,wehadgotovo
almostpersuadedourselvesthattobeje
amanwastobe“vulgar”;sothat
kad
whenIfoundmyfriendi
andhostess,MissJenkyns,wasgoingtosu
haveapartyinmyhonour,i
andthatCaptainandtheMissBrownswereinvited,Iwonderedmnogo
muchwhatwouldbethecourseoftheevening.Card-tables,
sa
withgreenbaizetops,weresetoutbydaylight,justasobično
usual;itwasthethird
tjedan
weekinNovember,sotheeveningsclosedinoko
aboutfour.Candles,andcleanpacksofcards,werearrangedoneachtable.
The
vatra
firewasmadeup;theneatmaid-servanthadreceivedherlastdirections;
i
andtherewestood,dressedinournajbolje
best,eachwithacandle-lighterinourhands,readytodartatthecandlesassoonastheprvi
firstknockcame.PartiesinCranfordweresolemnfestivities,makingtheladiesfeelgravelyelatedastheysat
zajedno
togetherintheirbestdresses.Assoonas
trojica
threehadarrived,wesatdownto“Preference,”Ibeingna
theunluckyfourth.Thenext
četiri
fourcomerswereputdownsmjesta
immediatelytoanothertable;and
trenutno
presentlythetea-trays,whichIhadseensetoutinthestore-roomasIpassedintheujutro
morning,wereplacedeachonthesredini
middleofacard-table.Thechinawas
delikatna
delicateegg-shell;theold-fashionedsilverglitteredwithpolishing;
ali
buttheeatableswereoftheslightestdescription.Dok
Whilethetrayswereyetonthetables,Captaini
andtheMissBrownscamein;i
andIcouldseethat,somehoworother,na
theCaptainwasafavouritewithsvih
alltheladiespresent.Ruffledbrowsweresmoothed,
oštre
sharpvoicesloweredathispristup
approach.MissBrownlookedill,
i
anddepressedalmosttogloom.MissJessiesmiledas
obično
usual,andseemednearlyaspopularan
popularasherfather.He
odmah
immediatelyandquietlyassumedtheman’smjesto
placeintheroom;attendedtoeveryone’swants,lessenedtheprettymaid-servant’slabourbywaitingonemptycups
i
andbread-and-butterlessladies;andyetdidit
sve
allinsoeasyanddostojanstven
dignifiedamanner,andsomuchasifitwereje
amatterofcourseforna
thestrongtoattendtona
theweak,thathewasje
atruemanthroughout.Heplayedforthreepennypoints
s
withasgraveaninterestasiftheyhadbeenpounds;a
andyet,inallhisattentiontostrangers,hehadanoko
eyeonhissufferingdaughter—forsufferingIwassureshewas,thoughtomanyeyesshemightsamo
onlyappeartobeirritable.MissJessiecouldnot
igrati
playcards:butshetalkedtothesitters-out,
koji
who,beforehercoming,hadbeenprilično
ratherinclinedtobecross.Shesang,
također
too,toanoldcrackedklavir
piano,whichIthinkhadbeenje
aspinetinitsyouth.MissJessiesang,“JockofHazeldean”
je
alittleoutoftune;ali
butwewerenoneofusmusical,iako
thoughMissJenkynsbeattime,outoftime,bywayofappearingtobeso.Itwas
vrlo
verygoodofMissJenkynstodothis;forIhadseenthat,
je
alittlebefore,shehadbeenje
agooddealannoyedbyGđice
MissJessieBrown’sunguardedadmission(àproposofShetlandwool)thatshehadanujaka
uncle,hermother’sbrother,whowasje
ashopkeeperinEdinburgh.MissJenkynstriedto
utopiti
drownthisconfessionbyaterriblecough—fortheČasna
HonourableMrsJamiesonwassittingatje
acard-tablenearestMissJessie,i
andwhatwouldshesayili
orthinkifshefoundoutshewasinthesamesobi
roomwithashop-keeper’sniece!Ali
ButMissJessieBrown(whohadnotakta
tact,asweallagreedthenextmorning)wouldrepeattheinformation,i
andassureMissPoleshecouldlako
easilygethertheidenticalShetlandvunu
woolrequired,“throughmyuncle,koji
whohasthebestassortmentofShetlandrobe
goodsofanyoneinEdinbro’.”Itwastotakethe
okus
tasteofthisoutofourmouths,i
andthesoundofthisoutofourears,thatMissJenkynsproposedmusic;soI
kažem
sayagain,itwasverydobro
goodofhertobeatvrijeme
timetothesong.Whenthetraysre-appeared
s
withbiscuitsandwine,punctuallyatje
aquartertonine,therewasconversation,comparingofcards,i
andtalkingovertricks;butby-and-byCaptain
Brown
Brownsportedabitofliterature.“Haveyouseenanynumbersof‘ThePickwickPapers’?”
said
on
he.(Theywerethenpublishinginparts.)
“Capitalthing!”
NowMissJenkynswas
kći
daughterofadeceasedrectorofCranford;i
and,onthestrengthofje
anumberofmanuscriptsermons,i
andaprettygoodlibraryofdivinity,consideredherselfliterary,i
andlookeduponanyconversationo
aboutbooksasachallengetonju
her.Sosheansweredandsaid,“Yes,shehadseen
ih
them;indeed,shemightsayshehadreadthem.”
“Andwhatdoyouthinkofthem?”
exclaimedCaptain
Brown
Brown.“Aren’ttheyfamouslygood?”
SourgedMissJenkynscouldnot
ali
butspeak.“Imustsay,Idon’tthinktheyarebyanymeansequaltoDrJohnson.
Ipak
Still,perhaps,theauthorisyoung.Lethimpersevere,
i
andwhoknowswhathemaypostati
becomeifhewilltakethegreatDoctorforhismodel?”Thiswas
očito
evidentlytoomuchforCaptainBrowntotakeplacidly;i
andIsawthewordsonthetipofhistongueprije
beforeMissJenkynshadfinishedhersentence.“Itis
sasvim
quiteadifferentsortofthing,mydraga
dearmadam,”hebegan.“Iam
sasvim
quiteawareofthat,”returnedona
she.“AndImakeallowances,
Kapetane
CaptainBrown.”“Justallowmetoreadyou
je
asceneoutofthismonth’snumber,”pleadedhe.“Ihadit
tek
onlythismorning,andIdon’tthinkthetvrtka
companycanhavereadityet.”“Asyouplease,”saidshe,settlingherself
s
withanairofresignation.Hereadtheaccountofthe“swarry”
koji
whichSamWellergaveatBath.Neki
Someofuslaughedheartily.Ididnot
usudio
dare,becauseIwasstayinginthekući
house.