Читать книгу Iron and Smoke - Sheila Kaye-Smith - Страница 16

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Later that week Jenny wrote to her brother Timothy. She wrote to her father and mother dutifully every Sunday, but there was no fixed day for Timothy’s letter. She wrote whenever she had plenty to say. Since her marriage she seemed to have more to say to Timothy than in the days before it, when a vague barrier of “ideas” had stood between them in their daily intercourse.

I do hope you will soon be able to come and stay here, though I must warn you it is very cold and gloomy after Slapewath. We have nothing but candles and lamps and mostly wood fires, and none of the doors or windows fit properly. The house is very old. It was built in Queen Elizabeth’s time, so no wonder it is not comfortable to live in. But I am very proud of it, for Queen Elizabeth specially gave it to Humphrey’s family, after they had made themselves rich over the iron-working. Just like Father—isn’t it funny? There is a place called Pigstone, where their works used to be. It is a farm now.

I have not seen much of the neighbourhood, as I have been sitting at home waiting for people to call. When they have finished Humphrey says I can go hunting. That will be lovely. A great many people have called, and they all seem very nice. But it is a funny thing—the grander they are, the worse their style seems to be. There was a Lady May Birkett came over from Muddles Green, and she and her daughters all say “ripping,” which you know we were fined for if ever we said it at school, and I am nearly sure that Lady Alfriston (a Countess) rouges. I really was quite shocked, but Humphrey says that a lot of people in Society do it, and powder too.

There is a very nice Miss Mollet. Humphrey does not approve of her because she is an advocate of Women’s Rights, but I think she is clever, and she has an excuse for her views, because she wanted to go to Girton when she was young but her parents would not hear of such a thing. She reads a great deal, and I hope she will help me to improve my mind. You know yourself that would be a good idea. There is also a very nice Mrs Halnaker. I don’t think she is clever, but she was so charming when she came to see me, and she has asked us to dinner next Tuesday, even though we have not yet returned her call. She has a lovely, laughing sort of smile. I can’t describe it. She told me one or two very useful things, too, about housekeeping and entertaining, which I really want to know just as much as to improve my mind, and I do hope we will be friends, as she is quite the nicest person I have ever met.

Oh, Timothy, it is so funny being Church. I went to Church last Sunday, but found it very difficult to understand. There is a Chapel, too, and it is very pretty, but Humphrey says I must not go to it, and I expect in time I will know what Church is about. The Rector and his wife called yesterday. They are very poor, and his clothes were so shabby. She wore a thing she called a bosomette, so that she can use the same gown for day or evening wear. I felt very sorry for her, but it appears that the Church clergy are often poor like that. I asked Humphrey if I could give her one of my evening dresses, but he says she would be offended, as, though they are poor, they are not poor in that sort of way, which is a pity.

There is a housemaid here who used to be Humphrey’s nurse, and she is a sort of maid to me. Her name is Anna Luck, but I call her No Luck, because she does not look as if she had ever had any. She talks very queerly, as all the common people do round here. You know I used to understand our Yorkshire and sometimes talk it for fun. Ee, lad, but yon’s champion, you know. But here they all talk as if they hadn’t any teeth. They slide the words together in their throats like this—“der a’ o’ i’ d’ee, ire,” which means “there’s a hole in the hedge, Squire.” I do hope I shall learn to understand them soon. I do want to be a success as lady of the Manor, and I’ve not forgotten what you told me about my mind.