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Capítulo XXV
Rarezas de la heroína

Acabó la disertación al entrar nuestros viajeros en Bath. Lo primero que hizo Carlota fue informarse de si había mucha gente y supo que la concurrencia era numerosa y lucida. Al día siguiente fueron a pasearse, vestidos sin ceremonia, a la sala de las máquinas hidráulicas o bombas117.

Carlota, como celosa de la hermosura de su prima, se alegró mucho de que se pusiera el velo; Glanville, poco enterado en las modas, no reparó en ello. Dio el brazo a Arabela para acompañarla al paseo general, donde había multitud de gentes; todos a una pusieron la vista en Arabela. Los extranjeros en Bath son severamente críticos, esto es, que todo objeto nuevo les suministra materia de larga conversación. Las damas rodearon a nuestra heroína y se oyó por todas partes, en voces bajas:

—¿Quién es? Por cierto, rara criatura. p. 179

Los semisabios, ignorantes de que Clelia andaba siempre cubierta con un velo, la comparaban al sol obscurecido con una nube y los currutacos petimetres maldecían una innovación que podría hacerse moda118. Unos la tuvieron por portuguesa, otros por natural de Flandes y algunos, que presumían de más astutos, sospecharon que era alguna monja escapada de su convento. Arabela, que no creía haber hecho sensación alguna, examinaba sosegadamente las máquinas y disertaba con Glanville sobre las propiedades de las aguas. Carlota se metió entre las gentes y encontró muchas personas conocidas, quienes, antes de cumplimentarla, la preguntaron cómo se llamaba la dama extraordinaria. Carlota les informó de que era la hija del famoso marqués de… El apellido y la clase de Arabela pasaron al instante de boca en boca; los hombres la admiraron, las mujeres, deslumbradas con su título ya no la graduaron de rara o, por lo menos, procuraron justificarla. Se acordaron entonces de que tal señora llevaba los vuelos al revés, que la vizcondesa de… quiso que la presentaran en la corte como viuda, en vida de su marido; que la duquesa de… montaba a caballo como los hombres; que una mercadera, recién casada con un caballero distinguidísimo, pretendía que sus criados la diesen alteza; que unas petrimetras, señoras de poco ha, cortejadas por militares desocupados, se figuraron que los cueros empleados antes en su familia para delantales eran preciosos pergaminos de sus ilustres ascendientes y fingieron, con impropiedad, el porte descarado de la nobleza moderna; que unos marqueses ridículos después de haber usurpado este título con los medios que son comunes a cuantos tienen la manía de enmarquesar, se creyeron sujetos de importancia, haciendo como que despreciaban a todos; que cierta condesa orgullosa no iba a las iglesias en que no la tributaban los primeros honores y no viajaba con mujeres sin título, por más amables que fuesen, para no comprometer su risible dignidad; que una marquesa no conocía en la calle a los plebeyos, a quienes acababa de hacer en su casa mil agasajos, como no fuesen de aquellos a quienes podía decirles:«Contad conmigo, que yo os protejo»; que otra marquesa (pues las marquesas suelen ser ridículas) protegía a un pícaro contra un hombre de bien, porque el pícaro la era útil; y que ciertos individuos, votados por su ministerio a la sencillez y a la moderación, tenían la flaqueza, sin faltarles entendimiento, de no conocer el mérito sino en los ricos y la felicidad sino en los poderosos. Finalmente, pasaron revista general a todas las sandeces antiguas y modernas para disminuir la ridiculez de Arabela.

117 Se refiere a la famosa Pump-Room de las termas de Bath, que no era tanto una sala de máquinas hidráulicas o bombas, como traduce de manera literal Crommelin y Calzada a partir de él, sino una sala en la que se podía beber el agua que hizo famosos los baños de Bath, que era bombeada para llevarla hasta allí (de ahí la referencia a las «máquinas» que había en la sala, unas líneas más abajo). Se trata, por tanto, de un lugar de reunión social al que se iba a ver y ser visto, reconvertido hoy en día en salón de té y restaurante.

118 Nótese la reiteración intensificadora y despectiva para referirse a personas excesivamente preocupadas por la manera de vestir pues currutaco es «el […] muy afectado en el uso riguroso de las modas» (Diccionario académico de 1817, NTLLE); y petimetre es «el joven que cuida demasiadamente de su compostura y de seguir las modas» (Aut).

Chapter IV
In which one of our heroine’s whims is justified, by some others full as whimsical.

This piece of history, with Sir Charles’s remarks upon it, brought them into Bath. Their lodgings being provided beforehand, the ladies retired to their different chambers, to repose themselves after the fatigue of their journey, and did not meet again till supper was on table; when Miss Glanville, who had eagerly enquired what company was then in the place, and heard there were a great many persons of fashion just arrived, pressed Arabella to go to the pump room* the next morning, assuring her she would find a very agreeable amusement.

Arabella accordingly consented to accompany her; and being told the ladies went in an undress* of a morning, she accommodated herself to the custom, and went in a negligent dress; but instead of a capuchin,* she wore something [135] like a veil, of black gauze, which covered almost all her face and part of her waist, and gave her a very singular appearance.

Miss Glanville was too envious of her cousin’s superiority in point of beauty to inform her of any oddity in her dress, which she thought might expose her to the ridicule of those that saw her; and Mr. Glanville was too little a critic in ladies’ apparel to be sensible that Arabella was not in the fashion; and since everything she wore became her extremely, he could not choose but think she dressed admirably well. He handed her therefore, with a great deal of satisfaction, into the pump room, which happened to be greatly crowded that morning.

The attention of most part of the company was immediately engaged by the appearance Lady Bella made. Strangers are here most strictly criticised, and every new object affords a delicious feast of raillery and scandal.

The ladies, alarmed at the singularity of her dress, crowded together in parties; and the words “who can she be? Strange creature! Ridiculous!” and other exclamations of the same kind were whispered very intelligibly.

The men were struck with her figure, veiled as she was: her fine stature, the beautiful turn of her person, the grace and elegance of her motion, attracted all their notice. The phenomena of the veil, however, gave them great disturbance. So lovely a person seemed to promise the owner had a face not unworthy of it, but that was totally hid [136] from their view. For Arabella, at her entrance into the room, had pulled the gauze quite over her face, following therein the custom of the ladies in Clelia and the Grand Cyrus, who, in mixed companies,* always hid their faces with great care.

The wits and pretty fellows* railed at the envious covering, and compared her to the sun obscured by a cloud, while the beaux demed* the horrid innovation, and expressed a fear, lest it should grow into a fashion.p. 244

Some of the wiser sort took her for a foreigner; others, of still more sagacity, supposed her a Scots lady, covered with her plaid;* and a third sort, infinitely wiser than either, concluded she was a Spanish nun that had escaped from a convent, and had not yet quitted her veil.

Arabella, ignorant of the diversity of opinions to which her appearance gave rise, was taken up in discoursing with Mr. Glanville upon the medicinal virtue of the springs, the economy of the baths, the nature of the diversions, and such other topics as the objects around them furnished her with.

In the meantime, Miss Glanville was got amidst a crowd of her acquaintance, who had hardly paid the civilities of a first meeting, before they eagerly enquired who that lady she brought with her was.

Miss Glanville informed them that she was her cousin and daughter to the deceased marquis of …, adding with a sneer that she had been brought up in the country; knew nothing of the world; and had some very peculiar notions, [137] “as you may see,” said she, “by that odd kind of covering she wears.”

Her name and quality were presently whispered all over the room. The men, hearing she was a great heiress, found greater beauties to admire in her person. The ladies, awed by the sanction of quality, dropped their ridicule on her dress, and began to quote examples of whims full as inexcusable.

One remembered that Lady J… F… always wore her ruffles reversed; that the countess of … went to court in a farthingale; that the duchess of … sat astride upon a horse; and a certain lady of great fortune, and nearly allied to quality, because she was not dignified with a title, invented a new one for herself; and directed her servants to say in speaking to her “Your Honouress”* which afterwards became a custom among all her acquaintance, who mortally offended her if they omitted that instance of respect.

ipump room] At a spa, the place where the medicinal water is administered.

iiundress] A dress that is not worn in public.

iiicapuchin] An outfit worn by women, consisting of a cloak and hood imitating the monastic habit of Capuchins.

ivmixed companies] Comprising both sexes.

vpretty fellows] hist. Fops.

videmed] obs. Damn.

viiher plaid] A woolen cloth, usually with a tartan pattern.

viiiYour Honouress] hum. An incorrect form of the formula Your Honour used to address a lady.