CHAPTERI.OURSOCIETY
In
det
thefirstplace,Cranfordisinpossessionofdet
theAmazons;alltheholdersofhousesabove
en
acertainrentarewomen.Om
Ifamarriedcouplecometosettleinthestaden
town,somehowthegentlemandisappears;heis
antingen
eitherfairlyfrightenedtodeathbybeingden
theonlymanintheCranfordeveningparties,eller
orheisaccountedforbybeingmed
withhisregiment,hisship,eller
orcloselyengagedinbusinessallden
theweekinthegreatneighbouringcommercialstaden
townofDrumble,distantonlytwentymilesonen
arailroad.Inshort,whateverdoesbecomeofthegentlemen,theyarenotatCranford.
What
kunna
couldtheydoiftheyweredär
there?Thesurgeonhashisroundofthirtymiles,
och
andsleepsatCranford;buteverymancannotbeasurgeon.
For
hålla
keepingthetrimgardensfullofchoiceflowersutan
withoutaweedtospeckdem
them;forfrighteningawaylittleboys
som
wholookwistfullyatthesaidflowersgenom
throughtherailings;forrushing
ut
outatthegeesethatoccasionallyventureintothegardensom
ifthegatesareleftöppna
open;fordecidingallquestionsofliterature
och
andpoliticswithouttroublingthemselvesmed
withunnecessaryreasonsorarguments;forobtaining
tydlig
clearandcorrectknowledgeofeverybody’saffairsintheparish;for
hålla
keepingtheirneatmaid-servantsinadmirableordning
order;forkindness(somewhatdictatorial)tothe
fattiga
poor,andrealtendergoodofficestoeachotherwhenevertheyareindistress,theladiesofCranfordareganska
quitesufficient.“Aman,”asoneofthemobservedtomeonce,“issointhe
vägen
wayinthehouse!”AlthoughtheladiesofCranford
känner
knowalleachother’sproceedings,theyareexceedinglyindifferenttoeachother’sopinions.Indeed,aseach
har
hasherownindividuality,nottosäga
sayeccentricity,prettystronglydeveloped,ingenting
nothingissoeasyasverbalretaliation;men
but,somehow,good-willreignsamongthemtoaconsiderabledegree.TheCranfordladies
har
haveonlyanoccasionallittlequarrel,spiritedut
outinafewpepperywordsoch
andangryjerksofthehead;bara
justenoughtopreventtheeventenoroftheirlivesfromblir
becomingtooflat.Theirdressis
mycket
veryindependentoffashion;astheyobserve,“Whatdoesitsignify
hur
howwedresshereatCranford,där
whereeverybodyknowsus?”And
om
iftheygofromhome,theirskäl
reasonisequallycogent,“Whatdoesitsignifyhur
howwedresshere,whereingen
nobodyknowsus?”Thematerialsoftheirclothes
är
are,ingeneral,goodandplain,och
andmostofthemarenearlyasscrupulousasMiss
MissTyler,ofcleanlymemory;butIwill
svara
answerforit,thelastgigot,thesista
lasttightandscantypetticoatinwearinEngland,wassåg
seeninCranford—andseenwithoutett
asmile.Icantestifyto
en
amagnificentfamilyredsilkumbrella,under
underwhichagentlelittlespinster,leftensam
aloneofmanybrothersandsisters,brukade
usedtopattertochurchonrainydays.Har
HaveyouanyredsilkumbrellasinLondon?We
hade
hadatraditionoftheförsta
firstthathadeverbeenseeninCranford;och
andthelittleboysmobbedit,och
andcalledit“astickinpetticoats.”It
kunde
mighthavebeentheveryröda
redsilkoneIhavedescribed,heldbyastrongfar
fatheroveratroopofsmå
littleones;thepoorlittlelady—thesurvivorofall—couldscarcelycarryit.
Then
det
therewererulesandregulationsforvisitingoch
andcalls;andtheywereannouncedtoany
unga
youngpeoplewhomightbebo
stayinginthetown,withallthesolemnitymed
withwhichtheoldManxlawswerereadonceen
ayearontheTinwaldMount.“Ourfriendshave
skickat
senttoinquirehowyouareefter
afteryourjourneyto-night,mydear”(fifteenmilesinagentleman’scarriage);“they
kommer
willgiveyousomerestto-morrow,men
butthenextday,Ihaveinte
nodoubt,theywillcall;sobeatliberty
efter
aftertwelve—fromtwelvetothreeareourcallinghours.”Then,
efter
aftertheyhadcalled—.“Itisthethird
dagen
day;Idaresayyourmamma
har
hastoldyou,mydear,aldrig
nevertoletmorethantre
threedayselapsebetweenreceivingett
acallandreturningit;och
andalso,thatyouarealdrig
nevertostaylongerthanaquarterofanhour.”“ButamItolookatmywatch?
Hur
HowamItofindoutnär
whenaquarterofantimme
hourhaspassed?”“Youmustkeep
tänka
thinkingaboutthetime,mykära
dear,andnotallowyourselftoglömma
forgetitinconversation.”As
alla
everybodyhadthisruleintheirminds,whethertheyreceivedeller
orpaidacall,ofcoursenoabsorbingsubjectwaseverspokenabout.We
höll
keptourselvestoshortsentencesofsmalltalk,och
andwerepunctualtoourtid
time.IimaginethatafewofthegentlefolksofCranfordwere
fattiga
poor,andhadsomedifficultyinmakingbåda
bothendsmeet;buttheywere
som
liketheSpartans,andconcealedtheirsmartunder
underasmilingface.Wenoneofus
talade
spokeofmoney,becausethatsubjectsavouredofcommerceoch
andtrade,andthoughsomekanske
mightbepoor,wewerealla
allaristocratic.TheCranfordianshadthatkindlyespritdecorpswhich
gjorde
madethemoverlookalldeficienciesinsuccessnär
whensomeamongthemtriedtoconcealtheirpoverty.När
WhenMrsForrester,forinstance,gav
gaveapartyinherbaby-houseofadwelling,och
andthelittlemaidendisturbedtheladiesonthesofabyarequestthatshemightfå
getthetea-trayoutfromunderneath,everyonetog
tookthisnovelproceedingasthemest
mostnaturalthinginthevärlden
world,andtalkedonabouthouseholdformsoch
andceremoniesasifwealltrodde
believedthatourhostesshadaregularservants’hall,andra
secondtable,withhousekeeperandsteward,insteadoftheonelilla
littlecharity-schoolmaiden,whoseshortruddyarmskunde
couldneverhavebeenstrongnog
enoughtocarrythetrayupstairs,ifshehadnotbeenassistedinprivatebyhermistress,whonu
nowsatinstate,pretendingnottoveta
knowwhatcakesweresentupp
up,thoughsheknew,andweveta
knew,andsheknewthatweveta
knew,andweknewthatsheveta
knewthatweknew,shehadbeenbusyallthemorningmakingtea-breadoch
andsponge-cakes.Therewereone
eller
ortwoconsequencesarisingfromdenna
thisgeneralbutunacknowledgedpoverty,och
andthisverymuchacknowledgedgentility,som
whichwerenotamiss,andsom
whichmightbeintroducedintomånga
manycirclesofsocietytotheirstora
greatimprovement.Forinstance,theinhabitantsofCranford
höll
keptearlyhours,andclatteredhem
homeintheirpattens,undertheguidanceofen
alantern-bearer,aboutnineo’clockatnight;och
andthewholetownwasabedoch
andasleepbyhalf-pastten.Moreover,itwasconsidered“vulgar”(atremendous
ord
wordinCranford)togivenågot
anythingexpensive,inthewayofeatableeller
ordrinkable,attheeveningentertainments.Waferbread-and-butter
och
andsponge-biscuitswereallthatden
theHonourableMrsJamiesongave;och
andshewassister-in-lawtoden
thelateEarlofGlenmire,althoughshedidpractisesådan
such“eleganteconomy.”“Eleganteconomy!”
Hur
HownaturallyonefallsbackintothephraseologyofCranford!Där
There,economywasalways“elegant,”och
andmoney-spendingalways“vulgarandostentatious”;en
asortofsour-grapeismwhichgjorde
madeusverypeacefulandsatisfied.I
aldrig
nevershallforgetthedismaykände
feltwhenacertainCaptainBrowncametobo
liveatCranford,andopenlytalade
spokeabouthisbeingpoor—notinawhispertoanintimatevän
friend,thedoorsandwindowsbeingpreviouslyclosed,utan
butinthepublicstreet!in
en
aloudmilitaryvoice!alleginghispovertyas
ett
areasonfornottakingett
aparticularhouse.TheladiesofCranfordwere
redan
alreadyrathermoaningovertheinvasionoftheirterritoriesbyen
amanandagentleman.Hewas
en
ahalf-paycaptain,andhadobtainedsomesituationonen
aneighbouringrailroad,whichhadbeenvehementlypetitionedmot
againstbythelittletown;och
andif,inadditiontohismasculinegender,och
andhisconnectionwiththeobnoxiousrailroad,hewassobrazenastotala
talkofbeingpoor—why,then,indeed,hemåste
mustbesenttoCoventry.Döden
Deathwasastrueandascommonaspoverty;men
yetpeopleneverspokeaboutthat,loudoutindet
thestreets.Itwasa
ord
wordnottobementionedtoearspolite.We
hade
hadtacitlyagreedtoignorethatnågon
anywithwhomweassociatedontermsofvisitingequalitykunde
couldeverbepreventedbypovertyfromgöra
doinganythingthattheywished.Om
Ifwewalkedtoorfromen
aparty,itwasbecausethenatten
nightwassofine,ortheairsorefreshing,notbecausesedan-chairswereexpensive.Om
Ifweworeprints,insteadofsummersilks,itwasbecausewepreferredett
awashingmaterial;andsoon,tillweblindedourselvesto
det
thevulgarfactthatwewere,alla
allofus,peopleofmycket
verymoderatemeans.Ofcourse,then,we
göra
didnotknowwhattogöra
makeofamanwhokunde
couldspeakofpovertyasom
ifitwasnotadisgrace.Ändå
Yet,somehow,CaptainBrownmadehimselfrespectedinCranford,och
andwascalledupon,inspiteofalla
allresolutionstothecontrary.Iwassurprisedto
höra
hearhisopinionsquotedasauthorityatett
avisitwhichIpaidtoCranfordaboutett
ayearafterhehadsettledinthestaden
town.Myownfriendshadbeenamong
de
thebitterestopponentsofanyproposaltovisitde
theCaptainandhisdaughters,bara
onlytwelvemonthsbefore;and
nu
nowhewasevenadmittedinde
thetabooedhoursbeforetwelve.Sant
True,itwastodiscoverthecauseofen
asmokingchimney,beforetheelden
firewaslighted;butstillCaptainBrown
gick
walkedupstairs,nothingdaunted,spokeinen
avoicetoolargefortherummet
room,andjokedquiteinthesätt
wayofatamemanom
aboutthehouse.Hehadbeenblindto
alla
allthesmallslights,andomissionsoftrivialceremonies,med
withwhichhehadbeenreceived.He
hade
hadbeenfriendly,thoughtheCranfordladieshade
hadbeencool;hehad
svarat
answeredsmallsarcasticcomplimentsingod
goodfaith;andwithhismanlyfrankness
hade
hadoverpoweredalltheshrinkingwhichmötte
methimasamanwhowasnotashamedtobepoor.Och
And,atlast,hisexcellentmasculinecommonsense,och
andhisfacilityindevisingexpedientstoovercomedomesticdilemmas,hade
hadgainedhimanextraordinaryplats
placeasauthorityamongtheCranfordladies.Hehimselfwentoninhiscourse,asunawareofhispopularityashe
hade
hadbeenofthereverse;och
andIamsurehewasstartleden
onedaywhenhefoundhisadvicesohighlyesteemedastogöra
makesomecounselwhichhehade
hadgiveninjesttobetakeninsober,allvarlig
seriousearnest.Itwason
detta
thissubject:Anoldlady
hade
hadanAlderneycow,whichshesåg
lookeduponasadaughter.You
kunde
couldnotpaytheshortquarterofanhourcallutan
withoutbeingtoldofthewonderfulmilkeller
orwonderfulintelligenceofthisanimal.The
hela
wholetownknewandkindlyregardedMiss
MissBetsyBarker’sAlderney;therefore
stor
greatwasthesympathyandregretnär
when,inanunguardedmoment,den
thepoorcowtumbledintoalime-pit.Shemoanedsoloudly
att
thatshewassoonheardoch
andrescued;butmeanwhilethe
stackars
poorbeasthadlostmostofherhår
hair,andcameoutlookingnaked,kall
cold,andmiserable,inabareskin.Alla
Everybodypitiedtheanimal,thoughafewkunde
couldnotrestraintheirsmilesatherdrollappearance.Miss
MissBetsyBarkerabsolutelycriedwithsorrowoch
anddismay;anditwassaidshe
tänkte
thoughtoftryingabathofoil.Denna
Thisremedy,perhaps,wasrecommendedbysomeen
oneofthenumberwhoseadviceshefrågade
asked;buttheproposal,ifeveritwasmade,wasknockedontheheadbyCaptainBrown’sdecided“Gether
en
aflannelwaistcoatandflanneldrawers,ma’am,ifyouvill
wishtokeepheralive.Men
Butmyadviceis,killden
thepoorcreatureatonce.”Miss
MissBetsyBarkerdriedhereyes,och
andthankedtheCaptainheartily;shesettowork,
och
andby-and-byallthetownturnedouttose
seetheAlderneymeeklygoingtoherpasture,cladindarkgreyflannel.I
har
havewatchedhermyselfmanyatime.Doyouever
sett
seecowsdressedingreyflannelinLondon?CaptainBrown
hade
hadtakenasmallhouseontheoutskirtsofthestaden
town,wherehelivedwithhistvå
twodaughters.Hemusthavebeenupwardsofsixtyatthetimeofthe
första
firstvisitIpaidtoCranfordefter
afterIhadleftitasen
aresidence.Buthehad
en
awiry,well-trained,elasticfigure,en
astiffmilitarythrow-backofhishead,och
andaspringingstep,whichgjorde
madehimappearmuchyoungerän
thanhewas.Hiseldest
dotter
daughterlookedalmostasoldashimself,och
andbetrayedthefactthathisverkliga
realwasmorethanhisapparentage.Fröken
MissBrownmusthavebeenforty;she
hade
hadasickly,pained,carewornexpressiononherface,och
andlookedasifthegaietyofyouthhade
hadlongfadedoutofsight.Även
Evenwhenyoungshemusthavebeenplainoch
andhard-featured.MissJessieBrownwas
tio
tenyearsyoungerthanhersyster
sister,andtwentyshadesprettier.Her
ansikte
facewasroundanddimpled.Miss
MissJenkynsoncesaid,inapassionmot
againstCaptainBrown(thecauseofwhichIkommer
willtellyoupresently),“thatshetyckte
thoughtitwastimeforMiss
MissJessietoleaveoffherdimples,och
andnotalwaystobeförsöka
tryingtolooklikeachild.”Itwas
sant
truetherewassomethingchildlikeinheransikte
face;andtherewillbe,I
tror
think,tillshedies,thoughsheshouldleva
livetoahundred.Hereyeswerelargebluewonderingeyes,
tittade
lookingstraightatyou;hernosewasunformed
och
andsnub,andherlipswereröda
redanddewy;sheworeher
hår
hair,too,inlittlerowsofcurls,vilket
whichheightenedthisappearance.Idonot
vet
knowwhethershewasprettyeller
ornot;butIlikedher
ansikte
face,andsodideverybody,och
andIdonotthinkshekunde
couldhelpherdimples.She
hade
hadsomethingofherfather’sjauntinessofgaitoch
andmanner;andanyfemaleobserver
kunna
mightdetectaslightdifferenceinde
theattireofthetwosisters—thatofMiss
MissJessiebeingabouttwopoundsperannummoreexpensiveän
thanMissBrown’s.Twopoundswas
en
alargesuminCaptainBrown’sannualdisbursements.Suchwastheimpression
gjorde
madeuponmebytheBrownfamilynär
whenIfirstsawthemalla
alltogetherinCranfordChurch.Den
TheCaptainIhadmetbefore—onden
theoccasionofthesmokychimney,som
whichhehadcuredbysomesimplealterationinden
theflue.Inchurch,he
höll
heldhisdoubleeye-glasstohiseyesduringtheMorningHymn,och
andthenlifteduphisheaderectoch
andsangoutloudandjoyfully.He
gjorde
madetheresponseslouderthantheclerk—angammal
oldmanwithapipingfeeblevoice,som
who,Ithink,feltaggrievedattheCaptain’ssonorousbass,och
andquiveredhigherandhigherinconsequence.On
kom
comingoutofchurch,thebriskCaptainpaidden
themostgallantattentiontohistvå
twodaughters.Henoddedandsmiledtohisacquaintances;
men
butheshookhandswithnoneuntilhehade
hadhelpedMissBrowntounfurlherumbrella,hade
hadrelievedherofherprayer-book,och
andhadwaitedpatientlytillhon
she,withtremblingnervoushands,hade
hadtakenuphergowntogå
walkthroughthewetroads.IwonderwhattheCranfordladies
gjorde
didwithCaptainBrownattheirparties.We
hade
hadoftenrejoiced,informerdays,thattherewasinte
nogentlemantobeattendedto,och
andtofindconversationfor,atthecard-parties.We
hade
hadcongratulatedourselvesuponthesnugnessoftheevenings;och
and,inourloveforgentility,och
anddistasteofmankind,wehade
hadalmostpersuadedourselvesthattobeen
amanwastobe“vulgar”;sothat
när
whenIfoundmyfriendoch
andhostess,MissJenkyns,wasgoingtohaveen
apartyinmyhonour,och
andthatCaptainandtheFröken
MissBrownswereinvited,Iwonderedmycket
muchwhatwouldbethecourseoftheevening.Card-tables,
med
withgreenbaizetops,weresetut
outbydaylight,justasusual;itwasthethirdweekinNovember,sotheeveningsclosedinabout
fyra
four.Candles,andcleanpacksofcards,werearrangedon
varje
eachtable.Thefirewasmadeup;
den
theneatmaid-servanthadreceivedhersista
lastdirections;andtherewe
stod
stood,dressedinourbest,eachmed
withacandle-lighterinourhands,redo
readytodartatthecandlesassnart
soonasthefirstknockkom
came.PartiesinCranfordweresolemnfestivities,makingtheladies
känna
feelgravelyelatedastheysatt
sattogetherintheirbestdresses.As
snart
soonasthreehadarrived,wesatner
downto“Preference,”Ibeingden
theunluckyfourth.Thenext
fyra
fourcomerswereputdownimmediatelytoanothertable;och
andpresentlythetea-trays,whichIhade
hadseensetoutindet
thestore-roomasIpassedindet
themorning,wereplacedeachondet
themiddleofacard-table.Thechinawasdelicateegg-shell;
det
theold-fashionedsilverglitteredwithpolishing;men
buttheeatableswereoftheslightestdescription.Medan
Whilethetrayswereyetonthetables,Captainoch
andtheMissBrownscamein;och
andIcouldseethat,somehoworother,theCaptainwasen
afavouritewithalltheladiespresent.Ruffledbrowsweresmoothed,sharpvoicesloweredathisapproach.
Miss
MissBrownlookedill,anddepressednästan
almosttogloom.MissJessiesmiledasusual,
och
andseemednearlyaspopularasherfar
father.Heimmediatelyandquietlyassumedtheman’s
plats
placeintheroom;attendedtoeveryone’swants,lessened
de
theprettymaid-servant’slabourbywaitingonemptycupsoch
andbread-and-butterlessladies;andyet
gjorde
diditallinsolätt
easyanddignifiedamanner,och
andsomuchasifitwereamatterofcourseforthestrongtoattendtotheweak,thathewasasann
truemanthroughout.Heplayedforthreepennypoints
med
withasgraveaninterestasom
iftheyhadbeenpounds;och
andyet,inallhisattentiontostrangers,hehade
hadaneyeonhissufferingdaughter—forsufferingIwassäker
sureshewas,thoughtomånga
manyeyesshemightonlyappeartobeirritable.Miss
MissJessiecouldnotplaycards:men
butshetalkedtothesitters-out,som
who,beforehercoming,hadbeenratherinclinedtobecross.She
sjöng
sang,too,toanoldcrackedpiano,som
whichIthinkhadbeenaspinetinitsyouth.Miss
MissJessiesang,“JockofHazeldean”alite
littleoutoftune;butwewerenoneofusmusical,though
Fröken
MissJenkynsbeattime,outoftiden
time,bywayofappearingtobeso.Itwas
väldigt
verygoodofMissJenkynstogöra
dothis;forIhad
sett
seenthat,alittlebefore,shehade
hadbeenagooddealannoyedbyFröken
MissJessieBrown’sunguardedadmission(àproposofShetlandwool)thatshehade
hadanuncle,hermother’sbror
brother,whowasashopkeeperinEdinburgh.Miss
MissJenkynstriedtodrowndenna
thisconfessionbyaterriblecough—forden
theHonourableMrsJamiesonwassatt
sittingatacard-tablenearestMiss
MissJessie,andwhatwouldshesäga
sayorthinkifshefoundoutshewasinden
thesameroomwithashop-keeper’sniece!Men
ButMissJessieBrown(whohadinte
notact,asweallagreedthenästa
nextmorning)wouldrepeattheinformation,och
andassureMissPoleshekunde
couldeasilygethertheidenticalShetlandwoolrequired,“throughmyfarbror
uncle,whohasthebestassortmentofShetlandgoodsofanyoneinEdinbro’.”Itwasto
ta
takethetasteofthisoutofourmouths,och
andthesoundofthisoutofourears,thatMiss
MissJenkynsproposedmusic;soI
säger
sayagain,itwasverygoodofhertoslå
beattimetothesong.När
Whenthetraysre-appearedwithbiscuitsoch
andwine,punctuallyataquartertonine,therewasconversation,comparingofcards,och
andtalkingovertricks;butby-and-byCaptainBrownsporteda
lite
bitofliterature.“Haveyou
sett
seenanynumbersof‘ThePickwickPapers’?”sa
saidhe.(Theywerethenpublishinginparts.)
“Capitalthing!”
Now
Miss
MissJenkynswasdaughterofen
adeceasedrectorofCranford;och
and,onthestrengthofaantal
numberofmanuscriptsermons,andaganska
prettygoodlibraryofdivinity,consideredherselfliterary,och
andlookeduponanyconversationaboutbooksasachallengetohenne
her.Sosheansweredand
sa
said,“Yes,shehadseendem
them;indeed,shemightsayshe
hade
hadreadthem.”“Andwhatdoyou
tycker
thinkofthem?”exclaimedCaptainBrown.
“Aren’ttheyfamouslygood?”
Sourged
Miss
MissJenkynscouldnotbuttala
speak.“Imustsay,Idon’t
tror
thinktheyarebyanymeansequaltoDrJohnson.Ändå
Still,perhaps,theauthorisung
young.Lethimpersevere,andwho
vet
knowswhathemaybecomeom
ifhewilltakethegreatDoctorforhismodel?”Detta
ThiswasevidentlytoomuchforCaptainBrowntota
takeplacidly;andIsawthewordsonthetipofhistongue
innan
beforeMissJenkynshadfinishedhersentence.“Itis
helt
quiteadifferentsortofsak
thing,mydearmadam,”hebegan.“Iam
helt
quiteawareofthat,”returnedhon
she.“AndImakeallowances,CaptainBrown.”
“Justallowmeto
läsa
readyouasceneoutofhär
thismonth’snumber,”pleadedhe.“I
ha
haditonlythismorning,och
andIdon’tthinkthecompanykan
canhavereadityet.”“Asyouplease,”
sa
saidshe,settlingherselfwithen
anairofresignation.He
läste
readtheaccountofthe“swarry”som
whichSamWellergaveatBath.Några
Someofuslaughedheartily.Ididnotdare,becauseIwas
bodde
stayinginthehouse.