CHAPTERI.OURSOCIETY
In
det
thefirstplace,Cranfordisinbesiddelse
possessionoftheAmazons;alltheholdersofhouses
over
aboveacertainrentarewomen.Hvis
Ifamarriedcouplecometobosætte sig
settleinthetown,somehowthegentlemanforsvinder
disappears;heiseitherfairly
skræmt
frightenedtodeathbybeingden
theonlymanintheCranfordeveningparties,eller
orheisaccountedforbybeingmed
withhisregiment,hisship,eller
orcloselyengagedinbusinessallden
theweekinthegreatneighbouringcommercialtownofDrumble,distantonlytwentymilesonen
arailroad.Inshort,whateverdoesbecomeofthegentlemen,theyarenotatCranford.
What
kunne
couldtheydoiftheywereder
there?Thesurgeonhashis
runde
roundofthirtymiles,andsover
sleepsatCranford;buteverymancannotbeasurgeon.
For
holde
keepingthetrimgardensfullofchoiceflowersuden
withoutaweedtospeckdem
them;forfrighteningawaylittleboys
der
wholookwistfullyatthesaidflowersgennem
throughtherailings;forrushing
ud
outatthegeesethatlejlighedsvis
occasionallyventureintothegardenshvis
ifthegatesareleftåbne
open;fordecidingallquestionsof
litteratur
literatureandpoliticswithouttroublingthemselveswithunødvendige
unnecessaryreasonsorarguments;for
få
obtainingclearandcorrectknowledgeofeverybody’saffairsinthesognet
parish;forkeepingtheirneatmaid-servantsin
beundringsværdig
admirableorder;forkindness(somewhatdictatorial)tothe
fattige
poor,andrealtendergoodofficestoeachotherwhenevertheyareinnød
distress,theladiesofCranfordarehelt
quitesufficient.“Aman,”asoneofthemobservedtomeonce,“issointhe
vejen
wayinthehouse!”AlthoughtheladiesofCranford
kender
knowalleachother’sproceedings,theyareexceedinglyligeglade
indifferenttoeachother’sopinions.Faktisk
Indeed,aseachhasheregen
ownindividuality,nottosayeccentricity,temmelig
prettystronglydeveloped,nothingissonemt
easyasverbalretaliation;but,somehow,good-willreigns
blandt
amongthemtoaconsiderablegrad
degree.TheCranfordladieshave
kun
onlyanoccasionallittlequarrel,spiritedud
outinafewpepperywordsog
andangryjerksofthehead;bare
justenoughtopreventtheeventenoroftheirlivesfrombliver
becomingtooflat.Theirdressis
meget
veryindependentoffashion;astheyobserve,“Whatdoesitsignifyhowwe
klæder
dresshereatCranford,wherealle
everybodyknowsus?”Andiftheygofrom
hjemmet
home,theirreasonisequallycogent,“Whatdoesitsignifyhowweklæder
dresshere,wherenobodyknowsus?”De
Thematerialsoftheirclothesare,ingeneral,god
goodandplain,andmostofthemarenæsten
nearlyasscrupulousasMissTyler,ofcleanlyhukommelse
memory;butIwillanswerforit,the
sidste
lastgigot,thelasttightog
andscantypetticoatinwearinEngland,wasset
seeninCranford—andseenwithoutet
asmile.Icantestifyto
en
amagnificentfamilyredsilkparaply
umbrella,underwhichagentlelille
littlespinster,leftaloneofmange
manybrothersandsisters,usedtopattertochurchonregnfulde
rainydays.Haveyouany
røde
redsilkumbrellasinLondon?We
havde
hadatraditionoftheførste
firstthathadeverbeenseeninCranford;og
andthelittleboysmobbedit,og
andcalledit“astickinpetticoats.”It
kunne
mighthavebeentheveryrøde
redsilkoneIhavedescribed,holdt
heldbyastrongfatherover
overatroopoflittleones;the
stakkels
poorlittlelady—thesurvivorofall—couldknap nok
scarcelycarryit.Thentherewererules
og
andregulationsforvisitingandcalls;og
andtheywereannouncedtoanyunge
youngpeoplewhomightbestayinginthebyen
town,withallthesolemnitymed
withwhichtheoldManxlawswerelæst
readonceayearontheTinwaldMount.“Ourfriends
har
havesenttoinquirehowyouareefter
afteryourjourneyto-night,mydear”(fifteenmilesinen
agentleman’scarriage);“theywill
give
giveyousomerestto-morrow,men
butthenextday,Ihar
havenodoubt,theywillringe
call;sobeatliberty
efter
aftertwelve—fromtwelvetothreeareourcallinghours.”Then,
efter
aftertheyhadcalled—.“Itisthe
tredje
thirdday;Idaresayyourmamma
har
hastoldyou,mydear,aldrig
nevertoletmorethantre
threedayselapsebetweenreceivinget
acallandreturningit;og
andalso,thatyouarealdrig
nevertostaylongerthanakvarter
quarterofanhour.”“ButamItolookatmy
se
watch?HowamIto
finde
findoutwhenaquarterofanhourhaspassed?”“You
må
mustkeepthinkingaboutthetiden
time,mydear,andnottillade
allowyourselftoforgetitinconversation.”As
alle
everybodyhadthisruleintheirminds,whethertheymodtog
receivedorpaidacall,ofselvfølgelig
coursenoabsorbingsubjectwasevertalt
spokenabout.Wekeptourselvesto
korte
shortsentencesofsmalltalk,og
andwerepunctualtoourtid
time.Iimaginethata
få
fewofthegentlefolksofCranfordwerefattige
poor,andhadsomedifficultyinmakingbegge
bothendsmeet;buttheywere
som
liketheSpartans,andconcealedtheirsmartunder
underasmilingface.We
ingen
noneofusspokeofpenge
money,becausethatsubjectsavouredofcommerceog
andtrade,andthoughsomekunne
mightbepoor,wewerealle
allaristocratic.TheCranfordianshadthatkindlyespritdecorpswhichmadethem
overse
overlookalldeficienciesinsuccessnår
whensomeamongthemtriedtoconcealtheirfattigdom
poverty.WhenMrsForrester,for
eksempel
instance,gaveapartyinherbaby-houseofadwelling,og
andthelittlemaidendisturbedden
theladiesonthesofabyaanmodning
requestthatshemightgetden
thetea-trayoutfromunderneath,everyonetog
tookthisnovelproceedingasden
themostnaturalthinginden
theworld,andtalkedonabouthouseholdformsog
andceremoniesasifwealltroede
believedthatourhostesshadaregelmæssig
regularservants’hall,secondtable,med
withhousekeeperandsteward,insteadofden
theonelittlecharity-schoolmaiden,whosekorte
shortruddyarmscouldneverhavebeenstrongnok
enoughtocarrythetrayupstairs,ifshehadnotbeenassisteret
assistedinprivatebyherelskerinde
mistress,whonowsatinstat
state,pretendingnottoknowwhatcakesweresentop
up,thoughsheknew,andwevidste
knew,andsheknewthatwevidste
knew,andweknewthatshevidste
knewthatweknew,shehadbeenoptaget
busyallthemorningmakingtea-breadog
andsponge-cakes.Therewereone
eller
ortwoconsequencesarisingfromdenne
thisgeneralbutunacknowledgedpoverty,og
andthisverymuchacknowledgedgentility,whichwerenotamiss,og
andwhichmightbeintroducedintomanycirclesofsocietytotheirstore
greatimprovement.Forinstance,theinhabitantsofCranford
holdt
keptearlyhours,andclatteredhjem
homeintheirpattens,underthevejledning
guidanceofalantern-bearer,aboutni
nineo’clockatnight;andthe
hele
wholetownwasabedandsov
asleepbyhalf-pastten.Moreover,itwas
betragtet
considered“vulgar”(atremendouswordinCranford)togive
giveanythingexpensive,inthewayofeatableeller
ordrinkable,attheeveningentertainments.Waferbread-and-butter
og
andsponge-biscuitswereallthatden
theHonourableMrsJamiesongave;og
andshewassister-in-lawtoden
thelateEarlofGlenmire,althoughshedidpraktiserede
practisesuch“eleganteconomy.”“Eleganteconomy!”
Hvor
HownaturallyonefallsbackintothephraseologyofCranford!Der
There,economywasalways“elegant,”og
andmoney-spendingalways“vulgarandostentatious”;en
asortofsour-grapeismwhichgjorde
madeusverypeacefulandsatisfied.I
aldrig
nevershallforgetthedismayfølte
feltwhenacertainCaptainBrownkom
cametoliveatCranford,og
andopenlyspokeabouthisbeingpoor—notinahvisken
whispertoanintimatefriend,den
thedoorsandwindowsbeingtidligere
previouslyclosed,butintheoffentlige
publicstreet!inaloud
militær
militaryvoice!alleginghispovertyas
et
areasonfornottakinget
aparticularhouse.TheladiesofCranfordwere
allerede
alreadyrathermoaningovertheinvasionoftheirterritoriesbyen
amanandagentleman.Hewas
en
ahalf-paycaptain,andhadobtainednogle
somesituationonaneighbouringjernbane
railroad,whichhadbeenvehementlypetitionedmod
againstbythelittletown;og
andif,inadditiontohismasculinekøn
gender,andhisconnectionwithden
theobnoxiousrailroad,hewassobrazenastotale
talkofbeingpoor—why,then,indeed,hemå
mustbesenttoCoventry.Døden
Deathwasastrueandascommonasfattigdom
poverty;yetpeopleneverspoke
om
aboutthat,loudoutindet
thestreets.Itwasa
ord
wordnottobementionedtoearspolite.We
havde
hadtacitlyagreedtoignorethatenhver
anywithwhomweassociatedontermsofvisitinglighed
equalitycouldeverbepreventedbyfattigdom
povertyfromdoinganythingthattheyønskede
wished.Ifwewalkedto
eller
orfromaparty,itwasfordi
becausethenightwassofin
fine,ortheairsorefreshing,notfordi
becausesedan-chairswereexpensive.Ifwe
bar
woreprints,insteadofsummersilks,itwasfordi
becausewepreferredawashingmaterial;og
andsoon,tillweblindedourselvestodet
thevulgarfactthatwewere,alle
allofus,peopleofmeget
verymoderatemeans.Ofcourse,then,we
gøre
didnotknowwhattogøre
makeofamanwhokunne
couldspeakofpovertyasifitwasnoten
adisgrace.Yet,somehow,CaptainBrown
gjorde
madehimselfrespectedinCranford,og
andwascalledupon,introds
spiteofallresolutionstodet
thecontrary.Iwassurprisedto
høre
hearhisopinionsquotedasautoritet
authorityatavisitwhichIbetalte
paidtoCranfordaboutaår
yearafterhehadsettledinthebyen
town.Myownfriendshadbeen
blandt
amongthebitterestopponentsofethvert
anyproposaltovisittheCaptainog
andhisdaughters,onlytwelvemonthsbefore;og
andnowhewasevenadmittedinde
thetabooedhoursbeforetwelve.Sandt
True,itwastodiscoverthecauseofen
asmokingchimney,beforethefirewaslighted;men
butstillCaptainBrownwalkedupstairs,intet
nothingdaunted,spokeinastemme
voicetoolargefortheroom,og
andjokedquiteinthemåde
wayofatamemanom
aboutthehouse.Hehadbeen
blind
blindtoallthesmallslights,og
andomissionsoftrivialceremonies,med
withwhichhehadbeenmodtaget
received.Hehadbeenfriendly,
selv
thoughtheCranfordladieshadbeenkøligt
cool;hehadansweredsmallsarcasticcomplimentsin
god
goodfaith;andwithhismanlyfrankness
havde
hadoverpoweredalltheshrinkingwhichmødte
methimasamanwhowasnotashamedtobepoor.Og
And,atlast,hisexcellentmasculinecommonfornuft
sense,andhisfacilityindevisingexpedientstoovervinde
overcomedomesticdilemmas,hadgainedhimen
anextraordinaryplaceasauthorityblandt
amongtheCranfordladies.Hehimselfwentoninhiscourse,asunawareofhis
popularitet
popularityashehadbeenoftheomvendt
reverse;andIamsurehewasstartled
en
onedaywhenhefoundhisadvicesohøjt
highlyesteemedastomakenogle
somecounselwhichhehadgiveninjesttobetaget
takeninsober,seriousearnest.Itwason
dette
thissubject:Anoldlady
havde
hadanAlderneycow,whichshelookeduponasadatter
daughter.Youcouldnotpaythe
korte
shortquarterofanhourcalluden
withoutbeingtoldofthevidunderlige
wonderfulmilkorwonderfulintelligenceofdette
thisanimal.Thewholetown
kendte
knewandkindlyregardedMissBetsyBarker’sAlderney;derfor
thereforegreatwasthesympathyog
andregretwhen,inanunguardedøjeblik
moment,thepoorcowtumbledintoalime-pit.She
stønnede
moanedsoloudlythatshewassnart
soonheardandrescued;but
mellemtiden
meanwhilethepoorbeasthadmistet
lostmostofherhair,og
andcameoutlookingnaked,kold
cold,andmiserable,inabarehud
skin.Everybodypitiedtheanimal,
selv
thoughafewcouldnotrestraintheirsmilesatherdrolludseende
appearance.MissBetsyBarkerabsolutely
græd
criedwithsorrowanddismay;og
anditwassaidshetænkte
thoughtoftryingabathofoil.Dette
Thisremedy,perhaps,wasrecommendedbynogle
someoneofthenumberhvis
whoseadvicesheasked;buttheproposal,
hvis
ifeveritwasmade,wasknockedontheheadbyKaptajn
CaptainBrown’sdecided“Getheren
aflannelwaistcoatandflanneldrawers,ma’am,hvis
ifyouwishtokeepheralive.Men
Butmyadviceis,killthestakkels
poorcreatureatonce.”MissBetsyBarker
tørrede
driedhereyes,andthankedtheCaptainheartily;shesetto
arbejde
work,andby-and-byallthebyen
townturnedouttoseetheAlderneymeeklygår
goingtoherpasture,cladinmørk
darkgreyflannel.Ihave
set
watchedhermyselfmanyatime.Doyouever
set
seecowsdressedingreyflannelinLondon?Kaptajn
CaptainBrownhadtakenalille
smallhouseontheoutskirtsofthebyen
town,wherehelivedwithhisto
twodaughters.Hemusthavebeenupwardsofsixtyatthetimeofthe
første
firstvisitIpaidtoCranfordefter
afterIhadleftitasen
aresidence.Buthehad
en
awiry,well-trained,elasticfigure,en
astiffmilitarythrow-backofhishoved
head,andaspringingstep,som
whichmadehimappearmuchyngre
youngerthanhewas.Hiseldest
datter
daughterlookedalmostasoldashimself,og
andbetrayedthefactthathisvirkelige
realwasmorethanhistilsyneladende
apparentage.MissBrownmust
have
havebeenforty;shehad
et
asickly,pained,carewornexpressiononherface,og
andlookedasifthegaietyofyouthhavde
hadlongfadedoutofsyne
sight.Evenwhenyoungshe
må
musthavebeenplainandhard-featured.Miss
MissJessieBrownwastenyearsyngre
youngerthanhersister,andtwentyshadesprettier.Her
ansigt
facewasroundanddimpled.Miss
MissJenkynsoncesaid,inalidenskab
passionagainstCaptainBrown(thecauseofwhichIvil
willtellyoupresently),“thatshemente
thoughtitwastimeforMiss
MissJessietoleaveoffherdimples,og
andnotalwaystobeforsøge
tryingtolooklikeachild.”Itwas
sandt
truetherewassomethingchildlikeinheransigt
face;andtherewillbe,I
tror
think,tillshedies,thoughsheskulle
shouldlivetoahundred.Hereyeswere
store
largebluewonderingeyes,lookingdirekte
straightatyou;hernosewasunformed
og
andsnub,andherlipswererøde
redanddewy;sheworeher
hår
hair,too,inlittlerowsofcurls,hvilket
whichheightenedthisappearance.Idonot
ved
knowwhethershewasprettyeller
ornot;butIlikedher
ansigt
face,andsodideverybody,og
andIdonotthinkshekunne
couldhelpherdimples.She
havde
hadsomethingofherfather’sjauntinessofgaitog
andmanner;andanyfemale
observatør
observermightdetectaslightforskel
differenceintheattireofde
thetwosisters—thatofMissJessiebeingaboutto
twopoundsperannummoreexpensiveend
thanMissBrown’s.Twopoundswas
en
alargesuminCaptainBrown’sårlige
annualdisbursements.Suchwasthe
indtryk
impressionmadeuponmebydet
theBrownfamilywhenIførste
firstsawthemalltogetherinCranfordChurch.Den
TheCaptainIhadmetbefore—onden
theoccasionofthesmokyskorsten
chimney,whichhehadcuredbynogle
somesimplealterationintheflue.Inchurch,he
holdt
heldhisdoubleeye-glasstohiseyesunder
duringtheMorningHymn,andthenløftede
lifteduphisheaderectog
andsangoutloudandjoyfully.He
gjorde
madetheresponseslouderthantheclerk—angammel
oldmanwithapipingsvag
feeblevoice,who,Ithink,følte
feltaggrievedattheCaptain’ssonorousbas
bass,andquiveredhigherandhøjere
higherinconsequence.Oncoming
ud
outofchurch,thebriskKaptajn
Captainpaidthemostgallantopmærksomhed
attentiontohistwodaughters.He
nikkede
noddedandsmiledtohisacquaintances;men
butheshookhandswithingen
noneuntilhehadhelpedMiss
MissBrowntounfurlherparaply
umbrella,hadrelievedherofherprayer-book,og
andhadwaitedpatientlytillhun
she,withtremblingnervoushands,havde
hadtakenuphergowntogå
walkthroughthewetroads.I
gad vide
wonderwhattheCranfordladiesgjorde
didwithCaptainBrownattheirparties.We
havde
hadoftenrejoiced,informerdays,thattherewasingen
nogentlemantobeattendedto,og
andtofindconversationfor,atthecard-parties.We
havde
hadcongratulatedourselvesuponthesnugnessofde
theevenings;and,inour
kærlighed
loveforgentility,anddistasteofmenneskeheden
mankind,wehadalmostpersuadedourselvesthattobeen
amanwastobe“vulgar”;sothat
da
whenIfoundmyfriendog
andhostess,MissJenkyns,wasgoingtohaveen
apartyinmyhonour,og
andthatCaptainandtheMissBrownswereinviteret
invited,Iwonderedmuchwhatville
wouldbethecourseoftheevening.Card-tables,
med
withgreenbaizetops,weresetud
outbydaylight,justasusual;itwasthe
tredje
thirdweekinNovember,sotheeveningsclosedinomkring
aboutfour.Candles,andcleanpacksofcards,werearrangedon
hvert
eachtable.Thefirewasmadeup;
den
theneatmaid-servanthadreceivedhersidste
lastdirections;andtherewe
stod
stood,dressedinourbest,hver
eachwithacandle-lighterinourhands,klar
readytodartatthecandlesassnart
soonasthefirstknockkom
came.PartiesinCranfordwere
højtidelige
solemnfestivities,makingtheladiesføle
feelgravelyelatedastheysad
sattogetherintheirbestdresses.As
snart
soonasthreehadarrived,wesatned
downto“Preference,”Ibeingden
theunluckyfourth.Thenext
fire
fourcomerswereputdownimmediatelytoet andet
anothertable;andpresentlythetea-trays,whichI
havde
hadseensetoutinthestore-roomasIpassedintheom morgenen
morning,wereplacedeachonthemidten
middleofacard-table.Thechinawas
delikat
delicateegg-shell;theold-fashionedsilverglitteredwithpolishing;
men
buttheeatableswereoftheslightestbeskrivelse
description.Whilethetrayswereyetonthetables,Captain
og
andtheMissBrownscamein;og
andIcouldseethat,somehoweller
orother,theCaptainwasen
afavouritewithalltheladiesstede
present.Ruffledbrowsweresmoothed,
skarpe
sharpvoicesloweredathistilgang
approach.MissBrownlookedill,
og
anddepressedalmosttogloom.Miss
MissJessiesmiledasusual,og
andseemednearlyaspopularasherfar
father.Heimmediatelyandquietly
overtog
assumedtheman’splaceintheroom;attendedtoeveryone’swants,lessened
de
theprettymaid-servant’slabourbywaitingontomme
emptycupsandbread-and-butterlessladies;og
andyetdiditallinsolet
easyanddignifiedamanner,og
andsomuchasifitwereen
amatterofcourseforthestrongtoattendtothesvage
weak,thathewasasand
truemanthroughout.Heplayedforthreepennypoints
med
withasgraveaninterestasiftheyhavde
hadbeenpounds;andyet,in
al
allhisattentiontostrangers,hehavde
hadaneyeonhissufferingdaughter—forsufferingIwassikker
sureshewas,thoughtomange
manyeyesshemightonlyappeartobeirritable.MissJessie
kunne
couldnotplaycards:butshe
talte
talkedtothesitters-out,who,før
beforehercoming,hadbeentemmelig
ratherinclinedtobecross.She
sang
sang,too,toanoldknækket
crackedpiano,whichIthinkhavde
hadbeenaspinetinitsungdom
youth.MissJessiesang,“JockofHazeldean”a
lidt
littleoutoftune;butwewere
ingen
noneofusmusical,thoughMiss
MissJenkynsbeattime,outoftiden
time,bywayofappearingtobeso.Itwas
meget
verygoodofMissJenkynstogøre
dothis;forIhadseenthat,a
lidt
littlebefore,shehadbeenagooddealirriteret
annoyedbyMissJessieBrown’sunguardedadmission(àproposofShetlandwool)thatshehavde
hadanuncle,hermother’sbror
brother,whowasashopkeeperinEdinburgh.Miss
MissJenkynstriedtodrowndenne
thisconfessionbyaterriblecough—forden
theHonourableMrsJamiesonwassad
sittingatacard-tablenearestMiss
MissJessie,andwhatwouldshesige
sayorthinkifshefandt
foundoutshewasinden
thesameroomwithashop-keeper’sniece
niece!ButMissJessieBrown(whohad
ikke
notact,asweallagreedthenæste
nextmorning)wouldrepeattheinformation,og
andassureMissPoleshekunne
couldeasilygethertheidentiske
identicalShetlandwoolrequired,“throughmyonkel
uncle,whohasthebestassortmentofShetlandvarer
goodsofanyoneinEdinbro’.”Itwasto
tage
takethetasteofthisud
outofourmouths,andthelyden
soundofthisoutofourears,thatMiss
MissJenkynsproposedmusic;soI
siger
sayagain,itwasverygodt
goodofhertobeattid
timetothesong.Whenthetraysre-appeared
med
withbiscuitsandwine,punctuallyaten
aquartertonine,therewassamtale
conversation,comparingofcards,andtaler
talkingovertricks;butby-and-by
Kaptajn
CaptainBrownsportedabitoflitteratur
literature.“Haveyouseenanynumbersof‘ThePickwickPapers’?”
sagde
saidhe.(Theywerethen
udgav
publishinginparts.)“Capitalthing!”
Now
Miss
MissJenkynswasdaughterofen
adeceasedrectorofCranford;og
and,onthestrengthofen
anumberofmanuscriptsermons,og
andaprettygoodlibraryofdivinity,betragtede
consideredherselfliterary,andlookeduponenhver
anyconversationaboutbooksasen
achallengetoher.Soshe
svarede
answeredandsaid,“Yes,shehavde
hadseenthem;indeed,she
kunne
mightsayshehadreadthem.”“Andwhatdoyou
synes
thinkofthem?”exclaimedCaptainBrown.
“Aren’ttheyfamouslygood?”
So
opfordret
urgedMissJenkynscouldnotbuttale
speak.“Imustsay,Idon’t
tror
thinktheyarebyanymeansequaltoDrJohnson.Still,
måske
perhaps,theauthorisyoung.Lad
Lethimpersevere,andwhoved
knowswhathemaybecomehvis
ifhewilltakethestore
greatDoctorforhismodel?”Thiswas
tydeligvis
evidentlytoomuchforCaptainBrowntotage
takeplacidly;andIsawthewordsonthe
spidsen
tipofhistonguebeforeMissJenkynshavde
hadfinishedhersentence.“Itis
helt
quiteadifferentsortofting
thing,mydearmadam,”hebegyndte
began.“Iamquiteawareofthat,”returned
hun
she.“AndImakeallowances,
Kaptajn
CaptainBrown.”“Justallowmeto
læse
readyouasceneoutofdenne
thismonth’snumber,”pleadedhe.“Ihaditonlythismorning,
og
andIdon’tthinkthecompanycanhar
havereadityet.”“Asyouplease,”said
hun
she,settlingherselfwithanluft
airofresignation.Hereadtheaccountofthe“swarry”
som
whichSamWellergaveatBath.Nogle
Someofuslaughedheartily.Ididnot
turde
dare,becauseIwasstayinginthehuset
house.