按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
exceedingly like that of a witness being examined and cross… examined by
two counsel who are not at all scrupulous about asking leading questions。
The conclusion I arrived at was； that Jenny had certainly seen something
beyond what a fit of indigestion would have caused。 A lady all in white；
and without her head； was what she deposed and adhered to； supported
by a consciousness of the secret sympathy of her mistress under the
withering scorn with which Miss Pole regarded her。 And not only she；
113
… Page 114…
Cranford
but many others； had seen this headless lady； who sat by the roadside
wringing her hands as in deep grief。 Mrs Forrester looked at us from
time to time with an air of conscious triumph； but then she had not to
pass through Darkness Lane before she could bury herself beneath her
own familiar bed…clothes。
We preserved a discreet silence as to the headless lady while we
were putting on our things to go home； for there was no knowing how
near the ghostly head and ears might be； or what spiritual connection
they might be keeping up with the unhappy body in Darkness Lane； and；
therefore； even Miss Pole felt that it was as well not to speak lightly on
such subjects； for fear of vexing or insulting that woebegone trunk。 At
least； so I conjecture； for； instead of the busy clatter usual in the
operation； we tied on our cloaks as sadly as mutes at a funeral。 Miss
Matty drew the curtains round the windows of the chair to shut out
disagreeable sights； and the men （either because they were in spirits that
their labours were so nearly ended； or because they were going down
hill）； set off at such a round and merry pace； that it was all Miss Pole and
I could do to keep up with them。 She had breath for nothing beyond an
imploring 〃Don't leave me！〃 uttered as she clutched my arm so tightly
that I could not have quitted her； ghost or no ghost。 What a relief it was
when the men； weary of their burden and their quick trot； stopped just
where Headingley Causeway branches off from Darkness Lane！ Miss
Pole unloosed me and caught at one of the men …
〃Could not you … could not you take Miss Matty round by Headingley
Causeway？ … the pavement in Darkness Lane jolts so； and she is not very
strong。〃
A smothered voice was heard from the inside of the chair …
〃Oh！ pray go on！ What is the matter？ What is the matter？ I will
give you sixpence more to go on very fast； pray don't stop here。〃
〃And I'll give you a shilling；〃 said Miss Pole； with tremulous dignity；
〃if you'll go by Headingley Causeway。〃
The two men grunted acquiescence and took up the chair； and went
along the causeway； which certainly answered Miss Pole's kind purpose
of saving Miss Matty's bones； for it was covered with soft； thick mud；
114
… Page 115…
Cranford
and even a fall there would have been easy till the getting…up came；
when there might have been some difficulty in extrication。
115
… Page 116…
Cranford
CHAPTER XI … SAMUEL
BROWN
THE next morning I met Lady Glenmire and Miss Pole setting out on
a long walk to find some old woman who was famous in the
neighbourhood for her skill in knitting woollen stockings。 Miss Pole
said to me； with a smile half…kindly and half…contemptuous upon her
countenance； 〃I have been just telling Lady Glenmire of our poor friend
Mrs Forrester； and her terror of ghosts。 It comes from living so much
alone； and listening to the bug…a…boo stories of that Jenny of hers。〃 She
was so calm and so much above superstitious fears herself that I was
almost ashamed to say how glad I had been of her Headingley Causeway
proposition the night before； and turned off the conversation to
something else。
In the afternoon Miss Pole called on Miss Matty to tell her of the
adventure … the real adventure they had met with on their morning's walk。
They had been perplexed about the exact path which they were to take
across the fields in order to find the knitting old woman； and had
stopped to inquire at a little wayside public…house； standing on the high
road to London； about three miles from Cranford。 The good woman
had asked them to sit down and rest themselves while she fetched her
husband； who could direct them better than she could； and； while they
were sitting in the sanded parlour； a little girl came in。 They thought
that she belonged to the landlady； and began some trifling conversation
with her； but； on Mrs Roberts's return； she told them that the little thing
was the only child of a couple who were staying in the house。 And
then she began a long story； out of which Lady Glenmire and Miss Pole
could only gather one or two decided facts； which were that； about six
weeks ago； a light spring…cart had broken down just before their door； in
which there were two men； one woman； and this child。 One of the men
was seriously hurt … no bones broken； only 〃shaken；〃 the landlady called
it； but he had probably sustained some severe internal injury； for he had
116
… Page 117…
Cranford
languished in their house ever since； attended by his wife； the mother of
this little girl。 Miss Pole had asked what he was； what he looked like。
And Mrs Roberts had made answer that he was not like a gentleman； nor
yet like a common person； if it had not been that he and his wife were
such decent； quiet people； she could almost have thought he was a
mountebank； or something of that kind； for they had a great box in the
cart； full of she did not know what。 She had helped to unpack it； and
take out their linen and clothes； when the other man … his twin…brother；
she believed he was … had gone off with the horse and cart。
Miss Pole had begun to have her suspicions at this point； and
expressed her idea that it was rather strange that the box and cart and
horse and all should have disappeared； but good Mrs Roberts seemed to
have become quite indignant at Miss Pole's implied suggestion； in fact；
Miss Pole said she was as angry as if Miss Pole had told her that she
herself was a swindler。 As the best way of convincing the ladies； she
bethought her of begging them to see the wife； and； as Miss Pole said；
there was no doubting the honest； worn； bronzed face of the woman；
who at the first tender word from Lady Glenmire； burst into tears； which
she was too weak to check until some word from the landlady made her
swallow down her sobs； in order that she might testify to the Christian
kindness shown by Mr and Mrs Roberts。 Miss Pole came round with a
swing to as vehement a belief in the sorrowful tale as she had been
sceptical before； and； as a proof of this； her energy in the poor sufferer's
behalf was nothing daunted when she found out that he； and no other；
was our Signor Brunoni； to whom all Cranford had been attributing all
manner of evil this six weeks past！ Yes！ his wife said his proper name
was Samuel Brown … 〃Sam；〃 she called him … but to the last we preferred
calling him 〃the Signor〃； it sounded so