CHAPTERI.OURSOCIETY
Inthefirst
lugar
place,CranfordisinpossessionoftheAmazons;todos
alltheholdersofhousesacima
aboveacertainrentarewomen.Se
Ifamarriedcouplecometoestabelecer
settleinthetown,somehowo
thegentlemandisappears;heiseither
bastante
fairlyfrightenedtodeathbybeingtheapenas
onlymanintheCranfordeveningparties,orheisaccountedforbybeingcom
withhisregiment,hisship,orestreitamente
closelyengagedinbusinessallthesemana
weekinthegreatneighbouringcommercialcidade
townofDrumble,distantonlytwentymilesonuma
arailroad.Inshort,whateverdoesbecomeofthegentlemen,theyarenotatCranford.
What
poderiam
couldtheydoiftheywerelá
there?Thesurgeonhashis
ronda
roundofthirtymiles,anddorme
sleepsatCranford;butevery
homem
mancannotbeasurgeon.For
manter
keepingthetrimgardensfullofescolha
choiceflowerswithoutaweedtospecklos
them;forfrighteningawaylittleboys
que
wholookwistfullyatthesaidflowersatravés
throughtherailings;forrushingoutat
os
thegeesethatoccasionallyventureintoos
thegardensifthegatesareleftopen;for
decidir
decidingallquestionsofliteraturee
andpoliticswithouttroublingthemselvescom
withunnecessaryreasonsorarguments;for
obter
obtainingclearandcorrectknowledgeofeverybody’saffairsintheparóquia
parish;forkeepingtheirneatmaid-servantsin
admirável
admirableorder;forkindness(somewhatdictatorial)tothepoor,
e
andrealtendergoodofficestoeachoutros
otherwhenevertheyareinapuros
distress,theladiesofCranfordarebastante
quitesufficient.“Aman,”asoneofthem
observou
observedtomeonce,“issointhecaminho
wayinthehouse!”AlthoughtheladiesofCranford
conheçam
knowalleachother’sproceedings,theyareexceedinglyindifferenttoeachother’sopinions.Indeed,as
cada
eachhasherownindividuality,nottodizer
sayeccentricity,prettystronglydeveloped,nada
nothingissoeasyasverbal
verbalretaliation;but,somehow,good-will
reina
reignsamongthemtoaconsiderável
considerabledegree.TheCranfordladies
têm
haveonlyanoccasionallittlediscussão
quarrel,spiritedoutinafewpepperywordse
andangryjerksofthecabeça
head;justenoughtoprevent
o
theeventenoroftheirlivesfromtorne
becomingtooflat.Theirdressis
muito
veryindependentoffashion;asthey
observam
observe,“Whatdoesitsignifyhowwevestimos
dresshereatCranford,wheretodos
everybodyknowsus?”Andiftheygofrom
casa
home,theirreasonisequallycogent,“Whatdoesitsignifycomo
howwedresshere,whereninguém
nobodyknowsus?”Thematerialsoftheir
roupas
clothesare,ingeneral,goode
andplain,andmostofthemarequase
nearlyasscrupulousasMissTyler,ofcleanlymemória
memory;butIwillanswerfor
isso
it,thelastgigot,thelasttighte
andscantypetticoatinwearinEngland,wasvisto
seeninCranford—andseenwithoutum
asmile.Icantestifytoa
magnífico
magnificentfamilyredsilkumbrella,sob
underwhichagentlelittlespinster,leftaloneofmuitos
manybrothersandsisters,usedtopattertoigreja
churchonrainydays.Haveyouanyred
seda
silkumbrellasinLondon?Wehad
uma
atraditionofthefirstque
thathadeverbeenseeninCranford;e
andthelittleboysmobbedit,e
andcalledit“astickinpetticoats.”It
podia
mighthavebeentheveryredseda
silkoneIhavedescribed,heldbyaforte
strongfatheroveratroopoflittleones;a
thepoorlittlelady—thesurvivorofall—couldmal
scarcelycarryit.Thentherewererules
e
andregulationsforvisitingandcalls;e
andtheywereannouncedtoqualquer
anyyoungpeoplewhomightbestayinginthecidade
town,withallthesolemnitycom
withwhichtheoldManxlawswerelidas
readonceayearontheTinwaldMonte
Mount.“Ourfriendshavesentto
perguntar
inquirehowyouareafteryourviagem
journeyto-night,mydear”(fifteenmilesinagentleman’scarriage);“they
vão
willgiveyousomerestamanhã
to-morrow,butthenextday,Itenho
havenodoubt,theywillchamar
call;sobeatliberty
depois
aftertwelve—fromtwelvetothreeareourcallinghours.”Then,aftertheyhad
ligado
called—.“Itisthethird
dia
day;Idaresayyourmammahastoldyou,my
querida
dear,nevertoletmorethantrês
threedayselapsebetweenreceivinguma
acallandreturningit;e
andalso,thatyouarenunca
nevertostaylongerthanaquarto
quarterofanhour.”“ButamIto
olhar
lookatmywatch?HowamItofindout
quando
whenaquarterofanhora
hourhaspassed?”“Youmust
continuar
keepthinkingaboutthetime,myquerida
dear,andnotallowyourselftoforgetitinconversation.”As
todos
everybodyhadthisruleintheirminds,whethertheyrecebessem
receivedorpaidacall,ofcoursenenhum
noabsorbingsubjectwaseverfalado
spokenabout.Wekeptourselvestoshortsentencesofsmall
conversas
talk,andwerepunctualtoourtempo
time.Iimaginethatafewof
as
thegentlefolksofCranfordwerepoor,e
andhadsomedifficultyinfazer
makingbothendsmeet;buttheywere
como
liketheSpartans,andconcealedtheirsmartsob
underasmilingface.We
nenhum
noneofusspokeofdinheiro
money,becausethatsubjectsavouredofcommercee
andtrade,andthoughsomepudessem
mightbepoor,weweretodos
allaristocratic.TheCranfordianshadthatkindlyespritde
corpo
corpswhichmadethemoverlookalldeficienciesinsucesso
successwhensomeamongthemtentavam
triedtoconcealtheirpoverty.Quando
WhenMrsForrester,forinstance,deu
gaveapartyinherbaby-houseofadwelling,e
andthelittlemaidendisturbedtheladiesonthesofá
sofabyarequestthatshemightgetthetea-trayoutfromunderneath,everyonetookeste
thisnovelproceedingasthemais
mostnaturalthinginthemundo
world,andtalkedonaboutcasa
householdformsandceremoniesasse
ifweallbelievedthatouranfitriã
hostesshadaregularservants’salão
hall,secondtable,withhousekeepere
andsteward,insteadoftheonelittlecharity-schoolmaiden,cujos
whoseshortruddyarmscouldnunca
neverhavebeenstrongenoughtocarregar
carrythetrayupstairs,ifshehadnotbeenassistedinparticular
privatebyhermistress,whoagora
nowsatinstate,pretendingnottoknowwhatcakesweresentup,thoughsheknew,e
andweknew,andsheknewthatweknew,e
andweknewthatsheknewthatweknew,shehadbeenbusyallthemorningmakingtea-breade
andsponge-cakes.Therewereone
ou
ortwoconsequencesarisingfromthisgeral
generalbutunacknowledgedpoverty,andthisverymuchacknowledgedgentility,que
whichwerenotamiss,andque
whichmightbeintroducedintomuitos
manycirclesofsocietytotheirgrande
greatimprovement.Forinstance,theinhabitantsofCranford
mantiveram
keptearlyhours,andclatteredcasa
homeintheirpattens,undertheorientação
guidanceofalantern-bearer,aboutnove
nineo’clockatnight;and
a
thewholetownwasabede
andasleepbyhalf-pastten.Moreover,itwas
considerado
considered“vulgar”(atremendouswordinCranford)todar
giveanythingexpensive,inthejeito
wayofeatableordrinkable,attheeveningentertainments.Waferbread-and-butter
e
andsponge-biscuitswereallthattheHonorável
HonourableMrsJamiesongave;andshewassister-in-lawtothe
falecido
lateEarlofGlenmire,althoughshedidpraticasse
practisesuch“eleganteconomy.”“Eleganteconomy!”
Quão
HownaturallyonefallsbackintothephraseologyofCranford!Lá
There,economywasalways“elegant,”e
andmoney-spendingalways“vulgarandostentatious”;uma
asortofsour-grapeismwhichfez
madeusverypeacefulandsatisfied.I
nunca
nevershallforgetthedismaysenti
feltwhenacertainCaptainBrown
BrowncametoliveatCranford,e
andopenlyspokeabouthisbeingpoor—notinasussurro
whispertoanintimatefriend,thedoorse
andwindowsbeingpreviouslyclosed,mas
butinthepublicstreet!in
uma
aloudmilitaryvoice!alleginghis
pobreza
povertyasareasonfornottomar
takingaparticularhouse.TheladiesofCranfordwere
já
alreadyrathermoaningovertheinvasão
invasionoftheirterritoriesbyum
amanandagentleman.Hewasahalf-pay
capitão
captain,andhadobtainedsomesituação
situationonaneighbouringrailroad,que
whichhadbeenvehementlypetitionedcontra
againstbythelittletown;e
andif,inadditiontohismasculino
masculinegender,andhisconnectioncom
withtheobnoxiousrailroad,hewassobrazenastofalar
talkofbeingpoor—why,then,facto
indeed,hemustbesenttoCoventry.Morte
Deathwasastrueandascomum
commonaspoverty;yetpeople
nunca
neverspokeaboutthat,loudoutinas
thestreets.Itwasa
palavra
wordnottobementionedtoearspolite.Wehadtacitly
concordado
agreedtoignorethatanycom
withwhomweassociatedontermsofvisitas
visitingequalitycouldeverbeimpedido
preventedbypovertyfromdoingqualquer coisa
anythingthattheywished.Ifwewalkedto
ou
orfromaparty,itwasporque
becausethenightwassofine,ou
ortheairsorefreshing,notporque
becausesedan-chairswereexpensive.Ifwe
usávamos
woreprints,insteadofsummersilks,itwasporque
becausewepreferredawashingmaterial
material;andsoon,tillweblindedourselvesto
o
thevulgarfactthatwewere,todos
allofus,peopleofmuito
verymoderatemeans.Ofcourse,then,we
fazer
didnotknowwhattofazer
makeofamanwhopodia
couldspeakofpovertyasse
ifitwasnotadesgraça
disgrace.Yet,somehow,CaptainBrown
fez
madehimselfrespectedinCranford,e
andwascalledupon,inapesar
spiteofallresolutionstothecontrário
contrary.Iwassurprisedto
ouvir
hearhisopinionsquotedasautoridade
authorityatavisitwhichIpaidtoCranfordaboutaano
yearafterhehadsettledinthecidade
town.Myownfriendshadbeen
entre
amongthebitterestopponentsofqualquer
anyproposaltovisittheCapitão
Captainandhisdaughters,onlytwelvemonthsantes
before;andnowhewas
até
evenadmittedinthetabooedhoursantes
beforetwelve.True,itwasto
descobrir
discoverthecauseofasmokingchaminé
chimney,beforethefirewaslighted;mas
butstillCaptainBrownwalkedescadas
upstairs,nothingdaunted,spokeinavoz
voicetoolargeforthesala
room,andjokedquiteinthemaneira
wayofatamemansobre
aboutthehouse.Hehadbeen
cego
blindtoallthesmallslights,e
andomissionsoftrivialceremonies,com
withwhichhehadbeenrecebido
received.Hehadbeenfriendly,
embora
thoughtheCranfordladieshadbeenlegal
cool;hehadansweredsmallsarcasticcomplimentsin
boa
goodfaith;andwithhis
viril
manlyfranknesshadoverpoweredalltheshrinkingwhichencontraram
methimasamanwhowasnotashamedtobepobre
poor.And,atlast,his
excelente
excellentmasculinecommonsense,andhisfacilidade
facilityindevisingexpedientstosuperar
overcomedomesticdilemmas,hadgainedhimum
anextraordinaryplaceasauthorityentre
amongtheCranfordladies.Hehimselfwentoninhis
curso
course,asunawareofhispopularidade
popularityashehadbeenofthereverse;e
andIamsurehewasstartledum
onedaywhenhefoundhisadvicesoaltamente
highlyesteemedastomakealgum
somecounselwhichhehadgiveninjesttobetomado
takeninsober,seriousearnest.Itwason
este
thissubject:Anoldlady
tinha
hadanAlderneycow,whichshelookeduponasafilha
daughter.Youcouldnotpay
o
theshortquarterofanhora
hourcallwithoutbeingtoldofo
thewonderfulmilkorwonderfulinteligência
intelligenceofthisanimal.The
toda
wholetownknewandkindlyconsiderava
regardedMissBetsyBarker’sAlderney;portanto
thereforegreatwasthesympathye
andregretwhen,inanunguardedmomento
moment,thepoorcowtumbledintoalime-pit.She
gemia
moanedsoloudlythatshewaslogo
soonheardandrescued;but
entretanto
meanwhilethepoorbeasthadperdido
lostmostofherhair,e
andcameoutlookingnaked,fria
cold,andmiserable,inabarepele
skin.Everybodypitiedtheanimal,
embora
thoughafewcouldnotconter
restraintheirsmilesatherdrollaparência
appearance.MissBetsyBarkerabsolutely
chorou
criedwithsorrowanddismay;e
anditwassaidshepensou
thoughtoftryingabathofóleo
oil.Thisremedy,perhaps,was
recomendado
recommendedbysomeoneofthenúmero
numberwhoseadvicesheasked;mas
buttheproposal,ifeveritwasmade,wasknockedontheheadbyCapitão
CaptainBrown’sdecided“Getherum
aflannelwaistcoatandflanneldrawers,ma’am,se
ifyouwishtokeepheralive.Mas
Butmyadviceis,killthepobre
poorcreatureatonce.”MissBetsyBarker
secou
driedhereyes,andthankedtheCapitão
Captainheartily;shesetto
trabalhar
work,andby-and-byallthecidade
townturnedouttoseetheAlderneymeeklyindo
goingtoherpasture,cladinescuro
darkgreyflannel.Ihavewatchedhermyself
muitas
manyatime.Doyouever
viu
seecowsdressedingreyflannelinLondon?Capitão
CaptainBrownhadtakenasmallcasa
houseontheoutskirtsofo
thetown,wherehelivedcom
withhistwodaughters.He
deve
musthavebeenupwardsofsixtyatthemomento
timeofthefirstvisitIpaguei
paidtoCranfordafterIhadleftitasuma
aresidence.Buthehadawiry,well-trained,elastic
figura
figure,astiffmilitarythrow-backofhiscabeça
head,andaspringingstep,whichfazia
madehimappearmuchyoungerthanhewas.Hiseldest
filha
daughterlookedalmostasoldashimself,e
andbetrayedthefactthathisreal
realwasmorethanhisaparente
apparentage.MissBrownmust
ter
havebeenforty;shehad
uma
asickly,pained,carewornexpressiononherrosto
face,andlookedasifa
thegaietyofyouthhadtempo
longfadedoutofsight.Mesmo
Evenwhenyoungshemustter
havebeenplainandhard-featured.MissJessie
Brown
Brownwastenyearsyoungerthanherirmã
sister,andtwentyshadesprettier.Her
rosto
facewasroundanddimpled.Srta
MissJenkynsoncesaid,inuma
apassionagainstCaptainBrown(thecausa
causeofwhichIwilltellyoupresently),“thatsheachava
thoughtitwastimeforSrta
MissJessietoleaveoffherdimples,e
andnotalwaystobetentando
tryingtolooklikeachild.”Itwas
verdade
truetherewassomethingchildlikeinherrosto
face;andtherewillbe,I
acho
think,tillshedies,thoughsheshouldviva
livetoahundred.Hereyeswerelargebluewonderingeyes,
olhando
lookingstraightatyou;her
nariz
nosewasunformedandsnub,e
andherlipswererede
anddewy;sheworeher
cabelo
hair,too,inlittlerowsofcurls,que
whichheightenedthisappearance.Idonot
sei
knowwhethershewasprettyou
ornot;butIlikedher
cara
face,andsodideverybody,e
andIdonotthinkshepudesse
couldhelpherdimples.She
tinha
hadsomethingofherfather’sjauntinessofgaite
andmanner;andanyfemaleobserver
poderia
mightdetectaslightdifferenceina
theattireofthetwosisters—thatofSrta
MissJessiebeingabouttwopoundspor
perannummoreexpensivethanSrta
MissBrown’s.Twopoundswas
uma
alargesuminCaptainBrown’sannualdisbursements.Tal
SuchwastheimpressionmadeuponmebytheBrown
BrownfamilywhenIfirstvi
sawthemalltogetherinCranfordIgreja
Church.TheCaptainIhadmetbefore—on
o
theoccasionofthesmokychaminé
chimney,whichhehadcuredbysomesimples
simplealterationintheflue.In
igreja
church,heheldhisdoubleeye-glasstohiseyesdurante
duringtheMorningHymn,andthenlevantou
lifteduphisheaderecte
andsangoutloudandjoyfully.He
fez
madetheresponseslouderthantheclerk—anvelho
oldmanwithapipingfraca
feeblevoice,who,Ithink,sentiu
feltaggrievedattheCaptain’ssonorousbaixo
bass,andquiveredhigherandhigherinconsequence.Oncomingoutof
igreja
church,thebriskCaptainpaidthemais
mostgallantattentiontohisduas
twodaughters.Henoddedand
sorriu
smiledtohisacquaintances;butheshookhands
com
withnoneuntilhehadajudado
helpedMissBrowntounfurlherguarda-chuva
umbrella,hadrelievedherofherprayer-book,e
andhadwaitedpatientlytillshe,com
withtremblingnervoushands,hadtakenuphervestido
gowntowalkthroughthewetroads.IwonderwhattheCranfordladies
faziam
didwithCaptainBrownattheirparties.Wehad
muitas vezes
oftenrejoiced,informerdays,que
thattherewasnogentlemantobeatendido
attendedto,andtofindconversa
conversationfor,atthecard-parties.Wehadcongratulatedourselvesuponthesnugnessoftheevenings;
e
and,inourloveforgentility,e
anddistasteofmankind,wehadquase
almostpersuadedourselvesthattobeum
amanwastobe“vulgar”;sothat
quando
whenIfoundmyfriende
andhostess,MissJenkyns,wasia
goingtohaveapartyinmyhonour,e
andthatCaptainandtheSrta
MissBrownswereinvited,Iwonderedmuito
muchwhatwouldbethecurso
courseoftheevening.Card-tables,
com
withgreenbaizetops,weresetoutbydaylight,justascostume
usual;itwasthethird
semana
weekinNovember,sotheeveningsclosedinaboutquatro
four.Candles,andcleanpacksofcards,werearrangedon
cada
eachtable.Thefirewasmadeup;
theneatmaid-servant
tinha
hadreceivedherlastdirections;e
andtherewestood,dressedinourmelhor
best,eachwithacandle-lighterinourhands,readytodartatthecandlesassoonasthefirstbatida
knockcame.PartiesinCranfordweresolemnfestivities,
fazendo
makingtheladiesfeelgravelyelatedastheysentavam
sattogetherintheirbestdresses.Assoonas
três
threehadarrived,wesatdownto“Preference,”Ibeingo
theunluckyfourth.Thenext
quatro
fourcomerswereputdownimediatamente
immediatelytoanothertable;and
presentemente
presentlythetea-trays,whichItinha
hadseensetoutinas
thestore-roomasIpassedinas
themorning,wereplacedeachonas
themiddleofacard-table.A
Thechinawasdelicateegg-shell;a
theold-fashionedsilverglitteredwithpolishing;mas
buttheeatableswereofos
theslightestdescription.Whilethetrayswere
ainda
yetonthetables,Captaine
andtheMissBrownscamein;e
andIcouldseethat,somehowou
orother,theCaptainwasuma
afavouritewithalltheladiespresent.Ruffledbrowsweresmoothed,sharpvoicesloweredathis
aproximação
approach.MissBrownlookedill,
e
anddepressedalmosttogloom.MissJessie
sorriu
smiledasusual,andseemedquase
nearlyaspopularasherpai
father.Heimmediatelyandquietly
assumiu
assumedtheman’splaceino
theroom;attendedtoeveryone’swants,lessened
o
theprettymaid-servant’slabourbywaitingonemptycupse
andbread-and-butterlessladies;andyet
fez
diditallinsofácil
easyanddignifiedamanner,e
andsomuchasifitwereaquestão
matterofcoursefortheforte
strongtoattendtothefraco
weak,thathewasaverdadeiro
truemanthroughout.Heplayedforthreepennypoints
com
withasgraveaninterestasse
iftheyhadbeenpounds;e
andyet,inallhisatenção
attentiontostrangers,hehadum
aneyeonhissufferingdaughter—forsofrendo
sufferingIwassureshewas,embora
thoughtomanyeyesshepoderia
mightonlyappeartobeirritable.Srta
MissJessiecouldnotplaycards:mas
butshetalkedtothesitters-out,que
who,beforehercoming,hadbeenbastante
ratherinclinedtobecross.She
cantava
sang,too,toanoldrachado
crackedpiano,whichIthinktinha
hadbeenaspinetinitsjuventude
youth.MissJessiesang,“JockofHazeldean”
um
alittleoutoftune;mas
butwewerenoneofusmusical
musical,thoughMissJenkynsbeattempo
time,outoftime,bywayofparecer
appearingtobeso.Itwas
muito
verygoodofMissJenkynstofazer
dothis;forIhadseenthat,a
pouco
littlebefore,shehadbeenagooddealannoyedbySrta
MissJessieBrown’sunguardedadmission(àproposofShetlandlã
wool)thatshehadantio
uncle,hermother’sbrother,whowasashopkeeperinEdinburgh.Srta
MissJenkynstriedtodrownesta
thisconfessionbyaterriblecough—fortheHonorável
HonourableMrsJamiesonwassittingatacard-tablenearestSrta
MissJessie,andwhatwouldshediria
sayorthinkifshefoundoutshewasinthemesma
sameroomwithashop-keeper’ssobrinha
niece!ButMissJessieBrown
Que
(whohadnotact,aswetodos
allagreedthenextmorning)wouldrepetia
repeattheinformation,andassureSrta
MissPoleshecouldeasilygethera
theidenticalShetlandwoolrequired,“throughmytio
uncle,whohasthebestassortmentofShetlandprodutos
goodsofanyoneinEdinbro’.”Itwasto
tirar
takethetasteofthisoutofourmouths,e
andthesoundofthisoutofourears,thatSrta
MissJenkynsproposedmusic;soI
digo
sayagain,itwasverybom
goodofhertobeattempo
timetothesong.When
as
thetraysre-appearedwithbiscuitse
andwine,punctuallyataquarto
quartertonine,therewasconversa
conversation,comparingofcards,andtalkingsobre
overtricks;butby-and-byCaptain
Brown
Brownsportedabitofliteratura
literature.“Haveyouseenanynumbersof‘ThePickwickPapers’?”
disse
saidhe.(Theywerethen
publicando
publishinginparts.)“Capitalthing!”
Agora
NowMissJenkynswasdaughterofum
adeceasedrectorofCranford;e
and,onthestrengthofanúmero
numberofmanuscriptsermons,andaprettyboa
goodlibraryofdivinity,consideredherselfliterária
literary,andlookeduponanyconversa
conversationaboutbooksasadesafio
challengetoher.Soshe
respondeu
answeredandsaid,“Yes,shehadviu
seenthem;indeed,shemight
dizer
sayshehadreadthem.”“Andwhatdoyou
achas
thinkofthem?”exclaimedCaptain
Brown
Brown.“Aren’ttheyfamouslygood?”
SourgedMissJenkyns
pôde
couldnotbutspeak.“I
devo
mustsay,Idon’tthinktheyarebyanydizer
meansequaltoDrJohnson.Ainda
Still,perhaps,theauthorisjovem
young.Lethimpersevere,andwho
sabe
knowswhathemaybecomese
ifhewilltakethegrande
greatDoctorforhismodel?”Isto
ThiswasevidentlytoomuchforCapitão
CaptainBrowntotakeplacidly;e
andIsawthewordsontheponta
tipofhistonguebeforeSrta
MissJenkynshadfinishedherfrase
sentence.“Itisquitea
diferente
differentsortofthing,myquerida
dearmadam,”hebegan.“Iam
bem
quiteawareofthat,”returnedela
she.“AndImakeallowances,
Capitão
CaptainBrown.”“Justallowmeto
ler
readyouasceneoutofthismonth’snumber,”implorou
pleadedhe.“Ihadit
só
onlythismorning,andIdon’tacho
thinkthecompanycanhavelido
readityet.”“Asyouplease,”
disse
saidshe,settlingherselfwithum
anairofresignation.He
leu
readtheaccountofthe“swarry”que
whichSamWellergaveatBath.Alguns
Someofuslaughedheartily.Ididnotdare,
porque
becauseIwasstayinginthecasa
house.