Cranford | Gradually Hardening Norwegian B2

Cranford | Gradually Hardening Norwegian B2

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CHAPTERI.OURSOCIETY
Inthefirstplace,Cranfordisin
besittelse
possession
oftheAmazons;
alltheholdersofhousesaboveacertainrentarewomen.
Ifamarriedcouplecometosettleinthetown,somehowthegentlemandisappears;
heiseither
ganske
fairly
frightenedtodeathbybeingtheonlymanintheCranfordeveningparties,orheisaccountedforbybeingwithhis
regiment
regiment
,hisship,orclosely
engasjert
engaged
inbusinessalltheweekinthegreatneighbouring
kommersielle
commercial
townofDrumble,distantonlytwentymilesona
jernbane
railroad
.
Inshort,whateverdoesbecomeofthegentlemen,theyarenotatCranford.
Whatcouldtheydoiftheywerethere?
Thesurgeonhashisroundofthirtymiles,andsleepsatCranford;
buteverymancannotbeasurgeon.
Forkeepingthe
trim
trim
gardensfullofchoiceflowerswithoutaweedtospeckthem;
for
skremme
frightening
awaylittleboyswholookwistfullyatthesaidflowersthroughtherailings;
forrushingoutatthegeesethatoccasionally
våger
venture
intothegardensifthegatesareleftopen;
fordecidingallquestionsof
litteratur
literature
andpoliticswithouttroublingthemselveswith
unødvendige
unnecessary
reasonsorarguments;
for
obtaining
clearandcorrectknowledgeofeverybody’saffairsinthe
sognet
parish
;
forkeepingtheirneatmaid-servantsin
beundringsverdig
admirable
order;
forkindness(somewhatdictatorial)tothepoor,andreal
ømme
tender
goodofficestoeachotherwhenevertheyarein
nød
distress
,theladiesofCranfordarequite
tilstrekkelig
sufficient
.
“Aman,”asoneofthem
observerte
observed
tomeonce,“issointhewayinthehouse!”
AlthoughtheladiesofCranfordknowalleachother’sproceedings,theyareexceedinglyindifferenttoeachother’sopinions.
Indeed,aseachhasherownindividuality,nottosayeccentricity,pretty
sterkt
strongly
developed,nothingissoeasyas
verbal
verbal
retaliation;
but,somehow,good-willreignsamongthemtoa
betydelig
considerable
degree.
TheCranfordladieshaveonlyan
sporadisk
occasional
littlequarrel,spiritedoutinafewpepperywordsandangryjerksofthehead;
justenoughto
hindre
prevent
theeventenoroftheirlivesfrombecomingtooflat.
Theirdressisvery
uavhengig
independent
offashion;
asthey
observerer
observe
,“WhatdoesitsignifyhowwedresshereatCranford,whereeverybodyknowsus?”
Andiftheygofromhome,theirreasonis
like
equally
cogent,“Whatdoesitsignifyhowwedresshere,wherenobodyknowsus?”
Thematerialsoftheirclothesare,ingeneral,goodand
vanlig
plain
,andmostofthemarenearlyasscrupulousasMissTyler,ofcleanlymemory;
butIwillanswerforit,thelastgigot,thelasttightandscantypetticoatinwearinEngland,wasseeninCranford—andseenwithoutasmile.
Ican
vitne
testify
toamagnificentfamilyred
silke
silk
umbrella,underwhicha
mild
gentle
littlespinster,leftaloneofmanybrothersandsisters,usedtopattertochurchonrainydays.
Haveyouanyred
silke
silk
umbrellasinLondon?
Wehada
tradisjon
tradition
ofthefirstthathadeverbeenseeninCranford;
andthelittleboysmobbedit,andcalledit“astickinpetticoats.”
Itmighthavebeentheveryred
silke
silk
oneIhavedescribed,heldbyastrongfatherovera
tropp
troop
oflittleones;
thepoorlittlelady—the
overlevende
survivor
ofall—couldscarcelycarryit.
Thentherewererulesandregulationsforvisitingandcalls;
andtheywere
kunngjort
announced
toanyyoungpeoplewhomightbestayinginthetown,withallthesolemnitywithwhichtheoldManxlawswerereadonceayearontheTinwaldMount.
“Ourfriendshavesentto
spørre
inquire
howyouareafteryourjourneyto-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,andwerepunctualtoourtime.
IimaginethatafewofthegentlefolksofCranfordwerepoor,andhadsomedifficultyinmakingbothendsmeet;
buttheywereliketheSpartans,andconcealedtheirsmartunderasmilingface.
Wenoneofusspokeofmoney,becausethatsubjectsavouredofcommerceandtrade,andthoughsomemightbepoor,wewereallaristocratic.
TheCranfordianshadthat
vennlige
kindly
espritdecorpswhichmadethem
overse
overlook
alldeficienciesinsuccesswhensomeamongthemtriedtoconcealtheir
fattigdom
poverty
.
WhenMrsForrester,for
eksempel
instance
,gaveapartyinherbaby-houseofadwelling,andthelittlemaiden
forstyrret
disturbed
theladiesonthe
sofaen
sofa
byarequestthatshemightgetthetea-trayoutfrom
under
underneath
,everyonetookthisnovelproceedingasthemostnaturalthingintheworld,andtalkedonabout
husholdning
household
formsandceremoniesasifweallbelievedthatour
vertinne
hostess
hadaregularservants’hall,secondtable,withhousekeeperandsteward,insteadoftheonelittlecharity-schoolmaiden,whoseshortruddyarmscouldneverhavebeenstrongenoughtocarrythetrayupstairs,ifshehadnotbeen
assisterte
assisted
inprivatebyher
elskerinne
mistress
,whonowsatinstate,pretendingnottoknowwhatcakesweresentup,thoughsheknew,andweknew,andsheknewthatweknew,andweknewthatsheknewthatweknew,shehadbeenbusyallthemorningmakingtea-breadandsponge-cakes.
Therewereoneortwoconsequences
oppstår
arising
fromthisgeneralbutunacknowledged
fattigdom
poverty
,andthisverymuch
anerkjente
acknowledged
gentility,whichwerenotamiss,andwhichmightbeintroducedintomanycirclesofsocietytotheirgreat
forbedring
improvement
.
Forinstance,theinhabitantsofCranfordkeptearlyhours,andclatteredhomeintheirpattens,underthe
veiledning
guidance
ofalantern-bearer,aboutnineo’clockatnight;
andthewholetownwasabedandasleepbyhalf-pastten.
Moreover,itwasconsidered“vulgar”(atremendouswordinCranford)togiveanythingexpensive,inthewayofeatableordrinkable,attheeveningentertainments.
Waferbread-and-butterandsponge-biscuitswereallthattheHonourableMrsJamiesongave;
andshewassister-in-lawtothelateEarlofGlenmire,althoughshedid
praktiserte
practise
such“eleganteconomy.”
“Eleganteconomy!”
How
naturlig
naturally
onefallsbackintothephraseologyofCranford!
There,
økonomien
economy
wasalways“elegant,”andmoney-spendingalways“vulgarandostentatious”;
asortofsour-grapeismwhichmadeusvery
fredelig
peaceful
andsatisfied.
InevershallforgetthedismayfeltwhenacertainCaptainBrowncametoliveatCranford,and
åpent
openly
spokeabouthisbeingpoor—notinawhispertoanintimatefriend,thedoorsandwindowsbeing
tidligere
previously
closed,butinthepublicstreet!
inaloudmilitaryvoice!
alleginghis
fattigdom
poverty
asareasonfornottakingaparticularhouse.
TheladiesofCranfordwerealreadyrather
stønner
moaning
overtheinvasionoftheirterritoriesbyamanandagentleman.
Hewasahalf-paycaptain,andhadobtainedsomesituationonaneighbouring
jernbane
railroad
,whichhadbeenvehementlypetitionedagainstbythelittletown;
andif,in
tillegg
addition
tohismasculinegender,andhisconnectionwiththe
motbydelige
obnoxious
railroad,hewassobrazenastotalkofbeingpoor—why,then,indeed,hemustbesenttoCoventry.
Deathwasastrueandascommonas
fattigdom
poverty
;
yetpeopleneverspokeaboutthat,loudoutinthestreets.
Itwasawordnottobementionedtoearspolite.
Wehadtacitlyagreedtoignorethatanywithwhomwe
assosiert
associated
ontermsofvisiting
likestilling
equality
couldeverbepreventedby
fattigdom
poverty
fromdoinganythingthattheywished.
Ifwewalkedtoorfromaparty,itwasbecausethenightwassofine,ortheairsorefreshing,notbecausesedan-chairswereexpensive.
Ifweworeprints,insteadofsummersilks,itwasbecausewepreferredawashingmaterial;
andsoon,tillweblindedourselvestothe
vulgære
vulgar
factthatwewere,allofus,peopleofverymoderatemeans.
Ofcourse,then,wedidnotknowwhattomakeofamanwhocouldspeakof
fattigdom
poverty
asifitwasnota
skam
disgrace
.
Yet,somehow,CaptainBrownmadehimselfrespectedinCranford,andwascalledupon,in
tross
spite
ofallresolutionstothe
motsatte
contrary
.
Iwassurprisedtohearhisopinions
sitert
quoted
asauthorityatavisitwhichIpaidtoCranfordaboutayearafterhehadsettledinthetown.
Myownfriendshadbeenamongthebitterestopponentsofany
forslag
proposal
tovisittheCaptainandhisdaughters,onlytwelvemonthsbefore;
andnowhewasevenadmittedinthetabooedhoursbeforetwelve.
True,itwasto
oppdage
discover
thecauseofasmoking
skorstein
chimney
,beforethefirewaslighted;
butstillCaptainBrownwalkedupstairs,nothingdaunted,spokeinavoicetoolargefortheroom,andjokedquiteinthewayofa
tam
tame
manaboutthehouse.
Hehadbeenblindtoallthesmallslights,andomissionsoftrivialceremonies,withwhichhehadbeenreceived.
Hehadbeenfriendly,thoughtheCranfordladieshadbeencool;
hehadansweredsmallsarcasticcomplimentsingoodfaith;
andwithhismanlyfranknesshadoverpoweredallthe
krymper
shrinking
whichmethimasamanwhowasnotashamedtobepoor.
And,atlast,hisexcellent
maskuline
masculine
commonsense,andhisfacilityindevisingexpedientsto
overvinne
overcome
domesticdilemmas,hadgainedhimanextraordinaryplaceasauthorityamongtheCranfordladies.
Hehimselfwentoninhiscourse,as
uvitende
unaware
ofhispopularityashehadbeenofthereverse;
andIamsurehewasstartledonedaywhenhefoundhisadvicesohighlyesteemedastomakesomecounselwhichhehadgiveninjesttobetakenin
edru
sober
,seriousearnest.
Itwasonthissubject:
AnoldladyhadanAlderneycow,whichshelookeduponasadaughter.
Youcouldnotpaytheshortquarterofanhourcallwithoutbeingtoldofthewonderfulmilkorwonderfulintelligenceofthisanimal.
Thewholetownknewandkindly
betraktet
regarded
MissBetsyBarker’sAlderney;
thereforegreatwasthe
sympati
sympathy
andregretwhen,inanunguardedmoment,thepoorcowtumbledintoalime-pit.
She
stønnet
moaned
soloudlythatshewassoonheardandrescued;
but
mellomtiden
meanwhile
thepoorbeasthadlostmostofherhair,andcameoutlookingnaked,cold,andmiserable,inabareskin.
Everybodypitiedtheanimal,thoughafewcouldnot
holde
restrain
theirsmilesatherdroll
utseende
appearance
.
MissBetsyBarkerabsolutelycriedwith
sorg
sorrow
anddismay;
anditwassaidshethoughtoftryingabathofoil.
This
middel
remedy
,perhaps,wasrecommendedbysomeoneofthenumberwhoseadvicesheasked;
buttheproposal,ifeveritwasmade,wasknockedontheheadbyCaptainBrown’sdecided“Getheraflannelwaistcoatandflanneldrawers,ma’am,ifyouwishtokeepheralive.
Butmyadviceis,killthepoorcreatureatonce.”
MissBetsyBarkerdriedhereyes,andthankedtheCaptainheartily;
shesettowork,andby-and-byallthetownturnedouttoseetheAlderneymeeklygoingtoher
beite
pasture
,cladindarkgreyflannel.
Ihavewatchedhermyselfmanyatime.
Doyoueverseecowsdressedin
grå
grey
flannelinLondon?
CaptainBrownhadtakenasmallhouseonthe
utkanten
outskirts
ofthetown,wherehelivedwithhistwodaughters.
HemusthavebeenupwardsofsixtyatthetimeofthefirstvisitIpaidtoCranfordafterIhadleftitasa
bolig
residence
.
Buthehadawiry,well-trained,
elastisk
elastic
figure,astiffmilitarythrow-backofhishead,andaspringingstep,whichmadehimappearmuchyoungerthanhewas.
Hiseldestdaughterlookedalmostasoldashimself,andbetrayedthefactthathisrealwasmorethanhis
tilsynelatende
apparent
age.
MissBrownmusthavebeenforty;
shehadasickly,pained,careworn
uttrykk
expression
onherface,andlookedasifthegaietyofyouthhadlongfadedoutofsight.
Evenwhenyoungshemusthavebeen
vanlig
plain
andhard-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
måte
manner
;
andanyfemaleobservermight
oppdage
detect
aslightdifferenceintheattireofthetwosisters—thatofMissJessiebeingabouttwopoundsperannummoreexpensivethanMissBrown’s.
Twopoundswasalarge
sum
sum
inCaptainBrown’sannualdisbursements.
SuchwastheimpressionmadeuponmebytheBrownfamilywhenIfirstsawthemalltogetherinCranfordChurch.
TheCaptainIhadmetbefore—ontheoccasionofthesmoky
skorsteinen
chimney
,whichhehadcuredbysomesimplealterationintheflue.
Inchurch,heheldhisdoubleeye-glasstohiseyesduringtheMorningHymn,andthenlifteduphishead
oppreist
erect
andsangoutloudandjoyfully.
Hemadetheresponseslouderthantheclerk—anoldmanwithapiping
svak
feeble
voice,who,Ithink,feltaggrievedattheCaptain’ssonorous
bass
bass
,andquiveredhigherandhigherin
konsekvens
consequence
.
Oncomingoutofchurch,thebriskCaptainpaidthemostgallantattentiontohistwodaughters.
He
nikket
nodded
andsmiledtohisacquaintances;
butheshookhandswithnoneuntilhehadhelpedMissBrowntounfurlher
paraply
umbrella
,hadrelievedherofherprayer-book,andhadwaited
tålmodig
patiently
tillshe,withtremblingnervoushands,hadtakenupher
kjole
gown
towalkthroughthewetroads.
IwonderwhattheCranfordladiesdidwithCaptainBrownattheirparties.
Wehadoftenrejoiced,informerdays,thattherewasnogentlemantobeattendedto,andtofindconversationfor,atthecard-parties.
Wehadcongratulatedourselvesuponthesnugnessoftheevenings;
and,inourloveforgentility,anddistasteof
menneskeheten
mankind
,wehadalmostpersuadedourselvesthattobeamanwastobe“vulgar”;
sothatwhenIfoundmyfriendand
vertinne
hostess
,MissJenkyns,wasgoingtohaveapartyinmyhonour,andthatCaptainandtheMissBrownswereinvited,Iwonderedmuchwhatwouldbethecourseoftheevening.
Card-tables,withgreenbaizetops,weresetoutby
dagslys
daylight
,justasusual;
itwasthethirdweekin
November
November
,sotheeveningsclosedinaboutfour.
Candles,andcleanpacksofcards,werearrangedoneachtable.
Thefirewasmadeup;
theneatmaid-servanthadreceivedherlastdirections;
andtherewestood,dressedinourbest,eachwithacandle-lighterinourhands,readytodartatthecandlesassoonasthefirstknockcame.
PartiesinCranfordweresolemnfestivities,makingtheladiesfeelgravelyelatedastheysattogetherintheirbestdresses.
Assoonasthreehadarrived,wesatdownto“Preference,”Ibeingtheunluckyfourth.
Thenextfourcomerswereputdownimmediatelytoanothertable;
andpresentlythetea-trays,whichIhadseensetoutinthestore-roomasIpassedinthemorning,wereplacedeachonthemiddleofacard-table.
Thechinawas
delikat
delicate
egg-shell;
theold-fashionedsilverglitteredwithpolishing;
buttheeatableswereoftheslightest
beskrivelse
description
.
Whilethetrayswereyetonthetables,CaptainandtheMissBrownscamein;
andIcouldseethat,somehoworother,theCaptainwasa
favoritt
favourite
withalltheladiespresent.
Ruffledbrowsweresmoothed,sharpvoicesloweredathisapproach.
MissBrownlookedill,and
deprimert
depressed
almosttogloom.
MissJessiesmiledasusual,andseemednearlyaspopularasherfather.
Heimmediatelyandquietlyassumedtheman’splaceintheroom;
attendedtoeveryone’swants,lessenedtheprettymaid-servant’slabourbywaitingonemptycupsandbread-and-butterlessladies;
andyetdiditallinsoeasyand
verdig
dignified
amanner,andsomuchasifitwereamatterofcourseforthestrongtoattendtotheweak,thathewasatruemanthroughout.
Heplayedforthreepennypointswithasgraveaninterestasiftheyhadbeenpounds;
andyet,inallhisattentiontostrangers,hehadaneyeonhissufferingdaughter—forsufferingIwassureshewas,thoughtomanyeyesshemightonlyappeartobeirritable.
MissJessiecouldnotplaycards:
butshetalkedtothesitters-out,who,beforehercoming,hadbeenratherinclinedtobecross.
Shesang,too,toanoldcrackedpiano,whichIthinkhadbeenaspinetinitsyouth.
MissJessiesang,“JockofHazeldean”alittleoutof
melodi
tune
;
butwewerenoneofus
musikalske
musical
,thoughMissJenkynsbeattime,outoftime,bywayofappearingtobeso.
ItwasverygoodofMissJenkynstodothis;
forIhadseenthat,alittlebefore,shehadbeenagooddeal
irritert
annoyed
byMissJessieBrown’sunguarded
innrømmelse
admission
proposofShetlandwool)thatshehadanuncle,hermother’sbrother,whowasashopkeeperinEdinburgh.
MissJenkynstriedto
drukne
drown
thisconfessionbyaterriblecough—fortheHonourableMrsJamiesonwassittingatacard-table
nærmest
nearest
MissJessie,andwhatwouldshesayorthinkifshefoundoutshewasinthesameroomwithashop-keeper’sniece!
ButMissJessieBrown(whohadnotact,asweallagreedthenextmorning)wouldrepeattheinformation,and
forsikre
assure
MissPoleshecouldeasilygetherthe
identiske
identical
Shetlandwoolrequired,“throughmyuncle,whohasthebestassortmentofShetland
varer
goods
ofanyoneinEdinbro’.”
Itwastotakethetasteofthisoutofourmouths,andthesoundofthisoutofourears,thatMissJenkyns
foreslått
proposed
music;
soIsayagain,itwasverygoodofhertobeattimetothesong.
Whenthetraysre-appearedwithbiscuitsandwine,punctuallyataquartertonine,therewasconversation,comparingofcards,andtalkingovertricks;
butby-and-byCaptainBrownsportedabitof
litteratur
literature
.
“Haveyouseenanynumbersof‘ThePickwickPapers’?”
saidhe.
(Theywerethen
publiserte
publishing
inparts.)
“Capitalthing!”
NowMissJenkynswasdaughterofadeceasedrectorofCranford;
and,onthestrengthofanumberofmanuscriptsermons,andaprettygoodlibraryofdivinity,consideredherselfliterary,andlookeduponanyconversationaboutbooksasachallengetoher.
Sosheansweredandsaid,“Yes,shehadseenthem;
indeed,shemightsayshehadreadthem.”
“Andwhatdoyouthinkofthem?”
exclaimedCaptainBrown.
“Aren’ttheyfamouslygood?”
So
oppfordret
urged
MissJenkynscouldnotbutspeak.
“Imustsay,Idon’tthinktheyarebyanymeans
lik
equal
toDrJohnson.
Still,perhaps,theauthorisyoung.
Lethimpersevere,andwhoknowswhathemaybecomeifhewilltakethegreatDoctorforhismodel?”
Thiswas
åpenbart
evidently
toomuchforCaptainBrowntotakeplacidly;
andIsawthewordsonthetipofhistonguebeforeMissJenkynshadfinishedhersentence.
“Itisquiteadifferentsortofthing,mydearmadam,”hebegan.
“Iamquiteawareofthat,”returnedshe.
“AndImakeallowances,CaptainBrown.”
“Justallowmetoreadyouasceneoutofthismonth’snumber,”pleadedhe.
“Ihaditonlythismorning,andIdon’tthinkthecompanycanhavereadityet.”
“Asyouplease,”saidshe,settlingherselfwithanairof
resignasjon
resignation
.
Hereadtheaccountofthe“swarry”whichSamWellergaveatBath.
Someofuslaughedheartily.
Ididnotdare,becauseIwasstayinginthehouse.