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Cranford | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Cranford | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

Embrace the benefits of this cutting-edge translation method, offering a tailored learning experience by letting you select the difficulty level that fits you best. It improves your comprehension by urging you to deduce meanings from context, reducing the need for constant translation. While some translations are intentionally masked to encourage guessing, it's always acceptable to check unfamiliar words. This method strikes the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility, making language learning both effective and enjoyable. Immerse yourself in these translated classics and uncover the pleasure of learning through literary exploration.

CHAPTERI.OURSOCIETY
Inthefirstplace,Cranfordisin
bezit
possessionoftheAmazons;
alltheholdersofhousesaboveacertainrentarewomen.
Ifamarriedcouplecometosettleinthetown,somehowthegentlemandisappears;
heiseitherfairlyfrightenedtodeathbybeingtheonlymanintheCranfordeveningparties,orheisaccountedforbybeingwithhis
regiment
regiment,hisship,orclosely
betrokken
engagedinbusinessalltheweekinthegreatneighbouringcommercialtownofDrumble,distantonlytwentymilesona
spoorweg
railroad.
Inshort,whateverdoesbecomeofthegentlemen,theyarenotatCranford.
Whatcouldtheydoiftheywerethere?
The
chirurg
surgeonhashisroundofthirtymiles,andsleepsatCranford;
buteverymancannotbea
chirurg
surgeon.
Forkeepingthetrimgardensfullofchoiceflowerswithoutaweedtospeckthem;
forfrighteningawaylittleboyswholookwistfullyatthesaidflowersthroughtherailings;
forrushingoutatthegeesethat
af en toe
occasionallyventureintothegardensifthegatesareleftopen;
fordecidingallquestionsof
literatuur
literatureandpoliticswithouttroublingthemselveswith
onnodige
unnecessaryreasonsorarguments;
for
verkrijgen
obtainingclearandcorrectknowledgeofeverybody’saffairsinthe
parochie
parish;
forkeepingtheirneatmaid-servantsin
bewonderenswaardige
admirableorder;
forkindness(somewhatdictatorial)tothepoor,andrealtendergoodofficestoeachotherwhenevertheyareindistress,theladiesofCranfordarequitesufficient.
“Aman,”asoneofthemobservedtomeonce,“issointhewayinthehouse!”
AlthoughtheladiesofCranfordknowalleachother’sproceedings,theyareexceedingly
onverschillig
indifferenttoeachother’sopinions.
Indeed,aseachhasherownindividuality,nottosayeccentricity,pretty
sterk
stronglydeveloped,nothingissoeasyas
verbale
verbalretaliation;
but,somehow,good-willreignsamongthemtoa
aanzienlijke
considerabledegree.
TheCranfordladieshaveonlyanoccasionallittle
ruzie
quarrel,spiritedoutinafewpepperywordsandangryjerksofthehead;
justenoughto
voorkomen
preventtheeventenoroftheirlivesfrombecomingtooflat.
Theirdressisvery
onafhankelijk
independentoffashion;
astheyobserve,“WhatdoesitsignifyhowwedresshereatCranford,whereeverybodyknowsus?”
Andiftheygofromhome,theirreasonisequallycogent,“Whatdoesitsignifyhowwedresshere,wherenobodyknowsus?”
Thematerialsoftheirclothesare,ingeneral,goodandplain,andmostofthemarenearlyasscrupulousasMissTyler,ofcleanlymemory;
butIwillanswerforit,thelastgigot,thelasttightandscantypetticoatinwearinEngland,wasseeninCranford—andseenwithoutasmile.
Ican
getuigen
testifytoamagnificentfamilyred
zijden
silkumbrella,underwhicha
zachte
gentlelittlespinster,leftaloneofmanybrothersandsisters,usedtopattertochurchon
regenachtige
rainydays.
Haveyouanyred
zijden
silkumbrellasinLondon?
Wehada
traditie
traditionofthefirstthathadeverbeenseeninCranford;
andthelittleboysmobbedit,andcalledit“astickinpetticoats.”
Itmighthavebeentheveryred
zijde
silkoneIhavedescribed,heldbyastrongfatherovera
troep
troopoflittleones;
thepoorlittlelady—the
overlevende
survivorofall—couldscarcelycarryit.
Thentherewererulesandregulationsforvisitingandcalls;
andtheywereannouncedtoanyyoungpeoplewhomightbestayinginthetown,withallthesolemnitywithwhichtheoldManxlawswerereadonceayearontheTinwald
Mount
Mount.
“Ourfriendshavesentto
vragen
inquirehowyouareafteryourjourneyto-night,mydear”(fifteenmilesinagentleman’scarriage);
“theywillgiveyousomerestto-morrow,butthenextday,Ihavenodoubt,theywillcall;
sobeatlibertyaftertwelve—fromtwelvetothreeareourcallinghours.”
Then,aftertheyhadcalled—.
“Itisthethirdday;
Idaresayyourmammahastoldyou,mydear,nevertoletmorethanthreedayselapsebetweenreceivingacallandreturningit;
andalso,thatyouarenevertostaylongerthanaquarterofanhour.”
“ButamItolookatmywatch?
HowamItofindoutwhenaquarterofanhourhaspassed?”
“Youmustkeepthinkingaboutthetime,mydear,andnotallowyourselftoforgetitinconversation.”
Aseverybodyhadthisruleintheirminds,whethertheyreceivedorpaidacall,ofcoursenoabsorbingsubjectwaseverspokenabout.
Wekeptourselvestoshortsentencesofsmalltalk,andwere
punctueel
punctualtoourtime.
IimaginethatafewofthegentlefolksofCranfordwerepoor,andhadsomedifficultyinmakingbothendsmeet;
buttheywereliketheSpartans,andconcealedtheirsmartunderasmilingface.
Wenoneofusspokeofmoney,becausethatsubjectsavouredofcommerceandtrade,andthoughsomemightbepoor,wewereallaristocratic.
TheCranfordianshadthatkindlyespritde
corps
corpswhichmadethemoverlookalldeficienciesinsuccesswhensomeamongthemtriedtoconcealtheir
armoede
poverty.
WhenMrsForrester,forinstance,gaveapartyinherbaby-houseofadwelling,andthelittle
meisje
maidendisturbedtheladiesonthe
bank
sofabyarequestthatshemightgetthetea-trayoutfromunderneath,everyonetookthisnovelproceedingasthemostnaturalthingintheworld,andtalkedonabout
huishoudelijke
householdformsandceremoniesasifweallbelievedthatour
gastvrouw
hostesshadaregularservants’hall,secondtable,with
huishoudster
housekeeperandsteward,insteadoftheonelittlecharity-school
meisje
maiden,whoseshortruddyarmscouldneverhavebeenstrongenoughtocarrythetrayupstairs,ifshehadnotbeen
geholpen
assistedinprivatebyher
meesteres
mistress,whonowsatinstate,pretendingnottoknowwhatcakesweresentup,thoughsheknew,andweknew,andsheknewthatweknew,andweknewthatsheknewthatweknew,shehadbeenbusyallthemorningmakingtea-breadandsponge-cakes.
Therewereoneortwoconsequencesarisingfromthisgeneralbutunacknowledged
armoede
poverty,andthisverymuch
erkende
acknowledgedgentility,whichwerenotamiss,andwhichmightbeintroducedintomanycirclesofsocietytotheirgreat
verbetering
improvement.
Forinstance,theinhabitantsofCranfordkeptearlyhours,and
kletterde
clatteredhomeintheirpattens,undertheguidanceofalantern-bearer,aboutnineo’clockatnight;
andthewholetownwasabedandasleepbyhalf-pastten.
Moreover,itwasconsidered“vulgar”(atremendouswordinCranford)togiveanythingexpensive,inthewayofeatableordrinkable,attheeveningentertainments.
Waferbread-and-butterandsponge-biscuitswereallthattheHonourableMrsJamiesongave;
andshewassister-in-lawtothelate
Graaf
EarlofGlenmire,althoughshedid
beoefende
practisesuch“eleganteconomy.”
“Eleganteconomy!”
How
natuurlijk
naturallyonefallsbackintothephraseologyofCranford!
There,
economie
economywasalways“elegant,”andmoney-spendingalways“vulgarandostentatious”;
asortofsour-grapeismwhichmadeusverypeacefulandsatisfied.
InevershallforgetthedismayfeltwhenacertainCaptainBrowncametoliveatCranford,and
openlijk
openlyspokeabouthisbeingpoor—notina
fluisteren
whispertoanintimatefriend,thedoorsandwindowsbeing
eerder
previouslyclosed,butinthepublicstreet!
inaloudmilitaryvoice!
alleginghis
armoede
povertyasareasonfornottakingaparticularhouse.
TheladiesofCranfordwerealreadyrather
kreunden
moaningovertheinvasionoftheirterritoriesbyamanandagentleman.
Hewasahalf-paycaptain,andhad
verkregen
obtainedsomesituationonaneighbouring
spoorweg
railroad,whichhadbeenvehementlypetitionedagainstbythelittletown;
andif,inadditiontohis
mannelijke
masculinegender,andhisconnectionwiththe
onaangename
obnoxiousrailroad,hewassobrazenastotalkofbeingpoor—why,then,indeed,hemustbesenttoCoventry.
Deathwasastrueandascommonas
armoede
poverty;
yetpeopleneverspokeaboutthat,loudoutinthestreets.
Itwasawordnottobementionedtoearspolite.
Wehadtacitlyagreedtoignorethatanywithwhomweassociatedontermsofvisiting
gelijkheid
equalitycouldeverbepreventedby
armoede
povertyfromdoinganythingthattheywished.
Ifwewalkedtoorfromaparty,itwasbecausethenightwassofine,ortheairso
verfrissend
refreshing,notbecausesedan-chairswereexpensive.
Ifweworeprints,insteadofsummersilks,itwasbecausewepreferredawashingmaterial;
andsoon,tillweblindedourselvestothe
vulgaire
vulgarfactthatwewere,allofus,peopleofvery
gematigde
moderatemeans.
Ofcourse,then,wedidnotknowwhattomakeofamanwhocouldspeakof
armoede
povertyasifitwasnota
schande
disgrace.
Yet,somehow,CaptainBrownmadehimselfrespectedinCranford,andwascalledupon,in
ondanks
spiteofallresolutionstothecontrary.
Iwassurprisedtohearhisopinions
geciteerd
quotedasauthorityatavisitwhichIpaidtoCranfordaboutayearafterhehadsettledinthetown.
Myownfriendshadbeenamongthebitterestopponentsofany
voorstel
proposaltovisittheCaptainandhisdaughters,onlytwelvemonthsbefore;
andnowhewasevenadmittedinthetabooedhoursbeforetwelve.
True,itwasto
ontdekken
discoverthecauseofasmoking
schoorsteen
chimney,beforethefirewaslighted;
butstillCaptainBrownwalkedupstairs,nothingdaunted,spokeinavoicetoolargefortheroom,andjokedquiteinthewayofa
tamme
tamemanaboutthehouse.
Hehadbeenblindtoallthesmallslights,andomissionsof
triviale
trivialceremonies,withwhichhehadbeenreceived.
Hehadbeenfriendly,thoughtheCranfordladieshadbeencool;
hehadansweredsmall
sarcastische
sarcasticcomplimentsingoodfaith;
andwithhis
mannelijke
manlyfranknesshadoverpoweredalltheshrinkingwhichmethimasamanwhowasnotashamedtobepoor.
And,atlast,hisexcellent
mannelijke
masculinecommonsense,andhisfacilityindevisingexpedientsto
overwinnen
overcomedomesticdilemmas,hadgainedhimanextraordinaryplaceasauthorityamongtheCranfordladies.
Hehimselfwentoninhiscourse,as
onbewust
unawareofhispopularityashehadbeenofthe
omgekeerde
reverse;
andIamsurehewasstartledonedaywhenhefoundhisadvicesohighlyesteemedastomakesomecounselwhichhehadgiveninjesttobetakeninsober,serious
serieus
earnest.
Itwasonthissubject:
AnoldladyhadanAlderneycow,whichshelookeduponasadaughter.
Youcouldnotpaytheshortquarterofanhourcallwithoutbeingtoldofthewonderfulmilkorwonderfulintelligenceofthisanimal.
Thewholetownknewand
vriendelijk
kindlyregardedMissBetsyBarker’sAlderney;
thereforegreatwasthe
sympathie
sympathyandregretwhen,inanunguardedmoment,thepoorcowtumbledintoalime-pit.
She
kreunde
moanedsoloudlythatshewassoonheardandrescued;
but
ondertussen
meanwhilethepoorbeasthadlostmostofherhair,andcameoutlookingnaked,cold,andmiserable,ina
kale
bareskin.
Everybodypitiedtheanimal,thoughafewcouldnot
bedwingen
restraintheirsmilesatherdrollappearance.
MissBetsyBarkerabsolutelycriedwithsorrowanddismay;
anditwassaidshethoughtoftryingabathofoil.
This
remedie
remedy,perhaps,wasrecommendedbysomeoneofthenumberwhoseadvicesheasked;
butthe
voorstel
proposal,ifeveritwasmade,wasknockedontheheadbyCaptainBrown’sdecided“Getheraflannelwaistcoatandflanneldrawers,ma’am,ifyouwishtokeepheralive.
Butmyadviceis,killthepoorcreatureatonce.”
MissBetsyBarkerdriedhereyes,andthankedtheCaptainheartily;
shesettowork,andby-and-byallthetownturnedouttoseetheAlderneymeeklygoingtoher
weide
pasture,cladindarkgreyflannel.
Ihavewatchedhermyselfmanyatime.
Doyoueverseecowsdressedin
grijs
greyflannelinLondon?
CaptainBrownhadtakenasmallhouseonthe
rand
outskirtsofthetown,wherehelivedwithhistwodaughters.
HemusthavebeenupwardsofsixtyatthetimeofthefirstvisitIpaidtoCranfordafterIhadleftitasaresidence.
Buthehadawiry,well-trained,
elastische
elasticfigure,astiffmilitarythrow-backofhishead,andaspringingstep,whichmadehimappearmuchyoungerthanhewas.
His
oudste
eldestdaughterlookedalmostasoldashimself,and
verraadde
betrayedthefactthathisrealwasmorethanhis
schijnbare
apparentage.
MissBrownmusthavebeenforty;
shehadasickly,pained,careworn
uitdrukking
expressiononherface,andlookedasifthegaietyofyouthhadlongfadedoutofsight.
Evenwhenyoungshemusthavebeenplainandhard-featured.
MissJessieBrownwastenyearsyoungerthanhersister,andtwentyshadesprettier.
Herfacewasroundanddimpled.
MissJenkynsoncesaid,inapassionagainstCaptainBrown(thecauseofwhichIwilltellyoupresently),“thatshethoughtitwastimeforMissJessietoleaveoffherdimples,andnotalwaystobetryingtolooklikeachild.”
Itwastruetherewassomethingchildlikeinherface;
andtherewillbe,Ithink,tillshedies,thoughsheshouldlivetoahundred.
Hereyeswerelargebluewonderingeyes,lookingstraightatyou;
hernosewasunformedandsnub,andherlipswereredanddewy;
sheworeherhair,too,inlittlerowsofcurls,whichheightenedthisappearance.
Idonotknowwhethershewasprettyornot;
butIlikedherface,andsodideverybody,andIdonotthinkshecouldhelpherdimples.
Shehadsomethingofherfather’sjauntinessofgaitand
manier
manner;
andanyfemaleobservermight
ontdekken
detectaslightdifferenceinthe
kleding
attireofthetwosisters—thatofMissJessiebeingabouttwopoundsperannummoreexpensivethanMissBrown’s.
Twopoundswasalarge
som
suminCaptainBrown’sannualdisbursements.
Suchwasthe
indruk
impressionmadeuponmebytheBrownfamilywhenIfirstsawthemalltogetherinCranfordChurch.
TheCaptainIhadmetbefore—onthe
gelegenheid
occasionofthesmokychimney,whichhehadcuredbysomesimplealterationintheflue.
Inchurch,heheldhisdoubleeye-glasstohiseyesduringtheMorningHymn,andthenlifteduphishead
rechtop
erectandsangoutloudandjoyfully.
Hemadetheresponseslouderthantheclerk—anoldmanwithapiping
zwakke
feeblevoice,who,Ithink,feltaggrievedattheCaptain’ssonorous
bas
bass,andquiveredhigherandhigherin
gevolg
consequence.
Oncomingoutofchurch,thebriskCaptainpaidthemostgallantattentiontohistwodaughters.
He
knikte
noddedandsmiledtohisacquaintances;
butheshookhandswithnoneuntilhehadhelpedMissBrowntounfurlher
paraplu
umbrella,hadrelievedherofherprayer-book,andhadwaited
geduldig
patientlytillshe,withtremblingnervoushands,hadtakenupher
jurk
gowntowalkthroughthewetroads.
IwonderwhattheCranfordladiesdidwithCaptainBrownattheirparties.
Wehadoften
verheugd
rejoiced,informerdays,thattherewasnogentlemantobeattendedto,andtofindconversationfor,atthecard-parties.
Wehad
gefeliciteerd
congratulatedourselvesuponthesnugnessoftheevenings;
and,inourloveforgentility,anddistasteof
mensheid
mankind,wehadalmostpersuadedourselvesthattobeamanwastobe“vulgar”;
sothatwhenIfoundmyfriendand
gastvrouw
hostess,MissJenkyns,wasgoingtohaveapartyinmyhonour,andthatCaptainandtheMissBrownswereinvited,Iwonderedmuchwhatwouldbethecourseoftheevening.
Card-tables,withgreenbaizetops,weresetoutby
daglicht
daylight,justasusual;
itwasthethirdweekin
November
November,sotheeveningsclosedinaboutfour.
Candles,andcleanpacksofcards,werearrangedoneachtable.
Thefirewasmadeup;
the
nette
neatmaid-servanthadreceivedherlastdirections;
andtherewestood,dressedinourbest,eachwithacandle-lighterinourhands,readytodartatthecandlesassoonasthefirstknockcame.
PartiesinCranfordwere
plechtige
solemnfestivities,makingtheladiesfeelgravelyelatedastheysattogetherintheirbestdresses.
Assoonasthreehadarrived,wesatdownto“Preference,”Ibeingthe
ongelukkige
unluckyfourth.
Thenextfourcomerswereputdownimmediatelytoanothertable;
and
momenteel
presentlythetea-trays,whichIhadseensetoutinthestore-roomasIpassedinthemorning,wereplacedeachonthemiddleofacard-table.
Thechinawas
delicate
delicateegg-shell;
theold-fashionedsilverglitteredwithpolishing;
buttheeatableswereoftheslightest
beschrijving
description.
Whilethetrayswereyetonthetables,CaptainandtheMissBrownscamein;
andIcouldseethat,somehoworother,theCaptainwasa
favoriet
favouritewithalltheladiespresent.
Ruffledbrowsweresmoothed,sharpvoicesloweredathisapproach.
MissBrownlookedill,and
depressief
depressedalmosttogloom.
MissJessiesmiledasusual,andseemednearlyaspopularasherfather.
Heimmediatelyandquietlyassumedtheman’splaceintheroom;
attendedtoeveryone’swants,lessenedtheprettymaid-servant’slabourbywaitingonemptycupsandbread-and-butterlessladies;
andyetdiditallinsoeasyand
waardige
dignifiedamanner,andsomuchasifitwereamatterofcourseforthestrongtoattendtotheweak,thathewasatruemanthroughout.
Heplayedforthreepennypointswithasgraveaninterestasiftheyhadbeenpounds;
andyet,inallhisattentiontostrangers,hehadaneyeonhissufferingdaughter—forsufferingIwassureshewas,thoughtomanyeyesshemightonlyappeartobeirritable.
MissJessiecouldnotplaycards:
butshetalkedtothesitters-out,who,beforehercoming,hadbeenratherinclinedtobecross.
Shesang,too,toanoldcrackedpiano,whichIthinkhadbeenaspinetinitsyouth.
MissJessiesang,“JockofHazeldean”alittleoutoftune;
butwewerenoneofus
muzikaal
musical,thoughMissJenkynsbeattime,outoftime,bywayofappearingtobeso.
ItwasverygoodofMissJenkynstodothis;
forIhadseenthat,alittlebefore,shehadbeenagooddeal
geïrriteerd
annoyedbyMissJessieBrown’sunguarded
toelating
admission(àproposofShetlandwool)thatshehadanuncle,hermother’sbrother,whowasashopkeeperinEdinburgh.
MissJenkynstriedto
verdrinken
drownthisconfessionbyaterriblecough—fortheHonourableMrsJamiesonwassittingatacard-tablenearestMissJessie,andwhatwouldshesayorthinkifshefoundoutshewasinthesameroomwithashop-keeper’s
nicht
niece!
ButMissJessieBrown(whohadnotact,asweallagreedthenextmorning)wouldrepeattheinformation,and
verzekeren
assureMissPoleshecouldeasilygethertheidenticalShetland
wol
woolrequired,“throughmyuncle,whohasthebestassortmentofShetland
goederen
goodsofanyoneinEdinbro’.”
Itwastotakethetasteofthisoutofourmouths,andthesoundofthisoutofourears,thatMissJenkynsproposedmusic;
soIsayagain,itwasverygoodofhertobeattimetothesong.
Whenthetraysre-appearedwithbiscuitsandwine,punctuallyataquartertonine,therewasconversation,
vergelijken
comparingofcards,andtalkingovertricks;
butby-and-byCaptainBrownsportedabitof
literatuur
literature.
“Haveyouseenanynumbersof‘ThePickwickPapers’?”
saidhe.
(Theywerethen
publiceerden
publishinginparts.)
“Capitalthing!”
NowMissJenkynswasdaughterofadeceasedrectorofCranford;
and,onthestrengthofanumberof
manuscript
manuscriptsermons,andaprettygoodlibraryofdivinity,consideredherself
literair
literary,andlookeduponanyconversationaboutbooksasachallengetoher.
Sosheansweredandsaid,“Yes,shehadseenthem;
indeed,shemightsayshehadreadthem.”
“Andwhatdoyouthinkofthem?”
exclaimedCaptainBrown.
“Aren’ttheyfamouslygood?”
So
drong
urgedMissJenkynscouldnotbutspeak.
“Imustsay,Idon’tthinktheyarebyanymeans
gelijk
equaltoDrJohnson.
Still,perhaps,the
auteur
authorisyoung.
Lethimpersevere,andwhoknowswhathemaybecomeifhewilltakethegreatDoctorforhismodel?”
Thiswas
blijkbaar
evidentlytoomuchforCaptainBrowntotakeplacidly;
andIsawthewordsonthetipofhistonguebeforeMissJenkynshadfinishedhersentence.
“Itisquiteadifferentsortofthing,mydearmadam,”hebegan.
“Iamquiteawareofthat,”returnedshe.
“AndImakeallowances,CaptainBrown.”
“Justallowmetoreadyouasceneoutofthismonth’snumber,”pleadedhe.
“Ihaditonlythismorning,andIdon’tthinkthecompanycanhavereadityet.”
“Asyouplease,”saidshe,settlingherselfwithanairofresignation.
Hereadtheaccountofthe“swarry”whichSamWellergaveatBath.
Someofuslaughedheartily.
Ididnotdare,becauseIwasstayinginthehouse.