Cranford — Page 13

As festas em Cranford eram solenidades graves, fazendo as senhoras sentirem-se elevadas com seriedade enquanto se sentavam juntas com seus melhores vestidos.

Parties in Cranford were solemn festivities, making the ladies feel gravely elated as they sat together in their best dresses.

Assim que três haviam chegado, sentamo-nos para jogar 'Preferência', sendo eu o infeliz quarto jogador.

As soon as three had arrived, we sat down to "Preference," I being the unlucky fourth.

Os quatro seguintes que chegaram foram imediatamente encaminhados para outra mesa.

The next four comers were put down immediately to another table.

E em breve as bandejas de chá, que eu havia visto dispostas no despenseiro quando passei pela manhã, foram colocadas cada uma no meio de uma mesa de cartas.

And presently the tea-trays, which I had seen set out in the store-room as I passed in the morning, were placed each on the middle of a card-table.

A porcelana era delicada como casca de ovo; a prataria antiquada reluzia de tanto polimento; mas as iguarias eram da mais escassa variedade.

The china was delicate egg-shell; the old-fashioned silver glittered with polishing; but the eatables were of the slightest description.

Enquanto as bandejas ainda estavam sobre as mesas, o Capitão e a senhorita Brown entraram.

While the trays were yet on the tables, Captain and the Miss Browns came in.

E eu pude perceber que, de alguma forma, o Capitão era um favorito entre todas as senhoras presentes.

And I could see that, somehow or other, the Captain was a favourite with all the ladies present.

Sobrancelhas franzidas foram suavizadas, vozes cortantes foram abrandadas com a sua chegada.

Ruffled brows were smoothed, sharp voices lowered at his approach.

A senhorita Brown parecia doente e abatida, quase até a melancolia.

Miss Brown looked ill, and depressed almost to gloom.

A senhorita Jessie sorria como de costume e parecia ser quase tão popular quanto seu pai.

Miss Jessie smiled as usual, and seemed nearly as popular as her father.

Ele imediata e discretamente assumiu o lugar do homem na sala; atendeu às necessidades de todos, aliviou o trabalho da bela criada servindo xícaras vazias e senhoras sem pão com manteiga.

He immediately and quietly assumed the man's place in the room; attended to every one's wants, lessened the pretty maid-servant's labour by waiting on empty cups and bread-and-butterless ladies.

E fez tudo isso de maneira tão natural e digna, e como se fosse algo óbvio que os fortes deveriam cuidar dos fracos, que se mostrou um verdadeiro homem em tudo.

And yet did it all in so easy and dignified a manner, and so much as if it were a matter of course for the strong to attend to the weak, that he was a true man throughout.