Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie La plenitud de la Seorita Brodie

by de

Muriel Spark 5 Muriel Spark

tr. de Silvia Barbero

10
Penguin, Pre-Textos
London (1961), 1962 Valencia,
Spain, 2006
(version 2.0)
15

20
-1- 1

The boys, as they talked to the girls Cuando hablaban con las nias de la Es-
from Marcia Blaine School, stood on cuela Marcia Blaine, los chicos se quedaban
the far side of their bicycles holding 25 detrs de la bicicleta con las manos apoyadas
the handlebars, which established a en el manillar, lo que haca que las bicicletas
protective fence of bicycle between the actuasen como barrera protectora entre ambos
sexes, and the impression that at any sexos y que diese la impresin de que los chi-
moment the boys were likely to cos tenan la posibilidad de marcharse en cual-
be away. 30 quier momento.

panama hats: broad-brimmed straw hats and
part of the girls school uniform. The ways in
which the girls wear their hats is an indication of
their different characters and personalities
astringent 1 causing the contraction of body tissues. 2
checking bleeding. 3 severe, austere, acerb, acerbic,
sharp and penetrating; pungent or severe: astringent
remarks = sour or bitter in taste
astringent 1 (Med) astringente 2 (fig) adusto, austero
astringent 1. causing contraction of body tissue,
contractive, contractile, styptic 2. checking the flow
of blood from a cut 3. severe or harsh, strict, exacting,
harsh, grim, stern, hard, rigid, rigorous, austere,
caustic, acerbic
astringente 1. tr. Dicho de una sustancia que apreta,
estrecha, contrae los tejidos orgnicos. 2. tr. que
estrie. 3. que sujeta, obliga, constrie.
The girls could not take off their Las nias no podan quitarse el panam
panama hats because this was not far porque aquellos encuentros tenan lugar no
from the school gates and hatlessness muy lejos de la entrada de la escuela e ir sin
was an offence. Certain departures 35 sombrero estaba prohibido. Algunas infrac-
from the proper set of the hat on the ciones del uso adecuado del sombrero eran
head were overlooked in the case of celosamente observadas en el caso de las ni-
fourth-form girls and upwards so long as de cuarto curso para arriba, a fin de que
as nobody wore their hat at an angle. ninguna lo llevase ladeado. Pero haba otras
But there were other subtle variants 40 formas sutiles de moldear el ala del som-
from the ordinary rule of wearing the brero, distinta a la que exiga el reglamento
brim turned up at the back and down general, consistente en alzarla por detrs y
at the front. The five girls, standing en bajarla por delante. Aquellas cinco ni-
very close to each other because of the as, apiadas a causa de la cercana de los
boys, wore their hats each with a 45 chicos, llevaban el sombrero con un toque
definite difference. especial.

Buchmanites: followers of the American
evangelist Frank Nathan Daniel Buchman
(1878-1961) who was the founder of the Oxford
Group and its development, Moral Rearmament.
Popular in the 1930s, the movement encouraged
young people to confess their misdemeanours
Mussolini: Benito Mussolini (1883-1945), Italian
fascist dictator who came to power in 1922 and
embarked on an ambitious and grandiose
programme of expensive public works, and
imperial expansion in Africa. Although he was
first admired for bringing a measure of stability
to Italy, he joined forces with Germany during
the Second World War, and was subsequently
executed
witch-hazel: an astringent of the leaves and bark
of the plant of the same name (como ocozol)
These girls formed the Brodie set.
That was what they had been called
even before the headmistress had given
them the name, in scorn, when they had
moved from the Junior to the Senior
school at the age of twelve. At that time
they had been immediately
recognisable as Miss Brodies pupils,
being vastly informed on a lot of
subjects irrelevant to the authorised
curriculum, as the headmistress said,
and useless to the school as a school.
These girls were discovered to have
heard of the Buchmanites and
Mussolini, the Italian Renaissance
painters, the advantages to the skin of
cleansing cream and witch-hazel over
honest soap and water, and the word
Eran las nias que integraban el grupo
de Brodie. As era como se las conoca,
50 incluso antes de que la directora les diese
despectivamente ese nombre, desde que,
a la edad de doce aos, pasaron de la es-
cuela primaria a la secundaria. En aquella
poca, eran identificadas como las alumnas
55 de la seorita Brodie porque estaban muy
bien instruidas en muchas materias que re-
sultaban irrelevantes para el plan oficial de
estudios, al menos segn el criterio de la di-
rectora, e intiles [9] para la escuela como
60 tal escuela. Aquellas nias se distinguan por
el hecho de haber odo hablar del buchmanismo
y de Mussolini, de los pintores del Renaci-
miento italiano, de las ventajas de la crema
limpiadora y del hamamelis para la piel, en vez
65 del jabn normal y del agua clara, y del concepto

1

menarche: the onset of first menstruation
Winnie the Pooh: popular childrens novel by
A. A. Milne (1882-1956), published in 1926 and
featuring a bear of little brain of the same name
Charlotte Bronte: English novelist (1816-85)
and author of Jane Eyre (1847). Jane Eyre was
the first physically plain heroine in the English
novel. With its romantic plot it enjoyed an instant
success
Einstein: Albert Einstein. One of the best known
scientists of his day (1879-1955) who created
the Theory of Relativity. He was awarded the
Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921
Battle of Flodden: a crucial battle fought
between the armies of Scotland and England
on 9 September 1517 which resulted in the
deaths of King James IV of Scotland together
with several Scottish nobles and members of
the Royal household
loiter idle, hogazanear, merodear
loitered travelled indolently & with long
pauses
loitering parsimonioso, cachazudo,
loiterer lingerer someone who lingers
aimlessly in or about a place, curioso
Garibaldi: Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82). Italian
patriot and politician who played a major role in
uniting the small principalities of Italy into one
country
lectern: a reading desk, usually in a church, but
in this case in the school hall
O where shall I find a virtuous woman, for
her price is above rubies: biblical quotation from
the Book of Proverbs, 31:10. This has been
misquoted from the original in the King James
Bible: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her
price is far above rubies
peg-like resembling or functioning like a leg;
leglike appendages, con protuberantes,
cortas y anchas,
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
menarche; the interior decoration of de primera menstruacin: Estaban al corrien-
the London house of the author of te de la decoracin de la casa londinense del
Winnie the Pooh had been described to autor de Winnie The Pooh, as como de la vida
them, as had the love lives of Charlotte sentimental de Charlotte Bront y de la de
Bront and of Miss Brodie herself. 5 la propia seorita Brodie. Saban de la
They were aware of the existence of existencia de Einstein y estaban al tanto
Einstein and the arguments of those de los argumentos de quienes considera-
who considered the Bible to be untrue. ban que la Biblia era falsa. Conocan los
They knew the rudiments of astrology rudimentos de la astrologa, aunque igno-
but not the date of the Battle of 10 raban la fecha de la clebre batalla de
Flodden or the capital of Finland. All Flodden y cul era la capital de Finlandia.
of the Brodie set, save one, counted on Todas las nias del grupo de Brodie, excepto una, conta-
its fingers, as had Miss Brodie, with ban con los dedos de las manos, al igual que la seorita
accurate results more or less. Brodie, con resultados ms o menos exactos.
15
By the time they were sixteen, and Cuando cumplieron diecisis aos y pasa-
had reached the fourth form, and ron al cuarto curso de secundaria, en un perio-
loitered beyond the gates after do en que se dedicaban a perder el tiempo des-
school, and had adapted themselves pus de salir de clase junto a la entrada de la
t o t h e o r t h o d o x r e g i m e , t h e y 20 escuela y en que se haban ajustado ya a la or-
remained unmistakably Brodie, and todoxia del centro, seguan siendo,
were all famous in the school, which inconfundiblemente, las nias de Brodie. To-
is to say they were held in suspicion das eran famosas en la escuela, lo que viene a
and not much liking. They had no ser como decir que estaban bajo sospecha y que
team spirit and very little in common 25 no gozaban de mucha simpata. Entre ellas no
w i t h e a c h o t h e r o u t s i d e t h e i r exista espritu de equipo y tenan muy poco en
continuing friendship with Jean comn, aparte de la prolongada amistad con
Brodie. She still taught in the Junior Jean Brodie, que segua enseando en la escue-
department. She was held in great la primaria y que tambin estaba sometida a un
suspicion. 30 alto grado de sospecha.
Marcia Blaine School for Girls was La Escuela Marcia Blaine para nias
a day school which had been partially era una escuela sin internado que haba
endowed in the middle of the sido parcialmente fundada, a medidos del
nineteenth century by the wealthy 35 siglo XIX, por la acaudalada viuda de un
widow of an Edinburgh book-binder. encuadernador de Edimburgo. Antes de
She had been an admirer of Garibaldi morir, haba sido admiradora de Garibaldi.
before she died. Her manly portrait El retrato de esta seora de aspecto varonil col-
hung in the great hall, and was gaba en el gran vestbulo de la escuela y, cada
honoured every Founders Day by a 40 Da de la Fundadora, [10] se le renda ho-
bunch of hard-wearing flowers such as menaje depositando un ramo de flores pere-
chrysanthemums or dahlias. These were cederas, como crisantemos o dalias, en un
placed in a vase beneath the portrait, florero colocado debajo del retrato, sobre
upon a lectern which also held an open un atril en que tambin reposaba una Biblia
Bible with the text underlined in red 45 abierta con una frase subrayada con tinta roja: Oh,
ink, O where shall I find a virtuous dnde encontrar una mujer virtuosa, porque su
woman, for her price is above rubies. precio est por encima del de los rubes.
The girls who loitered beneath Cada una de las nias que perdan el tiempo
the tree, shoulder to shoulder, very 50 bajo el rbol, hombro con hombro, apiadas a
close to each other because of the causa de la cercana de los chicos, era famosa
boys, were all famous for por algn aspecto en concreto. Monica Douglas,
s o m e t h i n g . N o w, a t s i x t e e n , con diecisis aos cumplidos, era una monitora
Monica Douglas was a prefect, que tena autoridad sobre otras alumnas, y era
famous mostly for mathematics 55 famosa, sobre todo, por las matemticas, debido
which she could do in her brain, a su capacidad para resolver las operaciones men-
and for her anger which, when it talmente, aunque tambin por su irascibilidad,
was lively enough, drove her to que, cuando se le desataba, la llevaba a repartir
slap out to right and left. She had golpes a diestro y siniestro. Tena la nariz muy
a very red nose, winter and 60 roja, tanto en verano como en invierno, unas
summer, long dark plaits, and fat, trenzas largas y negras y las piernas gordas
peg-like legs. Since she had turned como troncos. D e s d e q u e c u m p l i l o s
sixteen, Monica wore her panama diecisis aos, Monica llevaba el panam
hat rather higher on her head than bastante ms alzado de lo normal,
normal, perched as if it were too 65 encasquetado como si el sombrero fuera de-
2

She left the web . .. lookd down to Camelot:
lines from the poem The Lady of Shalott by
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1808-92)
(1) Lord Alfred Tennyson, La Dama de Shalott y otros
poemas, traduccin castellana de Antonio Rivero
Taravillo, Pre-Textos, Valencia, 2002. Todas las ci-
tas de Tennyson que aparecen en el presente libro
han sido extradas de la edicin citada. (N. de la T.)
bobbing aleteante, cimbreantes
bob 1 a : to move up and down briefly or repeatedly <a
cork bobbed in the water> b : to emerge, arise, or
appear suddenly or unexpectedly <the question
bobbed up again> 2 : to nod or curtsy briefly 3 : to
try to seize a suspended or floating object with the
teeth <bob for apples> menearse, agitarse, bazu-
car= menear o revolver una cosa lquida moviendo
la vasija en que est, aletear, bambolear
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
small and as if she knew she masiado pequeo y como si supiese que re-
looked grotesque in any case. sultaba grotesca de todas formas.
Rose Stanley was famous for sex. sexual.
Rose Stanley era famosa por su aura
Her hat was placed quite unobtrusively 5 Se colocaba el sombrero de forma bastante dis-
on her blonde short hair, but she creta sobre su pelo rubio y corto, aunque
dented in the crown on either side. aboll ada ambos lados de la copa.
Eunice Gardiner, small, neat and Eunice Gardiner, pequea pero bien propor-
famous for her spritely gymnastics and 10 cionada, famosa por su vigor gimnstico y por 
glamorous swimming, had the brim of su elegancia al practicar la natacin, llevaba 
her hat turned up at the front and down el ala del sombrero alzada por delante y cada
at the back. por detrs.
Sandy Stranger wore it turned up 15 Sandy Stranger llevaba alzado todo el di-
all round and as far back on her metro del ala de su sombrero, y tan echado ha-
head as it could possibly go; to cia atrs que daba la impresin de que iba a
assist this, she had attached to her volrsele. Para que esto no sucediese, le haba
hat a strip of elastic which went cosido una cinta elstica que se ajustaba por
under the chin. Sometimes Sandy chewed 20 debajo de la barbilla. A veces, Sandy mastica-
this elastic and when it was chewed down she ba ese elstico y, cuando estaba [11] ya dema-
sewed on a new piece. She was merely siado mordido, le cosa uno nuevo. Aunque era
notorious for her small, almost nonexistent, conocida por sus ojos pequeos, casi inexistentes,
eyes, but she was famous for her vowel sounds era famosa por la manera como pronunciaba las
which, long ago in the long past, in the Junior 25 vocales, una peculiaridad que, mucho tiempo
school, had enraptured Miss Brodie. atrs, embeles a la seorita Brodie.
Well, come and recite for us please, because it Por favor, sal y rectanos algo, porque el
has been a tiring day. da ha sido agotador.
She left the web, she left the loom, 30 Ella dej el pao, dej el telar,
She made three paces thro the room, a travs de la estancia dio tres pasos,
She saw the water-lily bloom, vio que su lirio de agua floreca,
She saw the helmet and the plume, contempl el yelmo y contempl la pluma,
She lookd down to Camelot. dirigi su mirada a Camelot. (1)
35
It lifts one up, Miss Brodie usually Esto eleva el espritu a cualquiera sola
said, passing her hand outward from her decir la seorita Brodie, con el acompaamiento
breast towards the class of ten-year-old de un movimiento de la mano que abarcaba a
girls who were listening for the bell which toda la clase, compuesta por unas nias de diez
would release them. Where there is no 40 aos impacientes por or la campana que las li-
vision, Miss Brodie had assured them, berase. Donde no hay imaginacin, el pueblo
the people perish. Eunice, come and do perece les asegur la seorita Brodie.
a somersault in order that we may have Eunice, ven a dar una voltereta para que poda-
comic relief. mos disfrutar de un toque humorstico.
45
But now, the boys with their bicycles Pero, en aquel momento, los chicos, apo-
were cheerfully insulting Jenny Gray about yados en las bicicletas, se mofaban de Jenny
her way of speech which she had got from Gray por su manera de hablar, aprendida en las
her elocution classes. She was going to be clases de declamacin. Iba a ser actriz. Era la
an actress. She was Sandys best friend. She 50 mejor amiga de Sandy. El sombrero lo llevaba
wore her hat with the front brim bent sharply con la parte delantera del ala echada brusca-
downward; she was the prettiest and most mente hacia abajo; era la ms guapa y
graceful girl of the set, and this was her fame. elegante del grupo, y a eso deba su fama.
Dont be a lout, Andrew, she said with A n d r e w, n o s e a s g a m b e r r o
her uppish tone. There were three 55 d i j o c o n s u t o n o engr edo . H a b a t r e s
Andrews among the five boys, and these Andrew entre los cinco chicos, y los
three Andrews now started mimicking t r e s A n d r e w e m p e z a r o n a i m i t a r l a :
Jenny: Dont be a lout, Andrew, A n d r e w, n o s e a s g a m b e r r o
while the girls laughed beneath their m i e n t r a s l a s n i a s s e r e a n b a j o s u s
bobbing panamas. 60 panams oscilantes. [12]
Along came Mary Macgregor, the last Mary Macgregor, la ltima componente
member of the set, whose fame rested on del grupo, que deba su fama a ser una espe-
her being a silent lump, a nobody cie de bulto silencioso, una inutilidad a quien
whom everybody could blame. With 65 todo el mundo poda reprender, lleg acom-
3
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

her was an outsider, Joyce Emily paada de una intrusa, Joyce Emily
Hammond, the very rich girl, their Hammond, la nia de familia riqusima, la
delinquent, who had been recently sent delincuente de la escuela, que acababa de ser
to Blaine as a last hope, because no enviada a Blaine como ltimo recurso, por-
other school, no governess, could 5 que ninguna otra escuela ni institutriz alguna
manage her. She still wore the green podan con ella. An llevaba el uniforme ver-
uniform of her old school. The others de de la escuela de la que provena. Las otras
wore deep violet. The most she had llevaban el de color violeta intenso. Hasta ese
done, so far, was to throw paper momento, a lo ms que haba llegado era a
pellets sometimes at the singing 10 tirar algunas bolitas de papel al maestro de
master. She insisted on the use of her canto. Insista en que la llamaran por
two names, Joyce Emily. This Joyce s u s d o s n o m b r e s , J o y c e E m i l y. E s t a
Emily was trying very hard to get into Joyce Emily se esforz muchsimo por
the famous set, and thought the two entrar en el famoso grupo y crey que
names might establish her as a 15 los dos nombres la consolidaran como
something, but there was no chance un gran qu, pero no le sirvi de nada
of it and she could not see why. y no alcanz a entender el motivo.

J o y c e E m i l y s a i d , Joyce Emily dijo:

Theres a teacher coming out, and 20 Ha salido una profesora y seal con
nodded towards the gates. la cabeza hacia la entrada.

Pentland Hills: range of hills to the south of
Edinburgh which form a dramatic visual
backdrop to the city
Two of the Andrews wheeled their
bicycles out on to the road and departed.
The other three boys remained defiantly,
but looking the other way as if they might
have stopped to admire the clouds on the
Pentland Hills. The girls crowde d
round each other as if in
discussion. Good afternoon, said Miss
Brodie when she approached the group.
I havent seen you for some days. I think
we wont detain these young men and
their bicycles. Go o d a f t e r n o o n ,
boys. The famous set moved off
with her, and Joyce, the new
delinquent, followed. I think I havent
met this new girl, said Miss Brodie,
looking closely at Joyce. And when
they were introduced she said: Well,
we must be on our way, my dear.
Dos de los Andrew sacaron las bicicletas a
la calzada y se fueron. Los otros tres chicos se
25 atrevieron a quedarse, aunque desviaron la mi-
rada, intentando fingir que se haban parado para
admirar las nubes que vagaban por Pentland
Hills. Las nias se agruparon, como si estuvie-
sen cotilleando entre ellas.
30 Buenas tardes dijo la seorita Brodie
cuando se acerc al grupo. Hace varios das
que no s de vosotras. Creo que no deberamos
hacer perder el tiempo a estos jvenes ciclis-
tas. Buenas tardes, chicos.
35 El famoso grupo se puso en marcha con ella,
y Joyce, la advenediza delincuente, las sigui.
Creo que no me habis presentado a esta
chica nueva dijo la seorita Brodie, que es-
crutaba a Joyce. Cuando se la presentaron, le
40 dijo: Querida, aqu nos despedimos. Noso-
tras tenemos que seguir nuestro camino. [13]

Sandy looked back as Joyce Sandy volvi la mirada y vio cmo se ale-
Emily walked, and then skipped, jaba Joyce Emily; luego dio un salto, demasia-
leggy and uncontrolled for her age, 45 do patilarga y descontrolada para su edad, y
in the opposite direction, and the se uni al grupo de Brodie, que preservaba as
Brodie set was left to their secret life ese secretismo que mantena desde seis aos
as it had been six years ago in their atrs, cuando sus componentes an estaban en
childhood. la infancia.
50
I am putting old heads on your young Colmar vuestras jvenes cabezas de
shoulders, Miss Brodie had told them viejas sabidurasles haba dicho en aquella
at that time, and all my pupils are the poca la seorita Brodie. Todas mis alumnas
crme de la crme: (French) the cream of the crme de la crme. son la crme de la crme.
cream; the ultimate, the best people, used in 55
this instance by Jean Brodie to describe her Sandy looked with her little screwed- Sandy mir con sus ojitos apretados
pupils up eyes at Monicas very red nose and la enrojecidsima nariz de Monica y re-
remembered this saying as she followed cord aquellas frases mientras segua la
ultimate 1. fundamental,
definitivo, final, ltimo, the set in the wake of Miss Brodie. estela del grupo de la seorita Brodie.
2. decisivo, inapelable 3. 60
mximo I should like you girls to come to Jovencitas, me gustara que vinierais a
supper tomorrow night, Miss Brodie cenar maana dijo la seorita Brodie. Ase-
said. Make sure you are free. guraos de no adquirir otro compromiso.

The Dramatic Society... murmured 65 El grupo de teatro... murmur

4

forceful conturndente, eficaz, vigorosa
fretful A adjective 1 querulous, whiney, whining(a),
whiny habitually complaining; a whining child 2
fidgety, fretful, itchy, restless unable to relax or
be still; a constant fretful stamping of hooves;
itchy for excitement; a restless child
fretful adj. visibly anxious, distressed, or irritated.
cranky fractious, irritable, ill- tempered, nettlesome,
peevish, peckish, pettish, petulant, testy, tetchy,
techy easily irritated or annoyed; an incorrigibly
fractious young man; not the least nettlesome of
his countrymen
1. Having a bad disposition; peevish. 2. Having
eccentric ways; odd. 3. Full of bends and turns;
crooked: a cranky mountain road. 4. Working
unpredictably; erratic: a cranky old truck. 5.
Rickety; loose.
1 a : given to fretful fussiness : readily angered when opposed
: CROTCHETY, ill-tempered, peevish <our long wait...left
us a tad cranky Connecticut> b : marked by eccentricity
<his bizarre and cranky mix of ideas and beliefs R. J.
Evans> 2 : full of twists and turns : TORTUOUS <a cranky
road> 3 : working erratically : UNPREDICTABLE <a cranky
old tractor> 4 dialect : CRAZY, IMBECILE
crank 1 manivela 2 excntrico 3 chiflado, crackpot,
crank, nut, nut case, nutcase, fruitcake, screwballa
whimsically eccentric person, chiflado 4 chistes di-
vertidos, quip, excentricidades
Of, being, or produced by an eccentric person: a
crank letter; a crank phone call
crank girar la manivela, rotate
Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and
she is mine for life: an echo of the injunction
that a boy introduced to the Jesuit religious order
in childhood will remain in it for ever
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
Jenny. Jenny.
Send an excuse, said Miss Busca una excusa dijo la seo-
B r o d i e . I h a v e t o c o n s u l t rita Brodie. Necesito que me deis vues-
y o u a b o u t a n e w p l o t w h i c h 5 tra opinin acerca del nuevo complot que
i s a f o o t t o f o r c e m e t o r e s i g n . se est tramando para forzar mi dimi-
Needless to say, I shall not resign. sin. Ni que decir tiene que no dimitir.
She spoke calmly as she always A pesar de la contundencia de aque-
d i d i n s p i t e o f h e r f o r c e f u l llas palabras, las dijo de manera tranquila, 
words. 10 como era su costumbre.
Miss Brodie never discussed La seorita Brodie jams comentaba sus
her affairs with the other members asuntos con los dems miembros del profeso-
of the staff, but only with those rado, sino tan slo con aquellas antiguas alum-
f o r m e r p u p i l s w h o m s h e h a d 15 nas a las que haba instruido desde el principio
t r a i n e d u p i n h e r c o n f i d e n c e . para que respetasen sus confidencias. Con an-
There had been previous plots to terioridad, haban tratado de despedirla de
remove her from Blaine, which Blaine, pero todas aquellas conjuras se haban
had been foiled. visto frustradas.
20
It has been suggested again that I De nuevo se me ha sugerido que de-
should apply for a post at one of the bera solicitar un puesto en una de esas
progressive schools, where my escuelas progresistas, donde mis mtodos
methods would be more suited to the resultaran ms apropiados que en Blaine.
system than they are at Blaine. But I 25 Pero yo no solicitar ningn puesto en
shall not apply for a post at a crank una escuela elitista. Me quedar en esta
school. I shall remain at this education fbrica educativa. Por fuerza tiene que
factory. There needs must be a leaven haber al menos una nia a la que yo le
in the lump. Give me a girl at an sirva de levadura. Dadme una nia que
impressionable age, and she is mine 30 est en una edad influenciable y ser ma
for life. de por vida. [14]
The Brodie set smiled in El grupo de Brodie sonri y cada cual
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f v a r i o u s interpret aquellas palabras de un modo
kinds. 35 distinto.
Miss Brodie forced her brown eyes La seorita Brodie hizo brillar sus ojos cas-
to flash as a meaningful accompaniment taos para reforzar de manera elocuente su bajo
to her quiet voice. She looked a mighty tono de voz. Tena un aspecto imponente con
woman with her dark Roman profile in 40 su bronceado perfil romano recortado por el sol.
the sun. The Brodie set did not for a El grupo de Brodie no dud ni por un instante
moment doubt that she would prevail. As que ella se impondra. Tan raro sera que Julio
soon expect Julius Caesar to apply for a Csar solicitara un trabajo en una escuela pro-
job at a crank school as Miss Brodie. She gresista como que lo hiciese la seorita Brodie.
would never resign. If the authorities 45 Jams dimitira. Si las autoridades escolares
wanted to get rid of her she would have queran deshacerse de ella, tendran que
to be assassinated. asesinarla.
Who are the gang, this time? said Quines estn en la pandilla ahora?
Rose, who was famous for sex-appeal. 50 pregunt Rose, famosa por su atractivo sexual.
We s h a l l d i s c u s s t o m o r r o w Maana por la noche hablaremos de las
night the persons who oppose me, personas que estn en contra de m dijo la
said Miss Brodie. But rest assured seorita Brodie. Pero dad por seguro que no
they shall not succeed. 55 se saldrn con la suya.
No, said everyone. No, of course No dijeron todas. Desde luego que
they wont. no.
Not while I am in my prime, 60 No al menos mientras yo est en la flor
she said. These years are still the de la vida dijo. stos son mis aos de ple-
years of my prime. It is important to nitud. Recordad lo que os digo: es importante
recognise the years of ones prime, saber reconocer cules son los mejores aos de
always remember that. Here is my la vida de cada cual. Aqu viene ya mi tranva.
tram car. I daresay Ill not get a seat. 65 Mucho me temo que no encontrar asiento.
5

Stanley Baldwin: Conservative British prime
minister in 1923-24, 1924-29 and 1935-37. His
motto, Safety first, typified his
middle-of-the-road, middle-class view of
government
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
This is nineteen-thirty-six. The age Estamos en 1936. La poca de la caballerosi-
of chivalry is past. dad es ya cosa del pasado.
5
Six years previously, Miss Brodie Seis aos antes, la seorita Brodie haba lle-
had led her new class into the garden vado al jardn a las nuevas alumnas para darles
for a history lesson underneath the big una clase de historia bajo un gran olmo. Mien-
elm. On the way through the school tras cruzaban los pasillos de la escuela, pasa-
corridors they passed the 10 ron por delante del despacho de la directora.
headmistresss study. The door was La puerta estaba abierta de par en par y en la
wide open, the room was empty. habitacin no haba nadie.
Little girls, said Miss Brodie, come Niitas, venid a ver esto dijo la seo-
and observe this. 15 rita Brodie.
They clustered round the open door Se agruparon en torno a la puerta abierta,
while she pointed to a large poster pinned mientras ella sealaba un gran cartel que esta-
with drawing-pins on the opposite wall ba clavado con chinchetas en [15] la pared de
within the room. It depicted a mans big 20 enfrente. Era el retrato de un hombre. Al pie
face. Underneath were the words Safety se lea el siguiente lema: La seguridad es lo
First. primero.
This is Stanley Baldwin who got Es Stanley Baldwin, que fue primer
in as Prime Minister and got out again 25 ministro y que dej el poder hace poco
ere long, said Miss Brodie. Miss precis la seorita Brodie. La seorita
Mackay retains him on the wall because Mackay lo tiene colgado en la pared porque
she believes in the slogan Safety First. est convencida de que la seguridad es lo pri-
But Safety does not come first. mero. Pero la seguridad no es lo primero. La
Goodness, Truth and Beauty come first. 30 Bondad, la Verdad y la Belleza estn por de-
Follow me. lante. Seguidme.
This was the first intimation, to the se fue el primer indicio que tuvieron las
girls, of an odds between Miss Brodie nias de la diferencia existente entre la seo-
and the rest of the teaching staff. Indeed, 35 rita Brodie y el resto del profesorado. De he-
to some of them, it was the first time they cho, para algunas de ellas era la primera vez
had realised it was possible for people que se daban cuenta de que era posible que
glued together in grown-up authority to los adultos que ejercan la autoridad pudieran
differ at all. Taking inward note of this, diferir entre s por completo. Tomando nota
and with the exhilarating feeling of being 40 mental de esto, y con el sentimiento estimu-
in on the faint smell of row, without being lante de hallarse en el tenue fragor de una ba-
endangered by it, they followed talla, aunque al margen de todo peligro, siguie-
dangerous Miss Brodie into the secure ron a la temeraria seorita Brodie hasta la som-
shade of the elm. bra segura del olmo.
45
Often, that sunny autumn, when the A menudo, aquel otoo soleado, cuando
weather permitted, the small girls took el tiempo lo permita, las nias reciban sus
their lessons seated on three benches clases sentadas en tres bancos colocados al-
arranged about the elm. rededor del olmo.
50
Hold up your books, said Miss Mantened los libros levantados les ad-
Brodie quite often that autumn, prop verta con frecuencia la seorita Brodie a lo lar-
them up in your hands, in case of go de aquel otoo. Sostenedlos en las manos,
intruders. If there are any intruders, we por si acaso aparece algn intruso. Si viene al-
are doing our history lesson... our 55 guien, estamos dando nuestra leccin de histo-
poetry... English grammar. ria... O de poesa... O de gramtica inglesa.
The small girls held up their books Las nias sostenan sus libros, pero no
with their eyes not on them, but on Miss con los ojos puestos en ellos, sino en la se-
Brodie. 60 orita Brodie.
Meantime I will tell you about my Mientras tanto, os contar cmo pas
last summer holiday in Egypt... I will tell las vacaciones del verano pasado en Egipto.
you about care of the skin, and of the Os hablar del cuidado de la piel y de las ma-
hands... about the Frenchman I met in 65 nos. Del joven francs que conoc en el tren
6

Biarritz: a fashionable resort in south-west
France on the Atlantic coast
Leonardo da Vinci: Florentine artist
(1452-1519) who painted, amongst other
masterpieces, the Mona Lisa. He was also a
scientific innovator who created notes and
diagrams for ambitious engineering schemes
Sparks Brodie
the train to Biarritz... and I must tell you
about the Italian paintings I saw. Who is
the greatest Italian painter?
Leonardo da Vinci, Miss Brodie. 5
That is incorrect. The answer is
Giotto, he is my favourite.
Silvia Barbero
que me llevaba a Biarritz. Y debo hablaros de
las pinturas italianas que vi. Cul es el ms
grande de los pintores italianos?
Leonardo da Vinci, seorita Brodie. [16]
Respuesta equivocada. La respuesta co-
rrecta es Giotto. Es mi favorito.

Giotto: Italian painter (1266-1337) who paved
the way for the freedom of expression found in
Renaissance art. Amongst his finest creations
are the altar-piece in the Uffizi and the frescoes
in Santa Croce, both in Florence
Joan of Arc: St Jeanne dArc (c. 1412-31) French
heroine who was the inspiration behind King
Charles VIIs attempts to defeat the English at
Orleans in 1429. She was later found guilty of
heresy and witchcraft and burned at the stake
Some days it seemed to Sandy that 10 Algunos das, a Sandy le pareca que el pe-
Miss Brodies chest was flat, no bulges cho de la seorita Brodie era liso, sin protube-
at all, but straight as her back. On other rancia alguna, sino recto como su espalda. Otros
days her chest was breast-shaped and das, su pecho adquira formas rotundas y apa-
large, very noticeable, something for riencia voluminosa, circunstancia que haca que
Sandy to sit and peer at through her tiny 15 Sandy se sentase a escrutarla con sus ojos di-
eyes while Miss Brodie on a day of minutos, mientras la seorita Brodie, en los das
lessons indoors stood erect, with her en que daba las clases dentro, permaneca er-
brown head held high, staring out of guida con su cabeza morena bien alta, mirando
the window like Joan of Arc as she por la ventana y hablando como si fuese Juana
spoke. 20 de Arco.
I have frequently told you, and the Os he dicho muchas veces, y las vacacio-
holidays just past have convinced me, nes pasadas as me lo han corroborado, que mi
that my prime has truly begun. Ones plenitud ha comenzado de verdad. Ese senti-
prime is elusive. You little girls, when 25 miento de plenitud es muy escurridizo. Voso-
you grow up, must be on the alert to tras, nias, cuando os hagis mayores, tenis
recognise your prime at whatever time que estar atentas para poder reconocer vuestra
of your life it may occur. You must then plenitud, pues os puede llegar en cualquier
live it to the full. Mary, what have you momento de la vida. Entonces tenis que vivirla
got under your desk, what are you 30 al mximo. Mary, qu tienes debajo del pupi-
looking at? tre? Qu ests mirando?

Mary sat lump-like and too stupid Mary se sentaba como si fuese un bulto y
to invent something. She was too era demasiado tonta como para inventarse algo.
stupid ever to tell a lie, she didnt know 35 Era demasiado tonta incluso para inventarse una
how to cover up. mentira, porque no saba fingir.

A comic, Miss Brodie, she Estoy leyendo una historieta cmica,

said. seorita Brodie contest.
40
Do you mean a comedian, a droll? Quieres decir una comedia, una farsa?

titter laughing in a furtive or restrained way; giggling Everyone tittered. Todas se rieron tontamente.
rerse nerviosamente, con disimulo; soltar
una risita ahogada, entre dientes
titter : to laugh in a nervous, affected, or partly
suppressed manner : GIGGLE, SNICKER A comic paper, said Mary. 45 Un tebeo dijo Mary.

A comic paper, forsooth. How old Caramba , u n t e b e o . Q u e d a d

are you? tienes?

Ten, maam. 50 Diez aos, seorita.

You are too old for comic papers at Ya eres mayorcita para leer tebeos.
ten. Give it to me. Dame eso.

Miss Brodie looked at the coloured 55 La seorita Brodie ech un vistazo a las
sheets. Tiger Tims forsooth, she hojas coloreadas.
said, and threw it into the waste-paper Caramba, Tiger Tims dijo, y tir el
basket. Perceiving all eyes upon it she tebeo a la papelera. Al darse cuenta de que to-
lifted it out of the basket, tore it up das las miradas se posaron en l, lo cogi de la
beyond redemption and put it back 60 papelera, lo hizo pedazos sin contemplaciones
again. y lo volvi a tirar. [17]

Attend to me, girls. Ones prime is Nias, prestad atencin. La plenitud es

the moment one was born for. Now that ese momento en que se realiza aquello para lo
my prime has begun Sandy, your 65 que nacimos. Ahora que mi plenitud ha llega-

7
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

attention is wandering. What have I been do... Sandy, ests distrada. De qu he estado
talking about? hablando?

Your prime, Miss Brodie. De su plenitud, seorita Brodie.

5

If anyone comes along, said Miss Si viniera alguien en el transcur-

Brodie, in the course of the following so de la siguiente clase, recordad que es
lesson, remember that it is the hour for la hora de gramtica inglesa avis la
English grammar. Meantime I will tell 10 seorita Brodie. Mientras tanto, os
you a little of my life when I was younger contar algo de mi vida, de cuando era
than I am now, though six years older ms joven, aunque tena seis aos ms
than the man himself. que aquel hombre.

She leaned against the elm. It was one 15 Se apoy en el olmo. Era uno de los lti-
of the last autumn days when the leaves mos das del otoo y las hojas se desprendan
were falling in little gusts. They fell on por las pequeas rfagas de viento. Caan so-
the children who were thankful for this bre las nias, que agradecan aquel pretexto
excuse to wriggle and for the allowable para poder moverse sin ser amonestadas y para
movements in brushing the leaves from 20 sacudirse a sus anchas las hojas que se les po-
their hair and laps. saban en la falda y en el pelo.

Season of mists and mellow La estacin de las neblinas y de

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness:
the opening lines of John Keatss poem To
Autumn
fruitfulness. I was engaged to a young la fertilidad madura. Al principio de la
man at the beginning of the War but he 25 guerra, estaba prometida con un joven,
fell on Flanders Field, said Miss Brodie. pero muri en la batalla de Flandes
Are you thinking, Sandy, of doing a dijo la seorita Brodie. Sandy, ests
days washing? pensando en hacer la colada?

No, Miss Brodie. 30 No, seorita Brodie.

Armistice:the end of the First World War on 11
November 1918. It was commemorated with the
observance of two minutes silence at 11 a.m.
Because you have got your sleeves
rolled up. I wont have to do with girls
who roll up the sleeves of their blouses,
however fine the weather. Roll them
down at once, we are civilized beings.
He fell the week before Armistice was
declared. He fell like an autumn leaf,
although he was only twenty-two years
of age. When we go indoors we shall look
on the map at Flanders, and the spot
where my lover was laid before you were
born. He was poor. He came from
Ayrshire, a countryman, but a hard-
working and clever scholar. He said,
when he asked me to marry him, We
shall have to drink water and walk slow.
That was Hughs country way of
expressing that we would live quietly. We
shall drink water and walk slow. What
does the saying signify, Rose?
Lo digo porque ests arremangada. No
estoy dispuesta a tratar con nias que se su-
ben las mangas de la camisa, por muy buen
35 tiempo que haga. Bjatelas ahora mismo. So-
mos personas civilizadas... l muri una se-
mana antes de que se declarase el Armisti-
cio. Cay como cae una hoja en el otoo,
aunque tan slo tena veintids aos. Cuan-
40 do volvamos dentro, veremos en el mapa
dnde est Flandes y el sitio donde mi amor
fue enterrado antes de que vosotras hubie-
seis nacido. Era pobre, un campesino de
Ayrshire, pero a la vez un alumno muy tra-
45 bajador y muy inteligente. Cuando me pi-
di [18] que me casara con l, me dijo: Ten-
dremos que beber agua y andar despacio.
Esa era la manera campesina de Hugh de
expresar que llevaramos una vida apacible.
50 Beberemos agua y andaremos despacio.
Rose, qu significa esa expresin?

That you would live quietly, Que llevaran una vida tranquila, seo-
Miss Brodie, said Rose Stanley who rita Brodie respondi Rose Stanley, que seis
six years later had a great reputation 55 aos ms tarde se ganara una gran reputacin
for sex. por su aura ertica.

The story of Miss Brodies felled La historia del novio asesinado de la se-
fianc was well on its way when the orita Brodie iba tomando forma cuando
headmistress, Miss Mackay, was seen 60 vieron que la directora, la seorita Mackay,
to approach across the lawn. Tears had avanzaba sobre el csped en direccin a
already started to drop from Sandys ellas. De los ojos de cerdito de Sandy ya
little pig-like eyes and Sandys tears haban empezado a brotar algunas lgrimas,
now affected her friend Jenny, later y aquellas lgrimas conmovieron a su ami-
famous in the school for her beauty, 65 ga Jenny, ms tarde famosa en la escuela por

8

the Kaiser: Kaiser (emperor) Wilhelm II of
Germany during the First World War and
regarded as a hate figure by sections of the
British public
Flowers of the Forest: a song composed by
Jean Elliot of Minto to commemorate the Scots
killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1517. Its words
and tune have taken on the attributes of a
national air of lament
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
who gave a sob and groped up the leg su belleza, que solloz y se tante la pierna
of her knickers for her handkerchief. para sacarse el pauelo de los pololos.
Hugh was killed, said Miss Brodie, a week A Hugh lo mataron una semana an-
before the Armistice. After that there was a tes del Armisticio. Despus de aquello
general election and people were saying, 5 hubo elecciones generales y el pueblo
Hang the Kaiser! Hugh was one of the gritaba: Colgad al kiser! Desde su
Flowers of the Forest, lying in his grave. tumba, Hugh recibi honores de hroe.
Rose S tanley had now begun to Rose Stanley haba empezado a llorar.
w e e p . S a n d y s l i d h e r w e t e y e s Sandy movi los ojos hmedos hacia un lado
sideways, watching the advance of 10 y vio cmo avanzaba por el csped la seorita
Miss Mackay, head and shoulders Mackay, con la cabeza y los hombros echados
forward, across the lawn. hacia delante.
I am come to see you and I have to Slo he venido a saludaros y me
be off, she said. What are you little 15 voy enseguida dijo. Por qu estis
girls crying for? llorando, pequeas?
They are moved by a story I have Se han emocionado por algo que les
been telling them. We are having a history estaba contando. Estamos en clase de his-
lesson, said Miss Brodie, catching a 20 toria dijo la seorita Brodie, sostenien-
falling leaf neatly in her hand as she do delicadamente una hoja cada mientras
spoke. hablaba.
Crying over a story at ten years Unas nias de diez aos llorando por
of age! said Miss Mackay to the girls 25 un hecho histrico! exclam la seorita
who had stragglingly risen from the Mackay. Las nias se haban puesto de pie de
benches, still dazed with Hugh the un modo desordenado, aturdidas an por la
warrior. I am only come to see you imagen del guerrero Hugh. Slo he venido a
and I must be off. Well, girls, the new saludaros y me voy enseguida. Bueno, nias, el
term has begun. I hope you all had a 30 nuevo trimestre ha empezado. Espero [19] que
splendid summer holiday and I look todas os lo hayis pasado muy bien durante las
forward to seeing your splendid vacaciones veraniegas y tengo muchas ganas
essays on how you spent them. You de leer la redaccin que tendris que escribir
shouldnt be crying over history at the sobre ese tema. No deberais llorar por un he-
age of ten. My word! 35 cho histrico a vuestra edad. Qu tontera!
You did well, said Miss Brodie to Hicisteis bien en no contestar la pregun-
the class, when Miss Mackay had gone, ta que os hizo dijo la seorita Brodie a la
not to answer the question put to you. It clase cuando la seorita Mackay se fue. Cuan-
is well, when in difficulties, to say never 40 do se est en un apuro, es mejor no decir ni una
a word, neither black nor white. Speech palabra, ni s ni no. El habla es de plata, pero el
is silver but silence is golden. Mary, are silencio es de oro. Mary, ests prestando aten-
you listening? What was I saying? cin? De qu estoy hablando?
Mary Macgregor, lumpy, with 45 Mary Macgregor, toda bulto, con slo dos
merely two eyes, a nose and a mouth ojos, una nariz y una boca, como un mueco
like a snowman, who was later famous de nieve, que ms tarde sera famosa por ser
for being stupid and always to blame boba y porque siempre la reprendan, y que
and who, at the age of twenty-three, lost perdi la vida a los veintitrs aos en el in-
her life in a hotel fire, ventured, 50 cendio de un hotel, se aventur a decir:
Golden. Del oro.
What did I say was golden? Qu he dicho que era de oro?
Mary cast her eyes around her and up 55 Mary ech una mirada a su alrededor y
above. Sandy whispered, The falling hacia arriba. Sandy le susurr Las hojas
leaves. que caen.
The falling leaves, said Mary. Las hojas que caen contest Mary.
60
Plainly, said Miss Brodie, you Est claro que no prestabas atencin
were not listening to me. If only you small dijo la seorita Brodie. Pequeas, si
girls would listen to me I would make of me prestaseis atencin, os convertira en
you the crme de la crme. la crme de la crme. [20]
65
9

Wrens: the Womens Royal Naval Service, taken
from its initials WRNS
Cumberland: county in north-west England,
now part of Cumbria
Sparks Brodie
-2-
Mary Macgregor, although she lived
into her twenty-fourth year, never quite
realised that Jean Brodies confidences
were not shared with the rest of the staff
and that her love-story was given out
only to her pupils. She had not thought
much about Jean Brodie, certainly
never disliked her, when, a year after
the outbreak of the Second World War,
she joined the Wrens, and was clumsy
and incompetent, and was much
blamed. On one occasion of real misery
when her first and last boy friend, a
corporal whom she had known for two
weeks, deserted her by failing to turn
up at an appointed place and failing to
come near her again she thought
back to see if she had ever really been
happy in her life; it occurred to her then
that the first years with Miss Brodie,
sitting listening to all those stories and
opinions which had nothing to do with
the ordinary world, had been the
happiest time of her life. She thought
this briefly, and never again referred her
mind to Miss Brodie, but had got over
her misery, and had relapsed into her
habitual slow bewilderment, before
she died while on leave in
Cumberland in a fire in the hotel.
Back and forth along the corridors ran
Mary Macgregor, through the thickening
smoke. She ran one way; then, turning, the
other way; and at either end the blast
furnace of the fire met her. She heard no
screams, for the roar of the fire drowned
the screams; she gave no scream, for
the smoke was choking her. She ran into
somebody on her third turn, stumbled
and died. But at the beginning of the
nineteen-thirties, when Mary Macgregor
was ten, t h e r e s h e w a s s i t t i n g
b l a n k l y a m o n g M i s s B r o d i e s
pupils. Who has spilled ink on
the floor was it you, Mary?
I dont know, Miss Brodie.
I daresay it was you. Ive never come
across such a clumsy girl. And if you 60 he topado con una nia tan patosa. Y si no pue-
cant take an interest in what I am saying, des interesarte por lo que digo, por favor, in-
please try to look as if you did. tenta fingir al menos que lo haces.
These were the days that Mary
Macgregor, on looking back, found to be 65 Macgregor, al mirar hacia atrs, comprendi que
10
Silvia Barbero
2
10
Mary Macgregor, aunque ya haba cum-
plido veintitrs aos, nunca se dio cuenta del
todo de que las confidencias que Jean Brodie
les hizo jams las comparti con el resto del
15 profesorado y de que su historia de amor tan
slo les fue revelada a sus alumnas. No haba
pensado mucho en Jean Brodie, que en reali-
dad nunca le cay mal, hasta que, un ao des-
pus de la declaracin de la segunda guerra
20 mundial, Mary se uni al voluntariado femeni-
no del ejrcito britnico y su forma torpe e in-
competente de trabajar empez a granjearle todo
tipo de amonestaciones. En una ocasin en que se
sinti una completa desdichada (cuando su pri-
25 mer y ltimo novio, un cabo al que haba conoci-
do haca dos semanas, la abandon y nunca ms
volvi a acercarse a ella, por faltar a una cita),
hizo memoria para comprobar si alguna vez haba
sido feliz de verdad a lo largo de su vida. Enton-
30 ces se le ocurri que los primeros aos que haba
pasado con la seorita Brodie, cuando se sentaba
a escuchar todas aquellas historias y opiniones que
no tenan nada que ver con el mundo corriente,
haban sido los momentos ms felices de su exis-
35 tencia. Fue un pensamiento fugaz, y nunca ms
volvi a acordarse de su antigua maestra, sino
que super su sufrimiento y volvi a sumirse en
su acostumbrado desconcierto perezoso, hasta
que encontr la muerte, mientras estaba de
40 permiso en Cumberland, en el incendio de
un hotel. De ac para all, corra Mary
Macgregor por los pasillos, a travs del humo
espeso. [23] Corra hacia un lado, despus se
volva y corra hacia el otro, pero las llamas
45 ascendentes del fuego siempre la encontraban.
No oy gritos, porque los ahogaba la crepita-
cin del fuego; ella no grit, porque el humo
la asfixiaba. Tropez con alguien cuando re-
corra por tercera vez el pasillo, dio un traspi
50 y muri. Pero al principio de los aos treinta,
cuando Mary Macgregor tena diez, all esta-
ba ella, sentada entre las alumnas de la seo-
rita Brodie, sin enterarse de nada.
Quin ha derramado tinta en el suelo?
55 Has sido t, Mary?
No lo s, seorita Brodie.
Apostara a que has sido t. Jams me
Aqullos fueron los das que Mary
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

the happiest days of her life. haban sido los ms felices de su vida.

Sandy Stranger had a feeling at the
time that they were supposed to be the
happiest days of her life, and on her tenth
birthday she said so to her best friend
Jenny Gray who had been asked to tea at
Sandys house. The speciality of the feast
was pineapple cubes with cream, and the
speciality of the day was that they were
left to themselves. To Sandy the
unfamiliar pineapple had the authentic
taste and appearance of happiness and she
focussed her small eyes closely on the
pale gold cubes before she scooped them
up in her spoon, and she thought the sharp
taste on her tongue was that of a special
happiness, which was nothing to do with
eating, and was different from the
happiness of play that one enjoyed
unawares. Both girls saved the cream to
the last, then ate it in spoonfuls.
Ya en aquella poca, Sandy Stranger tuvo
la sensacin de que aqullos habran de ser los
5 das ms felices de su vida, y, en la celebracin
de su dcimo cumpleaos, as se lo expres a
Jenny Gray, su mejor amiga, a la que haba in-
vitado a tomar el t en su casa. La novedad es-
pecial de la fiesta eran los daditos de pia con
10 nata y la novedad especial del da era que las
nias podan hacer lo que quisieran. Para Sandy,
el exotismo de la pia representaba el sabor y
la apariencia autntica de la felicidad y fijaba
con mucha atencin sus pequeos ojos en los
15 daditos de color dorado plido antes de coger-
los con la cuchara y llevrselos a la boca, y
pensaba que aquella acidez en su lengua era el
gusto de una felicidad exclusiva que no tena
nada que ver con el comer y que era distinta a
20 la que le provocaba el goce inconsciente de los
juegos. Las dos nias dejaban la nata para el
final y se la coman a cucharadas. [24]

Little girls, you are going to be the Niitas, vais a llegar a ser
crme de la crme, said Sandy, and 25 l a c r m e d e l a c r m e d i j o
Jenny spluttered her cream into her S a n d y , y J e n n y e s c u p i l a n a t a e n
handkerchief. el pauelo.

You know, Sandy said, these are Sabes? Creo que stos sern los
supposed to be the happiest days of our 30 das ms felices de nuestra vida dijo
lives. Sandy.

Yes, they are always saying that, S, siempre nos estn diciendo eso
Jenny said. They say, make the most of dijo Jenny. Nos dicen: aprovechad al mxi-
your schooldays because you never know 35 mo vuestros aos colegiales, porque nunca se
what lies ahead of you. sabe lo que puede pasar.

Miss Brodie says prime is best, La seorita Brodie dice que la plenitud
Sandy said. es an mejoraadi Sandy.
40
Yes, but she never got married like S, pero nunca se ha casado como lo han
our mothers and fathers. hecho nuestros padres.

They dont have primes, said Ellos no tienen plenitud dijo

Sandy. 45 Sandy.

They have sexual intercourse, Tienen relaciones sexuales dijo

Jenny said. Jenny.

The little girls paused, because 50 Las nias se callaron, porque se era toda-
this was still a stupendous thought, va un pensamiento maravilloso que haban
and one which they had only lately descubierto haca poco y por mera casualidad.
lit upon; the very phrase and its La frase misma y lo que tal frase significaba
meaning were new. It was quite eran algo novedoso para ellas. Algo del
unbelievable. Sandy said, then , 55 t o d o i n c r e b l e . S a n d y d i j o _ _ _ _ _ :
M r. L l o y d h a d a b a b y l a s t El seor Lloyd tuvo un beb la semana
week. He must h a v e pasada. Debe de haber cometido una relacin
c o m m i t e d s e x w i t h h i s w i f e . sexual con su esposa.
This idea was easier to cope with Esa idea resultaba ms fcil de asimilar, y
a n d t h e y l a u g h e d s c r e a m i n g l y 60 se rieron de buena gana tras las servilletas de
into their pink paper napkins. Mr. papel color rosa. El seor Lloyd era el profesor
Lloyd was the Art master to the de dibujo de las alumnas de la escuela secun-
senior girls. daria.

Can you see it happening? Jenny 65 Te imaginas cmo ocurri?

11

Puddocky: an area in Edinburgh beside the
Water of Leith. Puddock is the Scots word for
frog
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
whispered. susurr Jenny.
Sandy screwed her eyes even Sandy apret los ojos, hacindolos an
s m a l l e r i n t h e e f f o r t o f s e e i n g ms pequeos de lo que ya eran, en un es-
w i t h h e r m i n d . H e w o u l d b e 5 fuerzo por imaginarse la situacin.
wearing his pyjamas, she l llevara puesto el pijama
whispered back. le susurr ella a su vez.
The girls rocked with mirth, Las nias se rieron con regocijo al imagi-
t h i n k i n g o f o n e - a r m e d M r . 10 narse al manco seor Lloyd entrando en la es-
Lloyd, in his solemnity, striding cuela, con su seriedad caracterstica, dando
into school. grandes zancadas.
Then Jenny said, You do it on the De repente, Jenny dijo:
spur of the moment. Thats how it 15 Se hace sin pensarlo. As es como
happens. ocurre. [25]
Jenny was a reliable source of Jenny era una fuente fiable de informa-
i n f o r m a t i o n , b e c a u s e a g i r l cin porque haca poco que se haba descu-
employed by her father in his grocer 20 bierto que la joven empleada de la tienda de
shop had recently been found to be comestibles de su padre estaba embarazada,
pregnant, and Jenny had picked up y Jenny haba captado algunos comentarios
some fragments of the ensuing fuss. escandalizados referidos al asunto. Tras ha-
Having confided her finds to Sandy, ber confiado sus descubrimientos a Sandy,
they had embarked on a course of 25 ambas se embarcaron en lo que dieron en lla-
r e s e a r c h w h i c h t h e y c a l l e d mar una investigacin, atando los cabos suel-
research, piecing together clues tos a partir de ciertas conversaciones odas
from remembered conversations indebidamente por casualidad, as como va-
illicitly overheard, and passages lindose de algunas entradas de los grandes
from the big dictionaries. 30 diccionarios.
It all happens in a flash, Jenny said. Todo ocurre en un abrir y cerrar de ojos
It happened to Teenie when she was out dijo Jenny. A Teenie le ocurri cuando
walking at Puddocky with her boy paseaba con su novio por Puddocky. Por eso
friend. Then they had to get married. 35 tuvieron que casarse.
You would think the urge would Imagnate que el deseo se le hubie-
have passed by the time she got her se ido cuando ella se quit la ropa dijo
clothes off, Sandy said. By clothes, Sandy. Sin duda, con ropa se refera
she definitely meant to imply knickers, 40 en realidad a las bragas, pero la palabra
but knickers was rude in this scientific bragas resultaba una grosera en aquel
context. contexto cientfico.
Yes, thats what I cant understand, S, eso es lo que yo no puedo com-
said Jenny. 45 prender dijo Jenny.
S a n d y s m o t h e r l o o k e d La madre de Sandy se asom a la puerta y
r o u n d t h e d o o r a n d s a i d , pregunt:
Enjoying yourselves, darlings? Os diverts, queridas?
Over her shoulder a p p e a r e d t h e 50 Por encima de su hombro apareci la cabe-
h e a d o f J e n n y s m o t h e r . za de la madre de Jenny.
M y w ord, said Jennys mother, Caramba! dijo la madre de Jenny al
looking at the tea-table, theyve ver la mesita de t. S que han comido con
been tucking in! ganas!
55
Sandy felt offended and belittled Sandy se sinti ofendida y menospreciada
by this; it was as if the main idea por ese comentario. Era como si la comida hu-
of the party had been the food. biese sido el principal motivo de la fiesta.
W h a t w o u l d y o u l i k e t o d o 60 Qu os gustara hacer ahora? pregun-
now? Sandys mother said. t la madre de Sandy.
Sandy gave her mother a look of Sandy le ech a su madre una mirada de
secret ferocity which meant: you furia contenida que quera decir: prometiste
promised to leave us all on our own, and 65 dejarnos disfrutar a nuestro aire, y una prome-
12
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Duchess of York: Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon,
wife of Prince Albert, the Duke of York who
became King George VI in 1936, following the
abdication of his brother King Edward VIII
musquash: the fur of the musk-rat, used in the
manufacture of coats for women
a promise is a promise, you know its sa es una promesa. Sabes que est muy mal rom-
very bad to break a promise to a child, perle una promesa a una nia. Podras arruinar
you might ruin all my life by breaking toda mi vida por romper tu promesa. Es el da
your promise, its my birthday. de mi cumpleaos. [26]
5
Sandys mother backed away bearing La madre de Sandy se dio la vuelta y se
Jennys mother with her. Lets leave llev con ella a la madre de Jenny.
them to themselves, she said. Just enjoy Dejmoslas que disfruten dijo. Que
yourselves, darlings. os divirtis mucho, queridas.
10
Sandy was sometimes A veces, Sandy se avergonzaba de su
embarrassed by her mother being madre porque, al ser inglesa, la llamaba
English and calling her darling, not querida en vez de cario; que era la
like the mothers of Edinburgh who said palabra que utilizaban las madres de
dear. Sandys mother had a flashy 15 Edimburgo, y porque tena un ostentoso
winter coat trimmed with fluffy abrigo de invierno adornado con una esto-
fox fur like the Duchess of Yorks, la de piel de zorro, como el de la duquesa de
while the other mothers wore tweed York, mientras que las dems madres llevaban
or, at the most, musquash that would uno de tweed o, como mucho, de piel de civeta,
do them all their days. 20 que les serva para todas las estaciones del ao.

It had been raining and the ground Como haba llovido bastante y el te-
was too wet for them to go and finish rreno estaba demasiado mojado para salir
digging the hole to Australia, so the a jugar al jardn, las nias se quedaron en
girls lifted the tea-table with all its 25 la habitacin y arrinconaron la mesita de
festal: festive, joyous festal relics over to the corner of the room. t con todos los vestigios de la fiesta.
Sandy opened the lid of the piano stool Sandy abri la tapa de la banqueta del pia-
and extracted a notebook from between no y sac un cuaderno que tena oculto
two sheaves of music. On the first page entre dos partituras. En la primera pgi-
of the notebook was written, 30 na del cuaderno haba escrito:

The Mountain Eyrie LA MONTAA DE LAS GUILAS

Mountain Eyrie: literally the nest of an eagle in
a remote mountain area but here used poetically by
to describe the hiding place of Miss Brodies Sandy Stranger and Jenny Gray
lover Hugh Carruthers in the story written by
Sandy and Jenny This was a story, still in the process
of composition, about Miss Brodies
lover, Hugh Carruthers. He had not been
killed in the war, that was a mistake in
the telegram. He had come back from the
war and called to enquire for Miss Brodie
at school, where the first person whom
he encountered was Miss Mackay, the
headmistress. She had informed him that
Miss Brodie did not desire to see him,
she loved another. With a bitter, harsh
laugh, Hugh went and made his abode in
a mountain eyrie, where, wrapped in a
leathern jacket, he had been discovered
one day by Sandy and Jenny. At the
present stage in the story Hugh was
holding Sandy captive but Jenny had
escaped by night and was attempting to
find her way down the mountainside in
the dark. Hugh was preparing to pursue
her.
por
SANDY STRANGER Y JENNY GRAY
35
Se trataba de una narracin inconclusa so-
bre Hugh Carruthers, el amado de la seorita
Brodie. Segn aquella historia, no haba muer-
to en la guerra, sino que el telegrama estaba
40 equivocado. Haba vuelto del frente y, cuando
fue al colegio para preguntar por la seorita
Brodie, la primera persona con la que se en-
contr fue la seorita Mackay, la directora,
quien le dijo que la seorita Brodie no quera
45 verlo porque amaba a otro hombre. Con una
sonrisa amarga y desabrida, Hugh volvi so-
bre sus pasos y fue a refugiarse en la alta cum-
bre de una montaa, donde, envuelto en una
chaqueta de piel, lo descubrieron Sandy y
50 Jenny. En aquel momento [27]o concreto de
la narracin, Hugh tena cautiva a Sandy, por-
que Jenny se haba escapado durante la noche
e intentaba encontrar el camino de vuelta des-
cendiendo por la ladera de la montaa en me-
55 dio de la oscuridad. Hugh se dispona a perse-
guirla.

Sandy took a pencil from a drawer in
the sideboard and continued:
60
Hugh! Sandy beseeched him, I
swear to you before all I hold sacred that
Miss Brodie has never loved another, and
she awaits you below, praying and hoping
in her prime. If you will let Jenny go, she 65
Sandy cogi un lpiz del cajn del apara-
dor y continu escribiendo:
Hugh! le suplic Sandy. Le juro por
todo lo que para m es sagrado que la seorita
Brodie nunca ha amado a ningn otro hombre
y que le aguarda all abajo, en toda su pleni-
tud, rezando y esperando su regreso. Si permi-

13
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

erstwhile A adjective 1 erstwhile(a),
former(a), once(a), onetime(a),
quondam(a), sometime(a) belonging to
some prior time; erstwhile friend; our
former glory; the once capital of the
state; her quondam lover B adverb 1
once, formerly, at one time, erstwhile,
erst at a previous time; once he loved
her; her erstwhile writing
lithe: pliant, supple, athletic
azure: clear blue
will bring back your lover Jean Brodie te que Jenny se vaya, le traer a su enamora-
to you and you will see her with your da, Jean Brodie, y la ver con sus propios ojos,
own eyes and hold her in your arms after y la estrechar entre sus brazos, tras estos doce
these twelve long years and a day. largos aos y un da de separacin.
5
His black eye flashed in the lamplight Los ojos negros de Hugh brillaron a la luz
of the hut. Back, girl! he cried, and de la lmpara del cobertizo. Atrs, nia!;
do not bar my way. Well do I know that grit. No me obstruyas el paso. S muy bien
yon girl Jenny will report my que la jovencita Jenny revelar mi paradero a
whereabouts to my mocking erstwhile 10 mi antigua prometida, que se ha burlado de m.
fiance. Well do I know that you are both S muy bien que las dos sois unas espas envia-
spies sent by her that she might mock. das por ella para burlaros de m. Te he dicho
Stand back from the door, I say! que te apartes de la puerta!
Never! said Sandy, placing her 15 Jams!, dijo Sandy, apostando su jo-
young lithe body squarely in front of ven cuerpecito____ justo delante de la ce-
the latch and her arm through the rradura y tapando el pestillo con el brazo.
bolt. Her large eyes flashed with an Sus grandes ojos se iluminaron con una
azure light of appeal. luz celeste de splica.
20
Sandy handed the pencil to Jenny. Sandy le dio el lpiz a Jenny.
Its your turn, she said. Es tu turno le dijo.

Jenny wrote: Jenny escribi:

With one movement he flung her to the 25 De un empujn, la arroj a lo ms profun-
farthest end of the hut and strode out do del cobertizo y, dando zancadas, sali a la
into the moonlight and his strides made luz de la luna, sin importarle el espeso manto
light of the drifting snow. de nieve. [28]

Put in about his boots, said 30 Di algo sobre las botas le propuso
Sandy. Sandy.

Jenny wrote: His high boots flashed
in the moonlight.
35
There are too many moonlights,
Sandy said, but we can sort that later
when it comes to publication.
Jenny escribi: Sus botas altas brillaron
a la luz de la luna.
Hay demasiados a la luz de la luna;
pero lo arreglaremos ms adelante, cuando vaya
a publicarse dijo Sandy.

Oh, but its a secret, Sandy! said 40 Sandy, esto es un secreto! dijo
Jenny. Jenny.

I know that, Sandy said. Dont Ya lo s. No te preocupes, no la pu-

worry, we wont publish it till our blicaremos hasta que alcancemos nuestra
prime. 45 plenitud.

Do you think Miss Brodie ever Crees que la seorita Brodie lleg a
had sexual intercourse with Hugh? tener alguna relacin sexual con Hugh? pre-
said Jenny. gunt Jenny.
50
She would have had a baby, Habra tenido un beb,
wouldnt she? no?

I dont know. No lo s.
55
I dont think they did anything like No creo que hiciesen nada de eso
that, said Sandy. Their love was above dijo Sandy. Su amor estaba por en-
all that. cima de todo.

passionately 1 stormily, turbulently, irascible, furioso,
colrico, vehemente in a stormy or violent manner 2
with passion, apasionado, ardiente, amoroso ; she
kissed him passionately
Miss Brodie said they clung to each 60 La seorita Brodie dijo que se abrazaron
other with passionate abandon on his a p a s i o n a d a m e n t e e n e l l t i m o
last leave. X p e r m i s o del que l disfrut.
I dont think they took their clothes Pero no creo que llegaran a quitarse
off, though, Sandy said, do you? 65 la ropadijo Sandy. T lo crees?

14

Halloween: the festival of All Hallows Day,
celebrated on 31 October
thingummyjig: slang for a thing, or person, of
which the speaker cannot or will not remember
its name, in this instance a penis
Dean Bridge: a bridge over the Water of Leith
in Edinburgh designed by Thomas Telford in
1831
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
No. I cant see it, said Jenny. No. No me lo imagino dijo Jenny.
I wouldnt like to have sexual A m no me gustara tener relaciones
intercourse, Sandy said. 5 sexuales dijo Sandy.
Neither would I. Im going to marry A m tampoco. Me casar con una
a pure person. persona pura.
Have a toffee. 10 Toma un toffee.
They ate their sweets, sitting on the carpet. Sentadas en la alfombra, se comieron los
Sandy put some coal on the fire and the light caramelos. Sandy ech lea al fuego y la luz se
spurted up, reflecting on Jennys ringlets. aviv, reflejndose en los tirabuzones de Jenny.
Lets be witches by the fire, like we 15 Seamos brujas junto a la hoguera, como
were at Halloween. lo fuimos en Halloween.
They sat in the twilight eating toffees Se sentaron a media luz, comieron carame-
and incanting witches spells. Jenny said, los y ensayaron hechizos de brujas. Jenny dijo:
Theres a Greek god at the museum 20 Hay una estatua de un dios grie-
standing up with nothing on. I saw it last go desnudo de cuerpo entero en el mu-
Sunday afternoon but I was with Auntie seo. La vi el sbado pasado por la tar-
Kate and I didnt have a chance to look de, pero estaba con tita Kate y no pude
properly. mirarla bien.
25
Lets go to the museum next Vayamos el domingo que viene al mu-
S u n d a y, S a n d y s a i d . I t s seo sugiri Sandy. Se trata de nuestra in-
research. vestigacin. [29]
Would you be allowed to go alone with 30 Te d e j a r a n i r s o l a c o n m i -
me ? go?
Sandy, who was notorious for not S a n d y, a l a q u e n o l e p e r m i t a n
being allowed to go out and about s a l i r n i a n d a r p o r a h s i n l a c o m p a -
without a grown-up person, said, I dont 35 a d e u n a d u l t o , d i j o :
think so. Perhaps we could get someone Creo que no. Quiz podramos encon-
to take us. trar a alguien que nos llevase.
We could ask Miss Brodie. Podramos sugerrselo a la seorita Brodie.
40
Miss Brodie frequently took the little La seorita Brodie sola llevar a las nias a
girls to the art galleries and museums, so las galeras de arte y a los museos, as que esa
this seemed feasible. idea pareca factible.
But suppose, said Sandy, she 45 Pero supn dijo Sandy que
wont let us look at the statue if its no nos dejase mirar la estatua porque
naked. est desnuda.
I dont think she would notice that it No creo que se fije en si est
was naked, Jenny said. She just 50 desnuda o no dijo Jenny. Sencilla-
wouldnt see its thingummyjig. m e n t e , n o m i r a r s u cosita.
I know, said Sandy. Miss Brodies Lo s dijo Sandy. La seorita
above all that. Brodie est por encima de todo eso.
55
It was time for Jenny to go home Haba llegado la hora de que Jenny re-
with her mother, all the way in the gresara a casa con su madre, atravesando el
t r a m c a r t h r o u g h t h e h a u n t e d puente del Den en el tranva que habra de
November twilight of Edinburgh trasladarlas por el encantado noviembre
across the Dean Bridge . Sandy 60 crepuscular de Edimburgo. Sandy la despi-
w a ved from the window, and di desde la ventana y se pregunt si Jenny,
wondered if Jenny, too, had the feeling al igual que ella, tena la sensacin de lle-
of leading a double life, fraught with var una doble vida, tan llena de problemas
problems that even a millionaire did que ni siquiera un millonario sera capaz de
not have to face. It was well known 65 afrontarlos. Era bien sabido que los millo-
15

rattle hacer sonar como una carraca ; batir o sacudir
con ruido; desatinar, atolondrar, atarantar, aturdir, atu-
rrullar, correr, proferir, articular rpidamente; (mar.)
atar con rebenques. - v. intr. zurri(a)r, matraquear,
rechinar, sonar, guachapear, zangolotearse, repique-
tear; charlatanear, parlotear; (mec.) ratear, moverse
o funcionar con ruido desapacible: to rattle away,
parlotear; rodar a distancia, haciendo ruido; to rattle
down (mar.) arreglar los flechastes.
s. rechin(ad)o, rechinamiento, zumba, zurrido; sona-
jero, sonajillas, matraca; carraca; bramadera; cas-
cabel del crtalo; parla, charla; (in the throat), ester-
tor; rattlebrained, rattle-headed, rattle-pated, ligero
de cascos, casquivano; voluble, voltario; rattlehead,
ratttepate o rattleskull
gym tunic: one-piece dress worn by girls as
part of their school uniform
The Lady of Shalott: poem by Alfred, Lord
Tennyson (1808-92)
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
that millionaires led double lives. narios llevaban una doble vida. El peridi-
The evening paper rattle-snaked its co vespertino entr en el buzn como lo
way through the letter box and there hara una serpiente de cascabel y en la casa,
was suddenly a six-oclock feeling de pronto, se instaur un clima general de
in the house. 5 seis de la tarde.
Miss Brodie was reciting A las cuatro menos cuarto, la seorita
poetry to the class at a quarter to 10 Brodie recitaba poemas en clase con el prop-
four, to raise their minds before sito de elevar el espritu de las nias antes de
they went home. Miss Brodies que regresasen a casa. Mientras lea, la maestra
eyes were half shut and her head entornaba los ojos y echaba hacia atrs la cabe-
was thrown back: za: [30]
15
In the stormy east wind straining, Al soplo huracanado del levante,
The pale yellow woods were waning, los bosques sin color languidecan;
The broad stream in his banks complaining, las aguas lamentbanse en la orilla;
Heavily the low sky raining con un cielo plomizo y bajo, estaba
Over towerd Camelot. 20 lloviendo en Camelot la de las torres.
Sandy watched Miss Brodie through Sandy, con los labios apretados, observaba
her little pale eyes, screwed them smaller a la seorita Brodie con sus ojitos claros, an
and shut her lips tight. ms empequeecidos de tanto forzar la mirada.
25
Rose Stanley was pulling threads from Rose Stanley estaba arrancando unas hebras
the girdle of her gym tu n i c . J e n n y del ceidor de su tnica de gimnasia. Jenny, que
w a s e n t h r a l l e d b y t h e p o e m, nunca se aburra, oa el poema embelesada y
her lips were parted, she was never bored. Sandy boquiabierta. Sandy tampoco se aburra,
was never bored, but she had to lead a double life of 30 aunque, para no aburrirse, tena que in-
her own in order never to be bored. ventarse una vida paralela.
Down she came and found a boat Ella descendi y encontr una barca,
Beneath a willow left afloat, bajo un sauce flotando entre las aguas,
And round about the prow she wrote 35 y en torno de la proa dej escrito
The Lady of Shalott. La dama de Shalott.
By what means did your Ladyship Con qu escribi su seora esas pala-
write these words? Sandy enquired in bras?, pregunt mentalmente Sandy con los
her mind with her lips shut tight. 40 labios fuertemente apretados.
There was a pot of white paint and a En la herbosa ribera del ro ha-
brush which happened to be standing b a p o r c a s u a l i d a d u n b o t e d e p i n t u r a
upon the grassy verge, replied the Lady blanca y un pincel, respondi corts-
of Shalott graciously. It was left there 45 m e n t e l a d a m a d e S h a l o t t . S i n d u d a
no doubt by some heedless member of a l g u n a , l o s d e j a l l a l g n d e -
the Unemployed. sempleado irresponsable.
Alas, and in all that rain! said Qu triste, y debajo de aquel chaparrn!;
S a n d y f o r w a n t o f s o m e t h i n g 50 se dijo Sandy, a falta de algo mejor, mientras la
better to say, while Miss Brodies voz de la seorita Brodie ascenda hasta el te-
voice soared up to the ceiling, and cho y flotaba ondulante entre los pies de las
curled round the feet of the Senior nias de secundaria que estaban en el piso de
girls upstairs. arriba.
55
The Lady of Shalott placed a white La dama de Shalott apoy una mano plida
hand on Sandys shoulder and gazed en el hombro de Sandy y escrut a la seorita
at her for a space. That one so young Brodie durante un rato. Que una persona tan
and beautiful should be so ill-fated in joven y tan hermosa haya sido tan desafortunada
love! she said in low sad tones. 60 en el amor!, musit con pesadumbre. [31]
What can be the meaning of these Se puede saber qu significan esas
words? cried Sandy in alarm, with her palabras? grit Sandy alarmada, con la
little eyes screwed on Miss Brodie and boca apretada y los ojitos arrugados fijos en
her lips shut tight. 65 la seorita Brodie.
16

Mona Lisa: portrait of the wife of Francesco del
Giocondo by Leonardo da Vinci, famous for its
enigmatic smile. It hangs in the Louvre in Paris
The babe leapt in her womb: from The Gospel
According to St Luke, 1:41, foretelling the birth
of Jesus Christ
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
Miss Brodie said: Sandy, are you in La seorita Brodie le pregunt: Sandy,
pain? te duele algo?
Sandy looked astonished. 5 Sandy pareci asombrarse.
You girls, said Miss Brodie, must Nias dijo la seorita Brodie de-
learn to cultivate an expression of bis aprender a mantener la compostura. sa es
composure. It is one of the best assets of una de las mayores virtudes que puede tener
a woman, an expression of composure, 10 una mujer, la compostura, tanto en lo bueno
come foul, come fair. Regard the Mona como en lo malo. Observad el retrato de Mona
Lisa over yonder! Lisa!
All heads turned to look at the Todas volvieron la cabeza para ver la re-
reproduction which Miss Brodie had 15 produccin que la seorita Brodie se haba tra-
brought back from her travels and pinned do de uno de sus viajes y que haba clavado con
on the wall. Mona Lisa in her prime chinchetas en la pared. La Mona Lisa, en la ple-
smiled in steady composure even though nitud de la vida, sonrea con una serenidad im-
she had just come from the dentist and perturbable, aunque acabase de volver del den-
her lower jaw was swollen. 20 tista y tuviese la mandbula inferior inflamada.
She is older than the rocks on which Es ms vieja que las rocas en que est
she sits. Would that I had been given sentada. Ojal me hubiese hecho cargo de vo-
charge of you girls when you were seven. sotras cuando tenais siete aos. A veces, me
I sometimes fear its too late, now. If you 25 temo que ya es demasiado tarde. Si hubieseis
had been mine when you were seven you sido mas cuando tenais siete aos, habrais lle-
would have been the crme de la crme. gado a ser la crme de la crme. Sandy, sal a
Sandy, come and read some stanzas and leer algunas estrofas para que todas podamos
let us hear your vowel sounds. disfrutar de tus sonidos voclicos.
30
Sandy, being half-English, made Sandy, que era medio inglesa, sacaba el
the most of her vowels, it was her only mximo partido a la pronunciacin de las vo-
fame. Rose Stanley was not yet cales. Era lo nico que le daba fama. Rose
famous for sex, and it was not she but Stanley an no era famosa por su aura sexual y
Eunice Gardiner who had approached 35 no fue ella, sino Eunice Gardiner, quien se acer-
Sandy and Jenny with a Bible, c a Sandy y a Jenny con una Biblia para sea-
pointing out the words, The babe larle las siguientes palabras: La criatura se
leapt in her womb. Sandy and Jenny removi dentro del tero de la madre. Sandy y
said she was dirty and threatened to Jenny le dijeron que era una cochina y amena-
tell on her. Jenny was already famous 40 zaron con delatarla. Jenny ya era famosa por su
for her prettiness and had a sweet belleza y, como tena una voz muy dulce, el se-
voice, so that Mr. Lowther, who came or Lowther, que haba sido contratado para
to teach singing, would watch her ensear canto, la observaba con admiracin
admiringly as she sang Come see mientras ella cantaba aquello de Ven a ver
where golden-hearted spring...; and 45 cmo la primavera de corazn dorado..., y le
he twitched her ringlets, the more tiraba de los tirabuzones con [32] osada mani-
daringly since Miss Brodie always fiesta, teniendo en cuenta que la seorita Brodie
stayed with her pupils during the siempre permaneca junto a las alumnas duran-
singing lesson. He twitched her te las clases de canto. Daba un tirn a los tira-
ringlets and looked at Miss Brodie 50 buzones de Jenny y miraba a la seorita Brodie
like a child showing off its tricks and como un nio que presume de sus travesuras,
almost as if testing Miss Brodie to see se dira que examinndola para comprobar si le
if she were at all willing to conspire censuraba aquel comportamiento, tan escasa-
in his un-Edinburgh conduct. mente edimburgus.
55
Mr. Lowther was small, with a long El seor Lowther era bajito, de tor-
body and short legs. His hair and so largo y paticor to. Tena el pelo y el
moustache were red-gold. He curled his bigote de un rubio rojizo. Haca panta-
hand round the back of his ear and lla con la mano detrs de la oreja y se
inclined his head towards each girl to test 60 inclinaba sobre las nias para examinar-
her voice. Sing ah! les la voz. Entona ah!
Ah! sang Jenny, high and pure Y Jenny entonaba un ah! agudo y puro
as the sea maiden of the Hebrides co m o e l d e l a s i r e n a d e l a s i s l a s
whom Sandy had been talking about. 65 Hbridas de la que Sandy le haba hablado.
17
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

swivel girar But her eyes swivelled over to catch Pero con el rabillo del ojo intentaba buscar
Sandys. la mirada de su amiga.

(1) Nombre que recibe el funcionario judicial
que otorga permiso para enarbolar la ban-
dera escocesa. (N. de la T. )
Lord Lyon King-of-Arms: the chief officer of
arms of Scotland
Sybil Thorndike: English actress (1882-1976)
who was best known in the 1930s for her role of
Joan of Arc in Bernard Shaws play St Joan
Miss Brodie ushered the girls from La seorita Brodie sac a las nias de la sala de
the music room and, gathering them 5 msica y, tras agruparlas en torno a ella, les dijo:
about her, said, You girls are my Vosotras sois mi vocacin. Si maana
vocation. If I were to receive a proposal recibiese una proposicin de matrimonio por
of marriage tomorrow from the Lord parte de Lord Lyon King of Arms, (1)l la re-
Lyon King-of-Arms I would decline chazara. En la plenitud de mi vida estoy con-
it. I am dedicated to you in my prime. 10 sagrada a vosotras. Ahora, por favor, formad
Form a single file, now, please, and una fila india y caminad con la cabeza alta,
walk with your heads up, up like Sybil tan alta como la llevara la gran actriz Sybil
Thorndike, a woman of noble mien. Thorndlike, una mujer de porte noble.
Sandy craned back her head, pointed 15 Sandy ech la cabeza hacia atrs,
her freckled nose in the air and fixed her apunt su nariz pecosa al aire y fij sus
little pig-like eyes on the ceiling as she ojos de cerdito en el techo, mientras
walked along in the file. avanzaba dentro de la fila.

What are you doing, Sandy? 20 Sandy, qu ests haciendo?

Walking like Sybil Thorndike, Caminar como Sybil Thorndlike, se-

maam. orita.

One day, Sandy, you will go too far. 25 Algn da llegars muy lejos.

Sandy looked hurt and puzzled. Sandy pareci dolida y desconcertada. [33]

Yes, said Miss Brodie, I have my S dijo la seorita Brodie, te estoy

eye upon you, Sandy. I observe a 30 analizando, Sandy. Aprecio en ti una naturale-
frivolous nature. I fear you will never za frvola. Me temo que nunca pertenecers a
belong to lifes elite or, as one might say, la elite de la vida, o dicho de otra manera, la
the crme de la crme. crme de la crme.

When they had returned to the 35 Cuando regresaron a la clase,

classroom Rose Stanley said, R o s e St a n l e y d i j o :
Ive got ink on my blouse. Me he manchado la blusa de tinta.

tussore A noun 1 tussah, tusseh, tussur, tussore, tusser,
Antheraea mylitta oriental moth that produces
brownish silk Borras de seda de tussah (tusor o
seda salvaje), sin cardar ni peinar
tussore n. (also tusser, US tussah) 1 an Indian or
Chinese silkworm, Anthereae mylitta, yielding strong
but coarse brown silk. 2 (in full tussore-silk) silk
from this and some other silkworms. 3 Silk or silk
fabric from the brownish fiber produced by larvae of
some saturniid moths
Go to the science room and have the
stain removed; but remember it is very 40 tamanchas, pero recuerda que el quitamanchas
bad for the tussore.
Sometimes the girls would put
a little spot of ink on a sleeve of
their tussore silk blouses so that
they might be sent to the science
room in the Senior school. There a
thrilling teacher, a Miss Lockhart,
wearing a white overall, with her
grey short hair set back in waves
from a tanned and weathered
golfer s face, would pour a small
drop of white liquid from a large
jar on to a piece of cotton wool.
With this, she would dab the ink-
spot on the sleeve, silently holding
the girls arm, intently absorbed in
the task. Rose Stanley went to the
science room with her inky blouse
only because she was bored, but
Sandy and Jenny got ink on their
blouses at discreet intervals of four
weeks, so that they could go and
have their arms held by Miss
Lockhart who seemed to carry six
Ve a la clase de ciencias y lmpiala con qui-
es muy malo para el tusor.
A veces, las nias se hacan aposta una
pequea mancha de tinta en la manga de la
45 blusa de tusor para que las enviasen a la cla-
se de ciencias, que estaba en la zona de se-
cundaria. All, una profesora fascinante, una
tal seorita Lockhart, vestida con una bata
blanca, con el pelo gris y corto peinado ha-
50 cia atrs, formando ondas y dejando al des-
cubierto una cara de golfista bronceada y cur-
tida, coga un frasco grande y verta una pe-
quea gota de un lquido blanco en un algo-
dn. Sin decir nada, coga a la nia por el
55 brazo y, absorta en lo que haca, aplicaba con
unos golpecitos leves el algodn humedeci-
do a la manga manchada de tinta. Rose
Stanley se manchaba la blusa de tinta y acu-
da a la clase de ciencias nicamente
60 porque se aburra, pero Sandy y Jenny
se manchaban la blusa de tinta en dis-
cretos intervalos de cuatro semanas para
que la seorita Lockhart las cogiese del
brazo, pues les daba la impresin de que
65 su persona estaba aureolada de un halo de

18
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

box-pleat tweeds: a pleated tweed skirt
inches of pure air around her person aire puro que, estuviese ella donde estuvie-
wherever she moved in that strange- se, envolva aquella clase que ola d e u n a
smelling room. T h i s l o n g r o o m m a n e r a t a n e x t r a a . A q u e l l a e n o r -
was her natural setting and me clase era su espacio natural,
s h e h a d l o s t s o m e t h i n g o f 5 aunque,, para Sandy, la seorita
h e r q u a l i t y w h e n S a n d y L o c k h a r t p e r d i a l g o de su
s a w h e r w a l k i n g f r o m t h e excepcionalidad el da en que la vio salir de la
s c h o o l i n h e r b o x - p l e a t escuela vestida con un traje de tweed ta-
tweeds over to h e r bleado para dirigirse a su coche deportivo de la
sports car like a n 10 misma manera como lo habra hecho cualquier otra
o r d i n a r y t e a c h e r. profesora corriente y moliente.

Miss Lockhart in the science room Pero, en la clase de ciencias, la seorita

was to Sandy something apart,
surrounded by three lanes of long
benches set out with jars half-full of
coloured crystals and powders and
liquids, ochre and bronze and metal grey
and cobalt blue, glass vessels of curious
shapes, bulbous, or with pipe-like stems.
Only once when Sandy went to the
science room was there a lesson in
progress. The older girls, big girls, some
with bulging chests, were standing in
couples at the benches, with gas jets
burning before them. They held a glass
tube full of green stuff in their hands and
were dancing the tube in the flame,
dozens of dancing green tubes and
flames, all along the benches. The bare
winter top branches of the trees brushed
the windows of this long room, and
beyond that was the cold winter sky with
a huge red sun. Sandy, on that occasion,
had the presence of mind to remember
that her schooldays were supposed to be
the happiest days of her life and she took
the compelling news back to Jenny t h a t
the Senior School was going to
be marvellous and Miss
Lockhart was beautiful.
Lockhart era para Sandy algo aparte, rodea-
15 da [34] por aquellas tres hileras de mesas
largas donde se exhiban frascos medio lle-
nos de cristales, de polvos y de lquidos de
colores (ocre, bronce, gris metlico y azul
cobalto), recipientes de cristal de formas
20 curiosas, unos bulbosos, otros similares a
caones de cachimba. Slo una vez tuvo
Sandy la oportunidad de ver cmo se desa-
rrollaba una clase de ciencias. Las nias de
secundaria, las nias crecidas, algunas de
25 ellas con pechos abultados, trabajaban en pa-
rejas delante de llamas de mecheros de gas.
Sostenan con la mano un tubo de cristal lle-
no de una sustancia verde y lo hacan bailar
en la llama. Docenas de bailarines tubos
30 verdes y de llamas a lo largo de las mesas.
Las altas copas de los rboles deshojados
peinaban las ventanas de esa gran habita-
cin y, al otro lado, estaba el fro cielo in-
vernal, presidido por un enorme sol rojo.
35 Sandy, en aquella ocasin, tuvo la presen-
cia de nimo suficiente para recordar que
los aos de escuela iban a ser, en teora, los
ms felices de su vida y le llev a Jenny la
fascinante noticia de que la escuela de se-
40 cundaria iba a ser algo maravilloso y de que
la seorita Lockhart era fabulosa.

All the girls in the science room Todas las nias, en la clase de cien-
were doing just as they liked, said cias, hacen lo que les gusta, y lo que les gus-
Sandy, and thats what they were 45 ta es precisamente lo que tienen la obliga-
supposed to be doing. cin de hacer dijo Sandy.

We do a lot of what we like in Nosotras hacemos muchas cosas que nos

Miss Brodies class, Jenny said. gustan en la clase de la seorita Brodie dijo
My mummy says Miss Brodie gives 50 Jenny. Mi madre dice que la seorita Brodie
us too much freedom. nos da demasiada libertad.

Shes not supposed to give us freedom, No debera darnos libertad, se su-

shes supposed to give us lessons, said pone que tiene que darnos clase dijo
Sandy. But the science class is supposed 55 Sandy. Pero la clase de ciencias es opcional,
to be free, its allowed. y all se les da libertad a las nias.

Well, I like being in Miss Brodies, Bueno, a m me gusta estar en la de la

Jenny said. seorita Brodie dijo Jenny.
60
So do I, Sandy said. She takes an A m tambin dijo Sandy. Mi ma-
interest in our general knowledge, my dre dice que se interesa mucho por nuestra cul-
mother says. tura general. [35]

All the same, the visits to the science 65 De todas formas, las visitas al aula de cien-

19
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

room were Sandys most secret joy, and cias eran la alegra ms secreta de Sandy y cal-
she calculated very carefully the culaba con mucho cuidado los intervalos entre
intervals between one ink-spot and una mancha de tinta y otra, pues no quera que
another, so that there should be no la seorita Brodie sospechase que las manchas
suspicion on Miss Brodies part that the 5 no eran accidentales. Cuando se haca una man-
spots were not an accident. Miss cha, la seorita Lockhart le coga el brazo y
Lockhart would hold her arm and humedeca con mucho cuidado la manga de la
carefully dab the inkstain on her sleeve blusa, mientras Sandy permaneca embelesada
while Sandy stood enthralled by the long ante aquella enorme sala que era el espacio por
room which was this science teachers 10 antonomasia de la profesora de ciencias y ante
rightful place, and by the lawful glamour el glamour intrnseco de todo cuanto haba all.
of everything there. It was on the Aquel da en que Rose Stanley, despus de la
occasion when Rose Stanley, after the clase de canto, fue al aula de ciencias para que
singing lesson, was sent to the science la seorita Lockhart le quitase de la blusa una
room to get ink off her blouse that Miss 15 mancha de tinta, la seorita Brodie hizo el si-
Brodie told her class, guiente comentario:

You must be more careful with your Debis tener ms cuidado con la tinta.
ink. I cant have my girls going up and Mis alumnas no pueden estar subiendo y ba-
down to the science room like this. We 20 jando de la clase de ciencias a cada rato. Debe-
must keep our good name. mos mantener nuestra buena reputacin. Y
She added, Art is greater than aadi: El arte es ms importante que la cien-
science. Art comes first, and then cia. El arte es lo primero. La ciencia viene des-
science. pus.
25
The large map had been rolled El gran mapa del mundo estaba desenrolla-
down over the blackboard because do sobre la pizarra, porque haba dado comien-
t h e y h a d s t a r t e d t h e g e o g r a p h y zo la leccin de geografa. La seorita Brodie
lesson. Miss Brodie turned with her les dio la espalda con el puntero en la mano
pointer to show where Alaska lay. But 30 para mostrarles dnde estaba Alaska, pero se
she turned again to the class and said: volvi de nuevo a la clase y dijo:
Art and religion first; then El arte y la religin son lo primero, des-
philosophy; lastly science. That is the pus la filosofa y, por ltimo, la ciencia. se
order of the great subjects of life, es el orden de las grandes materias de la vida.
thats their order of importance. 35 se es su orden de preferencia.

This was the first winter of the two
years that this class spent with Miss
Brodie. It had turned nineteen-thirty-
one. Miss Brodie had already selected
her favourites, or rather those whom
she could trust; or rather those whose
parents she could trust not to lodge
complaints about the more advanced
and seditious aspects of her
educational policy, these parents being
either too enlightened to complain or
too unenlightened, or too awed by
their good fortune in getting their girls
endowed rates: reduced fees permitted by the
education at endowed rates, or too
money left by the founder of the school
trusting to question the value of what
their daughters were learning at this
school of sound reputation. Miss
Brodies special girls were taken
home to tea and bidden not to tell the
others, they were taken into her
confidence, they understood her
private life and her feud with the
headmistress and the allies of the
headmistress. They learned what
troubles in her career Miss Brodie
encountered on their behalf. It is for
the sake of you girls my influence,
now, in the years of my prime.
This was the beginning of the
Aqul fue el primero de los dos inviernos
que aquella clase pas con la seorita Brodie.
Corra el ao de 1931. La seorita Brodie ya
40 haba seleccionado a sus favoritas o, mejor di-
cho, a aquellas nias en quienes poda con-
fiar... O, mejor dicho an, a aquellas de cuyos
padres poda tener la certeza de que no pre-
sentaran ninguna queja sobre los aspectos [36]
45 ms avanzados y sediciosos de su poltica edu-
cativa, bien porque eran demasiado cultos o
demasiado incultos como para quejarse, bien
porque eran demasiado respetuosos por tener
la suerte de que sus hijas estudiasen en una
50 escuela parcialmente subvencionada o bien
porque eran demasiado ingenuos para cuestio-
nar el valor de lo que sus hijas aprendan en
aquella escuela de slida reputacin. La seo-
rita Brodie invitaba a su casa a las nias espe-
55 ciales a tomar el t, les ordenaba que no se lo
dijeran a las dems nias de la clase y les haca
confidencias. De esa manera, llegaron a cono-
cer su vida privada, as como su enemistad
con la directora y con sus aliadas, y se ente-
60 raron de las dificultades con las que haba
tropezado la seorita Brodie por dedicarse a
ellas como educadora. Lo hago por vuestro
bien. Los mejores aos de mi vida van a ejer-
cer una gran influencia en vosotras.
65 Aqul fue el origen del grupo de

20
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Ariel: spirit in William Shakespeares play The
Tempest who assists Prospero in the pursuit of
his magic schemes
Brodie set. Eunice Gardiner was so
quiet at first, it was difficult to see
why she had been dra w n i n b y
Miss Brodie. But eventually
s h e cut capers for the relief and amusement
of the tea-parties, doing cart-wheels on
the carpet. You are an Ariel, said
Miss Brodie. Then Eunice began to
chatter. She was not allowed to do
cart-wheels on Sundays, for in many
ways Miss Brodie was an Edinburgh
spinster of the deepest dye. Eunice
Gardiner did somersaults on the
mat only at Saturday gatherings
before high teas, or afterwards
o n M i s s B r o d i e s k i t c h e n
linoleum, while the other girls
were washing up and licking
honey from the depleted c o m b off
their fingers as they passed it over to be put
away in the food cupboard. It was twenty-
eight years after Eunice did the splits in Miss
Brodies flat that she, who had become a
nurse and married a doctor, said to her
husband one evening:
Brodie. Al principio, Eunice Gardiner era tan
reservada que resultaba difcil saber por
qu la seorita Brodie haba decidido que
formase parte del grupo. Pero, con el tiem-
5 po, empez a amenizar las reuniones prac-
ticando acrobacias sobre la alfombra.
Eres toda un Ariel, un espritu etreo; le
deca la seorita Brodie. Y luego Eunice
empez a participar en el charloteo. Los do-
10 mingos no poda dar volteretas porque, en
muchos aspectos, la seorita Brodie era una
solterona edimburguesa de pura cepa.
Eunice Gardiner daba volteretas slo en las
reuniones de los sbados, antes de la me-
15 riendacena, o, ms tarde, en el suelo de lin-
leo de la cocina de la seorita Brodie, mientras
las otras nias lavaban los platos y se laman la
miel que les quedaba en los dedos cuando se
pasaban el trozo de panal, ya mermado, para
20 guardarlo en la despensa. Una tarde,
veintiocho aos despus de que Eunice
hubiese hecho el spagat en el apartamen-
to de la seorita Brodie, convertida ya
en enfermera y casada con un mdico,
25 le dijo a su marido: [37]

Next year when we go for the El ao que viene, cuando vaya-

the Festival: the Edinburgh International Festival mos al Festival...
Festival, founded in 1947, takes place each year
for three weeks in August and September Yes? 30 S?

She was making a wool rug, pulling Estaba tejiendo una manta de lana, aunque
at a different stitch. en ese instante tiraba de un hilo distinto.

Yes? he said. 35 S? repiti l.

When we go to Edinburgh, she said, Cuando estemos en Edimburgo dijo

remind me while were there to go and ella, recurdame que vaya a visitar la tumba
visit Miss Brodies grave. de la seorita Brodie.
40
Who was Miss Brodie? Quin era la seorita Brodie?

A teacher of mine, she was full of Una maestra que tuve, una mujer muy
culture. She was an Edinburgh Festival culta. Para ella, el Festival de Edimburgo lo era
all on her own. She used to give us teas 45 todo. Nos invitaba a tomar el t en su aparta-
at her flat and tell us about her prime. mento y nos hablaba de su plenitud.

Prime what? Qu plenitud?

Her prime of life. She fell for an 50 De la plenitud de su vida. Una vez se
Egyptian courier once, on her travels, and enamor de un gua egipcio que conoci en
came back and told us all about it. She uno de sus viajes y cuando regres nos lo con-
had a few favourites. I was one of them. t todo. Tena unas cuantas favoritas. Yo fui
I did the splits and made her laugh, you una de ellas. Haca el spagat y la haca rer,
know. 55 ya me conoces.

I always knew your upbringing was Siempre supe que tu educacin fue un
a bit peculiar. poco rara.

But she wasnt mad. She was as sane 60 Pero no estaba loca. Era de lo ms
as anything. She knew exactly what she cuerda. Saba con exactitud lo que haca.
was doing. She told us all about her love Tambin nos cont todo sobre su vida
life, too. amorosa.

Lets have it then. 65 Cuntamelo!

21
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Oh, its a long story. She was just a
spinster. I must take flowers to her grave
I wonder if I could find it?
5
When did she die?
Oh, es una historia muy larga. Slo era
una solterona. Tengo que llevarle flores a la
tumba... Me pregunto si podr encontrarla.
Cundo muri?

Just after the war. She was retired Justo despus de la guerra. Por aquella
by then. Her retirement was rather a poca, ya no ejerca como maestra. Su retirada
tragedy, she was forced to retire 10 de la profesin fue una enorme tragedia. La
before time. The head never liked her. obligaron a jubilarse antes de tiempo. A la di-
Theres a long story attached to Miss rectora nunca le gust. Hay una larga historia
Brodies retirement. She was betrayed asociada a la destitucin de la seorita Brodie.
by one of her own girls, we were Una de sus propias alumnas la traicion. Nos
called the Brodie set. I never found 15 llamaban el grupo de Brodie. Nunca descubr
out which one betrayed her. quin de nosotras fue la traidora. [38]

It is time now to speak of the long Ha llegado el momento de hablar de aquel

Meccanos: Meccano sets, boys toy
construction sets based on engineering
principles
walk through the old parts of Edinburgh
where Miss Brodie took her set, dressed
in their deep violet coats and black
velour hats with the green and white
crest, one Friday in March when the
schools central heating system had
broken down and everyone else had
been muffled up and sent home. The
wind blew from the icy Forth and the
sky was loaded with forthcoming snow.
Mary Macgregor walked with Sandy
because Jenny had gone home. Monica
Douglas, later famous for being able to
do real mathematics in her head, and
for her anger, walked behind them with
her dark red face, broad nose and dark
pigtails falling from her black hat and
her legs already shaped like pegs in
their black wool stockings. By her side
walked Rose Stanley, tall and blonde
with a yellow-pale skin, who had not
yet won her reputation for sex, and
whose conversation was all about
trains, cranes, motor cars, Meccanos
and other boys affairs. She was not
interested in the works of engines or
the constructive powers of the
Meccanos, but she knew their names,
the variety of colours in which they
came, the makes of motor cars and their
horse-power, the various prices of the
Meccano sets. She was also an
energetic climber of walls and trees.
And although these concerns at Rose
Stanleys eleventh year marked her as
a tomboy, they did not go deep into her
femininity and it was her superficial
knowledge of these topics alone, as if
they had been a conscious preparation,
which stood her in good stead a few
years later with the boys.
With Rose walked Miss Brodie, head
up, like Sybil Thorndike, her nose
arched and proud. She wore her loose
brown tweed coat with the beaver collar
tightly buttoned, her brown felt hat with 65
viernes de marzo en que la seorita Brodie lle-
20 v a pasear por la parte vieja de Edimburgo a
sus nias favoritas, vestidas con sus abrigos de
color violeta y sus sombreros de velvetn ne-
gro, con la copa verde y blanca, porque la ca-
lefaccin central de la escuela se haba ave-
25 riado y les dijeron a las nias que se
abrigasen bien y se fuesen a casa. El viento
soplaba del glacial estuario de Forth y el cielo
amenazaba con nieve. Mary Macgregor cami-
naba junto a Sandy, porque Jenny haba vuelto
30 a su casa. Monica Douglas, que acabara sien-
do famosa por su habilidad para llevar a cabo
operaciones matemticas mentalmente y tam-
bin por su irascibilidad, iba detrs de ellas con
la cara muy enrojecida, la nariz ancha y unas
35 trenzas morenas que le colgaban por debajo del sombrero
negro. Las piernas, ya en forma de tronco, las
llevaba enfundadas en unas medias de lana ne-
gra. A su lado caminaba Rose Stanley, alta y
rubia, de piel muy plida, que an no haba
40 ganado fama por su aura sexual, y cuya con-
versacin giraba en torno a trenes, gras, au-
tomviles, mecanos y otros temas ms propios
de nios. A ella no le interesaba el funciona-
miento de los motores ni las posibilidades cons-
45 tructivas de los mecanos, pero saba referirse a
cada cosa por su nombre especfico, estaba al
tanto de la variedad de colores con que se poda
encontrar en el mercado cada producto, conoca
los distintos precios de los juegos de mecano,
50 as como las marcas y los caballos que tena cada
automvil en particular. Tambin escalaba con
mucha energa muros y rboles. Y aunque el gusto
de Rose Stanley por esos asuntos, a sus once aos,
la marcaron como una marimacho, no hicieron
55 mella en su feminidad, y, como si se trata-
se de una estrategia deliberada, el conoci-
miento superficial de aquellos temas le re-
sult de gran utilidad, unos aos ms tar-
de, de cara a los chicos. [39]
60
Junto a Rose caminaba la seorita Brodie,
con la cabeza erguida, a la manera de Sybil
Thorndlike, con su nariz arqueada y arrogante.
Llevaba su holgado abrigo de tweed marrn con
el cuello de castor bien abotonado y el sombre-

22

Kidnapped: novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
published in 1886. It is set against the Jacobite
rebellion of 1745 and one of the main characters
is the adventurous romantic Jacobite Alan Breck
Stewart who acts as a foil to the staid Lowlander,
David Balfour staid sober, grave,
serious, of quiet and
steady character;
sedate, sensato, sose-
gado, aires serios o se-
veros,
Meadows: an open area on the south side of
Edinburgh, originally the drained ground of the
Burgh Loch
Old Town: the original town of Edinburgh set
on the ridge between the Castle Rock and the
Palace of Holyroodhouse. Until its regeneration
in the 1960s it possessed a large number of
ancient and poverty-stricken slum buildings
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
the brim up at one side and down at the ro de fieltro marrn con el ala alzada por un
other. Behind Miss Brodie, last in the lado y cada por el otro. Detrs de la seorita
group, little Eunice Gardiner who, Brodie iba la ltima del grupo, la pequea
twenty-eight years later, said of Miss Eunice Gardiner, que cada dos pasos daba un
Brodie, I must visit her grave, gave a 5 salto, como si estuviese lista para practicar pi-
skip between each of her walking steps ruetas en la acera en cuanto la seorita Brodie,
as if she might even break into pirouettes dndose la vuelta, le dijese: Ahora, Eunice!:
on the pavement, so that Miss Brodie, De vez en cuando, la seorita Brodie volva a
turning round, said from time to time, quedarse rezagada para hacerle compaa a la
Now, Eunice! And, from time to time 10 nia, a aquella Eunice que, veintiocho aos ms
again, Miss Brodie would fall behind to tarde, dira: Tengo que visitar la tumba de la
keep Eunice company. seorita Brodie
Sandy, who had been reading S a n d y, q u e h a b a e s t a d o l e y e n d o
Kidnapped, was having a conversation 15 Secuestrado, de Robert Louis Stevenson, mante-
with the hero, Alan Breck, and was glad na una conversacin con el hroe, Alan Breck, y se
to be with Mary Macgregor because it alegraba de estar con Mary Macgregor, porque no
was not necessary to talk to Mary. haca falta hablar con ella.
Mary, you may speak quietly to 20 Mary, trata de hablarle a Sandy en voz
Sandy. baja.
Sandy wont talk to me, Sandy no quiere hablarme dijo Mary,
s a i d M a r y w h o l a t e r , i n t h a t que aos mas tarde encontrara la muerte en el
h o t e l f i r e , r a n h i t h e r a n d t h i t h e r 25 incendio de aquel hotel, corriendo por los pasi-
till she died. llos.
Sandy cannot talk to you if you are so Sandy no te hablar si sigues
stupid and disagreeable. Try to wear an siendo tan tonta y antiptica. Mary, in-
agreeable expression at least, Mary. 30 tenta ponerle al menos buena cara.
Sandy, you must take this message Sandy, tienes que llevar este mensaje co-
oer the heather to the Macphersons, rriendo por los brezales a los Macphersons dijo
said Alan Breck. My life depends upon Alan Breck. Mi vida depende de ello, y tam-
it, and the Cause no less. 35 bin el destino de la Causa.
I shall never fail you, Alan Breck, Nunca te fallar, Alan Breck proclam
said Sandy. Never. Sandy. Jams.
Mary, said Miss Brodie, from 40 Por favor, Marydijo la seorita
behind, please try not to lag behind Brodie desde atrs, no te quedes rezagada
Sandy. de Sandy.
Sandy kept pacing ahead, Sandy segua en cabeza del grupo, mante-
f i r e d o n b y A l a n B r e c k w h o s e 45 niendo un ritmo acelerado, estimulada por Alan
a r d o u r a n d t h a n k f u l n e s s , a s Breck, cuyo fervor y gratitud, cuando Sandy se
S a n d y p r e p a r e d t o s e t o f f preparaba para partir, a travs de los brezos,
a c r o s s t h e h e a t h e r , h a d r e a c h e d con el mensaje, haban alcanzado una dimen-
touching proportions. sin conmovedora. [40]
50
Mary tried to keep up with her. Mary intentaba seguirle el paso. En ese
They were crossing the Meadows, a momento, cruzaban los Meadows, un parque
gusty expanse of common land, pblico expuesto a fuertes vientos, donde el
glaring green under the snowy sky. verde resplandeca bajo un cielo que anuncia-
Their destination was the Old Town, 55 ba nieve. Se dirigan a la ciudad vieja, porque
for Miss Brodie had said they should la seorita Brodie les haba dicho que deberan
see where history had been lived; and conocer el escenario histrico de la ciudad, y
their route had brought them to the siguiendo su ruta llegaron a Middle Meadow
Middle Meadow Walk. Walk.
60
Eunice, unaccompanied at the back, Eunice, sola, rezagada del grupo, empez a
began to hop to a rhyme which she saltar a la pata coja, recitando un poema que se
repeated to herself: repeta a s misma:
Edinburgh, Leith, 65 Edimburgo, Leith,
23
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Portobello, Musselburgh Portobello, Musselburgh

And Dalkeith. y Dalkeith.

Then she changed to the other foot. Para cambiar despus al otro pie:
5
Edinburgh, Leith... Edimburgo, Leith...

Miss Brodie turned round and hushed La seorita Brodie se volvi hacia ella y la
her, then called forward to Mary hizo callar. Despus, llam la atencin a Mary
Macgregor who was staring at an Indian 10 Macgregor, que miraba con fijeza a un estudian-
student who was approaching, te indio que se aproximaba.

Mary, dont you want to walk Mary, eme haras el favor de caminar
tidily? ordenadamente?
15
Mary, said Sandy, stop staring at Mary le dijo Sandy, deja de mirar
the brown man. de esa manera al hombre de color caf.

The nagged child looked numbly at La nia amonestada mir aturdida a Sandy
Sandy and tried to quicken her pace. But 20 e intent acelerar el paso. Pero Sandy camina-
Sandy was walking unevenly, in little ba de forma irregular, con pequeos saltos ha-
spurts forward and little halts, as Alan cia delante y pequeas paradas, y Alan Breck
Breck began to sing to her his ditty before empez a cantarle su cancioncilla antes de que
she took to the heather to deliver the ella se dirigiese hacia los brezales para llevar
message that was going to save Alans 25 el mensaje que iba a salvar la vida de Alan. As
life. He sang: deca la cancin:

This is the song of the sword of Alan: sta es la cancin de la espada de Alan,
The smith made it, el herrero la forj, [41]
The fire set it; 30 el fuego la templ,
Now it shines in the hand of Alan Breck. y ahora reluce en la mano de Alan Breck.

Then Alan Breck clapped her Alan Breck le palme el hombro y le

shoulder and said, Sandy, you are a dijo: Sandy, eres una muchacha valiente
brave lass and want nothing in courage 35 y tu valor puede equipararse al que pueda
that any Kings man might possess. poseer cualquier vasallo del rey.

Dont walk so fast, mumbled Mary. No vayas tan rpido mascull Mary.

You arent walking with your head 40 No ests andando con la cabeza ergui-
up, said Sandy. Keep it up, up. da le dijo Sandy. Levntala.

League of Nations: an international
organisation established after the First World
War to maintain world order
arrest 1 a seize (a person) and take into custody,
esp. by legal authority. b seize (a ship) by legal
authority. 2 stop or check (esp. a process or
moving thing). 3 a attract (a persons attention). b
attract the attention of (a person). llamar (la aten-
cin)
1the act of arresting or being arrested, esp. the le-
gal seizure of a person. 2 a stoppage or check
(cardiac arrest).
2. adj. llamativo, fascinante
Then suddenly Sandy wanted to be
kind to Mary Macgregor, and thought
of the possibilities of feeling nice from
being nice to Mary instead of blaming
her. Miss Brodies voice from behind
w a s s a y i n g t o R o s e S t a n l e y,
You are all heroines in the making.
Britain must be a fit country for heroines
to live in. The League of Nations... The
sound of Miss Brodies presence, just
when it was on the tip of Sandys
tongue to be nice to Mary Macgregor,
arrested the urge. Sandy looked back
at her companions, and understood
them as a body with Miss Brodie for
the head. She perceived herself, the
absent Jenny, the ever-blamed Mary,
Rose, Eunice and Monica, all in a
frightening little moment, in unified
compliance to the destiny of Miss
Brodie, as if God had willed them to
birth for that purpose.
De repente, Sandy quiso ser amable con
Mary Macgregor y pens en las posibili-
45 dades que tena de sentirse bien si era ama-
ble con Mary, en lugar de dedicarse a cen-
surarla. La voz de la seorita Brodie, ve-
nida desde atrs, le deca a Rose Stanley:
Todas sois heronas en potencia.
50 Gran Bretaa es el pas idneo para las
heronas. La Sociedad de Naciones...
La voz de la seorita Brodie la oy Sandy
en el preciso instante en que tena en la punta
de la lengua una palabra amable para Mary
55 Macgregor, y aquello le detuvo el impulso.
Sandy volvi la vista hacia sus compaeras y
se las figur como un solo cuerpo del que la
seorita Brodie era la cabeza. Ella se vio a s
misma, a la ausente Jenny, a la siempre amo-
60 nestada Mary, a Rose, a Eunice y a Monica,
unidas todas en un instante aterrador, en una
sumisin unnime con respecto al destino de la
seorita Brodie, como si Dios las hubiese crea-
do para tal fin.
65

24
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

She was even more frightened
then, by her temptation to be nice to
Mary Macgregor, since by this action
she would separate herself, and be
lonely, and blameable in a more
dreadful way than Mary who,
although officially the faulty one, was
at least inside Miss Brodies category
of heroines in the making. So, for
good fellowships sake, Sandy said to
M a r y, I wouldnt be
walking with you if
Jenny was here. And
Mary said, I know.
Then Sandy started to hate herself
again and to nag on and on at Mary,
with the feeling that if you did a
thing a lot of times, you made it
into a right thing. Mary started to
cry, but quietly, so that Miss Brodie
could not see. Sandy was unable to
cope and decided to stride on and
be a married lady having an
argument with her husband:
Well, Colin, its rather hard on a
woman when the lights have fused and
there isnt a man in the house.
Esa tentacin que tuvo de ser amable con
Mary Macgregor le aterr incluso ms, ya que
por ese acto ella misma se aislara del grupo,
hacindose ms solitaria y ms susceptible de
5 resultar censurada de un modo ms severo del
que lo era Mary, que, aunque pasaba por ser la
torpe oficial, entraba al menos en la categora
de heronas futuras que haba establecido la
seorita Brodie. As que, por mantener el buen cli-
10 ma de compaerismo, Sandy le dijo a Mary: [42]
No estara caminando contigo si Jenny
estuviese aqu.
Y Mary le contest:
Lo s.
15 Entonces Sandy comenz a odiarse a s
misma de nuevo y a fastidiar a Mary sin pa-
rar, con el convencimiento de que si una cosa
se hace muchas veces, se convierte en algo
bueno. Mary empez a llorar, pero en silen-
20 cio, para que la seorita Brodie no se diera
cuenta. Sandy ya no pudo aguantarlo ms y
decidi seguir avanzando con su tranco lar-
go e imaginarse que era una dama casada que
discuta con su marido:
25
Bien, Colin, es muy duro para una mujer
que se fundan los plomos y que no haya un hom-
bre en casa.

Dearest Sandy, how was I to 30 Mi queridsima Sandy, cmo iba a sa-

know... ber...?

As they came to the end of the
Meadows a group of Girl Guides came
by. Miss Brodies brood, all but Mary,
walked past with eyes ahead. Mary
stared at the dark blue big girls with
their regimented vigorous look and
broader accents of speech than the
Brodie girls used when in Miss Brodies
presence. They passed, and Sandy said
to Mary, Its rude to stare. And Mary
said, I w a s n t s t a r i n g .
Meanwhile Miss Brodie
was being questioned by
the girls behind on the
question of the Brownies
and the Girl Guides, for
quite a lot of the other
girls in the Junior
School were Brownies.
Cuando llegaron al final de los Meadows,
se encontraron con un grupo de exploradoras.
35 La camada de la seorita Brodie, excepto Mary,
pas junto a ellas con la mirada al frente. Mary
fij la suya en aquellas nias mayores que ellas,
vestidas de azul oscuro, con su reglamentaria
mirada enrgica y con una forma de hablar ms
40 desprejuiciada que la que empleaban las nias
de Brodie en presencia de su maestra. Cuando
pasaron, Sandy le dijo a Mary:
Es de mala educacin mirar de hito en hito.
Mary le contest:
45 Yo no miraba de esa manera.
Mientras tanto, las otras nias del grupo le
preguntaban a la seorita Brodie qu opinin
tena de las exploradoras infantiles y de las ex-
ploradoras juveniles, porque en la escuela pri-
50 maria haba un nmero considerable de alum-
nas que eran exploradoras.

For those who like that sort of Para quienes les gusta esa clase de cosas
thing, said Miss Brodie in her best dijo la seorita Brodie con su mejor entona-
Edinburgh voice, that is the sort of 55 cin edimburguesa, sa es la clase de cosas
thing they like. que les gusta.

So Brownies and Guides De ese modo, dio a entender que las explo-
w e r e r u l e d o u t . S a n d y r e c a l l e d radoras, tanto infantiles como juveniles, que-
M i s s B r o d i e s a d m i r a t i o n f o r 60 daban descartadas. Sandy record [43] la ad-
M u s s o l i n i s m a r c h i n g t r o o p s , miracin que la seorita Brodie deparaba a las
a n d t h e p i c t u r e s h e h a d b r o u g h t tropas de Mussolini, y le vino tambin a la
b a c k f r o m I t a l y s h o w i n g t h e memoria la fotografa que haba trado de Italia
t r i u m p h a n t m a r c h o f t h e b l a c k en la que se vea la marcha triunfante de los
uniforms in Rome. 65 camisas negras por las calles de Roma.

25
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

These are the fascisti, said
Miss Brodie, and spelt it out. What
are these men, Rose?
5
The fascisti, Miss Brodie.
stos son los fascistas les haba dicho
la seorita Brodie, y deletre la palabra. Rose,
quines son estos hombres?
Los fascistas, seorita Brodie.

fascisti: followers of the Italian leader Benito
Mussolini. They took their names from the Latin
fasces, the bound rods and arrows which were
the symbol of authority in ancient Rome
They were dark as anything and all
marching in the straightest of files,
with their hands raised at the same
angle, while Mussolini stood on a
platform like a gym teacher or a
Guides mistress and watched them.
Mussolini had put an end to
unemployment with his fascisti and
there was no litter in the streets. It
occurred to Sandy, there at the end of
the Middle Meadow Walk, that the
Brodie set was Miss Brodies fascisti,
not to the naked eye, marching along,
but all knit together for her need and
in another way, marching along. That
was all right, but it seemed, too, that
Miss Brodies disapproval of the Girl
Guides had jealousy in it, there was
an inconsistency, a fault. Perhaps the
Guides were too much a rival fascisti,
and Miss Brodie could not bear it.
Sandy thought she might see about
joining the Brownies. Then the group-
fright seized her again, and it was
necessary to put the idea aside,
because she loved Miss Brodie.
Iban uniformados de negro de pies a ca-
beza y marchaban en formacin impecable,
10 con los brazos levantados en un mismo n-
gulo, mientras Mussolini permaneca de pie
en una tribuna, como un profesor de gim-
nasia o como una instructora de explora-
doras, y contemplaba el desfile. Mussolini
15 haba acabado con el desempleo con la ayu-
da de sus fascistas y no haba basura en las
calles. A Sandy se le pas por la cabeza
que, all, al final de Middle Meadow Walk,
ellas eran las fascistas de la seorita Brodie, y
20 que todas no slo desfilaban a simple vista, sino
que lo hacan unidas ntimamente, porque la maes-
tra necesitaba, aunque de otra manera, que ellas des-
filasen. Todo eso estaba bien, pero daba la impre-
sin de que en la desaprobacin que la seorita
25 Brodie dispensaba a las exploradoras haba un com-
ponente de envidia, algo contradictorio, un senti-
miento de culpa. Quiz las exploradoras eran riva-
les de los fascistas y la seorita Brodie no poda
soportarlo. Sandy contempl la posibilidad de unir-
30 se a las exploradoras infantiles. Pero el miedo que
le tena al grupo volvi a frenar sus impulsos y se
vio obligada a descartar la idea, porque ella adora-
ba a la seorita Brodie.

We make good company for each 35 Nos compenetramos muy bien,

other, Sandy, said Alan Breck, crunching Sandy dijo Alan Breck, haciendo crujir
beneath his feet the broken glass in the con el pie el vaso roto en el suelo ensan-
blood on the floor of the ships round- grentado de la toldilla del barco. Y, co-
house. And taking a knife from the table, giendo un cuchillo de la mesa, cort uno
he cut off one of the silver buttons from 40 de los botones de plata de su casaca.
his coat. Wherever you show that Dondequiera que vayas y muestres este
button, he said, the friends of Alan botn; le dijo, los amigos de Alan
Breck will come around you. Breck acudirn en tu ayuda. [44]

We turn to the right, said Miss 45 Giramos a la derecha dijo la seorita

Brodie. Brodie.

They approached the Old Town Se aproximaban a la ciudad vieja, aque-

Royal Mile: the name given to the Edinburgh
street which runs from the Castle to
Holyroodhouse. It comprises the Lawnmarket,
the High Street, the Canongate and the Abbey
Strand
which none of the girls had properly
seen before, because none of their
parents was so historically minded as
to be moved to conduct their young into
the reeking network of slums which the
Old Town constituted in those years.
The Canongate, The Grassmarket,
The Lawnmarket, were names which
betokened a misty region of crime and
desperation: Lawnmarket Man
Jailed. Only Eunice Gardiner and
Monica Douglas had already
traversed the High Street on foot
on the Royal Mile from the Castle
or Holyrood. Sandy had been taken
to Holyrood in an uncles car and
had seen the bed, too short and too
lla parte de la ciudad que ninguna de las
50 nias conoca a fondo, porque sus padres
no disfrutaban de tanta conciencia histri-
ca como para animarse a llevar a las jo-
vencitas a la apestosa red de suburbios que
constitua la ciudad vieja en aquellos aos.
55 Canongate, Grassmarket y Lawnmarket
eran nombres que presagiaban una regin
empaada de crimen y desesperacin: En-
carcelado un vecino de Lawnmarket
60 Slo Eunice Gardiner y Monica Douglas
haban ya atravesado High Street, bajando a
pie por la Milla Real desde el Castillo o desde
el palacio de Holyrood. Sandy fue una vez a
Holyrood en el coche de un to suyo y vio la
65 cama, demasiado corta y demasiado ancha, en

26

Mary, Queen of Scots: queen of Scotland
between 1548 and 1567. One of the great
romantic figures in Scottish history, she was
executed in 1587 after being implicated in a plot
against her cousin Queen Elizabeth of England
Grassmarket; open market area on the south
side of the old town of Edinburgh below the
Castle
intimate state or make known, manifestarse, indicar,
dar a entender, a conocer
John Knox: Scottish Presbyterian reformer (c.
1513-70) who opposed the reign of Mary Queen
of Scots. Usually portrayed as a grim and
forbidding figure, he was an authoritative
preacher and the author of a number of important
religious books
Sparks Brodie
broad, where Mary Queen of
Scots had slept, and the tiny room,
smaller than their own scullery at
home, where the Queen had played
cards with Rizzio. Now they were in
a great square, the Grassmarket,
with the Castle, which was in any
case everywhere, rearing between a
big gap in the houses where the
aristocracy used to live. It was
Sandys first experience of a foreign
country, which intimates itself by its
new smells and shapes and its new
poor. A man sat on the icy-cold
pavement, he just sat. A crowd of
children, some without shoes, were
playing some fight game, and some
boys shouted after Miss Brodies
violet-clad company, with words that
the girls had not heard before, but
rightly understood to be obscene.
Children and women with shawls
came in and out of the dark closes.
Sandy found she was holding
Marys hand in her bewilderment,
all the girls were holding hands,
while Miss Brodie talked of history.
Into the High Street, and John
Knox, said Miss Brodie, was an
embittered man. He could never be
at ease with the gay French Queen.
We of Edinburgh owe a lot to the
French. We are Europeans. The
smell was amazingly terrible. In
the middle of the road farther up the
High Street a crowd was gathered.
Wa l k p a s t q u i e t l y, s a i d M i s s
Brodie.
Silvia Barbero
que haba dormido Mary, reina de Escocia, y
la diminuta habitacin, ms pequea que el
propio lavadero de su casa, donde la reina ha-
ba jugado a las cartas con Rizzio, su secreta-
5 rio privado. En aquel momento, se encontra-
ban en Grassmarket, una plaza enorme desde
la que se divisaba el Castillo, que lo dominaba
todo y que se vea desde todas partes, elevado
sobre las casas donde antes viva la aristocra-
10 cia. Fue la primera experiencia que Sandy tuvo
de sentirse en un pas extranjero, en un pas que
se manifiesta por los olores novedosos, por
las formas novedosas y por sus pobres
novedosos. Haba un hombre sentado en la ace-
15 ra, bajo el fro glacial, all, sin hacer otra cosa
que estar sentado. Una multitud de nios, algu-
nos de ellos sin zapatos, jugaban a pelearse y
otros gritaban tras la formacin de abrigos vio-
letas, dedicndoles palabras que las nias del
20 grupo de Brodie no haban odo jams, aunque
saban que eran palabras sin duda alguna obs-
cenas. Nias y mujeres con chales entraban y
salan de oscuros pasillos y callejones. Sandy
se dio cuenta de que, en su desconcierto, haba
25 agarrado la mano de Mary y que las dems [45]
nias tambin iban cogidas de la mano, mien-
tras la seorita Brodie hablaba de historia.
Cuando llegaron a High Street dijo:
John Knox, el autor de la Reforma de
30 la Iglesia escocesa, era un hombre resenti-
do. Nunca se encontr a gusto con la alegre
reina francesa. En Edimburgo debemos mu-
cho a los franceses. Somos europeos:
El olor era de lo ms espantoso. En
35 mitad de la calle, en la parte alta de High
Street, haba una multitud reunida.
Pasad en silencio dijo la seorita
Brodie.

A man and a woman stood in the 40 Un hombre y una mujer estaban de pie
midst of the crowd which had formed a en medio de una multitud que haba forma-
ring round them. They were shouting at do corro alrededor de ellos. Se estaban gri-
each other and the man hit the woman tando y el hombre abofete a la mujer dos
twice across the head. Another woman, veces. Otra mujer, muy bajita, con un pelo
very little, with cropped black hair, a red 45 negro cortado al rape, la cara roja y una boca
face and a big mouth, came forward and muy grande, se meti en la discusin y co-
took the man by the arm. She said: gi al hombre por el brazo, dicindole:

Ill be your man. Yo ser tu hombre.

50
From time to time throughout Alguna que otra vez, a lo largo su vida,
her life Sandy pondered this, for Sandy haba meditado sobre aquella frase, por-
s h e w a s c e r t a i n t h a t t h e l i t t l e que estaba segura de que las palabras de la mujer
womans words were Ill be your bajita fueron Ser tu hombre; no Ser tu
man, not Ill be your woman, 55 mujer; y aquello siempre constituy un miste-
and it was never explained. rio para ella.

And many times throughout her Y muchas veces, a lo largo de su vida, Sandy
life Sandy knew with a shock, when supo, con estupor, cuando hablaba con gente
speaking to people whose childhood 60 que haba vivido tambin su infancia en
had been in Edinburgh, that there Edimburgo, que haba otro Edimburgo del todo
were other peoples Edinburghs quite diferente al que ella conoci y que slo lograba
different from hers, and with which identificar por tener en comn los nombres de
she held only the names of districts los barrios, de las calles y de sus monumentos.
and streets and monuments in 65 De la misma manera, haba gente que vivi de

27
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

percilious Feeling or showing haughty disdain.
Synonyms: haughty, prideful, sniffy, swaggering,
lordly, disdainful Usage: Her face beamed with
satisfaction when the guest eyed the appointments
with a supercilious glance.
common. Similarly, there were other
peoples nineteen-thirties. So that, in
her middle age, when she was at last
allowed all those visitors to the
convent so many visitors being
against the Rule, but a special
dispensation was enforced on Sandy
because of her Treatise when a man
said, I must have been at school in
Edinburgh at the same time as you, Sister
Helena, Sandy, who was now some
years Sister Helena of the
Transfiguration, clutched the bars of the
grille as was her way, and peered at him
through her little faint eyes and asked him
to describe his schooldays and his school,
and the Edinburgh he had known. And it
turned out, once more, that his was a
different Edinburgh from Sandys. His
school, where he was a boarder, had been
cold and grey. His teachers had been
supercilious Englishmen, or near-
Englishmen, said the visitor, with third-
rate degrees. Sandy could not remember
ever having questioned the quality of her
teachers degrees, and the school had
always been lit with the sun or, in winter,
with a pearly north light. But
Edinburgh, said the man, was a
beautiful city, more beautiful then than it
is now. Of course, the slums have been
cleared. The Old Town was always my
favourite. We used to love to explore the
Grassmarket and so on. Architecturally
speaking, there is no finer sight in
Europe.
otro modo la dcada de los treinta. En su me-
diana edad, cuando por fin pudo recibir un gran
nmero de visitas en el convento (las visitas
masivas iban contra las reglas de la congrega-
5 cin, que limitaban el nmero de visitantes,
aunque, a raz de la publicacin de su libro, le
fue otorgada una dispensa especial), un hom-
bre le coment: [46]
Sor Helena, debimos de ir a la escuela
10 en Edimburgo en la misma poca.
Sandy, que por aquel tiempo ya llevaba al-
gunos aos convertida en sor Helena de la
Transfiguracin, agarr los barrotes de la reja,
segn tena por costumbre, lo escrut con sus
15 dbiles ojitos y le pidi que le describiese
cmo era su escuela, cmo haban sido sus
aos escolares y el Edimburgo que haba co-
nocido. Y, una vez ms, result que el de l
haba sido un Edimburgo totalmente diferente
20 del de Sandy. Haba estado interno en una es-
cuela fra y gris. Sus profesores fueron ingle-
ses altaneros, o casi ingleses, precis el visi-
tante, que haban sacado la carrera con las peo-
res calificaciones. Sandy no pudo recordar si
25 alguna vez se haba preguntado por las califica-
ciones de sus profesores, y su escuela siempre
estuvo iluminada por el sol o, en invierno, por
una luz nacarada procedente del norte.
Pero Edimburgo dijo aquel hom-
30 bre, era una ciudad bonita, ms bonita de
lo que es ahora. Claro que ya han desalojado
los suburbios. La ciudad vieja fue siempre
mi favorita. Nos encantaba explorar
Grassmarket y dems. Arquitectnicamente
35 hablando, no hay lugar ms hermoso en toda
Europa.

I once was taken for a walk through A m me llevaron una vez a dar
the Canongate, Sandy said, but I was un paseo por Canongate dijo Sandy
frightened by the squalor. 40 , pero me aterroriz la miseria.

Auden: W[ystan] H[ughJ Auden (1907-73),
English poet who was one of the best known
and most innovative writers of his generation
Eliot: T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot (1888-1965),
English poet and dramatist and one of the
founders of the modern movement in poetry. His
long poem The Waste Land (1922) established
him as the voice of a generation disillusioned
by the First World War. It is revealing that
although Miss Brodie considered herself to be
an innovator she did not teach her set anything
about the poetry of Auden or Eliot
Spanish Civil War: the bitter conflict fought
between Spains republican government and
nationalist insurgents, 1936-39, which
represented a wider struggle between
communism and fascism. Many left-wing
volunteers from Britain served in the
International Brigades on the side of the
republicans. As an admirer of Mussolini and
Hitler, Miss Brodie supports General Francos
nationalists - a curious choice for a
self-confessed educational reformer
Well, it was the thirties, said the Bueno, eran los aos treinta dijo
man. Tell me, Sister Helena, what would el hombre. Dgame, sor Helena, qu di-
you say was your greatest influence ra que le influenci ms durante la dcada
during the thirties? I mean, during your 45 de los treinta? Quiero decir durante su ado-
teens. Did you read Auden and Eliot? lescencia. Lea a Auden y a Eliot?
No, said Sandy. No contest Sandy.
We boys were very keen on Auden 50 A los nios nos gustaba mucho Auden
and that group of course. We wanted to y, por supuesto, todo aquel grupo. Quera-
go and fight in the Spanish Civil War. mos combatir en la guerra civil espaola.
On the Republican side, of course. Did En el bando republicano, como es lgico.
you take sides in the Spanish Civil War Tom usted partido durante la guerra civil
at your school? 55 espaola en su escuela? [47]
Well, not exactly, said Sandy. It Bueno, no exactamente dijo Sandy
was all different for us. . Para nosotras todo fue muy diferente.
You werent a Catholic then, of 60 En aquellos tiempos usted no era ca-
course? tlica, verdad?
No, said Sandy. No contest Sandy.
The influences of ones teens are 65 Las influencias de la adolescencia son

28
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

very important, said the man. muy importantes dijo el hombre.

Oh yes, said Sandy, even if they Oh, s confirm Sandy incluso si te

Calvinism: . ......the system of theology evolved
by the French Protestant reformer John Calvin
(15094) which forms the basis of the
presbyterian Church of Scotland. In its more
extreme form, it has led to the elect who believe
that all their actions are justified, whether morally
right or wrong
provide something to react against.
What was your biggest influence,
then, Sister Helena? Was it political,
personal? Was it Calvinism?
Oh no, said Sandy. But there was
a Miss Jean Brodie in her prime.
She clutched the bars of the grille
as if she wanted to escape from the
dim parlour beyond, for she was not
composed like the other nuns who sat,
when they received their rare visitors,
well back in the darkness with folded
hands. But Sandy always leaned forward
and peered, clutching the bars with both
hands, and the other sisters remarked it
and said that Sister Helena had too much
to bear from the world since she had
published her psychological book which
was so unexpectedly famed. But the
dispensation was forced upon Sandy, and
she clutched the bars and received the
choice visitors, the psychologists and the
Catholic seekers, and the higher journalist
ladies and the academics who wanted to
question her about her odd psychological
treatise on the nature of moral perception,
called The Transfiguration of the
Commonplace.
proporcionan algo contra lo que reaccionar.
5
Sor Helena, qu fue lo que ms le in-
fluy? La poltica, algn factor personal?
Acaso el calvinismo?
10 Oh, no contest Sandy. Fue una
seorita lean Brodie en la plenitud de su vida.
Se agarr a los barrotes de la reja como
si quisiese escapar de aquella sala
penumbrosa que se extenda a sus espal-
15 das. Porque ella no haca como las dems
monjas, que, cuando reciban excepcional-
mente una visita, se sentaban muy al fon-
do de la habitacin, entre la tiniebla, con
las manos cruzadas en el regazo. Sandy se
20 acercaba al visitante y lo escudriaba, aga-
rrndose a los barrotes, y las otras herma-
nas lo comentaban y decan que sor Helena
tena que hacer muchos sacrificios desde
que public su inesperadamente famoso li-
25 bro de psicologa. Pero, a raz de la dis-
pensa, Sandy se agarraba a los barrotes y
reciba a los selectos visitantes: psiclo-
gos, investigadores catlicos, altas damas
del periodismo y acadmicos que queran
30 preguntarle sobre su extrao tratado psi-
colgico sobre la naturaleza de la percep-
cin moral, titulado La transfiguracin de
los tpicos.

St Giles: the High Kirk (church) of St Giles, We will not go into St. Giles, said 35 No vamos a entrar en Saint Giles dijo
founded in the twelfth century and situated in Miss Brodie, because the day draws late. la seorita Brodie, porque la noche se nos viene
the Royal Mile and Edinburghs main But I presume you have all been to St. encima. Pero supongo que todas habis visitado
presbyterian church Giles Cathedral? la catedral de Saint Giles, verdad?

Prodigal Son: parable from the Gospel
according to St Luke, 16: 11-32 in which a
wasteful younger son squanders his inheritance
but is still welcomed back into his fathers
household
Presbyterian: a form of Protestant theology and
doctrine which forms the basis and government
of the Church of Scotland. Like Calvinism it is
generally held to be a rigorously puritanical and
joyless form of religion
They had nearly all been in St. 40 Casi todas haban estado en Saint Giles, con
Giles with its tattered blood-stained sus banderas hechas jirones y manchadas de
banners of the past. Sandy had not sangre pretrita. Sandy no haba entrado nunca
been there, and did not want to go. all, y tampoco quera entrar. El exterior [48]
T h e o u t s i d e s o f o l d E d i n b u r g h de las antiguas iglesias de Edimburgo le daba
churches frightened her, they were 45 miedo por la negrura de la piedra, como si fue-
of such dark stone, like presences sen presencias fantasmales que tuviesen casi el
almost the colour of the Castle mismo color que el pen del Castillo, y por su
rock, and were built so warningly construccin tan amenazadora, con los dedos
with their upraised fingers. levantados a modo de advertencia.
50
Miss Brodie had shown them a La seorita Brodie les haba enseado una
picture of Cologne Cathedral, like a fotografa de la catedral de Colonia. Una cate-
wedding cake, which looked as if it dral que pareca un pastel de boda y que daba
had been built for pleasure and la impresin de haber sido construida para la
festivities, and parties given by the 55 alegra y el regocijo y para que el mismsimo
Prodigal Son in his early career. But hijo prdigo organizara fiestas all durante los
the insides of Scottish churches were primeros aos de su trayectoria de libertinajes.
more reassuring because during the Pero el interior de las iglesias escocesas resul-
services they contained people, and taba ms tranquilizador, porque durante los ofi-
no ghosts at all. Sandy, Rose Stanley 60 cios haba gente, no espectros. Las familias de
and Monica Douglas were of Sandy, Rose Stanley y Monica Douglas eran
believing though not church-going creyentes, aunque no practicantes. Jenny Gray
families. Jenny Gray and Mary y Mary Macgregor eran presbiterianas e iban a
Macgregor were Presbyterians and la catequesis los domingos. Eunice Gardiner era
went to Sunday School. Eunice 65 episcopaliana y afirmaba que no crea en Jess,

29

Episcopalian: literally rule by bishops, but in
Scotland, applied to the Scottish Episcopal
Church
Sparks Brodie
Gardiner was Episcopalian and
claimed that she did not believe in
Jesus, but in the Father, Son and Holy
Ghost. Sandy, who believed in ghosts,
felt that the Holy Ghost was a feasible
proposition. The whole question was,
during this winter term, being laid open
by Miss Brodie who, at the same time
as adhering to the strict Church of
Scotland habits of her youth, and
keeping the Sabbath, was now, in her
prime, attending evening classes in
comparative religion at the University.
So her pupils heard all about it, and
learned for the first time that some
honest people did not believe in God,
nor even Allah. But the girls were set
to study the Gospels with diligence
for their truth and goodness, and to
read them aloud for their beauty.
Their walk had brought them into
broad Chambers Street. The group
had changed its order, and was now
walking three abreast, with Miss
Brodie in front between Sandy and
Rose. I am summoned to see the
headmistress at morning break on
Monday, said Miss Brodie. I have no
doubt Miss Mackay wishes to question
my methods of instruction. It has
happened before. It will happen again.
Meanwhile, I follow my principles of
education and give of my best in my
prime. The word education comes
from the root e from ex, out, and duco,
I lead. It means a leading out. To me
education is a leading out of what is
already there in the pupils soul. To
Miss Mackay it is a putting in of
something that is not there, and that is
not what I call education, I call it
intrusion, from the Latin root prefix in
meaning in and the stem trudo, I thrust.
Miss Mackays method is to thrust a lot
of information into the pupils head;
mine is a leading out of knowledge, and
that is true education as is proved by
the root meaning. Now Miss Mackay
has accused me of putting ideas into my
girls heads, but in fact that is her
practice and mine is quite the opposite.
Never let it be said that I put ideas into
your heads. What is the meaning of
education, Sandy?
To lead out, said Sandy who was
composing a formal invitation to Alan mentalmente una invitacin oficial a Alan
Breck, a year and a day after their breath- Breck, un ao y un da despus de la vertigino-
taking flight through the heather.
Miss Sandy Stranger requests the
pleasure of Mr. Alan Brecks company c i t a l a c o m p a
at dinner on Tuesday the 6th of January B re c k p a r a c e n a r e l m a r t e s d a 6 d e
at 8 oclock. 65 e n e ro a l a s o c h o . [ 5 0 ]
30
Silvia Barbero
sino en el Padre, en el Hijo y en el Espritu San-
to. Sandy, que crea en los fantasmas, conside-
raba que el Espritu Santo era una posibilidad
digna de tener en cuenta. Durante aquel trimes-
5 tre de invierno, la seorita Brodie respondi a
todas las preguntas relacionadas con asuntos
religiosos, ya que, al mismo tiempo que se aco-
ga a la ortodoxia de la Iglesia presbiteriana es-
cocesa de su juventud y que respetaba el do-
10 mingo como da sagrado, durante aquellos aos
de plenitud asista a clases nocturnas de reli-
gin comparada en la universidad. De esa ma-
nera, sus alumnas se enteraron de todo lo rela-
cionado con ese tema y, por primera vez, tuvie-
15 ron noticia de que haba gente honrada que no
crea en Dios, ni siquiera en Al. Pero a las ni-
as se les haca estudiar los Evangelios con di-
ligencia para que conocieran la verdad y la bon-
dad contenidas en ellos y a leerlos en voz alta
20 para que pudieran apreciar su belleza. [49]
El paseo las haba llevado a la ancha
Chambers Street. El grupo haba cam-
biado el orden: tres caminaban a la mis-
25 ma altura, con la seorita Brodie al fren-
te, flanqueada por Sandy y Rose.
Me han llamado para que me presente ante la
directora el lunes por la maana a la hora del recreo
coment la seorita Brodie. No tengo la menor
30 duda de que la seorita Mackay desea preguntarme
sobre mis mtodos de enseanza. Ya ha ocurrido con
anterioridad. Ocurrir de nuevo. Mientras tanto, man-
tendr mis principios pedaggicos y, en la flor de mi
vida, estoy dispuesta a dar lo mejor de m. La palabra
35 educacin viene de la raz latina e, que viene de
ex, que significa sacar; y de duco que significa
guiar: Significa algo que se saca. Para m, la
educacin es sacar lo que ya est dentro
del alma de una alumna. Para la seorita
40 Mackay, es poner dentro del alma algo que
el alma no tiene, y a eso yo no lo llamo
educacin, lo llamo instruccin, del prefi-
jo de raz latina in, que significa en, y de
trudo, meter. El mtodo de la seorita
45 Mackay consiste en meter mucha informa-
cin en la cabeza de una alumna; el mo con-
siste en una extraccin de conocimiento. Y
sa es la verdadera educacin, segn se de-
muestra por el significado de la raz. Aho-
50 ra, la seorita Mackay me ha acusado de me-
ter ideas en la cabeza de mis nias, pero, de
hecho, se es su mtodo, no el mo, que es
completamente distinto. Nunca dejis que
digan que meto ideas en vuestra cabeza.
55 Sandy, qu significa la palabra educar?
Sacar dijo Sandy, que estaba escribiendo
60 sa huida por los brezales.
L a s e o r i t a S a n d y St r a n g e r s o l i -
a d e l s e o r A l a n
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

That would surprise the hero of Aquella invitacin sorprendera al hroe de

John Buchan: novelist and statesman and the
author of The Thirty Nine Steps
devious 1 : OUT-OF-THE-WAY, REMOTE 2
a : WANDERING, ROUNDABOUT <a
devious path> b : moving without a fixed
course : ERRANT <devious breezes> 3 a
: deviating from a right, accepted, or
common course b : not straightforward :
CUNNING; also : DECEPTIVE devious
[means] dudoso; artero [person] taimado,
[path] tortuoso, sinuoso errtico 1. adj.
Vagabundo, ambulante, sin domicilio cier-
to. 2. V. estrella errtica. 3. Med. Que va
de una parte a otra sin tener asiento fijo.
Tortuoso, incierto, vacilante
Kidnapped coming unexpectedly from
Sandys new address in the lonely
harbour house on the coast of Fife
described in a novel by the daughter of
John Buchan of which Sandy had
now by devious means become the
mistress. Alan Breck would arrive in full
Highland dress. Supposing that passion
struck upon them in the course of the
evening and they were swept away into
sexual intercourse? She saw the picture
of it happening in her mind, and Sandy
could not stand for this spoiling. She
argued with herself, surely people have
time to think, they have to stop to think
while they are taking their clothes off,
and if they stop to think, how can they
be swept away?
Secuestrado, ya que inesperadamente estara re-
mitida desde la nueva direccin de Sandy: una
5 solitaria casa portuaria en la costa de Fife des-
crita en una de sus novelas por la hija del escritor
e historiador John Buchan de la que Sandy, tras
unas tortuosas vicisitudes, haba llegado a ser
propietaria. Alan Breck llegara vestido de pies
10 a cabeza con el traje tradicional de las Tie-
rras Altas de Escocia. Y si la pasin
aflorase en el transcurso de la noche y se
viesen arrastrados a una relacin sexual?
Imaginaba la escena y le atormentaba la po-
15 sibilidad de un desenlace decepcionante. Se
deca a s misma, confusa, que la gente ten-
dra que pensar, pararse a pensar mientras
se desnudaba, de modo que si se paraba a
pensar, cmo podra dejarse llevar por la
20 pasin?

That is a Citroen, said Rose Stanley Es un Citren dijo Rose

about a motor car that had passed by. Stanley mientras pasaba un coche.
They are French. Es francs.
25
Sandy, dear, dont rush. Take my Sandy, querida, no te alteres. Toma mi
hand, said Miss Brodie. Rose, your mano dijo la seorita Brodie. Rose, tienes
mind is full of motor cars. There is la cabeza llena de coches. Los coches no tienen
nothing wrong with motor cars, of course, nada de malo, por supuesto, pero existen cosas
but there are higher things. Im sure 30 ms sublimes. Estoy segura de que la mente de
Sandys mind is not on motor cars, she is Sandy no est ocupada con los coches. Ella pres-
paying attention to my conversation like ta atencin a lo que digo, como corresponde a
a well-mannered girl. una chica bien educada.

And if people take their clothes 35 Y si las personas se desnudan unas delan-
off in front of each other, thought te de otras, pensaba Sandy, se trata de algo tan
Sandy, it is so rude, they are bound grosero, que seguro que se ven obligadas a pos-
to be put off their passion for a poner la pasin durante un instante. Y si la
moment. And if they are put off just posponen aunque slo sea por un instante,
for a single moment, how can they 40 cmo pueden dejarse arrastrar por un deseo
be swept away in the urge? If it all impulsivo? Si todo sucede en un abrir y cerrar
happens in a flash... de ojos...

Miss Brodie said, So I La seorita Brodie prosigui:

i n t e n d s i m p l y to point out to 45 As que slo pienso dejarle claro a la
Miss Mackay that there is a radical seorita Mackay que existe una diferencia ra-
difference in our principles of dical en nuestros principios educativos. Radi-
education. Radical is a word pertaining cal es una palabra relacionada con las races.
to roots Latin radix, a root. We Viene del latn: radix, raz. La directora y yo
differ at root, the headmistress and I, 50 disentimos desde la [51] raz. No nos ponemos
upon the question whether we are de acuerdo en si nuestra misin consiste en edu-
employed to educate the minds of girls car la mente de las nias o en inmiscuirnos en
or to intrude upon them. We have had ella. Ya hemos mantenido esa polmica, pero
this argument before, but Miss Mackay la seorita Mackay no es lo que se dice una
is not, I may say, an outstanding 55 persona que se destaque por su sentido lgico.
logician. A logician is one skilled in Una persona lgica es alguien especializado en
logic. Logic is the art of reasoning. lgica. La lgica es el arte de razonar. Rose,
What is logic, Rose? qu es la lgica?

To do with reasoning, maam, said 60 Hacer algo con lgica, seora, dijo
Rose, who later, while still in her teens, Rose, que unos aos ms tarde, siendo an ado-
was to provoke Miss Brodies lescente, se ganara el asombro de la seorita
amazement and then her awe and finally Brodie (y luego su respeto y, por ltimo, un
her abounding enthusiasm for the role gran entusiasmo) por el papel que pareca es-
which Rose then appeared to be 65 tar representando: el de una gran amante, mag-

31
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

enacting: that of a great lover, nficamente elevada sobre la mediocridad de

James Hogg: (1770-1835) poet and novelist,
also known as The Ettrick Shepherd. His long
poem Kilmeny tells the story of a young virgin,
Kilmeny, who is removed for seven years to a
faery or spirit world. It is taken from The Queens
Wake (1813)
magnificently elevated above the las amantes, por encima de las leyes morales.
ordinary run of lovers, above the moral Una encarnacin de Venus, algo fuera de se-
laws, Venus incarnate, something set rie. De hecho, por aquel entonces, Rose no
apart. In fact, Rose was not at the time 5 estaba embarcada en la aventura amorosa que
in question engaged in the love affair la seorita Brodie le atribua, aunque daba esa
which Miss Brodie thought she was, but impresin, y Rose era famosa por su aura
it seemed so, and Rose was famous for sexual. Pero en aquel paseo de invierno, cuan-
sex. But in her mere eleventh year, on do tan slo tena once aos, Rose prestaba
the winters walk, Rose was taking note 10 atencin a los modelos de los coches y la ple-
of the motor cars and Miss Brodie had nitud de la seorita Brodie an no haba pro-
not yet advanced far enough into her gresado lo suficiente como para hablar de sexo,
prime to speak of sex except by veiled excepto a travs de veladas alusiones, como
allusion, as when she said of her warrior cuando dijo de su novio guerrero: l era un
lover, He was a pure man, or when 15 hombre puro; o cuando ley el poema
she read from James Hoggs poem Bonnie Kilmenyde James Hogg:
Bonnie Kilmeny, Kilmeny era todo lo pura que poda ser.
Kilmeny was pure as pure could be and Y aadi: Que es como decir
added, Which is to say, she did not go to 20 q u e e l l a n o f u e a l a c a a d a p a r a
the glen in order to mix with men. mezclarse con los hombres.

When I see Miss Mackay on Cuando vea a la seorita Mackay el

gross y gruesa son doce docenas, como sustantivos, y
gordo, corpulento, craso [error], como adjetivos, pero
gross ha degradado su denotacin a grosero, des-
corts, indecoroso, escandaloso, estpido, ignoran-
te; en 1os negocios se usa para bruto [ganancia],
entradas, beneficios y, en la jerga juvenil, feo, as-
queroso. La idea bsica de grueso, como adjetivo,
es thick, big, fat y, como sustantivo, thickness,
bulk, depth, main body.
Monday morning, said Miss Brodie,
I shall point out that by the terms of
my employment my methods cannot
be condemned unless they can be
proved to be in any part improper or
subversive, and so long as the girls are
in the least equipped for the end-of-
term examination. I trust you girls to
work hard and try and scrape through,
even if you learn up the stuff and forget
it next day. As for impropriety, it could
never be imputed to me except by
some gross distortion on the part of a
traitor. I do not think ever to be
betrayed. Miss Mackay is younger
than I am and higher salaried. That is
by accident. The best qualifications
available at the University in my time
were inferior to those open to Miss
Mackay. That is why she holds the
senior position. But her reasoning
power is deficient, and so I have no
fears for Monday.
lunes por la maana dijo la seorita
25 Brodiele sealar que, segn mi contrato
laboral, mis mtodos no pueden ser censura-
dos, a menos que pueda demostrarse que son
impropios o subversivos, y siempre [52] que
las nias no estn lo suficientemente prepa-
30 radas para el examen de fin de curso. Confo
en que os esforcis y que intentis aprobar
siquiera sea por los pelos, aunque tengis que
empollar el temario y olvidarlo al da siguien-
te. En cuanto a la incorreccin, no me la
35 pueden atribuir, salvo alguna tergiversa-
c i n burda que pudiera hacer algn
t r a i d o r. Y n o c r e o q u e n a d i e m e
t r a i c i o n e . La seorita Mackay es ms joven
que yo y su salario es ms alto. Se trata de un de-
40 talle puramente casual. Cuando yo estaba en la uni-
versidad, las mejores calificaciones que daban eran
ms bajas que las que daban en la poca de la se-
orita Mackay. Por esa razn, ensea en los cur-
sos de secundaria. Pero su capacidad de razona-
45 miento deja mucho que desear, as que no me da
ningn miedo lo que pueda pasar el lunes.

Miss Mackay has an awfully red La seorita Mackay tiene una

face, with the veins all showing, said cara muy roja, y se le notan las venas
Rose. 50 dijo Rose.

I cant permit that type of remark to Rose, en mi presencia no voy a permitir

pass in my presence, Rose, said Miss que se hagan comentarios de ese tipo dijo la
Brodie, for it would be disloyal. seorita Brodie, porque sera desleal.
55
They had come to the end of Haban llegado al final de Lauriston Pla-
Lauriston Place, past the fire station, ce, despus de pasar ante el parque de bom-
where they were to get on a tram car to beros, donde tendran que coger un tranva
go to tea with Miss Brodie in her flat at para ir a tomar el t al apartamento que la
Churchhill: middle-class suburb in south
Edinburgh Churchhill. A very long queue of men 60 seorita Brodie tena en Churchhill. Una
lined this part of the street. They were largusima cola de hombres ocupaba esa par-
without collars, in shabby suits. They te de la calle. Llevaban trajes andrajosos y
were talking and spitting and smoking camisas sin cuello. Hablaban y escupan, y
little bits of cigarette held between middle fumaban colillas que apretaban entre el dedo
finger and thumb. 65 corazn y el pulgar.

32

dole 1 n. 1 (usu. prec. by the) Brit. colloq.
benefit claimable by the unemployed from
the State. 2 a charitable distribution. b a
charitable (esp. sparing, niggardly) gift of
food, clothes, or money. 3 archaic ones
lot or destiny.
v.tr. (usu. foll. by out) deal out sparingly.
on the dole Brit. colloq. receiving State
benefit for the unemployed.
hack I n. 1 corte 2 pey & hum (perio-
dista) gacetillero 3 (caballo) jamel-
go IIv.tr. cortar a hachazos to hack
sthg/sb to pieces, hacer trizas algo/
a alguien III vi Inform piratear
hacking laughs: raucous, coughing laughter
raucous estridente, chilln, ruidoso, escan-
daloso, disagreeably harsh or strident,
hoarse <raucous voices>, boisterously
disorderly
raucous 1 strident unpleasantly loud and
harsh 2 rowdy disturbing the public peace;
loud and rough; a raucous party; rowdy
teenagers
raucous 1 strident unpleasantly loud and
harsh 2 rowdy disturbing the public peace;
loud and rough; a raucous party; rowdy
teenagers
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
We shall cross here, said Miss Cruzaremos aqu dijo la seo-
Brodie and herded the set across rita Brodie, y reuni el grupo para cru-
the road. zar la calzada.
5
Monica Douglas whispered, Monica Douglas susurr:
They are the Idle. Son los parados.
In England they are called the En Inglaterra se llaman
Unemployed. They are waiting to get 10 desempleados. Hacen cola para cobrar el
their dole from the labour bureau, said subsidio de la oficina de empleo infor-
Miss Brodie. You must all pray for the m la seorita Brodie. Todas debis re-
Unemployed, I will write you out the zar por los desempleados. Os [53] escribi-
special prayer for them. You all know r una oracin especfica para ellos. Sa-
what the dole is? 15 bis lo que es el subsidio?
Eunice Gardiner had not heard of it. Eunice Gardiner no tena ni la menor idea.
It is the weekly payment made by Es una paga semanal que concede el
the State for the relief of the unemployed 20 Estado para ayudar a los desempleados y a
and their families. Sometimes they go and sus familias. A veces, antes de ir a casa, se
spend their dole on drink before they go gastan el subsidio en bebida, y los nios
home, and their children starve. They are pasan hambre. Son nuestros hermanos...
our brothers. Sandy, stop staring at once. Sandy, deja ahora mismo de mirar de esa
In Italy the Unemployment problem has 25 manera... En Italia se ha solucionado el
been solved. problema del desempleo.
Sandy felt that she was not staring Sandy tuvo la impresin de que no era ella
across the road at the endless queue la que miraba de manera descarada aquella cola
of brothers, but that it was pulling 30 interminable de hermanos que estaban al otro
her eyes towards it. She felt once lado de la acera, sino que eran los ojos de ellos
more very frightened. Some of the los que tiraban de los suyos. Una vez ms se
men looked over at the girls, but sinti muy asustada. Algunos de los hombres
without seeing them. The girls had dirigan la mirada hacia donde estaban las ni-
reached the tra m s t o p . T h e m e n 35 as, aunque sin prestarles atencin alguna. Las
were talking and spitting a great nias haban llegado a la parada del tranva.
deal. Some were laughing with Los hombres hablaban y escupan mucho. Al-
hacking laughs merging into coughs gunos se rean con risas speras que parecan
and ending up with spits. toses y que terminaban en un esputo.
40
As they waited for the Mientras esperaban el tranva, la se-
t r a m c a r M i s s B r o d i e s a i d , I orita Brodie dijo:
had lodgings in this street when first I La primera vez que llegu a
came to Edinburgh as a student. I must Edimburgo como estudiante me hosped en
tell you a story about the landlady, who 45 esta calle. Debo contaros una historia sobre
was very frugal. It was her habit to come la patrona, que era una persona muy frugal.
to me every morning to ask what I would Todas las maanas tena por costumbre pre-
have for breakfast, and she spoke like guntarme lo que quera para desayunar y ha-
this: Wud ye have a red herrin? no blaba de esta manera: Ta petece arenque
ye wouldnt. Could ye eat a boilt egg? 50 colorao? No, pu Quiere huevo hervo?
no ye couldnt. The result was, I No pu As que, durante todo el tiempo que
never had but bread and butter to my estuve alojada en aquella pensin, lo nico
breakfast all the time I was in those que tomaba en el desayuno era pan y mante-
lodgings, and very little of that. quilla, y en raciones mnimas.
55
The laughter of the girls met that La risa de las nias se fundi con la de los
of the men opposite, who had now hombres que estaban enfrente y que en aquel
begun to file slowly by fits and starts momento haban empezado a entrar __ de ma-
into the labour bureau. Sandys fear nera lenta y a trompicones en la oficina de em-
returned as soon as she had stopped 60 pleo. Sandy volvi a sentir miedo tan pronto
laughing. She saw the slow jerkily como dej de [54] rer. Vio la lenta fila que se
moving file tremble with life, she saw mova a sacudidas, con un temblor de vida,
it all of a piece like one dragons body como un nico organismo, como si se tratara
which had no right to be in the city del cuerpo de un dragn que, aunque no tuvie-
and yet would not go away and was 65 se derecho a estar en la ciudad, se establecera
33
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

unslayable. She thought of the en ella y se hara indestructible. Se acord de

starving children. This was a relief to los nios que pasaban hambre, y aquel pensa-
her fear. She wanted to cry as she miento alivi su miedo. Quera llorar, como
always did when she saw a street lo haca siempre que vea a un cantante calle-
singer or a beggar. She wanted Jenny 5 jero o a un mendigo. Quera que Jenny estu-
to be there, because Jenny cried easily viese all, porque a Jenny se le saltaban las
about poor children. But the snaky lgrimas cada vez que vea a nios pobres.
creature opposite started to shiver in Pero la serpentina criatura que estaba enfren-
the cold and made Sandy tremble te empez a tiritar de fro e hizo que Sandy
again. She turned and said to Mary 10 temblase de nuevo. Se volvi y le dijo a Mary
Macgregor who had brushed against Macgregor, que haba rozado su manga:
her sleeve, Stop pushing. Deja de empujar.

Mary, dear, you mustnt push, said Mary, querida, no debes empujar dijo
Miss Brodie. 15 la seorita Brodie.

I wasnt pushing, said Mary. No estaba empujando replic Mary.

In the tram car Sandy excused En el tranva, Sandy se disculp de ir a

herself from tea with Miss Brodie on 20 tomar el t al apartamento de la seorita Brodie
the plea that she thought she had a con el pretexto de que se notaba un poco res-
cold coming on. Indeed she shivered. friada. En verdad, tiritaba. En aquel momen-
She wanted at that moment to be to, lo que quera era estar dentro de la calidez
warmly at home, outside which even de su casa, ya que, fuera de all, incluso el
the corporate Brodie set lived in a 25 grupo corporativo de Brodie no poda ofrecr-
colder sort of way. sela.

But later, when Sandy thought of Pero ms tarde, cuando Sandy se imagin a
Eunice doing somersaults and splits on Eunice dando volteretas y haciendo el spagat
Miss Brodies kitchen linoleum while 30 en la cocina de suelo de linleo de la seorita
the other girls washed up, she rather Brodie, mientras las otras nias lavaban los pla-
wished she had gone to tea at Miss tos, dese con todas sus fuerzas haber ido a to-
Brodies after all. She took out her mar el t a la casa de la maestra a pesar de todo.
secret notebook from between the Sac el cuaderno secreto de entre las partituras
sheets of music and added a chapter to 35 de msica y aadi un captulo a La montaa
The Mountain Eyrie, the true love de las guilas, la verdadera historia de amor de
story of Miss Jean Brodie. la seorita Jean Brodie. [55]

40

45

-3- 3
50
The days passed and the wind blew Los das pasaban y el viento soplaba desde
from the Forth. el estuario de Forth.

It is not to be supposed that Miss No hay que suponer que la seorita

Brodie was unique at this point of her 55 Brodie era la nica que estaba viviendo el
prime; or that (since such things are punto lgido de su plenitud ni que (dado que
relative) she was in any way off her tales asuntos son relativos) haba perdido de
head. She was alone, merely, in that she algn modo la cabeza. Estaba sola, simple-
taught in a school like Marcia Blaines. mente, porque enseaba en una escuela como
There were legions of her kind during 60 la de Marcia Blaine. En la dcada de los trein-
the nineteen-thirties, women from the ta haba legiones de mujeres como ella, mu-
age of thirty and upward, who crowded jeres de treinta aos para arriba que distraan
their war-bereaved spinsterhood with su afligida soltera, debida a la guerra, con
voyages of discovery into new ideas viajes que les revelaban ideas nuevas y dis-
and energetic practices in art or social 65 ciplinas prcticas en torno al arte, la asisten-

34

Oxford Group: see Buchmanites (Chapter 1)
Scottish Nationalist Movement: campaign for
Scottish independence which came into being
in 1928 with the formation of the National Party
of Scotland. In 1934 the party merged with others
to form the Scottish National Party and it won
its first parliamentary seat in 1945
Hume: David Hume (1711-76), Scottish
empirical philosopher and historian and one of
the great thinkers of the eighteenth-century
Enlightenment. His Treatise on Human Nature
(173910) argues that all thought is based on
experience and not on innate ideas
Boswell: James Boswell (1745-95), Scottish
writer and advocate, best known for his
biography of the English writer Dr Samuel
Johnson
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
welfare, education or religion. The cia social, la enseanza o la religin. Las
progressive spinsters of Edinburgh did solteras progresistas de Edimburgo no ense-
not teach in schools, especially in aban en escuelas, y menos an en escuelas
schools of traditional character like de carcter tradicional como lo era la escue-
Marcia Blaines School for Girls. It was 5 la femenina Marcia Blaine. All, la seorita
in this that Miss Brodie was, as the rest Brodie era, como deca el resto de las sol-
of the staff spinsterhood put it, a trifle teras que integraban el profesorado, una in-
out of place. But she was not out of significancia fuera de lugar. Pero no se en-
place amongst her own kind, the contraba fuera de lugar entre las de su mis-
vigorous daughters of dead or 10 ma clase: las tenaces hijas de comercian-
enfeebled merchants, of ministers of tes, de clrigos, de catedrticos de univer-
religion, University professors, doctors, sidad, de mdicos o de propietarios de in-
big warehouse owners of the past, or dustrias pesqueras, algunos ya muertos o
the owners of fisheries who had envejecidos, que haban dotado a sus hijas
endowed these daughters with shrewd 15 de un ingenio agudo, de una formacin l-
wits, high-coloured cheeks, gica, de una salud de hierro, de mejillas de
constitutions like horses, logical colores subidos, de un espritu fuerte y de
educations, hearty spirits and private rentas. A las tres de la tarde, apoyadas so-
means. They could be seen leaning over bre los mostradores de las democrticas
the democratic counters of Edinburgh 20 tiendas de comestibles de Edimburgo, se
grocers shops arguing with the las poda ver discutir [59] con el encarga-
Manager at three in the afternoon on do del negocio en torno a cualquier tema,
every subject from the authenticity of desde la veracidad de la Historia Sagrada
the Scriptures to the question what the hasta el significado exacto de la palabra
word guaranteed on a jam-jar really 25 garantizado en un tarro de mermelada.
meant. They went to lectures, tried Asistan a conferencias, intentaban mante-
living on honey and nuts, took lessons ner una dieta a base de miel y nueces,
in German and then went walking in aprendan alemn y despus viajaban por
Germany; they bought caravans and Alemania. Se compraban caravanas y ha-
went off with them into the hills among 30 can escapadas a la montaa para acampar
the lochs; they played the guitar, they entre los lagos. Tocaban la guitarra. Finan-
supported all the new little theatre ciaban todas las nuevas compaas teatra-
companies; they took lodgings in the les que surgan. Se hospedaban en los ba-
slums and, distributing pots of paint, rrios bajos y regalaban botes de pintura a
taught their neighbours the arts of 35 las vecinas para ensearles el arte del
simple interior decoration; they interiorismo. Predicaban las innovaciones
preached the inventions of Marie de Marie Stopes sobre el control de natali-
Stopes; they attended the meetings of dad. Acudan a las reuniones del Grupo de
the Oxford Group and put Spiritualism Oxford y sometan el espiritismo a un sa-
to their hawk-eyed test. Some assisted 40 gaz escrutinio. Algunas ayudaban en el Mo-
in the Scottish Nationalist Movement; vimiento Nacionalista escocs; otras, como
others, like Miss Brodie, called la seorita Brodie, se proclamaban a s mis-
themselves Europeans and Edinburgh mas europeas y decan que Edimburgo era
a European capital, the city of Hume una capital de Europa, la ciudad de Hume
and Boswell. 45 y de Boswell.
They were not, however, committee Sin embargo, no eran mujeres que forma-
women. They were not school-teachers. ran parte de ningn tipo de comit. No eran
The committee spinsters were less maestras. Las solteras que se agrupaban en co-
enterprising and not at all rebellious, 50 mits eran menos innovadoras y en absoluto
they were sober churchgoers and quiet rebeldes, sino creyentes practicantes y trabaja-
workers. The school-mistresses were of doras dciles. Las maestras formaban un grupo
a still more orderly type, earning their an ms disciplinado: se ganaban el sustento,
keep, living with aged parents and vivan con sus padres ancianos, daban paseos
taking walks on the hills and holidays 55 por las montaas y pasaban las vacaciones en
at North Berwick. el pueblo costero de North Berwick.
But those of Miss Brodies kind Pero las que estaban en el tipo de la seori-
were great talkers and feminists and, ta Brodie eran grandes conversadoras y femi-
like most feminists, talked to men 60 nistas y, como la mayora de las feministas,
as man-to-man. hablaban a los hombres de igual a igual.
I tell you this, Mr. Geddes, birth Le aseguro, seor Geddes, que el con-
control is the only answer to the problem trol de natalidad es la nica solucin al proble-
of the working class. A free issue to every 65 ma de la clase trabajadora. Si distribuyesen gra-
35
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

household... tis casa por casa...

And often in the thriving grocers Y a menudo, a las tres de la tarde, se oa en

Professor ToveysSunday concerts: musical
concerts mounted by Professor Donald Tovey,
professor of music at the University of Edinburgh
shops at three in the afternoon: las prsperas tiendas de comestibles: [60]
5
Mr. Logan, Elder though you are, Seor Logan, aunque usted sea mayor,
I am a woman in my prime of life, so yo soy una mujer que est en la flor de su vida,
you can take it from me that you get as que djeme que le diga que los conciertos
a sight more religion out of Professor dominicales del compositor Sir Donald Francis
Toveys Sunday concerts than you do 10 Tovey aportan ms religiosidad que el propio
out of your kirk services. servicio religioso.

And so, seen in this light, there was
nothing outwardly odd about Miss
Brodie. Inwardly was a different matter,
and it remained to be seen, towards
what extremities her nature worked her.
Outwardly she differed from the rest of
the teaching staff in that she was still
in a state of fluctuating development,
whereas they had only too
understandably not trusted themselves
to change their minds, particularly on
ethical questions, after the age of
twenty. There was nothing Miss Brodie
could not yet learn, she boasted of it.
And it was not a static Miss Brodie who
told her girls, These are the years of
my prime. You are benefiting by my
prime, but one whose nature was
growing under their eyes, as the girls
themselves were under formation. It
extended, this prime of Miss Brodies,
still in the making when the girls were
well on in their teens. And the
principles governing the end of her
prime would have astonished herself at
the beginning of it.
As que, visto desde esa perspectiva, no
haba nada aparentemente raro en la seorita
15 Brodie. Por dentro, era otra cuestin, y esta-
ba por ver hacia qu extremos le conducira
su naturaleza. Por fuera, se diferenciaba del
resto del profesorado en que an se mantena
en un estado continuo de fluctuacin, mien-
20 tras que las dems no haban tenido la sufi-
ciente confianza en s mismas lo cual era
comprensible para renovar sus ideas, en
particular en lo referido a cuestiones mora-
les, despus de cumplidos los veinte aos. No
25 haba nada que la seorita Brodie no fuese
capaz de aprender todava, y presuma de eso.
Y no fue una anquilosada seorita Brodie la
que les dijo a las nias: stos son los mejo-
res aos de mi vida. Vais a sacar provecho de
30 mi plenitud, sino alguien cuya naturaleza iba
alcanzando su sazn ante ellas, al mismo
tiempo que las nias estaban formndose.
Aquella plenitud de la seorita Brodie se pro-
long incluso cuando las nias haban entra-
35 do ya en la adolescencia. Y los fundamentos
que rigieron el final de su plenitud la hubie-
ran dejado atnita a ella misma al principio
de tal plenitud.

Cimabue: Florentine painter and teacher (c.
1240-1302), best known for his panel paintings
in Pisa, Florence and Assisi. Giotto was one of
his more famous pupils
The summer holidays of nineteen- 40 Las vacaciones del verano de 1931 signifi-
thirty-one marked the first anniversary of caron el primer aniversario de la plenitud de la
the launching of Miss Brodies prime. seorita Brodie. En muchos aspectos, el curso
The year to come was in many ways the siguiente estuvo marcado por la curiosidad
most sexual year of the Brodie set, who sexual de las nias que formaban el grupo de
were now turned eleven and twelve; it 45 Brodie, que entonces haban cumplido once o
was a crowded year of stirring doce aos. Fue un ao repleto de revelaciones
revelations. In later years, sex was only emocionantes. En los aos posteriores, la sexua-
one of the things in life. That year it was lidad slo sera una ms de las cosas de la vida.
everything. Aquel ao lo era todo.
50
The term opened vigorously El curso se inici con el mpetu habitual.
a s u s u a l . M i s s B r o d i e s t o o d La bronceada seorita Brodie estaba de pie de-
bronzed before her class and said, lante de la clase y dijo: [61]
I h a v e s pent most of my summer Una vez ms, he pasado la mayor parte
holidays in Italy once more, and a 55 de mis vacaciones veraniegas en Italia, adems
week in London, and I have brought de una semana en Londres. He trado muchsi-
back a great many pictures which we mas postales y fotografas que podemos clavar
can pin on the wall. Here is a en la pared. Aqu tenemos una del pintor
Cimabue. Here is a larger formation florentino Giovanni Cimabue. En sta vemos a
of Mussolinis fascisti, it is a better 60 los fascistas de Mussolini en formacin; es una
view of them than that of last years fotografa mejor que la del ao pasado. Estn
picture. They are doing splendid haciendo maravillas, segn os contar despus.
things as I shall tell you later. I went Fui con mis amistades a una audiencia que nos
with my friends for an audience with concedi el Papa. Mis amigos le besaron el ani-
the Pope. My friends kissed his ring 65 llo, pero yo consider ms apropiado limitar-

36

lace mantilla: a large lace shawl worn by
Spanish women over their head and shoulders
Botticellis Primavera which means the Birth
of Spring: Primavera, literally meaning Spring,
is an allegorical painting of Venus bedecked with
flowers in a joyful celebration of Spring, by the
Florentine painter, Sandro Botticelli (c.
1445-1510). Miss Brodie displays her
woolly-mindedness here by confusing two
paintings: Spring and The Birth of Venus
Ramsay MacDonald: (1866-1917) the first
British Labour prime minister who formed a
national government with Liberals and
Conservatives in 1931 qualifying examination:
examination taken at the age of eleven to test
the girls before they enter senior school
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
but I thought it proper only to bend me a hacerle una reverencia al anillo. Estaba
over it. I wore a long black gown with deslumbrante con mi vestido negro largo y con
a lace mantilla , and looked mi mantilla de encaje. En Londres, mis ami-
magnificent. In London my friends gos, que gozan de una posicin acomodada,
who are well-to-do their small girl 5 hasta el punto de tener dos nieras (o nanis,
has two nurses, or nannies as they say como las llaman los ingleses) para su nica hija,
in England took me to visit A. A. me llevaron a visitar al escritor Alan Alexander
Milne. In the hall was hung a Milne. En el vestbulo de su casa tena colgada
reproduction of Botticelli s una reproduccin del cuadro de Botticelli que
Primavera which means The Birth of 10 representa el nacimiento de la primavera. Para
Spring. I wore my silk dress with the la ocasin, me puse un vestido de seda estam-
large red poppies which is just right pado con grandes amapolas rojas, que tan bien
for my colouring. Mussolini is one of le va al tono de mi piel. Mussolini es uno de los
the greatest men in the world, far hombres ms grandes del mundo, mucho ms
more so than Ramsay MacDonald, 15 incluso que nuestro Primer Ministro Ramsay
and his fascisti MacDonald, y los fascistas...
Good morning, Miss Brodie. Good Buenos das, seorita Brodie. Buenos
morning, sit down, girls, said the das, nias. Sentaos dijo la directora, que
headmistress who had entered in a hurry, 20 haba entrado a toda prisa y se haba dejado la
leaving the door wide open. puerta abierta de par en par.
Miss Brodie passed behind her with La seorita Brodie pas por detrs de ella
her head up, up, and shut the door with con la cabeza muy erguida y cerr la puerta
the utmost meaning. 25 ostensiblemente.
I have only just looked in, said Slo vena a echar un vistazo,
Miss Mackay, and I have to be off. me tengo que ir dijo la directora.
Well, girls, this is the first day of the Bien, hoy es el primer da del curso
new session. Are we downhearted? No. 30 a c a d m i c o . Ve n i m o s d e s a n i m a d a s ?
You girls must work hard this year at No. Este ao tenis que preparar a fon-
every subject and pass your qualifying do las asignaturas y aprobar el examen
examination with flying colours. Next eliminatorio con buena nota. Recordad que
year you will be in the Senior school, el ao que viene estaris en la escuela secun-
remember. I hope youve all had a 35 daria. Espero que todas os lo hayis pasado
nice summer holiday, you all look muy [62] bien durante las vacaciones de vera-
n i c e a n d b r o w n . I h o p e i n d u e no. Estis muy guapas y muy bronceadas. A
course of time to read your essays su debido tiempo, espero leer las redacciones
on how you spent them. que escribis sobre el tema.
40
When she had gone Miss Cuando se march, la seorita Brodie se
Brodie looked hard at the door qued mirando la puerta durante un rato. Una
for a long time. A girl, not of nia, que no perteneca a su grupo y que se lla-
her set, called Judith, giggled. maba Judith, se ri tontamente. La maestra le
Miss Brodie said to Judith, 45 dijo a Judith:
That will do. She turned to the Eso es lo que haremos.
blackboard and rubbed out with Se volvi hacia la pizarra y borr la larga
her duster the long division sum she always suma divisoria que siempre tena escrita por si
kept on the blackboard in case of intrusions llegaba algn extrao durante la clase de arit-
from outside during any arithmetic period 50 mtica y se daba el caso de que la seorita
when Miss Brodie should happen not to be Brodie no estuviese impartiendo nociones de
teaching arithmetic. When she had done this aritmtica. Cuando termin de borrarla, se vol-
she turned back to the class and said, vi hacia la clase y dijo:
Are we downhearted no, are we Venimos desanimadas? No. Veni-
downhearted no. As I was saying, 55 mos desanimadas? No. Como iba dicien-
Mussolini has performed feats of do, Mussolini ha llevado a cabo hazaas
magnitude and unemployment is even de envergadura y ha reducido el desem-
farther abolished under him than it was pleo incluso ms que el ao pasado. Este
last year. I shall be able to tell you a curso podr contaros muchas cosas. Como
great deal this term. As you know, I 60 ya sabis, no creo que haya que hablar con
dont believe in talking down to aire de superioridad a los nios. Vosotras
children, you are capable of grasping sois capaces de comprender ms cosas que
more than is generally appreciated by vuestros mayores. Educar significa algo
your elders. Education means a leading que se saca. Viene de e, que significa
out, from e, out and duco, I lead. 65 fuera; y de duco que significa guiar.
37

slouch 1 to sit or stand with a drooping bearing, estar
ladeado, bent one side of the brim of (a hat)
downwards
2 to walk or move with an awkward slovenly gait
3 to cause (the shoulders) to droop, ir encorvado
4 a drooping carriage
5 [usually used in negative constructions] (informal)
an incompetent or slovenly person
example: hes no slouch at football
ajada, alicada, cansina,
slouch 1. andar o sentarse encorvado 2. nombre with
a slouch, con los hombros cados, encorvado, shes
no slouch, no es manca
slouch hat a hat with a wide flexible brim.
slouchy lacking erectness or stiffness (as in form or
posture) <a slouchy sweater> <slouchy figures
waiting in line>
***
slough 1 cenagal 2 slough (sadness) 3 abismo (triste-
za) slough (skin)vt mudar la piel slough off mudar
Dante meeting Beatrice: the celebration of the
love of Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) for Beatrice
as expressed in the poems of his Vita Nuova
Rossetti: Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-82),
English painter and poet associated with the
Pre-Raphaelite movement
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
Qualifying examination or no Con examen eliminatorio o sin examen
qualifying examination, you will have eliminatorio, seris partcipes de mis ex-
the benefit of my experiences in Italy. periencias en Italia. Vi el Foro Romano y
In Rome I saw the Forum and I saw the el Coliseo, donde moran los gladiadores
Colosseum where the gladiators died 5 y donde arrojaban a los esclavos a los leo-
and the slaves were thrown to the lions. nes. Un americano vulgar me hizo el si-
A vulgar American remarked to me, It guiente comentario: Parece una enorme
looks like a mighty fine quarry. They y magnfica cantera: Los americanos tie-
talk nasally. Mary, what does to talk nen un habla nasal. Mary, qu significa
nasally mean? 10 hablar nasalmente?
Mary did not know. Mary no lo saba.
Stupid as ever, said Miss Brodie. Ta n t o n t a c o m o s i e m p r e .
Eunice? 15 Eunice?
Through your nose, said Eunice. Por la nariz dijo Eunice.
Answer in a complete sentence, Por favor, contesta con una oracin com-
please, said Miss Brodie. This year 20 pletarog la seorita Brodie. Este curso
I think you should all start answering creo que todas deberais empezar [63] a con-
in complete sentences, I must try to testar con oraciones completas. No se me pue-
remember this rule. Your correct de olvidar esta norma. La respuesta correcta
answer is To talk nasally means to talk sera: Hablar nasalmente significa hablar por
through ones nose. The American 25 la nariz. El americano dijo: Parece una enor-
said, It looks like a mighty fine me y magnfica cantera. Oh, qu disparate!
quarry. Ah! It was there the gladiators Aqul era el lugar donde luchaban los
fought. Hail Caesar! they cried. gladiadores. Ave, Csar!, gritaban. Los que
These about to die salute thee! van a morir te saludan!
30
Miss Brodie stood in her La seorita Brodie estaba delante de la cla-
b r o w n d r e s s l i k e a g l a d i a t o r se con su vestido marrn, saludando como un
w i t h r a i s e d a r m a n d e y e s gladiador, con el brazo en alto y los ojos lan-
f l a s h i n g l i k e a s w o r d . zando destellos como si fuesen espadas.
H a i l C aesar! she cried again, 35 Ave, Csar! volvi a gritar, y se gir
turning radiantly to the window light, radiante hacia la luz de la ventana como si C-
as if Caesar sat there. Who opened sar estuviese sentado all. Quin ha abierto
the window? said Miss Brodie la ventana? pregunt la seorita Brodie ba-
dropping her arm. jando el brazo.
40
Nobody answered. Nadie contest.
Whoever has opened the window Quienquiera que haya abierto la ventana,
has opened it too wide, said Miss la ha abierto demasiado dijo la maestra. Veinte
Brodie. Six inches is perfectly 45 centmetros es la apertura adecuada. Ms de eso
adequate. More is vulgar. One should es una vulgaridad. Se debera tener un sentido in-
have an innate sense of these things. nato para esos asuntos. De acuerdo con el progra-
We ought to be doing history at the ma, en este momento tendramos que estar estu-
moment according to the time-table. diando historia. As que sacad los libros de histo-
Get out your history books and prop 50 ria y sostenedlos en las manos. Os contar algo
them up in your hands. I shall tell you ms de Italia. Conoc a un joven poeta que estaba
a little more about Italy. I met a young sentado a mi lado en una fuente. Mirad, sta es
poet by a fountain. Here is a picture of una postal del cuadro que representa el encuentro
Dante meeting Beatrice it is de Dante con Beatriz en el Ponte Vecchio.
pronounced Beatrichay in Italian which 55 En italiano se pronuncia Beatriche, que
makes the name very beautiful on hace que el nombre sea an ms bonito. Se
the Ponte Vecchio. He fell in love with enamor de ella nada ms verla. Mary, pon-
her at that moment. Mary, sit up and te derecha, no ests en esa postura
dont slouch. It was a sublime moment de s g a r b a d a . . . F u e u n m o m e n t o s u b l i -
in a sublime love. By whom was the 60 me para un amor sublime. Quin
picture painted? pint ese cuadro?
Nobody knew. Nadie lo saba.
It was painted by Rossetti. Who 65 Lo pint Rossetti. Jenny, quin fue
38
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

was Rossetti, Jenny ? Rossetti?

A painter, said Jenny. Un pintor respondi Jenny.

Miss Brodie looked suspicious. 5 La seorita Brodie hizo un gesto suspicaz.

And a genius, said Sandy, to come Y un genio dijo Sandy, que sali en
to Jennys rescue. ayuda de Jenny. [64]

A friend of? said Miss Brodie. 10 Amigo de...? pregunt la maestra.

Swinburne: Algernon Charles Swinburne
(1837-1909), English poet and dramatist,
associated with the PreRaphaelite movement;
his writing was considered to be lacking in
morals, and somewhat risque
Swinburne, said a girl.
Miss Brodie smiled. You have not
forgotten, she said, looking round the
class. Holidays or no holidays. Keep
your history books propped up in case
we have any further intruders. She
looked disapprovingly towards the door
and lifted her fine dark Roman head with
dignity. She had often told the girls that
her dead Hugh had admired her head for
its Roman appearance.
Next year, she said, you will have
the specialists to teach you history and
mathematics and languages, a teacher for
this and a teacher for that, a period of forty-
five minutes for this and another for that.
But in this your last year with me you will
receive the fruits of my prime. They will
remain with you all your days. First,
however, I must mark the register for today
before we forget. There are two new girls.
Stand up the two new girls.
They stood up with wide
eyes while Miss Brodie sat
down at her desk.
De Swinburne contest una nia.
La seorita Brodie sonri.
15 No lo han olvidado dijo, echando una
mirada a la clase. Sigo con las vacaciones o
no? Tened los libros de historia abiertos, por si
acaso aparece otro intruso. Mir la puerta con
gesto de desaprobacin y levant con dignidad
20 su hermosa y morena cabeza romana. A menu-
do, les haba dicho a las nias que su difunto
Hugh admiraba su cabeza porque tena un aire
romano. El prximo ao dijo la seorita
Brodie tendris unas profesoras especialis-
25 tas que os ensearn historia, matemticas y
lengua. Una profesora para cada asignatura.
Cuarenta y cinco minutos para sta, otros cua-
renta y cinco minutos para la otra. Pero en ste,
que ser vuestro ltimo curso conmigo, recibi-
30 ris los frutos de mi plenitud. Os acompaarn
durante todos los das de vuestra vida. Pero debo
pasar lista antes de que nos olvidemos. Tene-
mos dos nias nuevas en la clase. Que se pon-
gan en pie las dos nias nuevas.
35
Las nias se pusieron de pie con los ojos
muy abiertos, mientras la seorita Brodie fue a
sentarse a su mesa.

You will get used to our ways. 40 Os acostumbraris a nuestros mtodos.

What religions are you? said Miss Qu religin profesis? les pregunt la se-
Brodie with her pen poised on the page orita Brodie, con la pluma alzada sobre la p-
while, outside in the sky, the gulls from gina del cuaderno, mientras las gaviotas, veni-
the Firth of Forth wheeled over the das del estuario de Forth, revoloteaban sobre el
school and the green and golden tree- 45 cielo de la escuela y las copas verdes y doradas
tops swayed towards the windows. de los rboles se abanicaban ante las ventanas.

Come autumn sae pensive . . . o natures
decay: lines from the song My Nanies Awa
by Robert Burns leaven in the lump: literally the
substance added to dough to produce
fermentation but in this instance used by Miss
Brodie to describe Sandys superiority to the rest
of the set
Come autumn sae pensive, in yellow Ven, otoo pensativo, con tus gualdas y
and gray, tus grises,
And soothe me wi tidings o natures 50 y dame noticias tranquilizadoras de la putre-
decay faccin de la naturaleza. [65]
Robert Burns, said Miss Brodie Es de Robert Burns dijo la seorita
when she had closed the register. We are Brodie despus de pasar lista. Estamos ya
now well into the nineteen-thirties. I have 55 bien entrados en la dcada de los treinta. El se-
four pounds of rosy apples in my desk, a or Lowther me ha regalado dos kilos de man-
gift from Mr. Lowthers orchard, let us zanas que ha cogido de su huerto. Vamos a
eat them now while the coast is clear comrnoslas, ahora que no hay moros en la cos-
not but what the apples do not come ta... No es que yo no tenga jurisdiccin sobre el
under my own jurisdiction, but discretion 60 hecho de comer manzanas o no, pero la pru-
is... discretion is... Sandy? dencia es... la prudencia es... Sandy?

T h e b e t t e r p a r t o f v a l o u r, La madre de la ciencia, seorita Brodie

M i s s B r o d i e . H e r l i t t l e e y e s contest Sandy, que mir a la maestra em-
l o o k e d a t M i s s B r o d i e i n a 65 pequeeciendo an ms sus de por s peque-

39

seethe 1 estar furioso 2 boil out, bullir, hervir: the
square was seething with tourists, la plaza rebo-
saba de turistas 3 intr. (of a liquid) seethe, foam
violently (the churning sea). 4 tr. agitate or move
(liquid) vigorously, causing it to foam. Encresparse
bestir exert or rouse onself, agitar, darse pri-
sa, incitar, menear, mover, remover
sophisticate v. 1 tr. make (a person etc.) educated,
cultured, or refined. 2 tr. make (equipment or
techniques etc.) highly developed or complex. 3
tr. a involve (a subject) in sophistry. b mislead (a
person) by sophistry. 4 tr. deprive (a person or
thing) of its natural simplicity, make artificial by
worldly experience etc. 5 tr. tamper with (a text
etc.) for purposes of argument etc. 6 tr. adulterate
(wine etc.). 7 intr. use sophistry.
Sparks Brodie
s l i g h t l y s m a l l e r w a y.
Even before the official opening of
her prime Miss Brodies colleagues in
the Junior school had been gradually
turning against her. The teaching staff
of the Senior school was indifferent
or mildly amused, for they had not yet
felt the impact of the Brodie set; that
was to come the following year, and
even then these Senior mistresses
were not unduly irritated by the
effects of what they called Miss
Brodies experimental methods. It
was in the Junior school, among the
lesser paid and lesser qualified
women, with whom Miss Brodie had
daily dealings, that indignation
seethed. There were two exceptions
on the staff, who felt neither
resentment nor indifference towards
Miss Brodie, but were, on the
contrary, her supporters on every
count. One of these was Mr. Gordon
Lowther, the singing master for the
whole school, Junior and Senior. The
other was Mr. Teddy Lloyd, the
Senior girls art master. They were the
only men on the staff. Both were
already a little in love with Miss
Brodie, for they found in her the only
sex-bestirred object in their daily
environment, and although they did
not realise it, both were already
beginning to act as rivals for her
attention. But so far, they had not
engaged her attention as men, she
knew them only as supporters, and
was proudly grateful. It was the
Brodie set who discerned, before she
did, and certainly these men did, that
Mr. Lowther and Mr. Lloyd were at
pains to appear well, each in his
exclusive right before Miss
Brodie.
To the Brodie set Gordon Lowther
and Teddy Lloyd looked rather like each
other until habitual acquaintance proved
that they looked very different. Both were
red-gold in colouring. Teddy Lloyd, the
art master, was by far the better-shaped,
the better-featured and the more
sophisticated. He was said to be half
Welsh, half English. He spoke with a
hoarse voice as if he had bronchitis all
the time. A golden forelock of his hair
fell over his forehead into his eyes. Most
wonderful of all, he had only one arm,
the right, with which he painted. The
other was a sleeve tucked into his pocket.
He had lost the contents of the sleeve in
the Great War.
40
Silvia Barbero
os ojos.
5 Incluso antes de la inauguracin oficial
de la plenitud de la seorita Brodie, sus com-
paeras de la escuela primaria fueron gra-
dualmente ponindose en su contra. El pro-
fesorado de la escuela secundaria se mante-
10 na al margen, o bien pensaba que se trata-
ba de un asunto que tena cierta gracia, por-
que an no haba padecido el impacto que
provocara el grupo de Brodie; incluso du-
rante el curso siguiente, las profesoras de
15 secundaria no se irritaron demasiado por las
consecuencias de lo que denominaban los
mtodos experimentales de la seorita
Brodie. Era en la escuela primaria, entre las
mujeres peor pagadas y peor cualificadas, y
20 con las que se relacionaba a diario, donde
herva la indignacin. La seorita
Brodie tan slo contaba con dos perso-
n a s e n t o d a l a p l a n tilla que no mostraban ni in-
diferencia ni rencor hacia ella. Por el contrario, eran
25 las nicas personas que la apoyaban cuando la acusa-
ban de algo. Se trataba de los dos nicos hombres
que formaban parte del profesorado. Uno era el se-
or Gordon Lowther, el maestro de canto, tanto
de la escuela primaria como de la secundaria, y el
30 otro era el seor Teddy Lloyd, profesor de dibu-
jo en secundaria. Los dos estaban [66] un poco
enamorados de la seorita Brodie, porque era
la nica que les despertaba algn tipo de
atraccin sexual en su entorno diario de tra-
35 bajo y, aunque no se dieron cuent a, ambos
empezaron de alguna manera a rivalizar en-
tre s para atraer su atencin. Pero, de mo-
mento, no haban logrado llamar la atencin
de la seorita Brodie como hombres, ya que
40 ella slo los consideraba aliados y les estaba
or g u l l o s a m e n t e a g r a d e c i d a . F u e e l g r u -
p o d e B rodie el que se dio cuenta, antes que
ella, y sin duda alguna incluso antes que ellos,
de que tanto el seor Lowther como el seor
45 Lloyd, cada cual a su manera, intentaban por
todos los medios mostrar lo mejor de s ante
la seorita Brodie.
Al principio, el grupo de Brodie crea
50 que Gordon Lowther y Teddy Lloyd se pa-
recan un poco, pero a medida que fueron
conocindolos, llegaron a la conclusin de
que eran muy diferentes. Los dos tenan un
tono de piel rojizo, pero Teddy Lloyd era
55 con mucho el que tena mejor figura, el ms
guapo y el ms sofisticado. Se deca que era
medio gals y medio ingls. Hablaba con voz
ronca, como si tuviera bronquitis crnica.
Una guedeja dorada que le caa sobre la fren-
60 te le llegaba hasta los ojos, y lo ms mara-
villoso de todo era que tan slo tena un bra-
zo, el derecho, que era con el que pintaba.
El otro era una manga metida dentro de un
bolsillo. Haba perdido el contenido de esa
65 manga en la Gran Guerra.

anxious
1 inquieto, angustiado, desasosegado, preocupado to
be anxious about sthg, estar preocupado por algo
2 (entusiasmado) interesado, ansioso, con ganas : I
am anxious to meet him, tengo muchas ganas de
conocerle
demonstrative efusivo, expresivo, demostrativo
1 given to or marked by the open expression of
emotion; an affectionate and demonstrative
family 2 (usu. foll. by of) logically conclusive;
giving proof (the work is demonstrative of their
skill). 3 a serving to point out or exhibit. b
involving esp. scientific demonstration
(demonstrative technique). 4 Gram. (of an
adjective or pronoun) indicating the person or
thing referred to (e.g. this, that, those).
demonstrate expresar, manifestar, demostrar
demonstration manifestacin, expresin, demos-
tracin
Sparks Brodie
Miss Brodies class had only once
had an opportunity to size him up
closely, and then it was in a dimmed
light, for the blinds of the art room had
been drawn to allow Mr. Lloyd to show
his lantern slides. They had been
marched into the art room by Miss
Brodie, who was going to sit with the
girls on the end of a bench, when the
art master came forward with a chair
for her held in his one hand and
presented in a special way with a tiny
inflection of the knees, like a flunkey.
Miss Brodie seated herself nobly like
Britannia with her legs apart under her
loose brown skirt which came well over
her knees. Mr. Lloyd showed his
pictures from an exhibition of Italian
art in London. He had a pointer with
which he indicated the design of the
picture in accompaniment to his hoarse
voice. He said nothing of what the
pictures represented, only followed
each curve and line as the artist had left
it off perhaps at the point of an
elbow, and picked it up perhaps at
the edge of a cloud or the back of a
chair. The ladies of the Primavera, in
their netball-playing postures, provided
Mr. Lloyd with much pointer work. He
kept on passing the pointer along the
lines of their bottoms which showed
through the drapery. The third time he
did this a collective quiver of mirth ran
along the front row of girls, then spread
to the back rows. They kept their
mouths shut tight against these
convulsions, but the tighter their lips,
the more did the little gusts of humour
escape through their noses. Mr. Lloyd
looked round with offended
exasperation.
It is obvious, said Miss Brodie, 45
that these girls are not of cultured que estas nias no provienen de familias con
homes and heritage. The Philistines tradicin cultural. Los filisteos se nos echan
are upon us, Mr. Lloyd. encima, seor Lloyd.
The girls, anxious to be of
cultured and sexless antecedents,
were instantly composed by the
shock of this remark. But
immediately Mr. Lloyd resumed his
demonstration of artistic form, and
again dragged his pointer all round
the draped private parts of one of
Botticellis female subjects, Sandy
affected to have a fit of spluttering
coughs, as did several girls behind
her. Others groped under their seat
as if looking for something they had
dropped. One or two frankly leant
against each other and giggled with
hands to their helpless mouths.
41
Silvia Barbero
La clase de la seorita Brodie slo tuvo una
vez la oportunidad de evaluarlo de cerca du-
rante aquel curso. Ocurri bajo una luz tenue,
5 porque haban corrido las persianas para que
el seor Lloyd pudiese proyectar unas
diapositivas. Ese da, la seorita Brodie dis-
puso a las nias en formacin y las condujo a
la clase de dibujo, y, cuando estaba a punto de
10 sentarse con algunas de ellas en el extremo de
un banco, el profesor se adelant con una silla
agarrada con su nica mano y se la entreg de
una manera muy peculiar, flexionado [67] un
poco las rodillas, como si fuese un lacayo. La
15 seorita Brodie se sent noblemente, como
Britania, con las rodillas juntas bajo la hol-
gada falda marrn que le cubra decente-
mente las rodillas. El seor Lloyd proyec-
t unas diapositivas de cuadros de una ex-
20 posicin de arte italiano que haba en Lon-
dres. Con un puntero sealaba el cuadro y
lo explicaba con su voz ronca. Pero no de-
ca nada de lo que la obra representaba,
sino que se limitaba a resaltar con el pun-
25 tero cada curva y cada lnea, como si el
artista no hubiese terminado la obra: poda
sealar un codo, una nube o el respaldo de
una silla, por ejemplo, y recalcar su trazo.
Las doncellas de la Primavera, en sus pos-
30 turas de jugadoras de baloncesto, propor-
cionaron al seor Lloyd mucho trabajo con
el puntero. No dejaba de pasarlo por las l-
neas de los traseros que se transparenta-
ban a travs de las gasas. A la tercera vez
35 que lo hizo, un arrebato colectivo de risa
se expandi por la primera fila y no tar-
d en propagarse entre las filas posterio-
res. Apretaban con fuerza la boca cada
vez que les asaltaba la risa, pero, cuanto
40 ms cerraban los labios para no rerse,
ms se les escapaba la risa por la nariz.
El seor Lloyd mir a su alrededor aira-
damente ofendido.
Est claro dijo la seorita Brodie,
50 Las nias, deseosas de aparentar que tenan
antecedentes familiares cultos y que no se deja-
ban impresionar ante las manifestaciones de la
sexualidad, se apaciguaron de inmediato a raz de
aquel comentario tan severo. Pero tan pronto como
55 el seor Lloyd reanud la explicacin ________y
volvi a pasar el puntero alrededor de las ve-
ladas partes pudendas de una de l a s f i g u -
ras femeninas de Botticelli, Sandy
fingi un ataque repentino de tos y contagi
60 a varias nias que estaban sentadas detrs de
ella. Otras se agacharon, simulando buscar
[68] a tientas algo que se les haba cado. Una
o dos no pudieron aguantarlo ms y empeza-
ron a darse codazos con una risa tonta, tapn-
65 dose la boca con las manos.
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

I am surprised at you, Sandy, said Sandy, me sorprende tu comportamien-

Miss Brodie. I thought you were the
leaven in the lump.
Sandy looked up from her
coughs with a hypocritical blinking
of her eyes. Miss Brodie, however,
had already fastened on Mary
Macgregor who was nearest to her.
Marys giggles had been caused by
contagion, for she was too stupid
to have any sex-wits of her own,
and Mr. Lloyds lesson would never
have affected her unless it had first
affected the rest of the class. But
now she was giggling openly like a
dirty-minded child of an uncultured
home. Miss Brodie grasped Marys
arm, jerked her to her feet and
propelled her to the door where she
thrust her outside and shut her out,
returning as one who had solved
the whole problem. As indeed she
had, for the violent action sobered
the girls and made them feel that,
in the official sense, an unwanted
ring-leader had been apprehended
and they were no longer in the
wrong.
to dijo la seorita Brodie. Crea que eras
la harina que fermentara con mi levadura.
5
La nia dej de toser, levant la vista y par-
pade hipcritamente. Sin embargo, la seorita
Brodie ya haba decidido echarle la culpa a
Mary Macgregor, que era la que estaba ms
10 cerca de ella. Las risas de las dems contagia-
ron a Mary, porque era una nia demasiado
boba como para tener ningn tipo de malicia
en cuestiones de sexualidad, y, a menos que las
explicaciones del seor Lloyd no hubiesen pro-
15 vocado aquella reaccin en el resto de la clase,
ella se hubiese mantenido del todo indiferente.
Pero, en aquel momento, se rea sin pudor al-
guno, como lo hara una nia de mente sucia
perteneciente a una familia inculta. La seorita
20 Brodie agarr a Mary por el brazo, la levant
del banco y la arrastr hasta la puerta. La ech
de la clase y le dio con la puerta en las narices.
La maestra volvi a su asiento como si el pro-
blema ya estuviera del todo solucionado. Y de
25 hecho as fue, porque aquella medida tan drs-
tica hizo que las nias se pusieran serias, a la
vez que les dio la impresin de que, a nivel ofi-
cial, una cabecilla rebelde haba sido arrestada,
de modo que optaron por enmendar su compor-
30 tamiento.

As Mr. Lloyd had now switched his
equipment to a depiction of the Madonna
and Child, Miss Brodies action was the
more appreciated, for no one in the class
would have felt comfortable at being
seized with giggles while Mr. Lloyds
pointer was tracing the outlines of this
sacred subject. In fact, they were rather
shocked that Mr. Lloyds hoarse voice
did not change its tone in the slightest
for this occasion, but went on stating what
the painter had done with his brush; he
was almost defiant in his methodical
tracing of lines all over the Mother and
the Son. Sandy caught his glance towards
Miss Brodie as if seeking her approval
for his very artistic attitude and Sandy
saw her smile back as would a goddess
with superior understanding smile to a
god away on the mountain tops.
Cuando el seor Lloyd cambi la diapositi-
va para que las nias admirasen el cuadro de la
Virgen y el Nio, agradecieron mucho la medi-
35 da que tom la seorita Brodie, porque nadie
en la clase se habra sentido a gusto al tener
que padecer un ataque de risa mientras el pun-
tero del profesor de dibujo recorra los contor-
nos de aquellas figuras sagradas. De hecho, les
40 escandaliz un poco que el seor Lloyd siguie-
ra explicando lo que el artista haba pintado sin
alterar [69] el tono ronco de su voz ni lo ms
mnimo, y casi resultaba insolente la manera
metdica que tena de sealar con el puntero
45 los contornos de la Madre y del Hijo. Sandy lo
sorprendi mirando a la seorita Brodie, como
si buscase en ella algn tipo de aprobacin a su
meticulosa disertacin artstica, y vio cmo ella
le corresponda con una sonrisa, una sonrisa
50 como la que una diosa clarividente dedicara a
un dios en la cumbre del Olimpo.

It was not long after this that Monica Unos das ms tarde, Monica Douglas,
Douglas, later famous for mathematics que llegara a ser famosa por sus habilida-
and anger, claimed that she had seen Mr. 55 des matemticas y por su irascibilidad, afir-
Lloyd in the act of kissing Miss Brodie. m que haba visto al seor Lloyd besando
She was very definite about it in her a la seorita Brodie. Se lo asegur con fir-
report to the five other members of the meza a las otras cinco integrantes del gru-
Brodie set. There was a general excited po, que mostraron una excitacin incrdula
difficulty in believing her. 60 ante aquella afirmacin.

When? Cundo?

Where? Dnde?
65

42
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

In the art room after school Ayer, en el aula de dibujo, despus de

yesterday. las clases.

What were you doing in the art Qu estabas haciendo all?

room? said Sandy who took up the role 5 l e p r e g u n t S a n d y, q u e a d o p t e l p a -
of cross-examiner. pel de interrogadora.

I went to get a new sketch pad. Fui a coger un bloc de dibujo nuevo.

Why? You havent finished your old 10 Por qu? An no has terminado el
sketch pad yet. anterior.

I have, said Monica. S. Lo termin dijo Monica.

When did you use up your old sketch pad? 15 Cundo lo terminaste?

Last Saturday afternoon when you El sbado pasado por la tarde, cuando t
were playing golf with Miss Brodie. estabais jugando al golf con la seorita Brodie.

It was true that Jenny and Sandy had 20 Era verdad que Jenny y Sandy haban com-
done nine holes on the Braid Hills course pletado nueve hoyos en el campo de golf de
with Miss Brodie on the previous Braid Hills con la maestra el sbado pasado,
Saturday, while the rest of the Brodie set mientras que el resto del grupo se dedic a pa-
wandered afield to sketch. sar el tiempo dibujando.
25
Monica used up all her book. She Monica termin el bloc. Dibuj los Tee
did the Tee Woods from five angles, said Woods desde cinco ngulos distintos confir-
Rose Stanley in verification. m Rose Stanley.

What part of the art room were they 30 En qu parte de la clase estaban?
standing in? Sandy said. pregunt Sandy. [70]

The far side, Monica said. I know Al fondo contest Monica. Slo
he had his arm round her and was kissing s que la rodeaba con el brazo y que la be-
her. They jumped apart when I opened 35 saba. Cuando abr la puerta, se separaron
the door. bruscamente.

Which arm? Sandy Qu brazo? la interrumpi Sandy con

snapped. brusquedad.
40
The right of course, he hasnt got a left. El derecho, por supuesto. No tiene otro.

Were you inside or outside the room
when you saw them? Sandy said.
45
Well, in and out. I saw them, I tell
you.
Estabas dentro o fuera de la clase cuan-
do los viste? le pregunt Sandy.
Bueno, ni dentro ni fuera. Pero te digo
que los vi.

What did they say? Jenny said. Te dijeron algo? le pregunt Jenny.
50
They didnt see me, said Monica. No me vieron le contest Monica. Me
I just turned and ran away. di la vuelta y ech a correr.

Was it a long and lingering kiss? Fue un beso largo y apasionado? pre-
Sandy demanded, while Jenny came 55 gunt Sandy, mientras Jenny se acercaba para
closer to hear the answer. or la respuesta.

Monica cast the corner of her eye up Monica levant el rabillo del ojo al techo
to the ceiling as if doing mental como si estuviese haciendo una operacin ma-
arithmetic. Then when her calculation 60 temtica y, una vez hechos sus clculos, res-
was finished she said, Yes it was. pondi que s.

How do you know if you didnt Cmo puedes saber que fue largo y apasio-
stop to see how long it was? nado si ni siquiera te detuviste para verlo?
65

43
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

I know, said Monica, getting Lo s por lo poco que vi le respondi

angry, by the bit that I did see. It was Monica, que empezaba a perder los nervios. Lo
a small bit of a good long kiss that I que vi fue el fragmento de un beso bien largo, y
saw, I could see it by his arm being lo deduzco porque l la rodeaba con el brazo y
round her, and 5 porque...

I dont believe all this, Sandy No me creo nada le dijo Sandy chi-
said squeakily, because she was llando, porque estaba nerviosa, intentando
excited and desperately trying to poner a prueba desesperadamente lo que ha-
prove the report true by eliminating 10 ba de verdad en aquello mediante el mto-
the doubts. You must have been do de ir eliminando dudas. Has debido de
dreaming, she said. imaginrtelo.

Monica pecked with the fingers of her En ese momento, la ira de Monica se
right hand at Sandys arm, and pinched 15 desbord y le dio un pellizco retorcido a
the skin of it with a nasty half-turn. Sandy Sandy en el brazo. Sandy grit y Monica,
screamed. Monica, whose face was que empezaba a ponerse muy colorada,
becoming very red, swung the attach cogi la maleta en que llevaba los libros
case which held her books, so that it hit y la agit a diestro y siniestro, golpean-
the girls who stood in its path and made 20 do a las nias que estaban a su lado. To-
them stand back from her. das retrocedieron.

Shes losing her temper, said Eunice
Gardiner, skipping.
I dont believe what she says,
said Sandy, desperately trying to
visualise the scene in the art room and
to goad factual Monica into
describing it with due feeling.
Est perdiendo los estribos dijo Eunice
Gardiner, dando saltos. [71]
25
No me creo lo que dices le dijo Sandy,
desesperada por imaginarse la escena que tuvo
lugar en la clase de dibujo, intentando espo-
lear a Monica para que describiese los hechos
30 de manera fidedigna.

I believe it, said Rose. Mr. Yo s me lo creo dijo Rose. El se-

Lloyd is an artist and Miss Brodie or Lloyd es un artista y la seorita Brodie tam-
is artistic too. bin tiene dotes artsticas.
35
Jenny said, Didnt they see the No se dieron cuenta de que la puerta se
door opening? abra? pregunt Jenny.

Yes, said Monica, they jumped Scontest Monica, se separaron de

apart as I opened the door. 40 golpe en cuanto la abr.

How did you know they didnt see Cmo sabes que no te vieron? le pre-
you? Sandy said. gunt Sandy.

demonstrative efusivo, expresivo, demostrativo
1 given to or marked by the open expression of
emotion; an affectionate and demonstrative
family 2 (usu. foll. by of) logically conclusive;
giving proof (the work is demonstrative of their
skill). 3 a serving to point out or exhibit. b
involving esp. scientific demonstration
(demonstrative technique). 4 Gram. (of an
adjective or pronoun) indicating the person or
thing referred to (e.g. this, that, those).
demonstrate expresar, manifestar, demostrar
demonstration manifestacin, expresin, demos-
tracin
I got away before they turned round. 45 Me fui antes de que se dieran la vuelta.
They were standing at the far end of the Estaban al fondo de la habitacin, junto a la
room beside the still-life curtain. She cortina que est estampada con bodegones.
went to the classroom door and Se dirigi a la puerta de la clase e hizo una
demonstrated her quick get-away. This simulacin de su rpida huida. Aquello no sa-
was not dramatically satisfying to Sandy 50 tisfizo a Sandy desde el punto de vista dramti-
who went out of the classroom, opened the co. As que Sandy sali de la habitacin, abri
door, looked, opened her eyes in a startled la puerta, mir dentro con ojos sorprendidos,
way, gasped and retreated in a flash. She dio un gritito y retrocedi en un pisps. Pare-
seemed satisfied by her experimental ci darse por satisfecha con aquella reconstruc-
renactment but it so delighted her 55 cin experimental, pero le hizo tanta gracia a
friends that she repeated it. Miss sus amigas que tuvo que repetirla. La seorita
Brodie came up behind her on her Brodie apareci tras ella cuando iba por su cuar-
fourth performance which had reached ta demostracin, que haba alcanzado ya un gra-
a state of extreme flourish. do extremo de floritura.
60
What are you doing, Sandy? said Sandy, qu ests haciendo? le pre-
Miss Brodie. gunt la seorita Brodie.

O n l y p l a y i n g , s a i d S a n d y, Slo estoy jugando le contest Sandy,

photographing this new Miss Brodie 65 como si hiciera una fotografa de esa nueva se-

44
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

with her little eyes. orita Brodie con sus ojitos.

The question of whether Miss Brodie 5 La pregunta de si la seorita Brodie era

was actually capable of being kissed and
of kissing occupied the Brodie set till
Christmas. For the war-time romance of
her life had presented to their minds a
Miss Brodie of hardly flesh and blood,
since that younger Miss Brodie belonged
to the prehistory of before their birth.
Sitting under the elm last autumn, Miss
Brodies story of when I was a girl had
seemed much less real, and yet more
believable than this report by Monica
Douglas. The Brodie set decided to keep
the incident to themselves lest, if it should
spread to the rest of the class, it should
spread wider still and eventually to
someones ears who would get Monica
Douglas into trouble.
capaz en realidad de besar y de ser besada
mantuvo en vilo al grupo hasta las navida-
des. Porque aquel noviazgo que tuvo la maes-
tra durante [72] la guerra les haba hecho ima-
10 ginarse a una seorita Brodie que no era de
carne y hueso, ya que aquella versin juvenil
de la seorita Brodie perteneca a la prehis-
toria, a un periodo previo al nacimiento de
las nias. Aquella historia suya de juventud
15 que la maestra les cont un da otoal bajo el
olmo les haba parecido mucho ms irreal, y
sin embargo ms creble, que la que les ha-
ba contado Monica Douglas. El grupo deci-
di mantener el secreto. Pensaron que si se
20 lo contaban al resto de la clase, se propaga-
ra an ms y podra llegar a odos de alguien
y meter a Monica en un lo.

There was, indeed, a change in Miss En realidad, se produjo un cambio en la

Brodie. It was not merely that Sandy 25 seorita Brodie. No era slo que Sandy y Jenny,
and Jenny, recasting her in their minds, que mentalmente le haban asignado un nuevo
now began to try to imagine her as rol, empezaban a intentar imaginrsela como
someone called Jean. There was a alguien llamada Jean. No, era que de verdad
change in herself. She wore newer haba cambiado. Haba renovado su vestuario
clothes and with them a glowing amber 30 y llevaba un luminoso collar de mbar, de m-
necklace which was of such real amber bar autntico, y, para demostrar su autentici-
that, as she once showed them, it had dad, en una ocasin les hizo una demostracin
magnetic properties when rubbed and de las propiedades magnticas que tena al fro-
then applied to a piece of paper. tarlo, atrayendo trocitos de papel.
35
The change in Miss Brodie was best El cambio de la seorita Brodie se aprecia-
discerned by comparison with the other ba mejor cuando se la comparaba con las otras
teachers in the Junior school. If you maestras de la escuela primaria. Si se las ob-
looked at them and then looked at Miss servaba a ellas y despus a la seorita Brodie,
Brodie it was more possible to imagine 40 resultaba ms probable imaginrsela entregada
her giving herself up to kissing. al acto de besar.

Jenny and Sandy wondered if Mr. Jenny y Sandy se preguntaban si el seor

Lloyd and Miss Brodie had gone Lloyd y la seorita Brodie haban ido ms all
further that day in the art room, and 45 el da en que estuvieron en la clase de dibujo y
had been swept away by passion. They si se habran dejado llevar por la pasin. No
kept an eye on Miss Brodies stomach quitaban los ojos de la barriga de la maestra
to see if it showed signs of swelling. para ver si mostraba seales de embarazo. Al-
Some days, if they were bored, they gunos das, si estaban aburridas, decidan que
decided it had begun to swell. But on 50 haba empezado a hincharse. Pero los das en
Miss Brodies entertaining days they que se divertan en clase, se daban cuenta de
found her stomach as flat as ever and que la barriga de la maestra estaba tan lisa como
at these times even agreed together siempre y, en esas ocasiones, incluso coinci-
t h a t M o n i c a D o u g l a s h a d b e e n dan en afirmar que Monica Douglas haba
telling a lie. 55 mentido. [73]

The other Junior school teachers said En aquella poca, las otras maestras de la
good morning to Miss Brodie, these days, escuela primaria le daban los buenos das a la
in a more than Edinburgh manner, that is seorita Brodie de la manera ms edimburguesa
to say it was gracious enough, and not 60 posible; es decir, de una manera sumamente cor-
one of them omitted to say good morning ts, y bajo ningn concepto omitan su saludo.
at all; but Sandy, who had turned eleven, Pero Sandy, que entonces tena once aos, se
perceived that the tone of morning in dio cuenta de que la manera como pr o-
good morning made the word seem nunciaban b u e n o s d a s s o n a b a
purposely to rhyme with scorning, so 65 m s b i e n c o m o t e m a t a r a , d e

45
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

that these colleagues of Miss Brodies m o d o q u e , e n v e z de darle los buenos

might just as well have said, I scorn das, par e c a n d e c i r l e e n r e a l i d a d
you, instead of good morning. Miss q u e l a o d i a b a n _____________ . La
Brodies reply was more anglicised in its seorita Brod ie les d e v o l v a e l s a l u d o
accent than was its usual proud wont. 5 con un acento ms orgullosamente marcado
Good mawning, she replied, in the d e l o q u e e n e l l a e r a h a b i t u a l , t r i -
corridors, flattening their scorn beneath t u r a n d o e l d e s p r e c i o q u e l e m a n i f e s t a -
the chariot wheels of her superiority, and b a n c o n l a f u e r z a d e s u s u p e r i o r i d a d y
deviating her head towards them no more d e s v i a n d o l a c a r a h a c i a e l l a s apenas un
than an insulting half-inch. She held her 10 insultante centmetro. La seorita Brodie
head up, up, as she walked, and often, c aminaba siempre con la cabeza muy er-
when she reached and entered her own guida y, a menudo, cuando llegaba y entra-
classroom, permitted herself to sag ba en la clase, se daba el gusto de apoyar-
gratefully against the door for an instant. se aliviada contra la puerta durante un ins-
She did not frequent the staff common 15 tante. En sus horas libres, cuando las ni-
rooms in the free periods when her class as estaban en clase de canto o de costura,
was taking its singing or sewing lessons, no frecuentaba la sala de profesores, sino
but accompanied them. que las acompaaba a esas clases.

fluffed downy, afelpado suave, esponjo-
so, ahuecado, peludo
Now the two sewing teachers were
somewhat apart from the rest of the
teaching staff and were not taken
seriously. They were the two younger
sisters of a third, dead, eldest sister
whose guidance of their lives had
never been replaced. Their names were
Miss Ellen and Miss Alison Kerr; they
were incapable of imparting any
information whatsoever, so flustered
were they, with their fluffed-out hair,
dry blue-grey skins and birds eyes;
instead of teaching sewing they took
each girls work in hand, one by one,
and did most of it for her. In the worst
cases they unstitched what had been
done and did it again, saying, Thisll
not do, or, Thats never a run and
fell seam. The sewing sisters had not
as yet been induced to judge Miss
Brodie since they were by nature of
the belief that their scholastic
colleagues were above criticism.
Therefore the sewing lessons were a
great relaxation to all, and Miss
Brodie in the time before Christmas
used the sewing period each week to
read Jane Eyre to her class who, while
they listened, pricked their thumbs as
much as was bearable so that
interesting little spots of blood might
appear on the stuff they were sewing,
and it was even possible to make
blood-spot designs.
20 Las dos maestras de costura cons-
tituan un ncleo aparte dentro del
profesorado y no eran tomadas en se-
rio. Eran las dos hermanas menores
de una tercera que haba muerto y a
25 la que jams haban logrado reempla-
zar como gua y consejera. Se llama-
b a n E l l e n y A l i s o n Kerr y tenan el pelo
ahuecado, la piel seca y de una tonalidad
entre griscea y azulada y ojos de pjaro.
30 Eran incapaces de impartir ningn tipo de
enseanza debido a su naturaleza aturdida.
En lugar de ensear a coser, iban nia
por nia, les quitaban la labor de las
manos y lo hacan casi todo ellas mis-
35 mas. Cuando vean que algo estaba muy
mal, lo descosan y volvan a coserlo:
Se hace as; o bien: As no se hace
una costura doble. Hasta el momento, nadie
haba incitado a las hermanas costureras a que emi-
40 tieran un juicio sobre la seorita Brodie, ya que ellas
tenan asumido el hecho de que las maestras estaban
[74] muy por encima de cualquier tipo de crtica.
Por ese motivo, la cl a s e d e c o s t u r a e r a u n
gran pa s a t i e m p o p a r a t o d a s , y l a s e o -
45 r i t a B r o d i e , a n t e s d e n a v i d a d e s , apro-
vechaba la hora semanal de costura para
leer Jane Eyre a las nias, que, mien tras
escuchaban absortas, se pinchaban e l
pulgar continuamente, de modo que los
50 paos que cosan terminaban mancha-
dos de gotas de sangre, e incluso se di-
ra que era posible componer figuras
con tales manchas.

The singing lessons were far 55 Las clases de canto eran muy diferen-
different. Some weeks after the report tes. Unas semanas despus del incidente del
of her kissing in the art room it gradually beso en el aula de dibujo, fue evidencin-
became plain that Miss B r o d i e w a s dose que la seorita Brodie presentaba sn-
a g i t a t e d b e f o r e , d u r i n g , a n d tomas de inquietud antes, durante y des-
a f t e r t h e s i n g i n g l e s s o n s . S h e 60 pus de las lecciones de canto. Los das en
w o r e h e r n e w e s t c l o t h e s o n que haba clase de canto la maestra se po-
singing days. na su ropa nueva.

Sandy said to Monica Douglas, Sandy le dijo a Monica Douglas:

Are you sure it was Mr. Lloyd who 65 Ests segura de que el que la bes fue

46

shrivel I verbo transitivo 1 (una planta) secar 2 (la
piel) arrugar, decrease in size, range, or extent;
His earnings shrank; My courage shrivelled
when I saw the task before me
II vi (tb shrivel up) 1 marchitarse, secarse
2 (la piel) arrugarse, wither, especially with a loss
of moisture; The fruit dried and shriveled
shrivel contract or wither into a wrinkled, folded, rolled-
up, contorted, or dried-up state, consumido, aper-
gaminado, falto de lozana
Secar (se), marchitar (se), encoger (se), consumir (se),
reducir (se), arrugar (se), empequeecer (se), ave-
llanarse, apergaminarse
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
kissed her? Are you sure it wasnt Mr. el seor Lloyd? Ests segura de que no fue el
Lowther? seor Lowther?
It was Mr. Lloyd, said Monica, and Fue el seor Lloyd le contest
it was in the art room, not the music room. 5 Monica y ocurri en el aula de dibujo, no en
What would Mr. Lowther have been la de canto. Qu iba a hacer el seor Lowther
doing in the art room? en el aula de dibujo?
They look alike, Mr. Lloyd and Mr. El seor Lloyd y el seor Lowther se
Lowther, Sandy said. 10 parecen le dijo Sandy.
Monicas anger was rising in her face. A Monica se le notaba en la cara
It was Mr. Lloyd with his one arm q u e e s t a b a e n f a d n d o s e .
round her, she said. I saw them. Era el seor Lloyd el que la rodeaba con
Im sorry I ever told you. Rose is 15 su nico brazo le dijo. Los vi. Nunca deb
the only one that believes me. decroslo. Rose es la nica que me cree.
Rose Stanley believed her, but this Rose Stanley la crea, pero slo porque el
was because she was indifferent. She was asunto le era indiferente. Era la nica del grupo
the least of all the Brodie set to be excited 20 que no se pona nerviosa con las aventuras amo-
by Miss Brodies love affairs, or by rosas de la seorita Brodie o con los problemas
anyone elses sex. And it was always to sexuales de cualquier otra persona. Y siempre
be the same. Later, when she was famous habra de ser as. Ms tarde, cuando se hizo fa-
for sex, her magnificently appealing mosa por su atractivo sexual, la cualidad esen-
qualities lay in the fact that she had no 25 cial de dicho atractivo resida en su falta de in-
curiosity about sex at all, she never ters por las cuestiones sexuales, que no ocu-
reflected upon it. As Miss Brodie was to paban [75] sus pensamientos. Como luego di-
say, she had instinct. ra la seorita Brodie, ella tena instinto.
Rose is the only one who believes 30 Rose es la nica que me cree dijo
me, said Monica Douglas. Monica Douglas.
When she visited Sandy at the Cuando visit a Sandy en el convento de monjas,
nunnery in the late nineteen-fifties, al final de los aos cincuenta, Monica le coment:
Monica said, I really did see Teddy 35 Te juro que aquel da vi a Teddy
Lloyd kiss Miss Brodie in the art room Lloyd besar a la seorita Brodie en la
one day. clase de dibujo.
I know you did, said Sandy. S que lo viste le dijo Sandy.
40
She knew it even before Miss Brodie Sandy lo saba incluso antes de que la se-
had told her so one day after the end of orita Brodie se lo hubiese contado despus
the war, when they sat in the Braid Hills del final de la guerra, el da en que fueron al
Hotel eating sandwiches and drinking tea hotel Braid Hills a tomar unos emparedados y
which Miss Brodies rations at home 45 el t, porque ya no poda permitirse el lujo de
would not run to. Miss Brodie sat invitarla a su casa. La seorita Brodie se pre-
shrivelled and betrayed in her long- sent, arrugada y traicionada, con su viejo
preserved dark musquash coat. She had pero bien conservado abrigo de piel de cive-
been retired before time. She said, I am ta. La obligaron a jubilarse antes de tiempo.
past my prime. 50 Mi plenitud lleg a su fin suspir.
It was a good prime, said Sandy. Fue una buena plenitud le dijo Sandy.
They looked out of the wide windows Contemplaban a travs de los anchos ven-
at the little Braid Burn trickling through 55 tanales el arroyuelo Braid, que flua lentamen-
the fields and at the hills beyond, so te por los campos, y las colinas que se alzaban
austere from everlasting that they had al fondo. Ninguna de las dos, tan austeras como
never been capable of losing anything by siempre, haba permitido que la guerra les
the war. afectase.
60
Teddy Lloyd was greatly in love with Teddy Lloyd estaba muy enamorado
me, as you know, said Miss Brodie, and de m, como sabes, y yo de l. Fue un gran
I with him. It was a great love. One day amor. Un da me bes en el aula de dibujo.
in the art room he kissed me. We never No llegamos a convertirnos en amantes, ni
became lovers, not even after you left 65 siquiera cuando te fuiste de Edimburgo,
47
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Edinburgh, when the temptation was cuando la tentacin era ms fuerte.

strongest. Sandy stared through her little Los ojitos de Sandy seguan
eyes at the hills. mirando fijamente las colinas.

But I renounced him, said Miss 5 Pero renunci a l. Estaba ca-

Brodie. He was a married man. I s a d o . R e n u n c i a m i g r a n a m o r e n l a
renounced the great love of my prime. p l e n i t u d d e m i v i d a . L o t e n a m o s
We had everything in common, the t o d o e n c o m n , i n c l u s o e l l a d o a r -
artistic nature. tstico.
10
She had reckoned on her prime Haba contado con que su plenitud iba a
lasting till she was sixty. But this, durarle hasta que cumpliese los sesenta, pero
the year after the war, was in fact aquel ao, el ao inmediatamente despus de
Miss Brodies last and fifty-sixth terminada la guerra, sera el ltimo para la se-
year. She looked older than that, she 15 orita [76] Brodie, y en aquel momento tena
w a s s u f f e r i n g f r o m a n i n t e r n a l cincuenta y seis. Aparentaba ms edad y tena
growth. This was her last year in the cncer. Aqul sera su ltimo ao en el mundo
world and in another sense it was y, en otro sentido, tambin sera el ltimo para
Sandys. Sandy.
20
Miss Brodie sat in her defeat and said, La seorita Brodie, asumiendo su derrota, dijo:
In the late autumn of nineteen-thirty-one Al final del otoo de 1931..., Sandy,
are you listening, Sandy? eme ests escuchando?

Sandy took her eyes from the hills. 25 Sandy dej de mirar las colinas.

In the late autumn of nineteen- Al final del otoo de 1931, la seorita

thirty-one Miss Brodie was away Brodie se ausent de la escuela durante dos
from school for two weeks. It was semanas. Se dio por sentado que estaba enfer-
understood she had an ailment. 30 ma. Despus de clase, el grupo acudi al apar-
The Brodie set called at her flat tamento de la maestra para llevarle unas flo-
a f t e r s c h o o l w i t h f l o w e r s a n d res, pero se encontraron con la sorpresa de que
f o u n d n o o n e a t h o m e . O n en la casa no haba nadie. Cuando al da si-
enquiring at school next day they guiente preguntaron por el paradero de la
w e r e t o l d s h e h a d g o n e t o t h e 35 maestra, en la escuela les dijeron que se haba
country to stay with a friend until marchado al campo con una amiga hasta que
she was better. estuviese restablecida.

In the meantime Miss Brodies Mientras tanto, la clase se dis-

class was dispersed, and squashed
in among the classes of her
colleagues. The Brodie set stuck
together and were placed with a
(1) Juego de palabras con el adjetivo gaunt, gaunt woman who was, in fact, a
flaca; demacrada. (N. de la T. ) M i s s G a u n t f r o m t h e We s t e r n 45
Isles who wore a knee-length
skirt made from what looked like
grey blanket stuff; this had never
been smart even in the knee-
length days; Rose Stanley said it
was cut short for economy. Her
h e a d w a s v e r y l a rg e a n d b o n y.
Her chest was a slight bulge
flattened by a bust bodice, and
her jersey was a dark forbidding
green. She did not care at all for
the Brodie set who were stunned
by a sudden plunge into
industrious learning and very put
o u t b y M i s s G a u n t s h o r r i b l e
sharpness and strict insistence on
silence throughout the day.
40 p e r s , y r e s u l t d i f c i l c o l o c a r a
las nias entre las colegas de
B r o d i e . E l g r u p o p e r m a n e c i u n i do
y las acomodaron en la clase de una mujer
flaca que se llamaba precisamente seorita
Gaunt, (1) originaria de las islas Hbridas, que
llevaba una falda hasta la rodilla, hecha de un
material parecido al empleado para confeccio-
nar las mantas militares. Ese tipo de falda nun-
ca haba sido elegante, ni siquiera en la poca
50 en que estuvo de moda. Rose Stanley deca
que era una falda corta slo para economizar.
Tena una cara muy alargada y huesuda. Su
pecho no era ms que una pequea protube-
rancia aplanada por un canes que llevaba en-
55 cima de un jersey de un tono intolerable del
verde. No se preocupaba en absoluto por el
grupo de Brodie, que estaba aturdido por aque-
lla repentina inmersin en un mtodo de apren-
dizaje tedioso y a la vez muy desconcertado
60 por la horrible [77] severidad y por la insisten-
cia tajante de la seorita Gaunt en que guardaran
silencio a lo largo de todo el da.

Oh dear, said Rose out loud one Vaya por Dios dijo Rose en voz
day when they were settled to essay 65 alta un da en que las haba puesto a es-

48

Marmion: long heroic poem written by Sir Walter
Scott in 1808 and sub-titled A Tale of Flodden
Field
trepidation: fear, alarm
grim adjetivo person/expression adusto;
(gloomy) outlook/situation nefasto;
1 (persona, aire) adusto, severo
2 (perspectiva) desalentador: the situation
looks grim, la situacin tiene mal aspecto
3 (sitio) lgubre, sombro : the grim courtyard,
el patio lgubre
4 (determinacin) inexorable
5 (lucha, batalla) denodado
6 (familiar) mal, enfermo
to feel grim, encontrarse fatal
grim reality nf triste realidad
grim reaper nf muerte personificada
she carried on with grim determination si-
gui adelante, resuelta a no dejarse vencer
grim 1 of a stern or forbidding appearance. 2
harsh, merciless, severe. 3 ghastly, joyless,
sinister (has a grim truth in it). 4 unpleasant,
unattractive. Torvamente
apparent 1 evident, manifest, patent, plain clearly
apparent or obvious to the mind or senses; the
effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who
sees the parched fields; evident hostility;
manifest disapproval; patent advantages;
made his meaning plain; it is plain that he is no
reactionary 2 ostensible, seeming(a) appearing
as such but not necessarily so; for all his apparent
wealth he had no money to pay the rent; the
committee investigated some apparent
discrepancies; the ostensible truth of their
theories; his seeming honesty 3 readily
apparent to the eye; angry for no apparent
reason; had no visible means of support
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
writing, I cant remember how you cribir una redaccin, no recuerdo
spell possession. Are there two ss cmo se escribe posesin. Las dos
or? con ese o...?
A hundred lines of 5 Escribe ahora mismo cien versos de
M a r m i o n , M i s s G a u n t Marmion, de Sir Walter Scott le orden la
flung at her. seorita Gaunt, lanzndose sobre ella.
The black-marks book which El cuaderno de infracciones que serva
eventually reflected itself on the end- 10 para realizar los informes al final de cada tri-
of-term reports, was heavily scored mestre estaba lleno con los nombres de las
with the names of the Brodie set by the nias del grupo de Brodie al trmino de la
end of the first week. Apart from primera semana. Al margen de preguntarles
enquiring their names for this purpose su nombre para apuntarlo en el cuaderno, la
Miss Gaun t d i d n o t t r o u b l e t o 15 seorita Gaunt no se tomaba la molestia de
remember them. You, girl, she recordarlos. Se diriga a las nias del grupo
would say to every Brodie face. So de Brodie dicindoles: T, nia..: : Tan
dazed were the Brodie girls that they confundidas estuvieron a lo largo de aque-
did not notice the omission during that lla semana, que olvidaron por completo
week of their singing lesson which 20 asistir a la clase de canto, que debera ha-
should have been on Wednesday. ber tenido lugar el mircoles.
On Thursday they were herded El jueves, reunieron a las nias y las
into the sewing room in the early llevaron a la clase de costura a primera hora
afternoon. The two sewing teachers, 25 de la tarde. Las dos maestras de costura,
Miss Alison and Miss Ellen Kerr, las seoritas Alison y Ellen Kerr, parecan
seemed rather cowed by gaunt Miss estar un poco intimidadas por la presen-
Gaunt, and applied themselves cia de la flaca seorita Gaunt, de modo
briskly to the sewing machines which que se emplearon a fondo en ensear a las
they were teaching the girls to use. 30 nias el uso de la mquina de coser. La
The shuttle of the sewing machines aguja suba y bajaba, lo que provoc,
went up and down, which usually como de costumbre, que a Sandy y a Jenny
caused Sandy and Jenny to giggle, since les diera la risa tonta, ya que en aquella
at that time everything that could poca todo lo que pudiera dar pie a una
conceivably bear a sexual interpretation 35 interpretacin sexual les llevaba a com-
immediately did so to them. But the portarse de esa manera. Pero la ausencia
absence of Miss Brodie and the presence de la seorita Brodie y la presencia de la
of Miss Gaunt had a definite subtracting seorita Gaunt tuvo el efecto fulminante
effect from the sexual significance of de despojar todo de connotaciones sexua-
everything, and the trepidation of the 40 les, y el nerviosismo de las dos hermanas
two sewing sisters contributed to the costureras contribua a fomentar un efec-
effect of grim realism. to de realismo puro y duro.
Miss Gaunt evidently went to the Por lo visto, la seorita Gaunt iba a la
same parish church as the Kerr sisters, 45 misma iglesia parroquial que las hermanas
to whom she addressed remarks from Kerr, a quienes dedicaba de vez en [78] cuan-
time to time while she embroidered a do algn comentario mientras bordaba un
tray cloth. cubrebandeja:
My brothurr... she kept saying, my 50 M i h e r m a n o o . . . M i h e r m a n o o
brothurr says... dice..:
Miss Gaunts brother was El hermano de la seorita Gaunt era el pas-
apparently the minister of the parish, tor de la parroquia, lo que explicaba las pre-
which accounted for the extra precautions 55 cauciones extremas que tanto la seorita Alison
Miss Alison and Miss Ellen were taking como la seorita Ellen estaban tomando aquel
about their work today, with the result that da al realizar la labor, lo que les llev a acabar
they got a lot of the sewing mixed up. con toda la costura revuelta.
M y b r o t h u r r i s u p i n t h e 60 Mi hermanoo se levanta a las cinco y me-
m o r n i n g a t f i v e - t h i r t y . . . M y dia de la maana...
brothurr organised a... Mi hermanoo organiz un...
Sandy was thinking of the next Sandy pensaba en el nuevo captulo de Jane
instalment of Jane Eyre which Miss 65 Eyre que la seorita Brodie les habra ledo para
49
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Brodie usually enlivened this hour by
reading. Sandy had done with Alan Breck
and had taken up with Mr. Rochester,
with whom she now sat in the garden.
5
You are afraid of me, Miss Sandy.
amenizarles aquella hora. Haba acabado ya con
Alan Breck y haba empezado a trabar amistad
con el seor Rochester, con el que se imaginaba
que estaba en el jardn en aquel momento.
Veo que me tiene miedo, seorita Sandy.

You talk like the Sphinx, sir, but
I am not afraid.
10
You have such a grave, quiet manner,
Miss Sandy you are going?
Seor, usted habla como la Esfinge, pero
no le tengo miedo.
Tiene usted un aire tan grave y tan discre-
to... Seorita Sandy! Se marcha?

It has struck nine, sir. Seor, han dado las nueve.

15
A phrase of Miss Gaunts broke Una frase de la seorita Gaunt desbarat la
upon the garden scene: Mr. Lowther escena del jardn: El seor Lowther no estar
is not at school this week. esta semana en el colegio.

S o I h e a r , M i s s A l i s o n 20 Eso es lo que he odo confirm la se-

said. orita Alison.

It seems he will be away for another Parece ser que estar fuera como mni-
week at least. mo otra semana.
25
Is he ill? Est enfermo?

I understand so, unfortunately, Por desgracia, eso es lo que tengo en-

said Miss Gaunt. tendido dijo la seorita Gaunt.
30
Miss Brodie is ailing, too, La seorita Brodie tambin est enferma
said Miss Ellen. inform la seorita Ellen.

Yes, said Miss Gaunt. She too is S dijo la seorita Gaunt. Se supone que
expected to be absent for another week. 35 tambin estar ausente una semana ms.

What is the trouble? Qu sucede? [79]

That I couldnt say, said Miss No sabra decirlesrespondi la

Gaunt. She stuck her needle in and out 40 seorita Gaunt. Dio una puntada al bor-
of her embroidery. Then she looked up dado y luego dirigi la mirada a las her-
at the sisters. It may be Miss Brodie has manas: Puede que la seorita Brodie
the same complaint as Mr. Lowther, she padezca la misma dolencia que el seor
said. Lowther.
45
Sandy saw her face as that of the Sandy vio su cara y se la imagin como
housekeeper in Jane Eyre, watching el ama de llaves de Jane Eyre. Aquella mis-
her carefully and knowingly as she ma cara que observaba con atencin y ma-
entered the house, late, from the licia a Jane Eyre cuando regr e s a b a d e l
garden where she had been sitting with 50 j a r dn, ya tarde, despus de conversar
Mr. Rochester. con el seor Rochester.

Perhaps Miss Brodie is having a love Es posible que la seorita Brodie est
affair with Mr. Lowther, Sandy said to teniendo una aventura amorosa con el seor
Jenny, merely in order to break up the 55 Lowther le dijo Sandy a Jenny, slo para di-
sexless gloom that surrounded them. sipar la melancola asexual del entorno.

But it was Mr. Lloyd who kissed her. Pero fue el seor Lloyd el que la bes.
She must be in love with Mr. Lloyd or Tiene que estar enamorada del seor Lloyd; si
she wouldnt have let him kiss her. 60 no, no habra dejado que la besara.

Perhaps shes working it off on Mr. A lo mejor est con el seor Lowther
Lowther. Mr. Lowther isnt married. por despecho. l no est casado.

It was a fantasy worked up between 65 Se trataba de una fantasa que haba cobra-

50
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

them, in defiance of Miss Gaunt and do realidad entre ellas como un desafo a la se-
her forbidding brother, and it was orita Gaunt y a su severo hermano, y como tal
understood in that way. But Sandy, desafo era tenido. Pero Sandy, al recordar la
remembering Miss Gaunts expression expresin de la cara de la seorita Gaunt cuan-
as she remarked, It may be Miss 5 do coment: Puede ser que la seorita Brodie
Brodie has the same complaint as Mr. padezca la misma dolencia que el seor
Lowther, was suddenly not sure that Lowther de repente no estuvo segura de si
the suggestion was not true. For this haba algo de verdad en aquella insinuacin. Por
reason she was more reticent than ese motivo, se mostraba ms reticente que Jenny
J e n n y a b o u t t h e d e t a i l s o f t h e 10 en lo relativo a los detalles de aquella imagina-
i m a g i n e d l o v e a f f a i r. J e n n y ria aventura amorosa. Jenny susurr:
whispered, They go to bed. Then he Se van a la cama. l apaga la luz, des-
puts out the light. Then their toes touch. pus se rozan los dedos de los pies. Y la se-
And then Miss Brodie... Miss Brodie... orita Brodie... la seorita Brodie...
She broke into giggles. 15 Y al no poder terminar la frase, se ech a rer.

Miss Brodie yawns, said Sandy in La seorita Brodie bosteza dijo Sandy,
order to restore decency, now that she con la intencin de restablecer la decencia, pues
suspected it was all true. ya sospechaba que todo era real.
20
No, Miss Brodie says, Darling. She No, la seorita Brodie dice:
says Querido... . [80]

Quiet, whispered Sandy, Eunice is Calla, viene Eunice susu-

coming. 25 r r S a n d y.

Eunice Gardiner approached the table Eunice Gardiner se acerc a la mesa a la que
where Jenny and Sandy sat, grabbed the Jenny y Sandy estaban sentadas, cogi las tije-
scissors and went away. Eunice had lately ras y se march. ltimamente, Eunice haba dado
taken a religious turn and there was no 30 un giro religioso y no se hablaba de sexo delante
talking about sex in front of her. She had de ella. Haba dejado de saltar y de brincar. Esa
stopped hopping and skipping. The phase fase no dur mucho, pero, mientras dur, se
did not last long, but while it did she was mostraba muy antiptica y no se poda confiar
nasty and not to be trusted. When she was en ella. Cuando se hubo retirado lo suficiente,
well out of the way Jenny resumed: 35 Jenny reanud la conversacin.

M r. L o w t h e r s l e g s a r e Las piernas del seor Lowther son

shorter than Miss Brodies, so I ms cortas que las de la seorita Brodie, as
suppose she winds hers round his, que me imagino que ella le rodear las pier-
and 40 nas con las suyas y..

Where does Mr. Lowther live, do Dnde vive el seor Lowther? T lo

you know? Sandy said. sabes? le pregunt Sandy.

Cramond: seaside village on the Forth estuary At Cramond. Hes got a big house 45 En Cramond. Vive en una casa muy gran-
to the west of Edinburgh with a housekeeper. de con un ama de llaves.

In that year after the war when Sandy Aquel ao, despus de acabada la guerra,
sat with Miss Brodie in the window of cuando Sandy estaba sentada con la seorita
the Braid Hills Hotel, and brought her 50 Brodie delante de los ventanales del hotel Braid
eyes back from the hills to show she was Hills y volvi la vista para demostrar que esta-
listening, Miss Brodie said: ba escuchando, la seorita Brodie dijo:

I renounced Teddy Lloyd. But I Renunci a Teddy Lloyd. Aunque de-

decided to enter into a love affair, it was 55 cid tener una aventura amorosa. Era lo ni-
the only cure. My love for Teddy was an co que poda hacer. Mi amor por Teddy se
obsession, he was the love of my prime. volvi obsesivo. Se trataba del amor de mi
But in the autumn of nineteen-thirty-one I plenitud. As que en el otoo de 1931 inici
entered an affair with Gordon Lowther, he una relacin con Gordon Lowther. Al ser
was a bachelor and it was more becoming. 60 soltero, resultaba ms decente. sa es la
That is the truth and there is no more to verdad y no hay nada ms que aadir. Me
say. Are you listening, Sandy? ests escuchando, Sandy?

Yes, Im listening. S, la estoy escuchando.

65

51
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

You look as if you were thinking of Parece que ests pensando en otra
something else, my dear. Well, as I say, cosa, querida. Bien, como te deca, sa
that is the whole story. es toda la historia.

Sandy was thinking of something 5 Sandy pensaba en otra cosa.

else. She was thinking that it was not the P e n s a b a q u e s a n o e r a t o d a l a
whole story. historia.

Of course the liaison was Desde luego, sospechaban de nues-

suspected. Perhaps you girls knew 10 tra relacin. Quiz vosotras lo sabais.
about it. You, Sandy, had a faint idea... T, Sandy, tenas una idea remota, pero
but nobody could prove what was nadie pudo probar lo que haba entre
between Gordon Lowther and myself. Gordon Lowther y [81] yo. Nunca se pro-
It was never proved. It was not on those b. No me traicionaron por ese motivo. Me
grounds that I was betrayed. I should 15 gustara saber quin me traicion. Me re-
like to know who betrayed me. It is sulta inconcebible que fuese una de mis
incredible that it should have been one propias nias. A menudo me pregunto si
of my own girls. I often wonder if it pudo ser la pobre Mary. Quiz debera ha-
was poor Mary. Perhaps I should have berme portado mejor con ella. Bueno, qu
been nicer to Mary. Well, it was tragic 20 tragedia la de Mary, me figuro aquel fue-
about Mary, I picture that fire, that poor go, aquella pobre muchacha... Aunque no
girl. I cant see how Mary could have me imagino qu motivos tendra Mary
betrayed me, though. para traicionarme.

She had no contact with the school 25 Despus de marcharse, perdi el con-
after she left, Sandy said. tacto con la escuela le dijo Sandy.

I wonder, was it Rose who betrayed Y si fue Rose la que me traicion?

crag a steep rugged rock or cliff
me? The whine in her voice ... El tono quejoso de su voz Me trai-
betrayed me, betrayed me bored 30 cion, me traicion aburra y afliga a
and afflicted Sandy. It is seven years, Sandy. Han pasado siete aos; pens
thought Sandy, since I betrayed this Sandy, desde que traicion a esta mujer
tiresome woman. What does she mean tan pesada. Qu quiere decir con `traicio-
by betray? She was looking at the nar? Miraba las colinas como si quisiese
hills as if to see there the first and 35 ver all a la prstina y an no traicionada
unbetrayable Miss Brodie, indifferent seorita Brodie, imperturbable como una
to criticism as a crag. roca ante las crticas.

After her two weeks absence Miss
Brodie returned to tell her class that she
had enjoyed an exciting rest and a well-
earned one. Mr. Lowthers singing class
went on as usual and he beamed at Miss
Brodie as she brought them proudly into
the music room with their heads up, up.
Miss Brodie now played the
accompaniment, sitting very well at the
piano and sometimes, with a certain
sadness of countenance, richly taking
the second soprano in How sweet is
t h e s h e p h e r d s s w e e t l o t , and
other melodious preparations for the
a n n u a l c o n c e r t . M r. L o w t h e r ,
short-legged, shy and golden-haired, no
longer played with Jennys curls. The
bare branches brushed the windows and
Sandy was almost as sure as could be
that the singing master was in love with
Miss Brodie and that Miss Brodie was
in love with the art master. Rose Stanley
had not yet revealed her potentialities
in the working-out of Miss Brodies
passion for one-armed Teddy Lloyd, and
40
Despus de pasadas dos semanas, la seo-
rita Brodie regres diciendo a la clase que ha-
ba disfrutado de un descanso estimulante y
merecido. La clase de canto del seor Lowther
45 sigui como de costumbre y, cuando la seori-
ta Brodie llegaba all y entraba con orgullo se-
guida de las nias, todas con la cabeza muy er-
guida, l le sonrea con satisfaccin. En aquel
tiempo, la maestra le acompaaba al piano, al
50 que se sentaba con gran porte, y, a veces, con
cierta tristeza en el semblante, haca de segun-
da soprano en la cancin Qu grata es la grata
faena del pastor; con letra de William Blake,
y en otras melodas que ensayaban para el con-
55 cierto de fin de curso. El seor Lowther,
paticorto, tmido y de pelo cobrizo, ya no ju-
gaba con los tirabuzones de Jenny. Las ramas
desnudas de los rboles rozaban las ventanas
y Sandy tena la certeza absoluta [82] de que
60 el maestro de canto estaba enamorado de la
seorita Brodie y de que ella estaba enamora-
da del profesor de dibujo. Rose Stanley an
no haba manifestado su potencial para llevar
a la prctica la pasin que la seorita Brodie
65 senta por el manco Teddy Lloyd, y la pleni-

52
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

esplender. Del lat. splendere. 1. intr. resplan- Miss Brodies prime still flourished tud de la seorita Brodie an esplenda, ajena
decer. . m. en poesa. unbetrayed. a cualquier tipo de traicin.

5
It was impossible to imagine Miss Resultaba imposible imaginarse a la seo-
Brodie sleeping with Mr. Lowther, it rita Brodie acostada con el seor Lowther, re-
was impossible to imagine her in a sultaba del todo imposible imaginrsela en un
sexual context at all, and yet it was contexto sexual y, an ms, resultaba imposi-
impossible not to suspect that such 10 ble no sospechar que tales cosas estaban ocu-
things were so. rriendo.

During the Easter term Miss Durante el trimestre de Semana Santa, la

Mackay, the headmistress, had the seorita Mackay, la directora, reuni en su des-
girls in to tea in her study in small 15 pacho a las nias en pequeos grupos para to-
groups and, later, one by one. This mar el t y luego fue recibindolas una por una.
was a routine of enquiry as to their Era el sistema habitual que segua para pregun-
intentions for the Senior school, tarles por el tipo de enseanza que pensaban
w h e t h e r t h e y w o u l d g o o n t h e elegir al llegar a la escuela secundaria, para de
Modern side or whether they would 20 ese modo saber si iban a optar por la rama mo-
a p p l y f o r a d m i s s i o n t o t h e derna o si solicitaran su admisin en la rama
Classical. clsica.

Miss Brodie had already La seorita Brodie ya se haba

prompted them as follows: I am 25 e n c a r g a d o d e i n f l u e n c i a r l a s :
not saying anything against the No tengo nada en contra de la rama mo-
Modern side. Modern and Classical, derna. Tanto la moderna como la clsica tie-
they are equal, and each provides for nen la misma importancia. Cada una prepara
a function in life. You must make para llevar a cabo una funcin en la vida. De-
your free choice. Not everyone is 30 bis elegir libremente. No todo el mundo est
capable of a Classical education. capacitado para la educacin clsica. Debis
You must make your choice quite elegir desde la ms absoluta libertad.
freely. So that the girls were left As que a las nias no les qued la
in no doubt as to Miss Brodies menor duda del desprecio que la maes-
contempt for the Modern side. 35 tra senta por la rama moderna.

Pavlova: Anna Pavlova (1882-1931), Russian
ballerina who formed her own touring company
and was famous for her solo performances, most
notably of the dying swan in the ballet Swan Lake
From among her special set only
Eunice Gardiner stood out to be a
Modern, and that was because her parents
wanted her to take a course in domestic
science and she herself wanted the extra
scope for gymnastics and games which
the Modern side offered. Eunice,
preparing arduously for Confirmation,
was still a bit too pious for Miss Brodies
liking. She now refused to do somersaults
outside of the gymnasium, she wore
lavender water on her handkerchief,
declined a try of Rose Stanleys aunts
lipstick, was taking a suspiciously healthy
interest in international sport and, when
Miss Brodie herded her set to the Empire
Theatre for their first and last opportunity
to witness the dancing of Pavlova,
Eunice was absent, she had pleaded off
because of something else she had to
attend which she described as a social.
De entre las nias de su grupo especial,
slo Eunice Gardiner se mantena firme en la
eleccin de la rama moderna, porque sus pa-
40 dres queran que estudiase hogar y porque ella
[83] misma quera aprovecharse de las posi-
bilidades que le ofreca la enseanza moderna
para practicar gimnasia y deportes en general.
Eunice, que se preparaba arduamente para la
45 confirmacin, segua mostrndose demasiado
beata para el gusto de la seorita Brodie. Por
entonces, se negaba a dar volteretas fuera del
gimnasio, llevaba el pauelo perfumado con
agua de lavanda, se negaba a usar el pintalabios
50 de la ta de Rose Stanley, iba adquiriendo un
sospechoso y saludable inters por el deporte
internacional y, cuando la seorita Brodie re-
uni al grupo para llevarlo al teatro Empire,
donde sus nias tendran la primera y nica
55 ocasin de poder ver bailar a la Pavlova,
Eunice no fue. Se excus diciendo que tena
un social.

Social what? said Miss Un social qu? le pregunto la seori-

B r o d i e , w h o a l w a y s m a d e 60 ta Brodie, que siempre se pona muy puntillosa
difficulties about words when she cuando olfateaba algn uso hertico de las pa-
scented heresy. labras.

Its in the Church Hall, Miss Brodie. Es en la sala parroquial, seorita Brodie.
65

53
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Yes, yes, but social what? Social is S, s, pero un social qu? Social es un
an adjective and you are using it as a adjetivo y t lo ests utilizando como sustanti-
noun. If you mean a social gathering, by vo. Si lo que quieres decir es una reunin so-
all means attend your social gathering and cial, por favor, ve a tu reunin social, que no-
we shall have our own social gathering 5 sotras tendremos nuestra propia reunin social
in the presence of the great Anna Pavlova, ante la presencia de la gran Anna Pavlova, una
a dedicated woman who, when she mujer tan entregada a su trabajo que, cuando
appears on the stage, makes the other sale a escena, hace que las dems bailarinas
dancers look like elephants. By all means parezcan elefantes. Por favor, acude a tu reunin
attend your social gathering. We shall see 10 social. Nosotras veremos a la Pavlova bailando
Pavlova doing the death of the Swan, it la muerte del cisne. Ser algo que nunca olvi-
is a great moment in eternity. daremos.

All t h a t t e r m s h e t r i e d t o Durante todo aquel trimestre, la maestra in-

deadly fatal, prfido, absoluto, mortfero, funesto
Corstorphine: middle-class suburb in western
Edinburgh a man joyfully exposing himself: a
man openly displaying his sexual organs in
public
inspire Eunice to become at least
a pioneer missionary in some
deadly and dangerous zone of the
earth, for it was intolerable to Miss
Brodie that any of her girls should
grow up not largely dedicated to
some vocation. You will end up as
a Girl Guide leader in a suburb like
Corstorphine, she said warningly to
Eunice, who was in fact secretly
attracted to this idea and who lived
in Corstorphine. The term was filled
with legends of Pavlova and her
dedicated habits, her wild fits of
temperament and her intolerance of
the second-rate. She screams at the
chorus, said Miss Brodie, which is
permissible in a great artist. She speaks
English fluently, her accent is
charming. Afterwards she goes home
to meditate upon the swans which she
keeps on a lake in the grounds.
15 tent convencer a Eunice para que al menos se
convirtiese en una misionera colonizadora en al-
guna regin peligrosa y catastrfica del mun-
do, porque la seorita Brodie no poda consen-
tir que ninguna de las nias madurase sin dedi-
20 carse a algn tipo de vocacin. [84]
Acabars como la cabecilla de
unas nias exploradoras en algn barrio
como Corstorphine, le advirti a
Eunice, que en el fondo se senta atra-
25 da por esa idea y que, de hecho, viva
en Corstorphine. El trimestre estuvo colma-
do de leyendas en torno a la Pavlova. Hablaban
de las devotas costumbres que tena, de los salva-
jes ataques de genio que le daban y de la intransi-
30 gencia que dispensaba a sus subordinados.
Le grita al cuerpo de bailarinas, cosa que re-
sulta permisible en una gran artista. Habla ingls con
fluidez, y su acento es encantador. Cuando termina
todo, regresa a los jardines de su casa para meditar,
35 sentada junto al lago, sobre la naturaleza de sus cis-
nes les deca la seorita Brodie.

S a n d y, s a i d A n n a P a v l o v a , Sandy le dijo Anna Pavlova, usted es la

y o u a r e t h e o n l y t r u l y nica bailarina, despus de m, que est entre-
d e d i c a t e d d a n c e r , n e x t t o m e . 40 gada de verdad a su trabajo. La interpretacin
Yo u r dying Swan is perfect, such que hace del cisne moribundo es perfecta. Ese
a sensitive, final tap of the claw toque ltimo, tan sensible, de las alas sobre el
upon the floor of the stage... suelo del escenario...

I know it, said Sandy (in 45 Lo s, le contest Sandy (que opt por
considered preference to Oh, I do my decir eso en vez de Oh, hago todo lo que pue-
best), as she relaxed in the wings. do), mientras se relajaba entre bastidores.

Pavlova nodded sagely and gazed La Pavlova asinti con gesto de sabidura y
into the middle distance with the eyes 50 mir distradamente al vaco con ojos de artista
of tragic exile and of art. Every y de exiliada trgica.
artist knows, said Pavlova, is it not Todo artista autntico lo sabe, le
so? Then, with a voice desperate dijo la Pavlova, no es as? Luego, con
with the menace of hysteria, and a una voz desesperada, al borde de la his-
charming accent, she declared, I 55 teria, y con un acento encantador, le con-
have never been understood. Never. fes: Nunca me han comprendido. Nun-
Never. ca. Nunca.

Sandy removed one of her ballet Sandy se quit una de las zapatillas de
shoes and cast it casually to the other end 60 ballet y la lanz al otro extremo de los basti-
of the wings where it was respectfully dores, donde fue recogida con el mayor de
retrieved by a member of the common los respetos por una bailarina de reparto.
chorus. Pausing before she removed the Antes de quitarse la otra zapatilla, se detuvo
other shoe, Sandy said to Pavlova, I am y le dijo a la Pavlova: Estoy segura de que
sure I understand you. 65 yo la comprendo. [85]

54
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

It is true, exclaimed Pavlova, Es verdad; exclam la Pavlova, apretan-

clasping Sandys hand, because you are do la mano de Sandy, porque usted es una ar-
an artist and will carry on the torch. tista y mantendr viva la llama de la danza.
5
Miss Brodie said: Pavlova La seorita Brodie prosigui:
contemplates her swans in order La Pavlova contempla a sus cisnes para
t o p e r f e c t h e r s w a n d a n c e , s h e perfeccionar el baile. Los estudia. Eso s que es
s t u d i e s t h e m . T h a t i s t r u e dedicacin verdadera. Todas debis aspirar a
dedication. You must all grow up 10 convertiros en mujeres entregadas a alguna de-
to be dedicated women as I have dicacin, al igual que yo me he dedicado a vo-
dedicated myself to you. sotras.

A few weeks before she died, when, Unas semanas antes de su muerte, incorporada
sitting up in bed in the nursing home, 15 en la cama de la clnica en que estaba hospitaliza-
she learnt from Monica Douglas that da, cuando supo por Monica Douglas que Sandy
Sandy had gone to a convent, she said: haba ingresado en un convento, le coment:
What a waste. That is not the sort of Vaya prdida. sa no era la clase de
dedication I meant. Do you think she dedicacin a la que yo me refera. Crees
has done this to annoy me? I begin to 20 que lo ha hecho para fastidiarme? Estoy em-
wonder if it was not Sandy who pezando a preguntarme si no sera Sandy la
betrayed me. que me traicion.

The headmistress invited Sandy, Justo antes de las vacaciones de Se-

Jenny and Mary to tea just before the 25 mana Santa, la directora invit a tomar
Easter holidays and asked them the usual el t a Sandy, a Jenny y a Mary, y les hizo
questions about what they wanted to do la pregunta habitual sobre lo que queran
in the Senior school and whether they hacer al llegar a la escuela secundaria;
wanted to do it on the Modern or the es decir, si preferan la rama moderna o
Classical side. Mary Macgregor was 30 la clsica. Mary Macgregor estaba ex-
ruled out of the Classical side because cluida de optar a la rama clsica porque
her marks did not reach the required sus calificaciones no alcanzaban la pun-
standard. She seemed despondent on tuacin establecida. Cuando lo oy se
hearing this. qued muy chafada.
35
Why do you want so much to go Mary, por qu quieres con tanto ahn-
on the Classical side, Mary? You arent co elegir la rama clsica? No ests hecha para
cut out for it. Dont your parents ella. Tus padres no se dan cuenta de que no
realise that? lo ests?
40
Miss Brodie prefers it. La seorita Brodie la prefiere.

It has nothing to do with Miss Esto no tiene nada que ver con la seori-
Brodie, said Miss Mackay, settling her ta Brodie dijo la directora, removiendo su
great behind more firmly in her chair. It 45 gran trasero en la silla. Se trata de tus califi-
is a question of your marks or what you caciones o de la pretensin que tengis tus pa-
and your parents think. In your case, your dres y t. En tu caso, las calificaciones no se
marks dont come up to the standard. acercan a las exigidas. [86]

W h e n J e n n y a n d S a n d y 50 Cuando Sandy y Jenny optaron por la

o p t e d f o r C l a s s i c a l , s h e s a i d : rama clsica, la seorita Mackay les dijo:
Because Miss Brodie prefers it, I Porque la prefiere la seorita
suppose. What good will Latin and Brodie, supongo. De qu va a serviros el
Greek be to you when you get married latn y el griego cuando os casis o en-
or take a job? German would be more 55 contris un trabajo? El alemn os ser de
useful. mayor utilidad.

But they stuck out for Classical, and Ellas insistieron en elegir la rama clsica y,
when Miss Mackay had accepted their una vez que la seorita Mackay se resign a aque-
choice she transparently started to win 60 lla eleccin, procur ganarse a las nias median-
over the girls by praising Miss Brodie. te la tctica de elogiar a la seorita Brodie:
What we would do without Miss No s qu haramos sin la seorita
Brodie, I dont know. There is always Brodie. Las nias de la seorita Brodie siem-
a difference about Miss Brodies girls, pre se han diferenciado de las dems, e inclu-
and the last two years I may say a 65 so dira que en los ltimos dos aos esa dife-

55
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

marked difference. rencia se ha acentuado.

Then she began to pump them. Miss Empez a sonsacarles. Que la seorita
Brodie took them to the theatre, the art Brodie las llevaba al teatro y a los museos? Que
galleries, for walks, to Miss Brodies flat 5 las llevaba de excursin y a tomar el t a su
for tea? How kind of Miss Brodie. Does apartamento? Qu amable por su parte.
Miss Brodie pay for all your theatre Y la seorita Brodie paga todas las en-
tickets? tradas cuando vais al teatro?

Sometimes, said Mary. 10 A veces contest Mary.

Not for all of us every time, said No siempre paga las entradas de todas
Jenny. dijo Jenny.

We go up to the gallery, Sandy said. 15 Vamos al museo dijo Sandy.

We l l , i t i s m o s t k i n d o f Muy bien, eso es muy amable por parte

Miss Brodie. I hope you are
appreciative.
Oh, yes, they said, united and alert
against anything unfavourable to the
Brodie idea which the conversation
might be leading up to. This was not lost
on the headmistress.
de la seorita Brodie. Confo en que sepis agra-
decrselo.
20
Oh, s confirmaron al unsono,
alertas ante cualquier insinuacin que pu-
diera resultar perjudicial para la seori-
ta Brodie. La directora capt de inmedia-
25 to la aptitud de las nias.

Thats splendid, she said. And do Eso es estupendo. Y asists a concier-

you go to concerts with Miss Brodie?
Miss Brodie is very musical, I believe?
30
Yes, said Mary, looking at her
friends for a lead.
tos en compaa de la seorita Brodie? A ella
le gusta mucho la msica, verdad?
S dijo Mary, mirando a sus amigas
en busca de apoyo.

We went to the opera with Miss El trimestre pasado fuimos a la pe-

Brodie last term to see La Traviata said 35 ra con la seorita a ver La Traviatadijo
Jenny. Jenny. [87]

Miss Brodie is musical? said A ella le gusta mucho la msica, ver-

Miss Mackay again, addressing dad? insisti la seorita Mackay, dirigindo-
Sandy and Jenny. 40 se a Sandy y a Jenny.

We saw Pavlova, said Sandy. Vimos a la Pavlova dijo Sandy.

Miss Brodie is La seorita Brodie es muy aficionada a

musical? said M i s s 45 la msica, verdad? volvi a insistir la seo-
M a c k a y. rita Mackay.

I think Miss Brodie is more Creo que le interesa ms el arte, seora

interested in art, maam, said Sandy. dijo Sandy.
50
But music is a form of art. Pero la msica tambin es arte.

Pictures and drawings, I mean, said Me refiero a la pintura y al dibujo

Sandy. aclar Sandy.
55
Very enlightening, said Miss Eso es muy significativo
Mackay. Do you girls take piano dijo la seorita Mackay. Dais
lessons? clases de piano?

They all said yes. 60 Todas asintieron.

From whom? From Mr. Lowther? Quin es el profesor? El seor Lowther?

They answered variously, for Mr. La respuesta no fue unnime, ya que las
Lowthers piano lessons were not part 65 clases de piano que imparta el seor

56
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

of the curriculum and these three girls Lowther no formaban parte del plan de es-
had private arrangements for the piano tudios y las tres nias reciban clases parti-
at home. But now, at the mention of Mr. culares de piano en casa. Pero la sola men-
Lowther, even slow-minded Mary cin del seor Lowther hizo que inc l u s o l a
suspected what Miss Mackay was 5 t o r p e d e M a r y s o s p e c h a s e a d n d e
driving at. quera llegar la seorita Mackay.

I understand Miss Brodie plays the Tengo entendido que la seorita Brodie
piano for your singing lessons. So what toca el piano en las clases de canto, as que
makes you think she prefers art to music, 10 Sandy, qu te hace pensar que le guste ms el
Sandy? arte que la msica?

Miss Brodie told us so. Music is an Eso fue lo que nos dijo la seorita Brodie.
interest to her but art is a passion, Miss La msica le interesa, pero siente pasin por el
Brodie said. 15 arte. Nos lo dijo ella.

And what are your cultural interests? Y qu aspectos de la cultura os intere-

Im sure you are too young to have san? Estoy segura de que sois demasiado jve-
passions. nes para tener pasiones.
20
Stories, maam, Mary said. Los cuentos, seora contest Mary.

Does Miss Brodie tell you stories? Os cuenta cuentos la seorita Brodie?

Yes, said Mary. 25 S contest Mary.

What about? Sobre qu?

History, said Jenny and Sandy Sobre historia dijeron Sandy y Jenny
together, because it was a question they 30 al unsono, porque era una pregunta que haban
had foreseen might arise one day and they previsto que podra surgir algn da y haban
had prepared the answer with a preparado la respuesta concienzudamente para
brainracking care for literal truth. que aparentase ser la pura verdad. [88]

Miss Mackay paused and looked at 35 La seorita Mackay se call y las mir
them in the process of moving the cake mientras colocaba en la bandeja el bizcocho que
from the table to the tray; their reply estaba encima de la mesa. Sus respuestas le
had plainly struck her as being on the impresionaron por lo bien concertadas que las
ready side. tenan.
40
She asked no further questions, but made No hizo ms preguntas, aunque les dio el
the following noteworthy speech: siguiente y elevado discurso:

You are very fortunate in Miss Tenis mucha suerte con la seorita
Brodie. I could wish your arithmetic 45 Brodie. Ojal que vuestros exmenes de arit-
papers had been better. I am always mtica hubiesen estado mejor. Siempre me
impressed by Miss Brodies girls in one impresionan las nias de la seorita Brodie
way or another. You will have to work de una manera o de otra. Tendris que
hard at ordinary humble subjects for the esforzaros en las asignaturas normales y hu-
qualifying examinations. Miss Brodie is 50 mildes para los exmenes eliminatorios. La
giving you an excellent preparation for seorita Brodie os est preparando
the Senior school. Culture cannot excelentemente para la escuela secundaria. La
compensate for lack of hard knowledge. cultura no puede compensar la falta de cono-
I am happy tor see you are devoted to cimientos pragmticos. Me alegra compro-
Miss Brodie. Your loyalty is due to the 55 bar que sents devocin por la seorita
school rather than to any one Brodie. Pero tenis que ser ms leales a la
individual. escuela que a una sola persona.

Not all of this A la seorita Brodie no le comentaron to-

c o n v e r s a t i o n w a s r e p o r t e d 60 dos los detalles de la conversacin que haban
back to Miss Brodie. mantenido.

We t o l d M i s s M a c k a y h o w Le dijimos a la seorita Mackay lo mu-

much you liked art, said Sandy, cho que le gusta a usted el arte le dijo Sandy,
however. 65 sin embargo.

57
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

I do indeed, said Miss Brodie, but Y as es, en verdad confirm la maes-

like is hardly the word; pictorial art is tra, pero gustar no es la palabra. La pintu-
my passion. ra es mi pasin.
5
T h a t s w h a t I s a i d , s a i d Eso fue exactamente lo que dije acla-
S a n d y. r Sandy.

Miss Brodie looked at her as La seorita Brodie la mir como dicin-

if to say, as in fact she had said 10 dole y de hecho se lo haba dicho ya ante-
twice before, One day, Sandy, riormente en un par de ocasiones: Sandy,
y o u w i l l g o t o o f a r f o r m y algn da llegars demasiado lejos para mi
liking. gusto.

Compared to music, said Sandy, 15 En comparacin con la msicadijo

blinking up at her with her little pig- Sandy, alzando hacia la maestra sus
like eyes. parpadeantes ojos de cerdito.

20

To w a r d s t h e e n d o f t h e E a s t e r Hacia el final de las vacaciones de Semana Santa,

expose (to) y exponer se refieren a poner a la vista,
exhibir, mostrar, arriesgar, pero cada voz aiiade ma-
tices nuevos: to expose recalca la idea negativa de
divulgar / revelar / sacar a la luz [secretos, ideas],
desenmascarar [fraude, delito], descubrir / demos-
trar [falsedad, debilidad], mientras que exponer es
ms positivo para to explain / detail [ideas].
Exposition es exposicin [exhibicin, feria de mues-
tras, explicacin], pero oexposicin se aplica tam-
bin a exposure [a1 sol, a1 aire, fotos], danger / risk
[peligro], expos Fechos, ideas]. Worlds fair es
exposicidn universal / mundial.
holidays, to crown the sex-laden para rematar un ao cargado de intrigas sexuales,
y e a r, J e n n y, o u t w a l k i n g a l o n e , a J e n n y , q u e p a s e a b a [ 8 9 ] s o l a p o r l a
w a s a c c o s t e d b y a m a n j o y f u l l y 25 c i u d a d , l a abord un hombre que alegre-
e x p o s i n g h i m s e l f b e s i d e t h e mente haca exhibicionismo e n l a r i b e r a
W a t e r o f L e i t h . H e s a i d , d e l Wa t e r o f L e i t h . L e d i j o :
Come and look at this. Ve n a v e r e s t o .
At what? said Jenny, moving 30 Qu? le pregunt Jenny mientras se
closer, thinking to herself he had picked acercaba a l, creyendo que el hombre haba
up a fallen nestling from the ground or recogido un nido cado de un rbol o que haba
had discovered a strange plant. Having encontrado alguna planta curiosa. Al darse cuen-
perceived the truth, she escaped ta de qu se trataba, pudo salir de aquella situa-
unharmed and unpursued though 35 cin ilesa y sin ser perseguida, aunque sin
breathless, and was presently aliento. Poco despus, sus familiares la aten-
surrounded by solicitous, horrified dieron solcitos, horrorizados por aquel in-
relations and was coaxed to sip tea well cidente, y la convencieron para que se tomase
sugared against the shock. Later in the una taza de t con mucha azcar para reponerse
day, since the incident had been reported 40 del susto. Como haban denunciado el caso, se
to the police, came a wonderful present una encantadora mujer polica para
policewoman to question Jenny. hacerle a Jenny las preguntas pertinentes.

These events contained enough Tales sucesos podan proporcionar el sufi-

exciting possibilities to set the rest of
the Easter holidays spinning like a top
and to last out the whole of the summer
term. The first effect on Sandy was an
adverse one, for she had been on the
point of obtaining permission to go for
walks alone in just such isolated spots
as that in which Jennys encounter had
taken place. Sandy was now still
forbidden lone walks, but this was
a mere by-effect of the affair.
The rest brought nothing but good.
The subject fell under two headings: first,
the man himself and the nature of what
he had exposed to view, and secondly the
policewoman.
45 ciente grado de excitacin como para cubrir el
resto de las vacaciones de Semana Santa, dan-
do vueltas como una peonza, y alcanzar el lti-
mo trimestre, antes de las vacaciones de vera-
no. La primera consecuencia que aquello tuvo
50 para Sandy fue adversa, ya que estaba a punto
de conseguir permiso para pasear sola justo por
aquellos lugares apartados en que Jenny haba
sido abordada. As que sigui padeciendo la pro-
hibicin de pasear sola, aunque aquello fue un
55 mero efecto parcial derivado del asunto, ya
que todo cuanto vino despus result ser
favorable. El asunto incidi en dos apar-
tados: primero, el hombre mismo y la na-
turaleza de lo que exhibi, y segundo, la
60 mujer polica.

The first was fairly quickly El primer apartado se agot con bastante
exhausted. prontitud.

He was a horrible creature, said 65 Era una criatura horrible dijo

58
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Jenny. Jenny.

A terrible beast, said Sandy. Era una bestia terrible dijo Sandy.

The question of the policewoman 5 Las preguntas sobre la mujer polica se hi-
was inexhaustible, and although cieron inagotables y, aunque Sandy nunca la vio,
Sandy never saw her, nor at that time y nunca antes haba visto a ninguna otra (por-
any policewoman (for these were in que el incidente tuvo lugar en una poca [90]
the early days of the women police), en que las mujeres acababan de incorporarse al
she quite deserted Alan Breck and 10 Cuerpo de Polica), se olvid por completo de
Mr. Rochester and all the heroes of Alan Breck, del seor Rochester y de todos los
fiction for the summer term, and fell hroes de ficcin que se haba inventado du-
in love with the u n s e e n rante el ltimo trimestre, para caer enamorada
policewoman who h a d de la desconocida polica que haba estado ha-
q u e s t i o n e d J e n n y ; a n d i n t h i s 15 cindole preguntas a Jenny. Y, de ese modo, se
way she managed to keep alive las ingeni para mantener tambin vivo el en-
Jennys enthusiasm too. tusiasmo de Jenny.

What did she look like? Did she Qu aspecto tena? Lleva-
wear a helmet? 20 b a c a s c o ?

No, a cap. She had short, fair, curly No, una gorra. Debajo de ella se vea
hair curling under the cap. And a dark que tena el pelo rubio, corto y rizado. Y un
blue uniform. She said, Now tell me all uniforme azul oscuro. Me dijo: Ahora, cun-
about it. 25 tamelo todo.

And what did you say? said Sandy Y qu le contaste? le pregunt Sandy
for the fourth time. por cuarta vez.

For the fourth time Jenny replied: 30 Por cuarta vez, Jenny contest:
Well, I said, The man was walking Bueno, le dije: El hombre pasea-
along under the trees by the bank, and he ba por la ribera, bajo los rboles, y su-
was holding something in his hand. And jetaba algo con la mano. Cuando me vio,
then when he saw me he laughed out loud empez a rerse a carcajadas y me dijo:
and said, come and look at this. I said, at 35 Ven a ver esto. Yo le dije: Qu? Enton-
what? And I went a bit closer and I saw... ces me acerqu un poco y vi..., pero no
but I couldnt tell the policewoman poda decirle a la polica lo que vi, ver-
what I saw, could I? So the policewoman dad? As que la mujer polica me pre-
said to me, You saw something nasty? gunt: Viste algo desagradable? Y yo
And I said, Yes. Then she asked me 40 le dije: S: Despus me pregunt qu
what the man was like, and... aspecto tena el hombre y...

But this was the same story all Y sa era la misma historia, repetida
over again. Sandy wanted new details una y otra vez. Sandy quera detalles nue-
about the policewoman, she looked 45 vos sobre la mujer polica, buscaba pis-
for clues. Jenny had pronounced the tas. Jenny haba pronunciado la palabra
word nasty as nesty, which was desagradable con un fuerte acento es-
unusual for Jenny. cocs, algo inusual en ella.

D i d s h e s a y n a s t y o r 50 Ella pronunci desagradable con ese

n e s t y ? s a i d S a n d y o n t h i s mismo acento? le pregunt Sandy tras esa
fourth telling. cuarta narracin.

Nesty. S.
55
This gave rise to an extremely Aquello le provoc a Sandy una sensacin
nasty feeling in Sandy and it put her sumamente desagradable y le quit la idea de
off the idea of sex for months. All the la sexualidad de la cabeza durante meses. Tan-
more as she disapproved of the to desaprobaba la pronunciacin incorrecta de
pronunciation of the word, it made her 60 esa palabra, que cada vez que la oa se le po-
flesh creep, and she plagued Jenny to na la piel de gallina, y no dej de acosar a
change her mind and agree that the Jenny para que cambiase de opinin y admi-
policewoman had pronounced it tiera que la mujer polica la haba pronuncia-
properly. do bien. [91]
65

59
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

A lot of people say nesty, said Mucha gente la pronuncia as le dijo

Jenny. Jenny.

I know, but I dont like them. Theyre Lo s, pero esa gente no me gusta. No
neither one thing nor another. 5 son ni lo uno ni lo otro.

plaintiff: the party who brings a suit to a court
of law. In Scottish law it is generally known as
the pursuer
It bothered Sandy a great deal, and
she had to invent a new speaking-image
for the policewoman. Another thing that
troubled her was that Jenny did not know
the policewomans name, or even
whether she was addressed as
constable, sergeant, or merely
miss. Sandy decided to call her
Sergeant Anne Grey. Sandy was Anne
Greys right-hand woman in the Force,
and they were dedicated to eliminate sex
from Edinburgh and environs. In the
Sunday newspapers, to which Sandy had
free access, the correct technical phrases
were to be found, such as intimacy took
place and plaintiff was in a certain
condition. Females who were up for sex
were not called Miss or Mrs., they
were referred to by their surnames:
Willis was remanded in custody... ,
Roebuck, said Counsel, was discovered
to be in a certain condition.
A Sandy le molest mucho aquel deta-
lle, y tuvo que inventarse un nuevo patrn
lingstico para la mujer polica. Otra cosa
10 que le preocupaba era que Jenny no supiese
su nombre, que ni siquiera supiese si la tra-
taban de agente, de sargento o simple-
mente de seorita. Sandy decidi darle el
grado de sargento: la sargento Anne Grey.
15 Sandy se convirti en el brazo derecho de
Anne Grey en el Cuerpo de Polica y esta-
ban dedicadas a erradicar el sexo de
Edimburgo y de sus alrededores. En el pe-
ridico del domingo, al que Sandy tena li-
20 bre acceso, encontr las frases tcnicas ade-
cuadas, tales como una intimidacin tuvo
lugar y la demandante estaba en estado de
buena esperanza. Tambin comprob all que a las
mujeres procesadas por delitos sexuales no las llama-
25 ban seorita o seora, sino que las mencionaban
por el apellido: Fue dictada prisin preventiva contra
Willis... o bien Se supo por su abogado que Roe-
buck estaba en estado de buena esperanza.

Water of Leith: small river which runs through
Edinburgh
So Sandy pushed her dark blue police 30 As que Sandy se ech hacia atrs la gorra
force cap to the back of her head and azul del Cuerpo de Polica y, sentndose al lado
sitting on a stile beside Sergeant Anne de la sargento Anne Grey en un travesao de la
Grey watched the spot between the trees cerca, observ el lugar exacto de la arboleda,
by the Water of Leith where the terrible en la ribera del Water of Leith, donde la terri-
beast had appeared who had said, Look 35 ble bestia apareci y le dijo a Jenny: Ven a ver
at this, to Jenny, but where, in fact, esto; aunque, en realidad, Sandy jams haba
Sandy never was. estado all.

And another thing, said Sandy, Y otra cosa; le dijo Sandy, tenemos
weve got to find out more about the 40 que averiguar ms sobre el caso de Brodie
case of Brodie and whether she is yet in y si est ya en estado de buena esperanza
a certain condition as a consequence of como consecuencia de su relacin con
her liaison with Gordon Lowther, Gordon Lowther, identificado como maes-
described as singing master, Marcia tro de canto en la Escuela Marcia Blaine
Blaine School for Girls. 45 para nias:

Intimacy has undoubtedly taken Sin duda alguna, ya han intimidado, dijo
place, said Sergeant Anne, looking la sargento Anne Grey, que estaba muy guapa
very nice in her dark uniform and con su uniforme azul y con sus [92]
short-cropped curls blondely fringing 50 acaracolados rizos rubios sobresalindole de
her cap. She said, All we need are a few la gorra. Todo lo que necesitamos son algu-
incriminating documents. nos documentos incriminatorios.

Leave all that to me, Sergeant Anne, Deje eso en mis manos, sargento Anne
said Sandy, because she was at that very 55 le dijo Sandy, porque, en aquel preciso mo-
time engaged with Jenny in composing mento, ella y Jenny estaban ocupadas redac-
the love correspondence between Miss tando la correspondencia amorosa entre la se-
Brodie and the singing master. Sergeant orita Brodie y el maestro de canto. La sar-
Anne pressed Sandys hand in gratitude; gento Anne apret la mano de Sandy en un
and they looked into each others eyes, 60 gesto de gratitud y ambas se miraron a los
their mutual understanding too deep for ojos, porque su complicidad no requera pa-
words. labras.

At school after the holidays the Water Tras las vacaciones, el incidente del
of Leith affair was kept a secret between 65 Water of Leith fue un secreto entre Jenny

60
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Jenny and Sandy, for Jennys mother
had said the story must not be spread
about. But it seemed natural that Miss
Brodie should be told in a spirit of
sensational confiding.
y Sandy, porque la madre de Jenny no
quera que se divulgase aquella historia.
Pero pareca lgico que tendran que
confiarle a la seorita Brodie aquella
5 confidencia sensacional.

But something made Sandy say to Aunque la primera tarde que empez el nue-
Jenny on the first afternoon of the term: vo trimestre algo movi a Sandy a decirle a Jenny:
Dont tell Miss Brodie. No se lo cuentes a la seorita Brodie.
10
Why? said Jenny. Por qu? le pregunt Jenny.

Sandy tried to work out the reason. It Sandy intent aclarar el motivo. Estaba vin-
was connected with the undecided state culado a la ambigua relacin existente entre la
of Miss Brodies relationship to cheerful 15 seorita Brodie y el jovial seor Lowther y al
Mr. Lowther, and with the fact that she hecho de que lo primero que dijera la maestra
had told her class, first thing: I have en clase fuese: He pasado las vacaciones de
spent Easter at the little Roman village Semana Santa en la pequea villa romana de
of Cramond. That was where Mr. Cramond All era donde viva el seor
Lowther lived all alone in a big house 20 Lowther, en una casa muy grande, con la sola
with a housekeeper. compaa de un ama de llaves.

Dont tell Miss Brodie, No se lo cuentes a la seorita Brodie

s a i d S a n d y. le insisti Sandy.
25
Why? said Jenny. Por qu? le pregunt de nuevo Jenny.

Sandy made an effort to work out
her reasons. They were also connected
with something that had happened in
the course of the morning, when Miss
Brodie, wanting a supply of drawing
books and charcoal to start the new
term, sent Monica Douglas to fetch
them from the art room, then called her
back, and sent Rose Stanley instead.
When Rose returned, laden with
drawing books and boxes of chalks, she
was followed by Teddy Lloyd, similarly
laden. He dumped his books and asked
Miss Brodie if she had enjoyed her
holiday. She gave him her hand, and
said she had been exploring Cramond,
one should not neglect these little
nearby seaports.
Sandy se esforz por recalcar sus motivos.
Tales motivos estaban tambin relacionados
30 con algo que haba ocurrido en el transcurso
de la maana, cuando la seorita Brodie, que
quiso hacerse con una remesa de cuadernos
de dibujo y de carboncillos para empezar el
trimestre, envi a Monica [93] Douglas a que
35 los buscase al aula de dibujo, pero cambi de
opinin, la llam y en su lugar mand a Rose
Stanley. Cuando regres, cargada de cuader-
nos de dibujo y de cajas de tiza, el seor Teddy
Lloyd la segua, igual de cargado que ella.
40 Solt los cuadernos y le pregunt a la seorita
Brodie si haba disfrutado de sus vacaciones.
Ella lo salud estrechndole la mano y le dijo
que haba estado explorando Cramond, por-
que no haba que desdear aquellos pequeos
45 puertos de mar tan prximos.

I shouldnt have thought there Nunca hubiera imaginado que

was much to explore at Cramond, Cramond tuviese mucho que explorar le
s a i d M r. L l o y d , s m i l i n g a t h e r dijo el seor Lloyd, con la guedeja dorada
with his golden forelock falling 50 cayndole sobre uno de sus ojos y con una
into his eye. sonrisa en los labios.

It has quite a lot of charm, she said.
And did you go away at all?
55
Ive been painting, he said in his
hoarse voice. Family portraits.
Tiene muchsimo encanto dijo ella
. Y dnde ha estado usted?
He estado pintando. Retratos de familia
dijo con su voz ronca.

Rose had been stacking the drawing Rose haba estado apilando los cuadernos
books into their cupboard and now she 60 de dibujo en el armario y ya haba terminado.
had finished. As she turned, Miss Cuando se dio la vuelta, la seorita Brodie le
Brodie put her arm round Roses rode el hombro con el brazo y le dio las gra-
shoulder and thanked Mr. Lloyd for his cias al seor Lloyd por su ayuda, como si ella y
help, as if she and Rose were one. Rose fuesen una sola persona.
65

61
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Ntall, said Mr. Lloyd, meaning, No hay de qu dijo el seor Lloyd, y se

Not at all, and went away. It was then fue. Justo en ese instante, Jenny le susurr a Sandy:
Jenny whispered, Rose has changed in Rose ha vuelto muy cambiada de las
the holidays, hasnt she? vacaciones, verdad?
5
This was true. Her fair hair was cut Era cierto. Se haba cortado su pelo ru-
shorter and was very shiny. Her bio y lo tena muy brillante. Tena las meji-
cheeks were paler and thinner, her llas ms plidas y delgadas y los ojos menos
eyes less wide open, set with the lids asombrados, con los prpados un poco ln-
half-shut as if she were posing for a 10 guidos, como si estuviese posando para una
special photograph. fotografa de estudio.
the Change: the beginning of menstruation
Perhaps she has got the Change, Tal vez le ha llegado la hora del cambio,
said Sandy. Miss Brodie called it the dijo Sandy. La seorita Brodie lo llamaba
Menarche but so far when they tried to 15 menstruo, pero cada vez que intentaban uti-
use this word amongst themselves it lizar esa palabra entre ellas les daba la risa ton-
made them giggle and feel shy. ta y se avergonzaban. [94]

Later in the afternoon Ms tarde, despus de salir del colegio,

a f t e r s c h o o l , J e n n y s a i d : 20 Jenny sugiri:
Id better tell Miss Brodie Creo que ser mejor que le cuente a la seo-
about the man I met. rita Brodie lo que me pas con aquel hombre.

Sandy replied, Dont tell Miss No se lo cuentes a la seorita Brodie

Brodie. 25 le dijo Sandy.

Why not? said Jenny. Por qu no? pregunt Jenny.

Sandy tried, but could not think Sandy ignoraba la respuesta, aunque pre-
why not, except to feel an unfinished 30 senta un factor oculto en torno a las vacacio-
quality about Miss Brodie and her nes en Cramond de la seorita Brodie y en el
holiday at Cramond, and her sending hecho de mandar a Rose en busca del seor
Rose to Mr. Lloyd. So she said, Lloyd. As que le dijo:
The policewoman said to try to forget La mujer polica te dijo que intentases
what happened. Perhaps Miss Brodie 35 olvidar lo ocurrido. A lo mejor, si se lo cuentas
would make you remember it. a la seorita Brodie hace que lo recuerdes.
Jenny le dijo:
Jenny said, Thats what I think, too. Eso mismo creo yo.

A n d s o t h e y f o r g o t t h e m a n 40 Dicho lo cual, se olvidaron del hombre

b y t h e W a t e r o f L e i t h a n d que paseaba por la ribera del Water of Leith
r e m e m b e r e d t h e p o l i c e w o m a n y, a medida que transcurra el trimestre, op-
m o r e a n d m o r e a s t h e t e r m taron por dedicar todos sus recuerdos a la
wore on. mujer polica.
45

During the last few months of La seorita Brodie se comport de manera

bicker: literally, to attack with sticks or stones;
to argue or quarrel
Miss Brodies teaching she made
herself adorable. She did not
exhort or bicker and even when hard
pressed was irritable only with Mary
Macgregor. That spring she
monopolised with her class the
benches under the elm from which
could be seen an endless avenue of
dark pink May trees, and heard the
trotting of horses in time to the
turning wheels of light carts returning
home empty by a hidden lane from
their early morning rounds. Not far
off, like a promise of next year, a
group of girls from the Senior school
were doing first-form Latin. Once, the
50 encantadora durante los ltimos meses que pa-
saron las nias bajo su magisterio. No las ex-
hortaba ni las sermoneaba e, incluso cuando
estaba agobiada, slo mostraba su irritabili-
dad con Mary Macgregor. Aquella primave-
55 ra, monopoliz para su clase los bancos que
estaban bajo el olmo, desde donde se divisa-
ba una hilera interminable de espinos de co-
lor rosa intenso y se oa el trote ligero de los
caballos cuando los carros volvan vacos, por
60 un sendero escondido, de hacer su temprane-
ras rondas matinales. Cerca de all, como un
anticipo de lo que ellas mismas tendran el
prximo curso, un grupo de nias de la es-
cuela secundaria estudiaba el primer curso de
65 [95] latn. En cierta ocasin, la profesora de

62
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Latin mistress was moved by the latn, alentada por el esplendor de la prima-
spring of the year to sing a folksong vera, enton una cancin tradicional referi-
to fit the clip-clop of the ponies and da al sonar de los cascos de los potros y del
carts, and Miss Brodie held up her rodar de los carros, y la seorita Brodie alz
index finger with delight so that her 5 el dedo ndice, embelesada, para indicar a sus
own girls should listen too. nias que la escuchasen.

Nundinarum adest dies, Nundinarum adest dies,

Mulus ille nos vehet Mulus ille nos vehet
Eie, curre, mule, mule, 10 Eie,cturre, mule, mule,
I tolutari gradu. I tolutari gradu.

That spring Jennys mother was Aquella primavera, la madre de Jenny

expecting a baby, there was no rain worth
remembering, the grass, the sun and the
birds lost their self-centred winter mood
and began to think of others. Miss
Brodies old love story was newly
embroidered, under the elm, with curious
threads: it appeared that while on leave
from the war, her late fianc had
frequently taken her out sailing in a
fishing boat and that they had spent some
of their merriest times among the rocks
and pebbles of a small seaport.
Sometimes Hugh would sing, he had
a rich tenor voice. At other times he fell
silent and would set up his easel and
paint. He was very talented at both arts,
but I think the painter was the real
Hugh.
estaba a punto de dar a luz. Las lluvias
15 haban cesado y la hierba, el sol y los p-
jaros haban salido de su ensimismamien-
to invernal para empezar a abrirse al mun-
do. La vieja historia de amor de la seori-
ta Brodie se bordaba de nuevo, bajo el
20 olmo, con hilos curiosos: segn ella, su
difunto novio, cuando estaba de permiso,
la haba llevado muchas veces a navegar
en un bote de pesca, y ambos haban vivi-
do algunos de sus momentos ms felices
25 entre las rocas y los guijarros del puerto.
A veces, Hugh cantaba. Tena una
potente voz de tenor. Otras veces, se que-
daba en silencio, desplegaba su caballete
y se pona a pintar. Tena habilidad para
30 ambas artes, pero creo que Hugh era sobre
todo pintor.

This was the first time the girls had Era la primera noticia que tenan las nias
heard of Hughs artistic leanings. Sandy de las inclinaciones artsticas de Hugh. Sandy
puzzled over this and took counsel 35 le dio vueltas al asunto y lo consult con Jenny.
with Jenny, and it came to them Ambas llegaron a la conclusin de que la seo-
both that Miss Brodie was making rita Brodie estaba intentando contar su nueva
h e r n e w l o v e s t o r y f i t t h e o l d . historia de amor a travs de la antigua. A partir
Thereafter the two girls listened de ese momento, las dos nias mantuvieron los
with double ears, and the rest of 40 dos odos alerta, mientras que las dems slo
the class with single . escuchaban las historias de Brodie con uno.

Sandy was fascinated by this Sandy estaba fascinada por aquel mtodo
method of making patterns with de establecer patrones a partir de unos hechos
facts, and was divided between her 45 concretos, y su nimo se hallaba [96] dividido
admiration for the technique and the entre la admiracin por aquella tcnica y la ne-
pressing need to prove Miss Brodie cesidad imperiosa de demostrar el comporta-
guilty of misconduct. miento inadecuado de la seorita Brodie.

What about those incriminating 50 Qu puedes decirme acerca de esos do-

documents? said Sergeant Anne cumentos incriminatorios?; le pregunt la sar-
Grey in her jolly friendly manner. gento Anne Grey con su jovialidad caractersti-
She really was very thrilling. ca. Estaba en verdad muy intrigada.

Sandy and Jenny completed the love 55 A mitad del trimestre, Sandy y Jenny com-
correspondence between Miss Brodie pletaron la correspondencia amorosa entre la
and the singing master at half-term. They seorita Brodie y el maestro de canto. Estaban
were staying in the small town of Crail en Crail, un pueblecito de la costa de Fife, con
on the coast of Fife with Jennys aunt who la ta de Jenny, que haba empezado a sospe-
showed herself suspicious of their 60 char del cuaderno en el que escriban las nias,
notebook; and so they took it off to a as que decidieron coger un autobs que las lle-
neighbouring village along the coast by vase a un pueblo cercano, se sentaron en la boca
bus, and sat at the mouth of a cave to de una cueva y all concluyeron su labor. Re-
finish the work. It had been a delicate sult un asunto delicado el hecho de mostrar a
question how to present Miss Brodie in 65 la seorita Brodie con tcnica de claroscuro,

63
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Arthurs Seat: craggy [escarpado] hill of volcanic
origin and principal landmark in Edinburgh
bracken coarse moorland fern
both a favourable and an unfavourable reflejando su lado bueno y su lado malo, ya que
light, for now, as their last term with Miss ahora, cuando el ltimo trimestre con ella toca-
Brodie drew to a close, nothing less than ba a su fin, aquello era ni ms ni menos lo que
this was demanded. se impona.
5
That intimacy had taken place was to Haba que demostrar que aquella re-
be established. But not on an ordinary lacin fsica se haba consumado, pero
bed. That had been a thought suitable no en una cama cualquiera. Esa idea slo
only for the enlivening of a sewing era apropiada para entretenerse durante
period, but Miss Brodie was entitled to 10 una clase de costura. La seorita Brodie
something like a status. They placed Miss tena derecho a algo ms noble. Se la
Brodie on the lofty lions back of imaginaron en el alto lomo de len del
Arthurs Seat, with only the sky for roof pico Arthur s Seat, con slo el cielo por
and bracken for a bed. The broad techo y los helechos p o r c a m a . A b a -
parkland rolled away beneath her gaze 15 j o , e l g r a n b o s q u e s e p e r d a e n e l
to the accompanying flash and crash of a h o r i z o n t e , e n t r e l o s d e s t e l l o s y e l
thunderstorm. It was here that Gordon e s t r u e n d o d e u n a t o r m e n t a . F u e a l l
Lowther, shy and smiling, small, with a d o n d e e l t m i d o , s o n r i e n t e , r u b i o ,
long body and short legs, his red-gold b i g o t u d o y p a t i c o r t o G o r d o n
hair and moustache, found her. 20 L o w t h e r l a e n c o n t r .

Took her, Jenny had said when they La tom dijo Jenny la primera vez
had first talked it over. que hablaron del asunto.

Took her well, no. She gave 25 La tom... No. Ella se en-
herself to him. treg.

She gave herself to him, Jenny said, Ella se entreg dijo Jenny, aun-
fain willingly, gladly although she would fain have given que de buena gana se habra entrega-
herself to another. 30 do a otro. [97]

The last letter in the series, La ltima carta de las muchas que es-
completed at mid-term, went as cribieron la terminaron a mitad de trimes-
follows: tre y deca as:
35
My Own Delightful Gordon, Mi queridsimo Gordon:

Your letter has moved me deeply as
you may imagine. But alas, I must
ever decline to be Mrs. Lowther. My
reasons are twofold. I am dedicated
to my Girls as is Madame Pavlova,
and there is another in my life whose
mutual love reaches out to me beyond
the bounds of Time and Space. He is
Teddy Lloyd! Intimacy has never
taken place with him. He is married
to another. One day in the art room
we melted into each others arms and
knew the truth. But I was proud of
giving myself to you when you came
and took me in the bracken on
Arthurs Seat while the storm raged
about us. If I am in a certain condition
I shall place the infant in the care of a
worthy shepherd and his wife, and we
can discuss it calmly as platonic
acquaintances. I may permit
misconduct to occur again from time
to time as an outlet because I am in
my Prime. We can also have many a
breezy day in the fishing boat at sea.
I wish to inform you that your
housekeeper fills me with anxiety like
John Knox. I fear she is rather narrow,
Como puede imaginar, su carta me ha con-
movido profundamente. Pero, ay de m!, debo
40 renunciar a convertirme en la seora Lowther.
Mis motivos son dobles. Estoy dedicada a mis
nias, de la misma manera que lo est Madame
Pavlova a su arte, y, adems, hay otra persona
en mi vida cuyo amor correspondido me trans-
45 porta fuera de los lmites del Tiempo y del Es-
pacio. Se trata de Teddy Lloyd. No hemos teni-
do ninguna relacin ntima. Est casado. Un
da, en el aula de dibujo, nos fundimos en
un abrazo y supimos la verdad. Pero me sen-
50 t orgullosa de entregarme a usted, cuando
lleg y me tom sobre los helechos de
Arthurs Seat, mientras la tormenta brama-
ba a nuestro alrededor. Si estuviese en es-
tado de buena esperanza, pondr al beb
55 bajo la tutela de un pastor respetable y de
su esposa. Lo podemos hablar tranquila-
mente como amigos platnicos. Puede que
vuelva a tener una conducta indecorosa de
vez en cuando, como un desahogo, porque
60 me encuentro en la plenitud de mi vida. Tam-
bin podemos disfrutar mucho cualquier da
de viento navegando en un bote de pesca.
Me gustara decirle que su ama de lla-
ves me llena de preocupacin, de la misma
65 manera que John Knox. Me temo que es bas-

64

Hey, Johnnie Cope: popular Jacobite song
created in celebration of the defeat of the
government army under General Sir John Cope
at Prestonpans in 1745 by a Jacobite army under
Prince Charles Edward Stewart, or Bonnie
Prince Charlie
fresh es fresco con varias denotaciones, como nuevo,
reciente, puro, sano, lozano ( saludable, altivo, vigo-
roso). Como todos los adjetivos ordinarios, las com-
binaciones de estas voces con nombres son distin-
tas: fresh se usa para dulce [agua], inexperto [per-
sona], nuevo / otro [delante del nombre], recin [lle-
gado, salido, etc.], puro [aire], tierno / del da [pana-
dera], limpio [ropa], natural [fruta, vegetales], des-
cansado [rested person], en blanco [pgina] y, en sen-
tido familiar, bebido, chispo, achispado, medio bo-
rracho; a veces degrada su connotacin a descara-
do, atrevido, insolente.
A su vez fresco tiene matices propios como cool /
cold [clima], light / cool [ropa], calm / cool [sereno]
y, en sentido negativo, shameless [desvergonzado].
Fresco como sustantivo significa fresh air, y fresco
se usa en las dos lenguas para el tipo de pintura
sobre yeso fresco, tan popular en el Renacimiento.
As fresh as a daisy = tan fresco como una lechuga.
What nerve! = qu fresco!
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
which arises from an ignorance of tante estrecha de miras, lo cual surge a raz
culture and the Italian scene. Pray ask de un desconocimiento de la cultura y del
her not to say, You know your way universo italiano. Cuando vuelva a visitar-
up, when I call at your house at le en su casa de Cramond, le suplico que le
Cramond. She should take me up and 5 pida que no me diga: Suba al estudio, us-
show me in. Her knees are not stiff. ted ya conoce el camino. Ella debera con-
She is only pretending that they are. ducirme ante su presencia. Sus rodillas no
I love to hear you singing He y estn entumecidas, slo lo finge. [98]
J ohnnie Cope. But were I to Me encanta orle cantar Oye, Johnnie
r e c e i v e a p roposal of marriage 10 Cope. Pero si maana mismo recibiese una
tomorrow from the Lord Lyon King of propuesta de matrimonio por parte de Lord
Arms I would decline it. Lyon King of Arms, la rechazara.
Allow me, in conclusion, to P e r m t a m e , p a r a t e r m i n a r,
congratulate you warmly upon your f e l i c i t a r l e e f u s i v a m e n t e t a n -
sexual intercourse, as well as your 15 t o p o r s u a c t o s e x u a l c o m o
singing. por su canto.
With fondest joy, Con todo mi cario
Jean Brodie. Jean Brodie
20
When they had finished writing this Cuando terminaron de escribir la car-
letter they read the whole ta, leyeron toda la correspondencia, des-
correspondence from beginning to end. de la primera hasta la ltima carta. No sa-
They were undecided then whether to b a n s i a r r o j a r l o s d o c u m e n t o s
cast this incriminating document out to 25 incriminatorios al mar o enterrarlos. Sa-
sea or to bury it. The act of casting things ban que arrojar cosas al mar desde la ori-
out to sea from the shore was, as they lla era ms difcil de lo que pareca a pri-
knew, more difficult than it sounded. But mera vista. Pero Sandy encontr en el fon-
Sandy found a damp hole half-hidden do de la cueva una agujero hmedo, me-
by a stone at the back of the cave and 30 dio oculto por una piedra. Metieron den-
they pressed into it the notebook tro el cuaderno que contena la correspon-
containing the love correspondence of dencia amorosa de la seorita Jean Brodie
Miss Jean Brodie, and never saw it y nunca ms volvieron a saber de l. Re-
again. They walked back to Crail over gresaron a Crail caminando por la mulli-
the very springy turf full of fresh plans 35 da hierba, llenas de nuevos planes y col-
and fondest joy. madas de alegra. [99]
40
45
-4- 4
I have enough gunpowder in this jar Dentro de este frasco hay plvora sufi-
to blow up this school, said Miss ciente como para volar la escuela dijo la se-
Lockhart in even tones. 50 orita Lockhart sin alterar la voz.
She stood behind her bench in her Estaba de pie detrs de su mesa de trabajo,
white linen coat, with both hands on a con la bata blanca de lino, sujetando con las
glass jar three-quarters full of a dark grey dos manos un frasco de cristal, lleno en sus tres
powder. The extreme hush that fell was 55 cuartas partes de plvora gris. Se hizo el silen-
only what she expected, for she always cio. Eso era lo que ella esperaba, porque siem-
opened the first science lesson with these pre iniciaba la primera clase de ciencias con
words and with the gunpowder before esas palabras y con la plvora delante de ella, y
her, and the first science lesson was no la primera clase de ciencias no era una clase
lesson at all, but a naming of the most 60 propiamente dicha, sino la presentacin de los
impressive objects in the science room. objetos ms impresionantes que haba en el aula.
Every eye was upon the jar. Miss Todos las miradas estaban fijas en el frasco. La
Lockhart lifted it and placed it carefully seorita Lockhart lo levant y lo meti con
in a cupboard which was filled with mucho cuidado en un armario que contena re-
similar jars full of different-coloured 65 cipientes similares, llenos de cristales y de pol-
65

These are bunsen burners . . . a retort, a
crucible: items of scientific equipment in the
schools laboratory
predestination: the religious belief in the divine
fore-ordaining of all that will happen, and, more
specifically, that sins committed by the elected
few cannot imperil their hopes of salvation
hieroglyphics: a type of writing consisting of
figures of objects used by the ancient Egyptians.
Here used ironically to describe Greek
characters
Sparks Brodie
crystals and powders.
These are bunsen burners, this is a
test-tube, this is a pipette, thats a burette, es un tubo de ensayo, esto es una pipeta, esto es
that is a retort, a crucible...
Thus she established her
mysterious priesthood. She was quite
the nicest teacher in the Senior
school. But they were all the nicest 10
teachers in the school. It was a new
life altogether, almost a new school.
Here were no gaunt mistresses like
Miss Gaunt, those many who had
stalked past Miss Brodie in the 15
corridors saying good morning
with predestination in their smiles. X
The teachers here seemed to have no
thoughts of anyones personalities
apart from their speciality in life, 20
whether it was mathematics, Latin or
science. They treated the new first-
formers as if they were not real, but
only to be dealt with, like symbols
of algebra, and Miss Brodies pupils 25
found this refreshing at first.
Wonderful, too, during the first week
was the curriculum of dazzling new
subjects, and the rushing to and from
room to room to keep to the time- 30
table. Their days were now filled
with unfamiliar shapes and sounds
which were magically dissociated
from ordinary life, the great
circles and triangles of geometry, 35
the hieroglyphics of Greek on the
page and the curious hisses and
spits some of the Greek sounds
made from the teacher s lips
psst... psooch.. . 40
A few weeks later, when meanings
appeared from among these sights and
sounds, it was difficult to remember
the party-game effect of that first
week, and that Greek had ever made
hisses and spits or that mensarum
had sounded like something out of
nonsense verse. The Modern side, up
to the third form, was distinguished
from the Classical only by modern or
ancient languages. The girls on the
Modern side were doing German and
Spanish, which, when rehearsed
between periods, made the astonishing
noises of foreign stations got in
passing on the wireless. A
mademoiselle with black frizzy hair,
who wore a striped shirt with real cuff-
links, was pronouncing French in a
foreign way which never really caught
on. The science room smelt unevenly
of the Canongate on that day of the
winters walk with Miss Brodie, the
bunsen burners, and the sweet
66
Silvia Barbero
vos de colores diversos.
Aqu tenis unos mecheros Bunsen, esto
5 un crisol, aqu tenis una bureta...
De esa manera, consolidaba su sacerdocio
misterioso. Era, con diferencia, la profesora ms
encantadora de la escuela secundaria, aunque to-
das las profesoras de secundaria eran las ms en-
cantadoras del colegio. Se trataba de una vida to-
talmente nueva. Casi podra decirse que se trataba
de una escuela nueva. All no haba maestras fla-
cas como la seorita Gaunt ni como ninguna de
las muchas otras que, cuando se cruzaban con la
seorita Brodie por los pasillos, le daban [103]
los buenos das con una sonrisa forzada.
All las profesoras parecan no prestar atencin
a la personalidad de nadie y centrarse exclusi-
vamente en su especialidad, ya fuesen las ma-
temticas, el latn o la ciencia. Trataban a las
nuevas alumnas no como si fuesen de carne y
hueso, sino ms bien como meros entes a los
que tenan que educar, como meros smbolos
algebraicos, y, al principio, aquello result un
soplo de aire fresco para las alumnas de la se-
orita Brodie. Durante la primera semana,
tambin les parecieron maravillosos los planes
de estudio de aquellas asignaturas nuevas y
deslumbrantes, as como el ajetreo de ir y venir
de un aula a otra segn fuese la clase que co-
rresponda. Ahora tenan los das ocupados con
formas y sonidos con los que no estaban fami-
liarizadas y que estaban disociados, como por
arte de magia, de la vida normal y corriente:
los grandes tringulos y circunferencias de la
clase de geometra, los jeroglficos del griego
escrito y los curiosos silbidos y siseos de algu-
nos de los sonidos griegos que salan de los la-
bios de la profesora.
Despus de varias semanas, cuando
se les revel el significado de aquellos
sonidos y letras, la sensacin festiva de
45 la primera semana de clase haba cado
ya en el olvido. El griego ya no con-
sista en una sucesin de silbidos y
siseos y mensarum no era ya una pala-
bra sacada de unos versos absurdos. La
50 rama moderna, hasta el tercer curso de
secundaria, se distingua de la clsica
slo por las lenguas. Las nias de la
rama moderna estudiaban alemn y es-
paol, idiomas que, al repasarlos entre
55 clase y clase, producan el sonido des-
concertante de emisoras extranjeras al
girar el dial. Una mademoiselle de pelo
negro ensortijado, que llevaba una blusa
de rayas con gemelos autnticos, pronun-
60 ciaba el francs con un acento que siem-
pre sonaba impostado. En el aula de cien-
cias se mezclaban los olores: ola igual que
Canongate cuando lo visitaron aquel da de in-
vierno con la seorita Brodie, ola [104] tambin a
65 la flama de los mecheros Bunsen, as como a las
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

autumnal smoke that drifted in from dulces rfagas de humos otoales procedentes de
the first burning leaves. Here in the las fogatas de hojas secas que se hacan antes de
science room strictly not to be que llegasen las primeras nevadas. All, en el aula
referred to as a laboratory lessons de ciencias que no poda ser definida en rigor
were called experiments, which gave 5 como laboratorio a las lecciones se las deno-
everyone the feeling that not even Miss minaba experimentos, lo que daba a todas la im-
Lockhart knew what the result might presin de que ni siquiera la seorita Lockhart
be, and anything might occur between saba cul iba a ser el resultado, y teman que en
their going in and coming out and the mitad de uno de tales experimentos la escuela vo-
school might blow up. 10 lara hecha pedazos por los aires.

Here, during that first week, an
experiment was conducted which
involved magnesium in a test-tube
which was made to tickle a bunsen
flame. Eventually, from different
parts of the room, great white
magnesium flares shot out of the test-
tubes and were caught in larger glass
vessels which waited for the purpose.
Mary Macgregor took fright and ran
along a single lane between two
benches, met with a white flame, and
ran back to meet another brilliant
tongue of fire. Hither and thither she
ran in panic between the benches until
she was caught and induced to calm
down, and she was told not to be so
stupid by Miss Lockhart, who already
had learnt the exasperation of looking
at Marys face, its two eyes, nose and
mouth, with nothing more to say
about it.
Durante aquella primera semana, llevaron
a cabo un experimento que consista en intro-
ducir magnesio en un tubo de ensayo y calen-
15 tarlo con el mechero Bunsen. Al final, desde
diferentes zonas de la clase, grandes llamara-
das blancas de magnesio salan de los tubos
de ensayo y eran atrapadas en otros recipien-
tes de cristal dispuestos para tal fin. Mary
20 Macgregor se asust y sali corriendo por el
pasillo que quedaba entre dos de las mesas,
pero, de repente, se top con otra llama blan-
ca, se dio la vuelta, sigui corriendo y se en-
contr ante otra brillante lengua de fuego.
25 Corra, presa del pnico, de un lugar a otro
entre las mesas de trabajo, hasta que consi-
guieron detenerla y la tranquilizaron. La se-
orita Lockhart le dijo que no se comportase
de esa manera estpida, aunque ya haba ex-
30 perimentado la exasperacin de mirar la cara
de Mary aquellos dos ojos, aquella nariz,
aquella boca sin que se le ocurriera decirle
otra cosa.

Once, in later years, when Sandy was 35 Aos ms tarde, en una ocasin en que
visited by Rose Stanley, and they fell to Rose Stanley fue a visitar a Sandy y se pu-
speaking of dead Mary Macgregor, sieron a hablar de la difunta Mary
Sandy said, Macgregor, Sandy confes:

befall, happen, occur, or be the case in the X When any ill befalls me I wish I had 40 Cuando me tratan con crueldad, siento
course of events or by chance been nicer to Mary. no haber tratado mejor a Mary.

How were we to know? said Rose. Cmo bamos a saberlo? le pregunt Rose.

And Miss Brodie, sitting in the 45 Y la seorita Brodie, cuando estaba sen-
window of the Braid Hills Hotel tada con Sandy ante el ventanal del hotel
with Sandy, had said: I wonder if Braid Hills, haba dicho: Me pregunto
it was Mary Macgregor betrayed [105] si no fue Mary Macgregor la que me
me? Perhaps I should have been traicion. Quiz debera haberme portado
kinder to Mary. 50 mejor con ella:

The Brodie set might easily have lost Es posible que el grupo de Brodie hubiese
its identity at this time, not only because perdido su identidad como tal grupo en aquel
Miss Brodie had ceased to preside over periodo, no slo porque la seorita Brodie ha-
their days which were now so brisk with 55 ba dejado de presidir sus das, que por enton-
the getting of knowledge from unsoulful ces ocupaban en recibir conocimientos por par-
experts, but also because the headmistress te de unas especialistas insensibles, sino tam-
intended them to be dispersed. bin porque la directora intent dispersarlo.

She laid a scheme and it failed. 60 La seorita Mackay tram un ardid y fraca-
It was too ambitious, it aimed at s. Se trataba de un ardid demasiado ambicio-
ridding the school of Miss Brodie so, encaminado a expulsar de la escuela a la
and breaking up the Brodie set in seorita Brodie y a desmantelar su grupo de un
the one stroke. plumazo.
65

67
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

She befriended Mary Macgregor, Entabl amistad con Mary Macgregor, cre-
thinking her to be gullible and bribable, yendo que era crdula y sobornable, aunque
and underrating her stupidity. She menospreciando su estupidez. Record que
remembered that Mary had, in common Mary, al igual que todas las nias de la seorita
with all Miss Brodies girls, applied to 5 Brodie, quera estudiar la rama clsica, pero que
go on the Classical side, but had been le fue denegada. Entonces, la seorita Mackay
refused. Now Miss Mackay changed her cambi de parecer y le permiti que estudiase
mind and allowed her to take at least al menos latn. A cambio, esperaba ser infor-
Latin. In return she expected to be mada de todo cuanto estuviese relacionado con
informed concerning Miss Brodie. But 10 su antigua maestra. Pero como la nica razn
as the only reason that Mary had wanted de que Mary quisiese aprender latn era com-
to learn Latin was to please Miss Brodie, placer a la seorita Brodie, la directora no pudo
the headmistress got no further. Give the sonsacarle nada. Por ms que invitaba a la nia
girl tea as she might, Mary simply did a tomar el t, Mary simplemente no compren-
not understand what was required of her 15 da qu era lo que le peda y lleg a pensar que
and thought all the teachers were in todas las profesoras estaban confabuladas, in-
league together, Miss Brodie and all. cluida la seorita Brodie.

You wont be seeing much of Miss Ahora que ests en la escuela secunda-
Brodie, said Miss Mackay, now that 20 ria no vers mucho a la seorita Brodie le
you are in the Senior school. coment la seorita Mackay.

I see, said Mary, taking the S la veo, le dijo Mary, que interpret el
remark as an edict rather than a comentario ms como un edicto que como un
probing question. 25 interrogatorio.

houses: a sub-division of a school to which
pupils belong and which is supposed to create
team spirit. Originally they were
boarding-houses in a private school
graves of the martyrs: the graves of puritanical
religious fundamentalists, or Covenanters, killed
by government forces after King Charles II
attempted to introduce episcopalianism in
Scotland
Miss Mackay laid another scheme
and the scheme undid her. There was
a highly competitive house system in
the Senior school, whose four houses
were named Holyrood, Melrose,
Argyll and Biggar. Miss Mackay saw
to it that the Brodie girls were as far
as possible placed in different houses.
Jenny was put in Holyrood, Sandy
with Mary Macgregor in Melrose,
Monica and Eunice went into Argyll
and Rose Stanley into Biggar. They
were therefore obliged to compete
with each other in every walk of life
within the school and on the wind-
swept hockey fields which lay like the
graves of the martyrs exposed to the
weather in an outer suburb. It was the
team spirit, they were told, that
counted now, every house must go all
out for the Shield and turn up on
Saturday mornings to yell
encouragement to the house.
Interhouse friendships must not suffer,
of course, but the team spirit...
La seorita Mackay urdi otro ardid, y
aquel ardid fue su perdicin. En la escuela se-
cundaria haba cuatro hermandades muy com-
30 petitivas que se llamaban Holyrood, Melrose,
Argyll y Biggar. La directora procur, en lo
posible, que [106] colocaran a las nias del
grupo de la seorita Brodie en diferentes her-
mandades. De ese modo, a Jenny la pusieron
35 en la hermandad de Holyrood, Sandy y Mary
Macgregor fueron asignadas a la de Melr o s e ,
Monica y Eunice a la de A rgyll y Rose
Sta nley ingres en la de Biggar. Por lo
tanto, las obligaron a competir entre s en
40 todos los mbitos dentro de la escuela, as
como en los campos de hockey azotados
por el viento, que se extendan como tumbas
de mrtires expuestas a las inclemencias
climticas a las afueras de la ciudad. Les dijeron
45 que ahora lo que contaba era el espritu de equi-
po. Cada hermandad deba competir para lograr
el Trofeo y todas las nias tenan la obligacin
de acudir los sbados por la maana para jalear
a su hermandad. El compaerismo entre las distintas
50 hermandades no deba resentirse, desde luego, pero el esp-
ritu de equipo estaba por encima de todo.

This phrase was enough for the Despus de pasar dos aos bajo el
Brodie set who, after two years at Miss magisterio de Brodie, las nias de su
Brodies, had been well directed as to its 55 grupo saban muy bien lo que signifi-
meaning. caba esa frase.

Phrases like the team spirit are Frases como el espritu de equipo se
always employed to cut across emplean siempre para atajar el individualismo,
individualism, love and personal 60 el amor y las lealtades personales les haba
loyalties, she had said. Ideas like the dicho. Ideas como el espritu de equipo no
team spirit, she said, ought not to be deben ser inculcadas al sexo femenino, espe-
enjoined on the female sex, especially if cialmente si se trata de fminas que estn con-
they are of that dedicated nature whose sagradas a un propsito, cuyas virtudes, desde
virtues from time immemorial have been 65 tiempos inmemoriales, han estado radicalmen-

68
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Florence Nightingale: English nurse
(1820-1910) who revolutionised the care of
wounded soldiers during the Crimean War by
introducing new standards of nursing
Cleopatra: queen of Egypt (c. 69-30sc) whose
relationship with the Roman Mark Antony is the
subject of Shakespeares play Antony and
Cleopatra
Helen of Troy: according to Greek legend, the
beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda. After
marrying Menelaus, King of Sparta, she was
seduced by Paris and carried off to Troy, an
action which led to the Trojan war
utterly opposed to the concept. Florence te en contra de esa idea. Florence Nightingale,
Nightingale knew nothing of the team la famosa enfermera, no saba nada del espritu
spirit, her mission was to save life de equipo, su misin consista en salvar vidas,
regardless of the team to which it sin reparar en el equipo al que perteneca. Si
belonged. Cleopatra knew nothing of the 5 leis a Shakespeare, sabris que Cleopatra no
team spirit if you read your Shakespeare. saba nada del espritu de equipo. Acordaos de
Take Helen of Troy. And the Queen of Helena de Troya. Bien es verdad que la reina
England, it is true she attends de Inglaterra asiste a competiciones deportivas
international sport, but she has to, it is all internacionales, pero slo porque es su deber.
empty show, she is concerned only with 10 Todo es una farsa. Ella slo se preocupa de la
the Kings health and antiques. Where [107] salud del rey y de las antigedades.
would the team spirit have got Sybil Adnde habra llevado el espritu de equipo a
Thorndike? She is the great actress and Sybil Thorndike? Ella es la gran actriz y el res-
the rest of the cast have got the team spirit. to del reparto es el que tiene espritu de equipo.
Pavlova... 15 La Pavlova...

Perhaps Miss Brodie had foreseen
this moment of the future when her
team of six should be exposed to the
appeal of four different competing
spirits, Argyll, Melrose, Biggar and
Holyrood. It was impossible to know
how much Miss Brodie planned by
deliberation, or how much she worked
by instinct alone. However, in this, the
first test of her strength, she had the
victory. Not one of the senior house-
prefects personified an argument to
touch Sybil Thorndike and Cleopatra.
The Brodie set would as soon have
entered the Girl Guides as the team
spirit. Not only they, but at least ten
other girls who had passed through
Brodie hands kept away from the
playing grounds except under
compulsion. No one, save Eunice
Gardiner, got near to being put in any
team to try her spirit upon. Everyone
agreed that Eunice was so good on the
field, she could not help it.
Quiz la seorita Brodie haba previsto
aquel momento en que su grupo de seis nias
se vera expuesto a la llamada de cuatro es-
20 pritus competitivos diferentes: Argyll,
Melrose, Biggar y Holyrood. Era imposible
saber cunto haba de reflexin y cunto de
instinto en esa previsin de la seorita
Brodie. Con todo, en este asunto, su poder
25 sali victorioso de la primera prueba. Ni una
sola de las monitoras encargadas de las her-
mandades de secundaria encarn un argumen-
to que pudiese afectar a Sybil Thorndike ni a
Cleopatra. El grupo de Brodie antes hubiese
30 preferido ingresar en las exploradoras que
mostrar espritu de equipo. No slo ellas, sino
al menos otras diez nias que haban pasado
por las manos de Brodie se mantenan aleja-
das de los campos de juego, a no ser que las
35 obligaran. Ninguna, excepto Eunice Gardiner,
se acerc voluntariamente a ningn equipo
para intentar desarrollar ese espritu. Todo el
mundo se haca cargo de que Eunice era tan
buena en los deportes, que le result imposi-
40 ble resistirse.

On most Saturday afternoons Miss Casi todos los sbados por la tarde, la se-
Brodie entertained her old set to tea and orita Brodie invitaba a su antiguo grupo de
listened to their new experiences. nias a tomar el t y las escuchaba narrar sus
Herself, she told them, she did not think 45 nuevas experiencias. Por su parte, ella les con-
much of her new pupils potentialities, fesaba que no apreciaba demasiado potencial
and she described some of her new little en las nuevas alumnas, cuya descripcin ha-
girls and made the old ones laugh, which ca rer a las antiguas, lo que una al grupo
bound her set together more than ever ms que nunca, hacindolas sentirse como ele-
and made them feel chosen. Sooner or 50 gidas. Por una cosa o por otra, siempre acaba-
later she enquired what they were doing ba preguntndoles por lo que hacan en clase
in the art class, for now the girls were de dibujo, ya que las nias tenan como profe-
taught by golden-locked, one-armed sor a Teddy Lloyd, el manco de la guedeja
Teddy Lloyd. dorada. [108]
55
There was always a great deal to Siempre haba muchas cosas que contar
tell about the art lesson. Their first acerca de las clases de dibujo. El primer da, el
day, Mr. Lloyd found difficulty in seor Lloyd tuvo bastantes dificultades para
keeping order. After so many mantener el orden. Despus de tantsimas ho-
unfamiliar packed hours and periods 60 ras centradas en materias exactas y extraas para
of different exact subjects, the girls ellas, las nias enseguida apreciaron la natura-
immediately felt the relaxing nature leza relajante de la clase de dibujo, pero aque-
of the art room, and brimmed over lla relajacin acab desbordndose. El seor
with relaxation. Mr. Lloyd shouted at Lloyd les grit con su voz ronca que se calla-
them in his hoarse voice to shut up. 65 ran. Sin embargo, aquello slo consigui infun-

69
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

This was most bracing. dirles ms mpetu.

He was attempting to explain the Intentaba explicar la naturaleza y el as-

ellipse: curve in which the points are at an equal
distance
nature and appearance of an ellipse by pecto de una elipse por medio de un plato
holding up a saucer in his one right hand, 5 elevado muy por encima de la cabeza con su
high above his head, then lower. But his mano derecha y nica. Despus lo baj. Pero
romantic air and his hoarse Shut up had su aire romntico y su ronco Callaos pro-
produced a reaction of giggles varying dujo una reaccin de risas tontas que variaban
in tone and pitch. de tono y volumen.
10
If you girls dont shut up Ill smash Nias, como no os callis, tiro este pla-
this saucer to the floor, he said. to al suelo les advirti.

They tried but failed to shut Las nias intentaron callarse, pero no lo
up. 15 lograron.

He smashed the saucer to the floor. Tir el plato al suelo.

Amid the dead silence which Entre el silencio sepulcral que se

followed he picked on Rose Stanley 20 hizo de repente, seal los fragmen-
and indicating the fragments o f tos esparcidos por el suelo, clav la
s a u c e r o n t h e f l o o r , h e s a i d , m i r a d a e n R o s e St a n l e y y l e d i j o :
You with the profile pick this up. T, la del perfil. Recoge esto.

He turned away and went and did 25 Se dio media vuelta y se fue al fondo del
something else at the other end of the aula, donde se qued todo el tiempo que dur
long room for the rest of the period, la clase, mientras las nias observaban el perfil
while the girls looked anew at Rose de Rose Stanley como si lo vieran por primera
Stanleys profile, marvelled at Mr. vez, asombradas del carcter del seor Lloyd.
Lloyds style, and settled down to 30 Se calmaron y empezaron a dibujar una botella
drawing a bottle set up in front of a colocada delante de un pao. Jenny le coment
curtain. Jenny remarked to Sandy that a Sandy que la seorita Brodie tena en verdad
Miss Brodie really had good taste. buen gusto.

He has an a r t i s t i c 35 Desde luego, tiene temperamento de ar-

temperament, of course, said Miss tista apreci la seorita Brodie cuando le
Brodie when she was told about contaron la ancdota del plato. Y, cuando se
the saucer. And when she heard enter de que el profesor se haba dirigido a
that he had called Rose you with Rose con un T, la del perfil; su antigua
the profile, she looked at Rose in 40 maestra lanz a Rose una mirada peculiar, mien-
a special way, while Sandy looked tras Sandy se dedicaba a observar a la seorita
at Miss Brodie. Brodie. [109]

The interest of Sandy and Jenny in El inters que Sandy y Jenny mostraban por
Miss Brodies lovers had entered a new 45 los amoros de la seorita Brodie haba entrado
phase since they had buried their last en una nueva etapa desde que sepultaron las
composition and moved up to the Senior ltimas composiciones que escribieron y pasa-
school. They no longer saw everything ron a la escuela secundaria. Ya no vean todo a
in a sexual context, it was now rather a travs de un prisma sexual. Se trataba ms bien
question of plumbing the deep hearts 50 de sondear el ncleo profundo del corazn. El
core. The world of pure sex seemed years mundo de la mera sexualidad pareca ya algo
away. Jenny had turned twelve. Her remoto. Jenny haba cumplido doce aos. Su
mother had recently given birth to a baby madre haba tenido haca poco un nio, pero
boy, and the event had not moved them aquel acontecimiento ni siquiera las incit a es-
even to speculate upon its origin. 55 pecular sobre su origen.

Theres not much time for sex
research in the Senior school,
Sandy said.
60
I feel Im past it, said Jenny. This
was strangely true, and she did not again
experience her early sense of erotic
wonder in life until suddenly one day
when she was nearly forty, an actress of 65
Desde que hemos entrado en la escuela
secundaria no tenemos mucho tiempo para in-
vestigaciones sexuales declar Sandy.
Me da la impresin de que estoy ya para
el arrastre dijo Jenny. Y aquella afirmacin
era extraamente sincera, hasta el punto de que
no volvi a experimentar aquella prstina sen-
sacin del milagro ertico hasta un da en que

70
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

moderate reputation married to a se encontraba a punto de cumplir cuarenta

theatrical manager. It happened she was aos, cuando era ya una actriz de cierta fama
standing with a man whom she did not casada con un empresario teatral. Sucedi en
know very well outside a famous Roma. Estaba cobijada en el exterior de un
building in Rome, waiting for the rain 5 famoso edificio, esperando a que dejase de llo-
to stop. She was surprised by a ver, junto a un hombre al que no conoca de
reawakening of that same buoyant and nada. De repente, se vio sorprendida por un
airy discovery of sex, a total sensation rebrote de aquel originario descubrimiento,
which it was impossible to say was optimista y etreo, de la sexualidad, una sen-
physical or mental, only that it contained 10 sacin generalizada que le resultaba imposi-
the lost and guileless delight of her ble discernir si era fsica o mental: lo nico
eleventh year. She supposed herself to que tena claro era que le proporcionaba el de-
have fallen in love with the man, who leite perdido e inocente de sus once aos. Cre-
might, she thought, have been moved y haberse enamorado de ese hombre y supu-
towards her in his own way out of a 15 so que l tambin se haba sentido atrado por
world of his own, the associations of ella de algn modo, dejando atrs su propio
which were largely unknown to her. mundo, cuyos pormenores eran totalmente
There was nothing whatever to be done desconocidos para ella. No haba nada que
about it, for Jenny had been contentedly hacer, porque Jenny llevaba diecisis aos fe-
married for sixteen years past; but the 20 lizmente casada. Pero, en los das posteriores,
concise happening filled her with cuando le asaltaba el recuerdo de aquel suce-
astonishment whenever it came to mind so fugaz, se senta invadida por el aturdimien-
in later days, and with a sense of the to, calibrando las posibilidades latentes que
hidden possibilities in all things. subyacen en todas las cosas. [110]
25
Mr. Lowthers housekeeper, said El ama de llaves del seor Lowther se
Miss Brodie one Saturday afternoon, ha despedido coment la seorita Brodie un
has left him. It is most ungrateful, that sbado por la tarde. Es de lo ms ingrato por
house at Cramond is easily run. I never su parte, pues aquella casa de Cramond resulta
cared for her as you know. I think she 30 fcil de llevar. Como sabis, nunca me result
resented my position as Mr. Lowthers simptica. Creo que le molestaba que fuese
friend and confidante, and seemed amiga y confidente del seor Lowther, y daba
dissatisfied by my visits. Mr. Lowther la impresin de que no le agradaban mis visi-
is composing some music for song at tas. En estos momentos, el seor Lowther est
the moment. He ought to be 35 componiendo la msica de una cancin y ne-
encouraged. cesita que lo animen.

The next Saturday she told the girls El sbado siguiente les dijo a las nias
that the sewing sisters, Miss Ellen and que las hermanas costureras, las seoritas
Miss Alison Kerr, had taken on the 40 Ellen y Alison Kerr, se haban hecho cargo
temporary task of housekeepers to Mr. temporalmente de las tareas propias de un
Lowther, since they lived near ama de llaves, ya que vivan cerca de
Cramond. Cramond.

I think those sisters are 45 Creo que las dos hermanas son unas en-
inquisitive, Miss Brodie remarked. trometidas les coment la seorita Brodie
They are too much in with Miss Gaunt . Tienen muy buenas relaciones con la seori-
and the Church of Scotland. ta Gaunt y con la Iglesia presbiteriana.

John Stuart Mill: English philosopher (1806-73)
who advocated utilitarianism, a belief that
happiness was not an end in itself but should
be sought by the pursuit of an altruistic or artistic
ideal
On Saturday afternoons an hour was
spent on her Greek lessons, for she had
insisted that Jenny and Sandy should
teach her Greek at the same time as they
learned it. There is an old tradition for
this practice, said Miss Brodie. Many
families in the olden days could afford
to send but one child to school,
whereupon that one scholar of the family
imparted to the others in the evening what
he had learned in the morning. I have long
wanted to know the Greek language, and
this scheme will also serve to impress
your knowledge on your own minds.
John Stuart Mill used to rise at dawn to
learn Greek at the age of five, and what
50 Los sbados por la tarde, Jenny y Sandy dedi-
caban una hora a dar clases de griego a su antigua
maestra, que haba insistido en que se lo ensea-
ran al mismo tiempo que ellas lo aprendan.
Es una prctica que cuenta con una
55 larga tradicin. Antao, muchas familias
slo podan enviar a un hijo a la escuela, y
ese nico miembro escolarizado de la fa-
milia les enseaba a los dems por la tarde
lo que haba aprendido durante la maana.
60 Desde hace mucho tiempo he querido
aprender la lengua griega. Adems, este
mtodo os ayudar a grabar en vuestra
mente lo que ya sabis. John Stuart Mill se
levantaba al amanecer para aprender grie-
65 go cuando tena cinco aos, y lo que John

71
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

John Stuart Mill could do as an infant at Stuart Mill era capaz de hacer de amaneci-
dawn, I too can do on a Saturday da cuando era un cro, puedo hacerlo yo en
afternoon in my prime. mi plenitud los sbados por la tarde.

She progressed in Greek, although she 5 Haca progresos en griego, aunque se lia-
was somewhat muddled about the ba un poco con los acentos, al ser instruida de
accents, being differently informed by modo distinto por Jenny y por [111] Sandy,
Jenny and Sandy who took turns to quienes se turnaban para ensearle lo que ha-
impart to her their weekly intake of the ban aprendido a lo largo de la semana. Pero
language. But she was determined to 10 ella estaba decidida a compartir y a ser parte
enter and share the new life of her special activa en la nueva vida de sus nias especia-
girls, and what she did not regard as les, y lo que no consideraba que fuese un fac-
humane of their new concerns, or what tor humanstico en sus nuevas asignaturas, o
was not within the scope of her influence, bien lo que no estaba dentro del mbito de su
she scorned. 15 influencia, lo menospreciaba.
Les deca:
She said: It is witty to say that a Es muy ingenioso decir que una lnea
straight line is the shortest distance recta es la distancia ms corta entre dos pun-
between two points, or that a circle is a tos, o que un crculo es una figura plana li-
plane figure bounded by one line, every 20 mitada por una lnea, cuyos puntos son
point of which is equidistant from a fixed equidistantes desde un centro fijo. Es de una
centre. It is plain witty. Everyone knows ingeniosidad absoluta. Todo el mundo sabe
what a straight line and a circle are. qu es una lnea recta y un crculo.

c.g. of his load: centre of gravity of his load
When, after the examinations at the
end of the first term, she looked at the
papers they had been set, she read
some of the more vulnerable of the
questions aloud with the greatest
contempt: A window cleaner
carries a uniform 60-lb. ladder 15
ft. long, at one end of which a
bucket of water weighing 40
lb. is hung. At what point
must he support the ladder to
carry it horizontally? Where
i s t h e c . g . o f h i s l o a d ? Miss
Brodie looked at the paper, after
reading out this question as if to
indicate that she could not believe her
eyes. Many a time she gave the girls
to understand that the solution to such
problems would be quite useless to
Sybil Thorndike, Anna Pavlova and
the late Helen of Troy.
25 Despus del final del primer trimes-
tre, cuando la seorita Brodie vio los ex-
menes que les haban puesto, ley en voz
alta, con el mayor de los desprecios, al-
gunas de las preguntas ms vulnerables:
30 Un limpiacristales lleva una escalera
que pesa veintisiete kilos y que mide cuatro
metros y medio. En un extremo de la escalera
lleva colgado un cubo de agua que pesa die-
ciocho kilos. En qu punto exacto tiene que
35 agarrar la escalera para transportarla mante-
niendo su horizontalidad? Calclese adems
los centgramos de la carga.
Despus de haber ledo en voz alta la pre-
gunta, la seorita Brodie mir el examen como
40 si quisiese evidenciar que no poda creer lo
que vean sus ojos. Muchas veces les haba
dado a entender a las nias que la solucin de
tales problemas no les haban servido para
nada en la vida a Sybil Thorndike, a Anna
45 Pavlova y a la difunta Helena de Troya.

But the Brodie set were on the whole Pero todas las nias del grupo de Brodie
still dazzled by their new subjects. It estaban an deslumbradas por las nuevas asig-
was never the same in later years when naturas. Nunca volvi a ser lo mismo en los
the languages of physics and chemistry, 50 aos posteriores, cuando la terminologa espe-
algebra and geometry had lost their cfica de la fsica y la qumica, del lgebra y de
elemental strangeness and formed each la geometra [112] perdieron su extraeza pri-
an individual department of life with mitiva y acabaron integrndose en su rutina con
its own accustomed boredom, and el aburrimiento propio de lo que se convierte
become hard work. Even Monica 55 en costumbre, y su estudio empez a hacrseles
Douglas, who later developed such a cada vez ms arduo. Incluso Monica Douglas,
good brain for mathematics, was que con el tiempo desarrollara una gran capa-
plainly never so thrilled with herself as cidad para las matemticas, nunca estuvo tan
when she first subtracted x from y and orgullosa de s misma como la primera vez que
the result from a; she never afterwards 60 rest x de y, y su resultado lo rest de a. Des-
looked so happy. pus de eso, nunca se la vio tan feliz.

Rose Stanley sliced a worm down Durante el primer trimestre de biologa,

the middle with the greatest absorption Rose Stanley diseccion un gusano, comple-
during her first terms biology, 65 mente absorta en su tarea, aunque, a la vuelta

72
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Samuel Pepys: English government servant
who is best known for his diaries which relate
the gossip and scandals of the reign of King
Charles II
although in two terms time she
shuddered at the thought and had
dropped the subject. Eunice Gardiner
discovered the Industrial Revolution,
its rights and wrongs, to such an extent
that the history teacher, a vegetarian
communist, had high hopes of her
which were dashed within a few
months when Eunice reverted to
reading novels based on the life of
Mary Queen of Scots. Sandy, whose
handwriting was bad, spent hours
forming the Greek characters in neat
rows in her notebooks while Jenny
took the same pride in drawing
scientific apparatus for her chemistry
notes. Even stupid Mary Macgregor
amazed herself by understanding
Caesar s Gallic Wars which as yet
made no demands on her defective
imagination and the words of which
were easier to her than English to spell
and pronounce, until suddenly one day
it appeared, from an essay she had
been obliged to write, that she believed
the document to date from the time of
Samuel Pepys; and then Mary was
established in the wrong again, being
tortured with probing questions, and
generally led on to confess to the
mirth-shaken world her notion that
Latin and shorthand were one.
de dos trimestres, se estremeca cada vez que
recordaba aquello y aborreci la asignatura.
Eunice Gardiner descubri la revolucin indus-
trial, sus aciertos y sus errores, hasta el punto
5 de que la profesora de historia, una comunista
vegetariana, tena muchas esperanzas puestas
en ella, pero aquellas esperanzas se vieron frus-
tradas al cabo de unos meses, cuando Eunice
volvi a leer novelas inspiradas en la vida de
10 Mary, la reina de Escocia. Sandy, que tena mala
letra, se pasaba horas y horas escribiendo los
caracteres griegos con mucho esmero en su cua-
derno, mientras Jenny tambin pona un mis-
mo empeo en dibujar instrumentos cientficos
15 en sus apuntes de qumica. Incluso la boba de
Mary Macgregor se maravillaba de ella misma
por llegar a comprender La guerra de las Galias,
de Julio Csar, pues an no se haba puesto a
prueba su imaginacin deficiente y, adems, la
20 pronunciacin y la escritura del latn le resulta-
ban ms fciles que las del ingls. Hasta que de
repente un da sucedi que, al tener que escri-
bir una redaccin sobre aquel tema, dio por sen-
tado que el texto latino que le serva de base
25 databa de la poca de Samuel Pepys. Despus
de eso, Mary volvi a ganarse su fama de boba,
y la atormentaban con preguntas
malintencionadas, y con frecuencia haba quien
se las arreglaba para que Mary hiciera pblica
30 su opinin de que el latn y [113] la taquigrafa
eran la misma cosa, para regocijo de todo el
mundo.

Miss Brodie had a hard fight of it La seorita Brodie lo pas mal durante
during those first few months when the 35 aquellos primeros meses en que la escuela se-
Senior school had captivated her set, cundaria tena secuestrado a su grupo, que de-
displaying as did the set that capacity mostr con creces la capacidad de entusiasmo
for enthusiasm which she herself had que la propia seorita Brodie le haba inculca-
implanted. But having won the battle do. Pero el hecho de haber ganado la batalla
over the team spirit, she did not despair. 40 sobre el tema del espritu de equipo la anim.
It was evident even then that her main Incluso entonces resultaba evidente que su prin-
concern was lest the girls should become cipal preocupacin era que las nias pudieran
personally attached to any one of the ser engatusadas por alguna de las profesoras de
senior teachers, but she carefully secundaria, aunque se cuid mucho de pasar al
refrained from direct attack because the 45 ataque frontal, ya que las propias profesoras
teachers themselves seemed so perfectly daban la impresin de mostrar una indiferencia
indifferent to her brood. absoluta hacia su camada.

By the summer term, the girls Durante el ltimo trimestre, las horas
favourite hours were those spent 50 favoritas de las nias eran las que pasaban
unbrainfully in the gymnasium, swinging despreocupadamente en el gimnasio, balan-
about on parallel bars, hanging upside cendose en las paralelas, colgndose boca
down on wall bars or climbing ropes up abajo de las espalderas o subiendo hasta el
to the ceiling, all competing with agile techo por las cuerdas, todas compitiendo
Eunice to heave themselves up by hands, 55 con la gil Eunice igual que monos que
knees, and feet like monkeys climbing a ascendieran por una liana tropical, mien-
tropical creeper, while the gym teacher, tras la profesora de gimnasia, una mujer
a thin grey-haired little wire, showed delgaducha de pelo cano, les ejemplificaba
them what to do and shouted each order el ejercicio y les indicaba a gritos cada mo-
in a broad Scots accent interspersed by 60 vimiento con un cerrado acento escocs,
her short cough, on account of which she intercalado con una tos seca que aos ms
was later sent to a sanatorium in tarde la obligara a ser internada en un sa-
Switzerland. natorio suizo.

By the summer term, to stave off the 65 Durante el ltimo trimestre, para evitar los

73
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

onslaughts of boredom, and to reconcile ataques de aburrimiento y para reconciliar las

the necessities of the working day with necesidades del trabajo diario con su amor por
their love for Miss Brodie, Sandy and la seorita Brodie, Sandy y Jenny empezaron a
Jenny had begun to apply their new- aplicar a su antigua maestra sus recin adqui-
found knowledge to Miss Brodie in a 5 ridos conocimientos de una manera jocosa. Si
merry fashion. If Miss Brodie was se pesase a la seorita Brodie en el aire y des-
weighed in air and then in water... And, pus en el agua... Y, cuando el seor Lowther
when Mr. Lowther seemed not quite daba la impresin de no estar muy concentrado
himself at the singing lesson, they would en su clase de canto, las dos nias cuchichea-
remind each other that an immersed Jean 10 ban que, con arreglo al principio de Arqumedes,
Brodie displaces its own weight of una Jean Brodie sumergida poda desplazar el
Gordon Lowther. peso de un Gordon Lowther. [114]

Presently, in the late spring of Por aquel entonces, al final de la prima-

nineteen-thirty-three, Miss Brodies
Greek lessons on a Saturday afternoon
came to an end, because of the needs of
Mr. Lowther who, in his house at
Cramond which the girls had not yet
seen, was being catered for quite
willingly by those sewing mistresses,
Miss Ellen and Miss Alison Kerr. Living
on the coast nearby, it was simple for
them to go over turn by turn and see to
Mr. Lowther after school hours, and
prepare his supper and lay out provision
for his breakfast; it was not only simple,
it was enjoyable to be doing good, and
it was also profitable in a genteel way.
On Saturdays either Miss Ellen or Miss
Alison would count his laundry and keep
house for him. On some Saturday
mornings both were busy for him; Miss
Ellen supervised the woman who came
to clean while Miss Alison did the
weeks shopping. They never had been
so perky or useful in their lives before,
and especially not since the eldest sister
had died, who had always told them
what to do with their spare time as it
cropped up, so that Miss Alison could
never get used to being called Miss Kerr
and Miss Ellen could never find it in her
to go and get a book from the library,
wanting the order from the late Miss
Kerr.
15 vera de 1933, las lecciones de griego que to-
maba la seorita Brodie los sbados por la
tarde llegaron a su fin, debido a las necesi-
dades del seor Lowther, ya que las herma-
nas Ellen y Alison Kerr, las maestras de cos-
20 tura, se haban hecho cargo de mil amores de
su casa de Cramond, que las nias no cono-
can an. Al vivir cerca de la costa, a dichas
hermanas no les complicaba acercarse por
turnos a visitar al seor Lowther despus de
25 las clases y dejarle preparada la cena y el
desayuno. No slo no les complicaba, sino
que disfrutaban del hecho de estar haciendo
el bien, a la vez que les resultaba una activi-
dad lucrativa que no estaba reida con el de-
30 coro. Los sbados, la seorita Ellen o la se-
orita Alison hacan la colada y arreglaban
la casa. Algunos sbados por la maana las
dos estaban bastante atareadas. La seorita
Ellen supervisaba a la mujer que iba a lim-
35 piar, mientras que la seorita Alison se en-
cargaba de hacer la compra de la semana.
Nunca se haban sentido tan alegres y tan ti-
les, especialmente desde que muri su her-
mana mayor, que siempre les indicaba en qu
40 ocupar sus ocios, cuando tales ocios se pre-
sentaban, de modo que la seorita Alison nun-
ca pudo acostumbrarse a que la llamaran
seorita Kerr y la seorita Ellen nunca hall
ocasin de sacar un libro de la biblioteca, es-
45 perando recibir alguna orden por parte de la
difunta seorita Kerr.

But the minister s sister, gaunt Pero la hermana del clrigo, la flaca y
Miss Gaunt, was secretly taking adusta seorita Gaunt, estaba asumiendo su-
over the dead sisters office. As it 50 brepticiamente la funcin de la hermana fa-
became known later, Miss Gaunt llecida. Segn se supo ms tarde, la seorita
approved of their arrangement with Gaunt aprob el acuerdo establecido entre las
Gordon Lowther and encouraged hermanas Kerr y Gordon Lowther y las alent
them to make it a permanent one for a que lo asumieran de modo definitivo, tanto
their own good and also for private 55 por el bien de ellas como por ciertas razones
r e a s o n s c o n n e c t e d w i t h M i s s personales que guardaban relacin con la se-
Brodie. orita Brodie.

Up to now, Miss Brodies visits to Hasta la fecha, las visitas de la seorita

Mr. Lowther had taken place on 60 Brodie al seor Lowther se haban produci-
Sundays. She always went to church on do los domingos. Ella siempre iba a [115]
Sunday mornings, she had a rota of misa los domingos por la maana. Tena una
different denominations and sects which lista de confesiones y de sectas variadas que
included the Free Churches of Scotland, incluan la Iglesia Libre de Escocia, la Igle-
the Established Church of Scotland, the 65 sia Oficial de Escocia, las iglesias metodista

74
 Sparks Brodie
Methodist and the Episcopalian
churches and any other church outside
the Roman Catholic pale which she
might discover. Her disapproval of the
Church of Rome was based on her
Church of Rome: the Roman Catholic church
assertions that it was a church of
superstition, and that only people who
did not want to think for themselves
were Roman Catholics. In some ways,
her attitude was a strange one, because
she was by temperament suited only to
the Roman Catholic Church; possibly it
could have embraced, even while it
disciplined, her soaring and diving spirit,
it might even have normalised her. But
perhaps this was the reason that she
shunned it, lover of Italy though she was,
bringing to her support a rigid
Edinburgh-born side of herself when the
Catholic Church was in question,
although this side was not otherwise
greatly in evidence. So she went round
the various non-Roman churches
instead, hardly ever missing a Sunday
morning. She was not in any doubt, she
let everyone know she was in no doubt,
that God was on her side whatever her
course, and so she experienced no
difficulty or sense of hypocrisy in
worship while at the same time she went
to bed with the singing master. Just as
an excessive sense of guilt can drive
people to excessive action, so was Miss
Brodie driven to it by an excessive lack
of guilt.
The side-effects of this condition
were exhilarating to her special girls
in that they in some way partook of
the general absolution she had
assumed to herself, and it was only
in retrospect that they could see Miss
Brodies affair with Mr. Lowther for
what it was, that is to say, in a factual
light. All the time they were under her
influence she and her actions were
outside the context of right and
wrong. It was twenty-five years
before Sandy had so far recovered
from a creeping vision of disorder that
she could look back and recognise
that Miss Brodies defective sense of
self-criticism had not been without its
beneficent and enlarging effects; by
which time Sandy had already
betrayed Miss Brodie and Miss
Brodie was laid in her grave.
It was after morning church on
Sundays that Miss Brodie would go 60 mingos por la maana despus de salir de la
to Cramond, there to lunch and iglesia. All pasaba el resto de la maana y co-
s p e n d t h e a f t e r n o o n w i t h M r. ma con el seor Lowther. Tambin pasaba las
L o w t h e r. S h e s p e n t S u n d a y tardes con l y, con ms frecuencia que
evenings with him also, and more excepcionalidad, la noche, alentada por un de-
often than not the night, in a spirit 65 cidido espritu de obligacin, si no exactamen-
75
Silvia Barbero
y episcopalista y cualquier otra iglesia, en fin,
de la que tuviera noticia, siempre que estu-
viese fuera del mbito de la Iglesia catlica.
Desaprobaba la Iglesia de Roma porque, se-
5 gn ella, estaba cuajada de supersticiones y
porque los catlicos eran los nicos que no
se tomaban la molestia de pensar por s mis-
mos. En ciertos aspectos, su postura resulta-
ba muy extraa, ya que la nica Iglesia que
10 casaba bien con su temperamento era la ca-
tlica. La Iglesia catlica podra haber abra-
zado y otorgado disciplina a su espritu pro-
fundo y expansivo. Incluso podra haberlo
normalizado. Pero era sa quiz la razn por
15 la que la rehua, aun siendo amante de todo
lo italiano, y la razn por la que sacaba a re-
lucir el lado ms intransigentemente
edimburgus de ella misma cuando se trata-
ba de criticar a la Iglesia catlica, aunque ese
20 lado no resultaba tan patente en otras cues-
tiones. As que prefera acudir a diversas igle-
sias no catlicas, y era raro que faltase a su
cita matinal cada domingo. Ella no tena nin-
gn tipo de duda y as se lo dejaba ver a
25 todo el mundo de que Dios estaba de su
parte, cualquiera que fuese su opcin religio-
sa, y de esa manera no tena problemas ni
sentimientos de hipocresa ante el hecho de
practicar la devocin y de acostarse al mis-
30 mo tiempo con el maestro de canto. As como
un desmesurado sentimiento de culpabilidad
puede conducir a la gente a acciones desme-
suradas, la seorita Brodie era conducida a
tales acciones desmesuradas por un exceso
35 de carencia de culpabilidad.
Los efectos secundarios de aquella anoma-
la entusiasmaban a sus nias especiales, en
la medida en que participaban de alguna ma-
40 nera de la completa absolucin que ella se
conceda a s misma, y fue slo retrospectiva-
mente cuando [116] comprendieron, de una
forma clara, lo que signific la aventura que
la seorita Brodie mantuvo con el seor
45 Lowther. Durante todo el tiempo en que las
nias se hallaron bajo la influencia de la maes-
tra, tanto ella como sus acciones estuvieron
siempre por encima del bien y del mal. Ten-
dran que transcurrir veinticinco aos antes de
50 que Sandy lograra poner en orden la confu-
sin de sus apreciaciones, volver la vista atrs
en el tiempo y admitir que la falta de sentido
autocrtico de la seorita Brodie no estuvo
exenta de unos efectos benficos y
55 engrandecedores. A esas alturas, Sandy ya ha-
ba traicionado a la seorita Brodie y la seo-
rita Brodie estaba ya en su tumba.
La seorita Brodie iba a Cramond los do-
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

o f d e f i n i t e d u t y, i f n o t e x a c t l y te de martirio, ya que su corazn estaba con el

martyrdom, since her heart was with profesor de dibujo, al que haba tenido que re-
the renounced teacher of art. nunciar.

Mr. Lowther, with his long body and 5 El seor Lowther, que tena el tronco ms
short legs, was a shy fellow who smiled largo que las piernas, era un hombre tmido que
upon nearly everyone from beneath his sonrea a casi todo el mundo bajo su bigote co-
red-gold moustache, and who won his brizo, un hombre que se ganaba a casi todo el
own gentle way with nearly everybody, mundo gracias a su amabilidad y que hablaba
and who said little and sang much. 10 poco, aunque cantaba mucho.

When it became certain that the
Kerr sisters had taken over
permanently the housekeeping for this
bashful, smiling bachelor, Miss Brodie
fancied he was getting thin. She
announced this discovery just at a time
when Jenny and Sandy had noticed a
slimmer appearance in Miss Brodie
and had begun to wonder, since they
were nearly thirteen and their eyes
were more focussed on such points, if
she might be physically beautiful or
desirable to men. They saw her in a
new way, and decided she had a certain
deep romantic beauty, and that she had
lost weight through her sad passion for
Mr. Lloyd, and this noble undertaking
of Mr. Lowther in his place, and that
it suited her.
Cuando las hermanas Kerr se hicieron
cargo de forma permanente del mantenimien-
to de la casa de aquel soltero tmido y son-
15 riente, la seorita Brodie empez a imaginar-
se que el seor Lowther estaba adelgazando.
Hizo pblico aquel descubrimiento justo
cuando Jenny y Sandy notaron que la seori-
ta Brodie tena el aspecto de estar a dieta y
20 empezaron a preguntarse ya que estaban a
punto de cumplir los trece aos y centraban
toda su atencin en tales asuntos si los
hombres la encontraran guapa y fsicamente
deseable. La [117] vean cambiada, y llega-
25 ron a la conclusin de que tena cierta belle-
za profunda y romntica y que haba perdido
peso por la triste pasin que senta por el se-
or Lloyd y por la noble tarea de reempla-
zarlo por el seor Lowther, y que aquello le
30 sentaba bien.

Now Miss Brodie was saying: Mr. En aquella poca, la seorita Brodie sola decir:
Lowther is looking thin these days. I have Me parece que el seor Lowther est muy
no faith in those Kerr sisters, they are delgado. No me fo de esas hermanas Kerr. Es-
skimping him, they have got skimpy 35 tn economizando a costa de l porque tienen
minds. The supplies of food they leave una mentalidad mezquina. La comida que
behind on Saturdays are barely sufficient dejan los sbados apenas si es suficiente
to see him through Sunday, let alone the para que le llegue al domingo, y an me-
remainder of the week. If only Mr. nos para el resto de la semana. Si hubiera
Lowther could be persuaded to move 40 forma de persuadir al seor Lowther para
from that big house and take a flat in que se mudase de esa enorme casa a un
Edinburgh, he would be so much easier apartamento en Edimburgo, sera mucho
to look after. He needs looking after. But ms fcil cuidarlo. Necesita que lo cuiden.
he will not be persuaded. It is impossible Pero nadie puede persuadirlo. Es del todo
to persuade a man who does not disagree, 45 imposible persuadir a un hombre que no
but smiles. discute sino que sonre.

anticipation coincide con anticipacin [previsin,
vaticinio, adivinacin, pronstico], pero a menudo
toma un matiz ms positive, como ilusin, esperanza,
expectacin, en cambio anticipacin [anticipo] se usa a
menudo como advance payment. El verbo to anticipate
es cada da ms comn para anticipar [prever, adelantar],
tan comn como esperar, con la misma idea.
She decided to supervise the Kerr
sisters on their Saturdays at Cramond
w h e n t h e y p r e p a r e d f o r M r.
Lowther s domestic week ahead.
They get well paid for it,
said Miss Brodie. I shall go
over and see that they order
t h e r i g h t s t u f f , a n d s u f f i c i e n t .
It might have seemed an
audacious proposition, but the
girls did not think of it this way.
They hear tily urged Miss Brodie
to descend upon the Kerrs and to
interfere, partly in anticipation of
some eventful consequence, and partly
because Mr. Lowther would somehow
smile away any fuss; and the Kerr
sisters were fairly craven; and above
76
Decidi vigilar qu hacan las hermanas Kerr
los sbados en Cramond, que era el da en que se
50 encargaban de disponer para el resto de la semana
los asuntos domsticos del seor Lowther.
Cobran muy bien por lo que hacen
deca la seorita Brodie. Me acercar all para
comprobar que compran lo que en verdad ne-
55 cesita, y si lo compran en cantidad suficiente.
Aquella determinacin hubiera podido so-
nar atrevida a odos de cualqui e r a , p e r o n o
para las nias, que recomendaron
encarecidamente a la seorita Brodie que
60 irrumpiera ante las hermanas Kerr y que se entrometiera
en lo que hacan, en parte ante la expectativa de
alguna consecuencia repleta de in-
cidentes y en parte porque el seor
Lowther no parara de sonrer ante el al-
65 boroto que se formara. Las hermanas Kerr
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

all, Miss Brodie was easily the equal
of both sisters together, she was the
square on the hypotenuse of a right-
angled triangle and they were only the
squares on the other two sides.
eran bastante cobardes, pero la seorita
Brodie haca por las dos: e r a l a
h i p o t e n u s a de u n t r i n g u l o
rectngulo y ellas los dos
5 ngulos restantes. [118]

The Kerr sisters took Miss Brodies
intrusion quite meekly, and that they
were so unquestioning about any
authority which imposed itself upon
them was the very reason why they
also did not hesitate later on to answer
the subsequent questions of Miss
Gaunt. Meantime Miss Brodie set
about feeding Mr. Lowther up, and,
since this meant her passing Saturday
afternoons at Cramond, the Brodie set
was invited to go, two by two, one pair
every week, to visit her in Mr.
Lowthers residence where he smiled
and patted their hair or pulled pretty
Jennys ringlets, looking meanwhile
for reproof or approval, or some such
thing, at brown-eyed Jean Brodie. She
gave them tea while he smiled; and he
frequently laid down his cup and
saucer, went and sat at the piano and
burst into song. He sang:
March, march Ettrick and Teviotdale,
Why the deil dinna ye march forward in order?
March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,
All the Blue Bonnets are bound for the
Border.
Las hermanas Kerr se tomaron la intromi-
sin de la seorita Brodie con total sumisin,
10 y el hecho de que se mostraran tan obedientes
ante cualquier tipo de autoridad fue la razn
por la que tampoco dudaron ms tarde en res-
ponder a las preguntas que les formul la se-
orita Gaunt. Mientras tanto, la seorita Brodie
15 empez a engordar al seor Lowther, y, como
eso significaba que tena que pasar las tardes
de los sbados en Cramond, el grupo de Brodie
fue invitado, de dos en dos, a razn de una
pareja por semana, a visitarla a la residencia
20 del seor Lowther, que se pasaba todo el tiem-
po con una sonrisa en los labios, tocndoles el
pelo a las nias o bien tirndole de los tirabu-
zones a la guapa Jenny, sin dejar de observar
los ojos castaos de Jean Brodie para leer en
25 ellos un mensaje de aprobacin o de reproba-
cin, o algo as. Mientras ella serva el t, l
sonrea y, con frecuencia, abandonaba su taza,
se sentaba al piano y rompa a cantar. Por ejem-
plo, esta cancin de Walter Scott:
30
Marchad, marchad, Ettrick y Teviotdale,
por qu demonios no avanzis en formacin?
Marchad, marchad, Eskdale y Liddesdale.
Todos los soldados escoceses se dirigen a la
35 frontera inglesa.

I am a descendant, do not forget, of Willie
Brodie: Jean Brodie is proud of the fact that
one of her ancestors was William Brodie, a
respected eighteenth-century Edinburgh town
councillor who led a double life as leader of a
gang of burglars and house breakers
At the end of the song he would smile Cuando terminaba de cantar, ensayaba la
his overcome and bashful smile and take ms tmida y triunfante de sus sonrisas y vol-
his teacup again, looking up under his va a coger la taza de t, alzando la mirada, bajo
ginger eyebrows at Jean Brodie to see 40 sus cejas cobrizas, hacia Jean Brodie para ver
what she felt about him at the current lo que senta por l en aquel momento concre-
moment. She was Jean to him, a fact that to. Ella era para l Jean, un detalle que ninguna
none of the Brodie set thought proper de las nias del grupo pensaba que resultase
to mention to anyone. conveniente revelar a nadie.
45
She reported to Sandy and Jenny: La seorita Brodie les dijo a Sandy y a Jenny:
I made short work of those Kerr Despach a esas hermanas Kerr con
sisters. They were starving him. Now bastante rapidez. Lo iban a matar de hambre.
it is I who see to the provisions. I am Ahora soy yo la que me encargo de las pro-
a descendant, do not forget, of 50 visiones. No olvidis que desciendo de Willie
Willie Brodie, a man of substance, a Brodie, [119] un hombre de fortuna, ebanis-
cabinet maker and designer of ta e inventor de diversos modelos de horca,
gibbets, a member of the To w n miembro del Ayuntamiento de Edimburgo y
Council of Edinburgh and a keeper of custodio de dos seoras que le dieron entre
two mistresses who bore him five 55 ambas cinco hijos. La sangre manda. Le gus-
children between them. Blood tells. taba mucho jugar a los dados y apostar en las
He played much dice and fighting peleas de gallos. Al final, se convirti en un
cocks. Eventually he was a wanted hombre reclamado por la justicia por haber
man for having robbed the Excise robado en la oficina de recaudacin de im-
Office not that he needed the 60 puestos. No es que necesitase el dinero, sino
money, he was a night burglar only que le gustaba ejercer de ladrn nocturno por
for the sake of the danger in it. Of el riesgo que comportaba. Como no hace fal-
course, he was arrested abroad and ta ni decir, lo arrestaron en tierra extranjera
was brought back to the Tolbooth y lo trajeron de vuelta aqu para encarcelarlo
prison, but that was mere chance. He 65 en la prisin de Tolbooth, aunque lo cogie-

77
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

brook digest, endure, stick out, stomach,
bear, stand, tolerate, support, abide, suffer,
put up put up with something or somebody
unpleasant; I cannot bear his constant
criticism; The new secretary had to
endure a lot of unprofessional remarks;
he learned to tolerate the heat; She
stuck out two years in a miserable
marriage
died cheerfully on a gibbet of his own ron por pura casualidad. Muri alegremente
devising in seventeen-eighty-eight. en 1788, en una de las horcas que l mismo
However all this may be, it is the stuff haba ingeniado. Para bien y para mal, estoy
I am made of, and I have brooked and hecha de su misma pasta, y no tolero
shall brook no nonsense from Miss 5 ni tolerar tonteras por parte de las seoritas
Ellen and Miss Alison Kerr. Ellen y Alison Kerr.
M r . L o w t h e r El seor Lowther cant una cancin popu-
s a n g : lar titulada Barbara Allen.
10
O mother, mother, make my bed, Oh, madre, madre, haz mi cama,
O make it soft and narrow, oh, hazla blanda y angosta,
For my true love died for me today. porque mi verdadero amor hoy ha muerto por m.
Ill die for him tomorrow. Yo morir por l maana.
15
Then he looked at Miss Al terminar la cancin, mir a la seorita
B r o d i e . S h e w a s , h o w e v e r , Brodie, que, por su parte, miraba el borde des-
l o o k i n g a t a c h i p p e d r i m o f a conchado de una taza de t.
teacup. Mary Macgregor must Tiene que haberla desconchado Mary
have chipped it, she said. Mary 20 Macgregor dijo.
was here last Sunday with Eunice Mary vino el domingo pasado con Eunice
a n d t h e y w a s h e d u p t o g e t h e r . y las dos lavaron el servicio de t. Mary debe
Mary must have chipped it. de haberla desconchado.

Outside on the summer lawn 25 Fuera, las margaritas brillaban sobre el cs-
t h e d a i s i e s s p a r k l e d . T h e l a w n ped del esto, un csped que se extenda tan a
spread wide and long, one could lo largo y a lo ancho en la parte trasera de la
barely see the little wood at the casa que apenas se divisaba el pequeo bosque
e n d o f i t a n d e v e n t h e w o o d que haba al fondo, propiedad del seor
belonged to Mr. Lowther, and the 30 Lowther, ni los campos que se extendan ms
fields beyond. Shy, musical and all de l. Siendo un hombre [120] tmido, cor-
gentle as he was, Mr. Lowther was dial y dotado para la msica, el seor Lowther
a man of substance. era un hombre de fortuna.

35

Now Sandy considered Miss Brodie En aquel momento, Sandy analizaba a la

Norma Shearer: American film actress
(1901-83) who won an Oscar in 1930 for her
performance in The Divorcee
Elizabeth Bergner: Austrian film and stage
actress (1900-86) who was particularly
associated with the work of Frank Wedekind
(1864-1918). She made her debut on the London
stage in 1933 as Gemma Jones in Escape me
Never
not only to see if she was desirable, but
also to find out if there was any element
of surrender about her, since this was the
most difficult part of the affair to realise.
She had been a dominant presence rather
than a physical woman like Norma
Shearer or Elisabeth Bergner. Miss
Brodie was now forty-three and this year
when she looked so much thinner than
when she had stood in the classroom or
sat under the elm, her shape was
pleasanter, but it was still fairly large
compared with Mr. Lowthers. He was
slight and he was shorter than Miss
Brodie. He looked at her with love and
she looked at him severely and
possessively.
seorita Brodie, no slo para comprobar si era
40 una mujer deseable, sino tambin para intentar
descubrir si en ella haba algn elemento de
sumisin, ya que se era el aspecto ms difcil
de desvelar. Haba sido una presencia dominante
ms que una mujer de carne y hueso, como s
45 lo haban sido las actrices Norma Shearer o
Elisabeth Bergner. La seorita Brodie tena en-
tonces cuarenta y tres aos y, aunque en ese
curso pareca estar ms delgada que cuando se
quedaba de pie delante de la clase o cuando se
50 sentaba bajo el olmo, su figura era ms grcil,
aunque an resultaba bastante corpulenta en
comparacin con el seor Lowther, que era del-
gado y ms bajo que la seorita Brodie. l la
miraba con amor. Ella lo miraba con severidad
55 y de manera posesiva.

By the end of the summer term, Al final del ltimo trimestre, cuando las
w h e n t h e B r o d i e s e t w e r e a l l nias del grupo de Brodie haban cumplido
turned, or nearly turned, thirteen, o estaban a punto de cumplir trece aos, su
Miss Brodie questioned them in 60 antigua maestra les preguntaba, cuando acudan
t h e i r v i s i t i n g p a i r s e a c h w e e k a visitarla por parejas semanalmente, sobre sus
about their art lesson. The girls clases de dibujo. Las nias siempre dispensa-
a l w a y s t o o k a c l o s e i n t e r e s t i n ban un inters muy particular a las clases de
Teddy Lloyds art classes and in all dibujo de Teddy Lloyd y al ms mnimo de sus
he did, making much of details, so 65 movimientos, haciendo acopio de detalles para

78

It was a large gabled house with a folly-turret:
Gordon Lowthers substantial house in Cramond
which has a gable-end and a mock Romantic
turret
Sparks Brodie
as to provide happy conversation
with Miss Brodie when their turn
came to visit her at Gordon
Lowther s house at Cramond.
It was a large gabled house with a
folly-turret. There were so many twists
and turns in the wooded path leading
up from the road, and the front lawn
was so narrow, that the house could
never be seen from the little distance
that its size demanded and it was
necessary to crane ones neck upward
to see the turret at all. The back of the
house was quite plain. The rooms were
large and gloomy with Venetian blinds.
The banisters began with a pair of
carved lions heads and carried up and
up, round and round, as far as the eye
could reach. All the furniture was large
and carved, dotted with ornaments of
silver and rose-coloured glass. The
library on the ground floor where Miss
Brodie entertained them held a number
of glass bookcases so dim in their
interiors that it was impossible to see
the titles of the books without peering
close. A grand piano was placed across
one corner of the room, and on it, in
summer, stood a bowl of roses.
This was a great house to explore
and on days when Miss Brodie was
curiously occupied in the kitchen with
some enormous preparation for the next
days eating in those months when
her obsession with Mr. Lowthers food
had just begun the girls were free to
roam up the big stairs, hand-in-hand
with awe, and to open the doors and
look into the dust-sheeted bedrooms
and especially into two rooms that
people had forgotten to furnish
properly, one of which had nothing in
it but a large desk, not even a carpet,
another of which was empty except for
an electric light bulb and a large blue
jug. These rooms were icy cold,
whatever the time of year. On their
descending the stairs after these
expeditions, Mr. Lowther would often
be standing waiting for them, shyly
smiling in the hall with his hands
clasped together as if he hoped that
everything was to their satisfaction. He
took roses from the bowl and presented
one each to the girls before they went
home.
Mr. Lowther never seemed quite at 60
home in his home, although he had no senta aquella casa como propia, a pesar de
been born there. He always looked at haber nacido en ella. Antes de tocar algo o de
Miss Brodie for approval before he abrir un armario, buscaba con la mirada a la
touched anything or opened a seorita Brodie para que le diese su aproba-
cupboard as if, really, he was not 65 cin, como si no le estuviese permitido tocar
79
Silvia Barbero
proporcionarle a la seorita Brodie una conver-
sacin grata cuando a cada cual le llegase el
turno de visitarla en la casa de Gordon Lowther,
all en Cramond.
5
Era una casa enorme con un tejado a dos
aguas y un torren de arquitectura estrafalaria.
Haba tantos recodos y curvas en el sendero
arbolado que suba desde la carretera, y el te-
10 rreno que haba delante era tan estrecho, que la
casa [121] nunca poda verse desde la distancia
que sus dimensiones requeran y era necesario
estirar el cuello para poder divisar el torren.
El terreno que haba detrs de la casa era com-
15 pletamente llano. Las habitaciones eran espa-
ciosas, sombreadas con persianas venecianas.
La barandilla de la escalera arrancaba con un
par de cabezas de len y suba en espiral hasta
perderse en las alturas. Los muebles eran gran-
20 des y tallados, embellecidos aqu y all con or-
namentos de plata y de cristal rosa. La bibliote-
ca, que estaba en la planta baja y que era el
lugar en que la seorita Brodie reciba a las ni-
as, tena varias estanteras acristaladas cuyo
25 interior era tan penumbroso que resultaba im-
posible leer los ttulos de los libros a menos
que alguien pegara la nariz al cristal. Un piano
de cola, que en verano serva de soporte a un
jarrn de rosas, ocupaba una de las esquinas de
30 la habitacin.
Era una casa enorme, digna de ser explo-
rada, y los das en que la seorita Brodie es-
taba ocupada en la cocina preparando la co-
35 mida del da siguiente en aquellos meses
en que empezaba a obsesionarse por la ali-
mentacin del seor Lowther, las nias
tenan libertad para subir la escalera, cogi-
das de la mano y con mucho pavor, y deam-
40 bular por aquella casa, abriendo las puertas
para comprobar que los muebles de los dor-
mitorios estaban cubiertos con sbanas para
protegerlos del polvo, y examinaban de ma-
nera especial dos habitaciones que pareca
45 que nadie se haba acordado de amueblar. En
una de ellas slo haba una gran mesa de es-
critorio, y ni siquiera una alfombra, y la otra
estaba vaca, salvo una bombilla que colga-
ba del techo y un jarrn. Aquellas habitacio-
50 nes estaban heladas, cualquiera que fuese la
estacin del ao. Cuando bajaban las escale-
ras, despus de concluidas aquellas explora-
ciones, el seor Lowther las aguardaba aba-
jo sonriendo con timidez y con las manos
55 juntas, como si esperase que todo hubiese
sido del agrado de ellas, y las despeda [122]
regalndole una rosa, que coga del jarrn que
haba encima del piano, a cada nia.
Daba la impresin de que el seor Lowther
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

allowed to touch without permission. nada sin antes pedir permiso. Las nias llega-
The girls decided that perhaps his ron a la conclusin de que tal vez su madre,
mother, now four years dead, had kept que haba muerto cuatro aos atrs, lo haba
him under all his life, and he was tenido sometido durante toda su vida y que
consequently unable to see himself as 5 por ese motivo no era capaz de sentirse dueo
master of the house. de la casa.

He sat silently and gratefully Se sentaba en silencio y, agradecido, obser-

watching Miss Brodie entertain the two
girls whose turn it was to be there, when
she had already started on her project of
fattening him up which was to grow to
such huge proportions that her food-
supplying mania was the talk of Miss
Ellen and Miss Alison Kerr, and so of
the Junior school. One day, when Sandy
and Jenny were on the visiting rota, she
gave Mr. Lowther, for tea alone, an
admirable lobster salad, some
sandwiches of liver paste, cake and tea,
followed by a bowl of porridge and
cream. These were served to him on a
tray for himself alone, you could see he
was on a special diet. Sandy was anxious
to see if Mr. Lowther would manage the
porridge as well as everything else. But
he worked his way through everything
with impassive obedience while she
questioned the girls: What are you
doing in the art class just now?
vaba cmo la seorita Brodie entretena a las dos
10 nias que en aquel momento se encontraban all,
cuando ella ya haba empezado a trabajar en el
proyecto de cebarlo, un proyecto que alcanz ta-
les proporciones, que su mana de
sobrealimentarlo fue la comidilla de las seori-
15 tas Ellen y Alison Kerr y por extensin de toda
la escuela primaria. Un da en que les toc el
turno de visita a Jenny y a Sandy, le prepar al
seor Lowther, a la hora del t, una ensalada de
langosta, varios emparedados de pat de hgado,
20 un trozo de tarta y una taza de t, aparte de un
cuenco de avena con nata. Le sirvi todo aquello
en una bandeja exclusivamente preparada para
l, detalle que daba a entender que se hallaba
sometido a una dieta especial. Sandy estaba an-
25 siosa por comprobar si el seor Lowther iba a
poder con la avena y con todo lo dems. Pero l fue
dando cuenta de todo con una obediencia impasi-
ble, mientras ella les preguntaba a las nias:
Qu estis haciendo ahora en la
30 clase de dibujo?

Were at work on the poster Estamos con el concurso de

competition. carteles.

Mr. Lloyd is he well? 35 El seor Lloyd... os trata bien?

Oh yes, hes great fun. He showed Oh, s. Es una persona muy divertida. Hace
us his studio two weeks ago. dos semanas nos ense su estudio. [123]

Which studio, where? At his 40 Qu estudio? Dnde lo tiene? En su

house? although Miss Brodie casa? aunque la seorita Brodie ya conoca
knew perfectly well. de sobra las respuestas.

Yes, its a great long attic, it S, es un altillo muy grande. Est...

45
Did you meet his wife, what was she Conocsteis a su mujer? Qu as-
like? What did she say, did she give you pecto tiene? Qu os dijo? Os invit a to-
tea? What are the children like, what did mar el t? Cmo son los nios? Qu hi-
you do when you got there?... cisteis cuando estabais all?...
50
She did not attempt to conceal from No haca nada por disimular el gran inters
her munching host her keen interest in que mostraba por el profesor de dibujo ante su
the art master. Mr. Lowthers eyes looked anfitrin, que no paraba de masticar. Los ojos
mournful and he ate on. Sandy and Jenny del seor Lowther parecan tristes, pero segua
knew that similar questions had been 55 comiendo. Sandy y Jenny saban que la semana
pressed upon Mary Macgregor and anterior les haba hecho preguntas similares a
Eunice Gardiner the previous week, and Mary Macgregor y a Eunice Gardiner y dos se-
upon Rose Stanley and Monica Douglas manas antes a Rose Stanley y a Monica
the week before. But Miss Brodie could Douglas. Pero no se cansaba nunca de escuchar
not hear enough versions of the same 60 versiones de la misma historia si en ella estaba
story if it involved Teddy Lloyd, and now involucrado Teddy Lloyd y, como las nias ha-
that the girls had been to his house a ban estado en su casa un edificio grande y
large and shabby, a warm and desvencijado, acogedor y original, situado en
unconventional establishment in the la zona norte de Edimburgo, la seorita
north of Edinburgh Miss Brodie was 65 Brodie mostraba un alto grado de excitacin por

80
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

in a state of high excitement by very el simple hecho de estar en contacto con aque-
contact with these girls who had lately llas nias que haca poco haban respirado el
breathed Lloyd air. mismo aire que Lloyd.

How many children? said Miss 5 Cuntos hijos tiene? les pregunt la
Brodie, her teapot poised. seorita Brodie con la tetera en ristre.

Five, I think, said Sandy. Cinco, creo contest Sandy.

Six, I think, said Jenny, counting 10 Seis, creo dijo Jenny, contando al
the baby. beb.

There are lots of babies, said Sandy. Hay muchos bebs dijo Sandy.

Roman Catholics, of course, said 15 Catlicos, por supuesto dijo su anti-

Miss Brodie, addressing this to Mr. gua maestra, dirigiendo aquel comentario al
Lowther. seor Lowther.

But the littlest baby, said Jenny, Te h a s o l v i d a d o d e c o n t a r a l

youve forgotten to count the wee baby. 20 b e b m s p e q u e o . C o n l s u m a n
That makes six. s e i s d i j o J e n n y.

Miss Brodie poured tea and cast a La seorita Brodie sirvi el t y ech una
glance at Gordon Lowthers plate. mirada al plato de Gordon Lowther.
25
Gordon, she said, a cake. Gordon, cmete una galleta. [124]

He shook his head and said Neg con la cabeza y le dijo en voz baja,
s o f t l y , a s i f s o o t h i n g h e r , como si quisiera tranquilizarla:
Oh, no, no. 30 Oh, no, no.

Yes, Gordon. It is full of goodness. S, Gordon. Es lo ms nutritivo de todo.

And she made him eat a Chester cake, Y lo oblig a comerse una galleta de
and spoke to him in a slightly more Chester, hablndole con un acento un poco
Edinburgh way than usual, so as to make 35 ms edimburgus que de costumbre, como
up to him by both means for the love she si procurara compensar con ambos gestos
was giving to Teddy Lloyd instead of to el amor que le daba a Teddy Lloyd en lu-
him. gar de drselo a l.

You must be fattened up, Gordon, 40 Gordon, tienes que engordar le dijo
she said. You must be two stone the . Antes de que me vaya de vacaciones, debes
better before I go my holidays. ganar los doce kilos que te faltan.

He smiled as best he could at l dedic una sonrisa a cada una de las tres
everyone in turn, with his drooped 45 con la cabeza inclinada y moviendo lentamente
head and slowly moving jaws. las mandbulas. Mientras tanto, la seorita
Meanwhile Miss Brodie said: Brodie prosigui:

And Mrs. Lloyd is she a woman, Y la seora Lloyd, es una mujer... di-
would you say, in her prime? 50 rais que es una mujer que est en su plenitud?

Perhaps not yet, said Sandy. Quizs an no le contest Sandy.

Well, Mrs. Lloyd may be past Bueno, puede que la haya pasado ya
it, Jenny said. Its difficult to say 55 dijo Jenny. Es difcil decirlo, con ese pelo
with her hair being long on her largo que le llega hasta los hombros y que la
shoulders. It makes her look young hace parecer ms joven, aunque no creo que
although she may not be. sea tan joven como aparenta.

She looks really like as if she wont 60 En realidad, parece dar la impresin de
have any prime, Sandy said. que nunca va a tener plenitud dijo Sandy.

The word like is redundant in Si utilizas parece; la frase resulta re-

that sentence. What is Mrs. Lloyds dundante. Cul es el nombre de pila de la se-
Christian name? 65 ora Lloyd?

81
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Deirdre, said Jenny, and Miss Deirdre le contest Jenny, y la se-

Brodie considered the name as if it were orita Brodie se qued pensativa, como si ese
new to her although she had heard it last nombre fuese nuevo para ella, aunque lo ha-
week from Mary and Eunice, and the 5 ba odo la semana anterior por boca de Mary
week before that from Rose and Monica, y Eunice y dos semanas antes por boca de
and so had Mr. Lowther. Outside, light Rose y de Monica, al igual que lo haba odo
rain began to fall on Mr. Lowthers el seor Lowther. Fuera, haba empezado a
leaves. lloviznar.
10
Celtic, said Miss Brodie. Celta dijo la seorita Brodie.

Sandy loitered at the kitchen door Sandy se entretena en la puerta de la coci-

waiting for Miss Brodie to come for a na mientras esperaba a su antigua maestra para
walk by the sea. Miss Brodie was 15 salir y dar un paseo junto [125] al mar. La se-
doing something to an enormous ham orita Brodie haca algo con un jamn inmenso
prior to putting it into a huge pot. Miss antes de meterlo en una olla enorme. Su recien-
Brodies new ventures into cookery in te incursin en el mundo de la cocina de ningu-
no way diminished her previous na manera disminuy sus caractersticos aires
grandeur, for everything she prepared 20 de grandeza, porque todo cuanto preparaba para
for Gordon Lowther seemed to be Gordon Lowther daba la impresin de ser enor-
large, whether it was family-sized me, as se tratase de pudines de tamao fami-
puddings to last him out the week, or liar para que le durase toda la semana, de asa-
joints of beef or lamb, or great angry- dos de vaca o de cordero o de un gran salmn
eyed whole salmon. 25 de ojos enfadados.

I must get this on for Mr. Lowthers Tengo que cocinar este jamn para la
supper, she said to Sandy, and see that cena del seor Lowther le explic a Sandy
he gets his supper before I go home , y comprobar que se lo come todo antes de irme
tonight. 30 a casa esta noche.

She always so far kept up the idea that Siempre se empeaba en dejar claro que se
she went home on these week-end nights iba a dormir a su casa durante aquellos fines de
and left Mr. Lowther alone in the big semana y que dejaba solo al seor Lowther en
house. So far the girls had found no 35 su casern. Hasta aquel momento, las nias no
evidence to the contrary, nor were they tenan ninguna prueba de lo contrario, ni jams
ever to do so; a little later Miss Ellen Kerr llegaran a tenerla. Algn tiempo despus, la
was brought to the headmistress by Miss seorita Gaunt llev ante la directora a la seo-
Gaunt to testify to having found Miss rita Ellen Kerr para que diera fe de que una vez,
Brodies nightdress under a pillow of the 40 cuando cambiaba las sbanas, encontr un ca-
double bed on which Mr. Lowther took misn debajo de la almohada de la cama de
his sleep. She had found it while matrimonio del seor Lowther. Le dijo que lo
changing the linen; it was the pillow on encontr, cuidadosamente doblado, debajo de
the far side of the bed, nearest the wall, la almohada que estaba en el lado opuesto al
under which the nightdress had been 45 que ocupaba el seor Lowther en la cama, el
discovered folded neatly. que estaba ms cerca de la pared.

How do you know the nightdress Cmo sabe usted que el camisn es de
was Miss Brodies? demanded Miss la seorita Brodie? le pregunt la seorita
Mackay, the sharp-minded woman, 50 Mackay, aquella mujer de mentalidad perspi-
who smelt her prey very near and yet caz, que ola la cercana de su presa, aunque a
saw it very far. She stood with a hand la vez la vea muy distante. Estaba de pie con
on the back of her chair, bending una mano apoyada en el respaldar de la silla e
forward full of ears. inclinada hacia delante, toda odos.
55
One must draw ones own Una debe sacar sus propias conclusio-
conclusions, said Miss Gaunt. nes contest la seorita Gaunt.

I am addressing Miss Ellen. Estoy hablando con la seorita Ellen.

crpe de Chine: a clinging fabric made of raw
silk
Yes, one must draw ones own
conclusions, said Miss Ellen, with her
tight-drawn red-veined cheeks looking
shiny and flustered. It was crpe de
Chine.
60
S, una debe sacar sus propias con-
clusiones repiti la seorita Ellen, con
sus mejillas venosas y muy estiradas y con
una mirada radiante y nerviosa. Era crep
65 de China. [126]

82
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

It is non proven, said Miss Mackay, Eso no es una prueba le dijo la di-
sitting down to her desk. Come back to rectora, que se haba sentado ante su escri-
me, she said, if you have proof positive. torio. Vuelva cuando tenga alguna prue-
What did you do with the garment? Did 5 ba fidedigna. Qu hizo usted con la pren-
you confront Miss Brodie with it? da? Se la ense a la seorita Brodie?

Oh, no, Miss Mackay, said Miss
Ellen.
You should have confronted her with
it. You should have said, Miss Brodie,
come here a minute, can you explain
this? Thats what you should have said.
Is the nightdress still there?
No, por supuesto que no, seorita
Mackay le contest Ellen.
10
Debi ensersela y haberle dicho: Se-
orita Brodie, venga un momento, puede ex-
plicarme esto?. Eso es lo que debera haberle
dicho. Est el camisn an debajo de la al-
15 mohada?

Oh, no, its gone. Oh, no. Ha desaparecido.

S h e s t h a t b r a z e n , s a i d Ella es as de descarada coment la

Miss Gaunt. 20 seorita Gaunt.

All this was conveyed to Sandy by La directora le relat a

distasteful adj (unpleasant) task/chore desagradable;
(offensive) remark/picture de mal gusto
distaste noun dislike, horror, disgust, loathing, aversion,
revulsion, displeasure, antipathy, abhorrence,
disinclination, repugnance, odium, disfavour,
detestation, disrelish
the headmistress herself at that S a n d y t o d o a q u e l l o m u c h o
subsequent time when Sandy looked at t i e m p o d e s p u s , c u a n d o S a n d y
her distastefully through her little eyes 25 l a m i r con desprecio con sus ojitos
and, evading the quite crude question y, e l u d i e n d o l a p r e g u n t a m s q u e g r o -
which the coarse-faced woman asked her, sera que la mujer de piel spera le ha-
was moved by various other b a h e c h o , t r a i c i o n a l a s e o r i t a
considerations to betray Miss Brodie. Brodie, motivada por otros factores.
30
But I must organise the dear fellows Pero tengo que encargarme de la co-
food before I go home tonight, Miss mida de este querido colega antes de vol-
Brodie said in the summer of nineteen- ver a casa esta noche deca la seorita
thirty-three while Sandy leaned against Brodie en el verano de 1933, mientras
the kitchen door with her legs longing to 35 Sandy se apoyaba contra la puerta de la
be running along the sea shore. Jenny cocina, ansiosa por echar a correr por la
came and joined her, and together they orilla del mar. Jenny se uni a ella, y las
waited upon Miss Brodie, and saw on the dos esperaron con mucha paciencia a la
vast old kitchen table the piled-up seorita Brodie, observando la vieja y
provisions of the mornings shopping. 40 enorme mesa de cocina en que se apilaban
Outside on the dining-room table stood las compras de la maana. En el comedor
large bowls of fruit with boxes of dates haba fuentes de fruta con cajas de dtiles
piled on top of them, as if this were amontonadas encima, como si fuese Na-
Christmas and the kitchen that of a vidad y aqulla la cocina de un hotel en
holiday hotel. 45 temporada alta.

Wo n t a l l t h i s g i v e M r. No le provocar todo eso una obs-

Lowther a stoppage? Sandy truccin al seor Lowther? le pregunt
s a i d t o J e n n y. Sandy a Jenny.
50
Not if he eats his greens, said No si se toma las verduras le respon-
Jenny. di Jenny.

While they waited for Miss Mientras esperaban a que la seorita Brodie
B r o d i e t o d r e s s t h e g r e a t h a m 55 preparase y condimentase el enorme jamn
l i k e t h e h e r o i n e s h e w a s , t h e r e como la herona que era, les lleg desde la bi-
c a m e t h e s o u n d o f M r. L o w t h e r blioteca el sonido del piano y la voz del seor
a t t h e p i a n o i n t h e l i b r a r y [127] Lowther, que cantaba con mucha tristeza
s i n g i n g r a t h e r s l o w l y a n d y pausadamente el salmo atribuido a William
mournfully: 60 Kethe:

All people that on earth do dwell, Toda la gente que vive en la tierra
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice. canta al Seor con voz alegre.
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell, A l sirven con jbilo, sus alabanzas las dicen a raudales,
Come ye before him and rejoice. 65 presentaos ante l y regocijaos.

83
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Mr. Lowther was the choir-master and El seor Lowther era director del coro y
an Elder of the church, and had not yet dicono de la Iglesia presbiteriana, y an no
been quietly advised to withdraw from haba sido discretamente invitado a dimitir de
these offices by Mr. Gaunt the minister, 5 aquellos cargos por el pastor Gaunt, hermano
brother of Miss Gaunt, following the de la seorita Gaunt, despus del descubrimien-
finding of the nightdress under the pillow to del camisn debajo de la almohada contigua
next to his. a la suya.

Presently, as she put the ham on a low 10 En aquel momento, mientras pona el jamn
gas and settled the lid on the pot Miss a fuego lento y colocaba la tapa sobra la olla,
Brodie joined in the psalm richly, la seorita Brodie se uni al salmo briosa-
contralto-wise, giving the notes more mente, haciendo de contralto, dando ms re-
body: lieve a las notas:
15
O enter then his gates with praise, Cruzad sus puertas con alabanzas,
Approach with joy his courts unto. aproximaos con alegra a sus palacios.

The rain had stopped and was La lluvia haba cesado y ya slo era un ras-
only now hanging damply within the 20 tro de humedad en el aire salino. Mientras pa-
salt air. All along the sea front Miss seaban frente al mar, la seorita Brodie, impo-
Brodie questioned the girls, against niendo su voz al runrn del rompeolas, fue ha-
the rhythm of the waves, about the cindoles preguntas a las nias sobre el mobi-
a p p o i n t m e n t s o f Te d d y L l o y d s liario de la casa de Teddy Lloyd, sobre la clase
house, the kind of tea they got, how 25 de t que les serva, sobre la luminosidad y
vast and light was the studio, and amplitud del estudio y sobre cuanto all se ha-
what was said. ba hablado.

He looked very romantic in his Su estudio le da un aire muy romntico

own studio, Sandy said. 30 coment Sandy.

How was that? Cmo es eso?

I think it was his having only one Creo que se debe a que tiene un solo
arm, said Jenny. 35 brazo dijo Jenny.

But he always has only one arm. Pero siempre tiene un solo brazo.

He did more than usual with it, said Lo mueve ms que de costumbre pre-
Sandy. 40 cis Sandy. [128]

He was waving it about, Jenny said. Lo agita continuamente dijo

There was a lovely view from the studio Jenny. Desde su estudio hay una vista pre-
window. Hes proud of it. ciosa. Est orgulloso de ella.
45
The studio is in the attic, I Supongo que el estudio estar en el alti-
presume? llo, no es as?

Yes, all along the top of the house. S. Ocupa toda la parte alta de la
There is a new portrait he has done of 50 casa. Ha pintado un retrato nuevo de su
his family, its a little bit amusing, it familia. Es muy divertido. Empieza con l,
starts with himself, very tall, then his muy alto, le sigue su mujer y despus vie-
wife. Then all the little children graded nen los nios, que van descendiendo gra-
downwards to the baby on the floor, it dualmente en altura hasta llegar al beb,
makes a diagonal line across the 55 que est en el suelo. Crea una lnea diago-
canvas. nal a travs del lienzo.

What makes it amusing? said Qu tiene eso de divertido? pregunt

Miss Brodie. la seorita Brodie.
60
They are all facing square and they Todos miran hacia el frente y estn muy
all look serious, Sandy said. You are serios contest Sandy. Te tienes que rer
supposed to laugh at it. cuando lo ves.

Miss Brodie laughed a little at 65 La seorita Brodie solt una risita ante

84
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

this. There was a wonderful sunset ese comentario. El atardecer que se vea en
across the distant sky, reflected in el cielo distante era maravilloso. Se refleja-
the sea, streaked with blood and ba en el mar. Se trataba de un atardecer ve-
puffed with avenging purple and teado de sangre y exuberante de prpuras y
gold as if the end of the world had 5 de oros vengadores, como si hubiese llegado
come without intruding on every- la hora del fin del mundo sin afectar a la vida
day life. cotidiana.

Theres another portrait, Jenny Hay otro retrato, an sin terminar, de

said, not finished yet, of Rose. 10 Rose coment Jenny.

He has been painting Rose? Est pintando a Rose?

Yes. S.
15
Rose has been sitting for him? Rose est posando para l?

Yes, for about a month. S, lleva alrededor de un mes posando.

Miss Brodie was very excited. Rose 20 La seorita Brodie se puso muy nerviosa.
didnt mention this, she said. Rose no me ha dicho nada.

Sandy halted. Oh, I forgot. It was Sandy se par.

supposed to be a surprise. You arent Oh, lo olvid. Iba a ser una sorpre-
supposed to know. 25 sa. Usted no debera saberlo.

What, the portrait, I am to see it? Saber qu, lo del retrato? Voy a verlo?

Sandy looked confused, for Sandy se mostr confundida, porque no es-

she was not sure how Rose had 30 taba segura de lo que Rose haba querido decir
m e a n t h e r p o r t r a i t t o b e a con aquello de darle una sorpresa con su retra-
surprise to Miss Brodie. to a la seorita Brodie. [129]
Jenny dijo:
Jenny said, Oh, Miss Brodie, it Seorita Brodie, lo que ella quera
is the fact that shes sitting for Mr. Lloyd 35 que fuese una sorpresa es el hecho de estar
that she wanted to keep for a surprise. posando para el seor Lloyd.
Sandy realised, then, that this Entonces Sandy se dio cuenta de que sa
was right. era la razn.

Ah, said Miss Brodie, well 40 Ah! exclam la seorita Brodie muy
p l e a s e d . T h a t i s t h o u g h t f u l o f complacida. Es todo un detalle por parte de
Rose. Rose.

Sandy was jealous, because Rose Sandy se encel, porque Rose no era nada
was not supposed to be thoughtful. 45 detallista.

What is she wearing for her Cmo va vestida? pregunt la seo-

portrait? said Miss Brodie. rita Brodie.

H e r g y m t u n i c , S a n d y 50 Lleva la tnica de gimnasia le contes-

said. t Sandy.

Sitting sideways, Jenny said. Sentada de lado precis Jenny.

In profile, said Miss Brodie. 55 De perfil la corrigi su antigua maestra.

Miss Brodie stopped a man to La seorita Brodie par a un hombre y le

b u y a l o b s t e r f o r M r. L o w t h e r. compr una langosta para el seor Lowther.
When this was done she said: Cuando termin con aquello, dijo:
60
Rose is bound to be painted Seguro que a Rose la pintarn muchas
many times. She may well sit for Mr. veces. Puede que pose mucho para el seor
Lloyd on future occasions, she is one Lloyd en ocasiones futuras. Ella ya pertenece a
of the crme de la crme. la crme de la crme.
65

85
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

It was said in an enquiring tone. The
girls understood she was trying quite
hard to piece together a whole picture
from their random remarks.
5
Jenny accordingly let fall,
O h , y e s , M r. L l o y d w a n t s t o
paint Rose in red velvet.
Lo dijo en tono inquisitivo. Las nias com-
prendieron que se esforzaba bastante en atar los
cabos de todas aquellas cosas que ellas formu-
laban de manera aleatoria.
Por ese motivo, Jenny dej caer:
Oh, s. El seor Lloyd quiere pintar a
Rose vestida de terciopelo rojo.

And Sandy added, Mrs. Lloyd has a 10 Y Sandy aadi:

bit of red velvet to put around her, they La seora Lloyd tiene una pieza de
were trying it round her. terciopelo rojo. Ya se la han probado.

Are you to return? said Miss Vais a volver por all? pregunt la
Brodie. 15 seorita Brodie.

Ye s , a l l o f u s , S a n d y S. Vamos a volver todas le contest

s a i d . M r. L l o y d t h i n k s w e r e Sandy. El seor Lloyd opina que formamos
a jolly nice set. un grupo divertido y simptico.
20
Have you not thought it No consideris extraordinario el hecho
remarkable, said Miss Brodie, that it de que el seor Lloyd os haya elegido a voso-
is you six girls that Mr. Lloyd has tras seis para que visitis su estudio? les
chosen to invite to his studio? pregunt la seorita Brodie.
25
Well, were a set, said Jenny. Bueno, formamos un grupo dijo Jenny.
[130]
Has he invited any other girls from Ha invitado a otras nias del colegio?
the school? but Miss Brodie knew Pero la seorita Brodie ya conoca la
the answer. 30 respuesta.

Oh, no, only us. No, slo a nosotras.

It is because you are Es porque vosotras sois mas

m i n e , s a i d M i s s B r o d i e . I 35 d i j o l a s e o r i t a B r o d i e . Te n i s m i
m e a n o f m y s t a m p a n d c u t , a n d impronta y estis cortadas por mi patrn, y
I a m in my prime. yo estoy en mi plenitud.

Sandy and Jenny had not given Sandy y Jenny no se haban parado a
much thought to the fact of the art 40 pensar en el hecho de que el profesor de
masters inviting them as a group. dibujo las invitase porque formaban un gru-
Indeed, there was something special po. Verdaderamente, haba un factor excep-
in his acceptance of the Brodie set. cional en su aceptacin de las nias de
There was a mystery here to be Brodie. Ah haba un misterio pendiente de
worked out, and it was clear that 45 resolver, y estaba claro que, cuando l pen-
when he thought of them he thought saba en ellas, pensaba en realidad en la se-
of Miss Brodie. orita Brodie.

He always asks about you, Sandy said Tan pronto como nos ve, nos pregunta
to Miss Brodie, as soon as he sees us. 50 por ustedle dijo Sandy.

Yes, Rose did tell me that, said Miss Brodie. S, ya me lo coment Rose.

Suddenly, like migrating birds, De repente, como si fuesen pjaros

Sandy and Jenny were of one mind 55 migratorios, Sandy y Jenny, sin previo aviso,
for a run and without warning they echaron a correr al mismo tiempo y se dedica-
ran along the pebbly beach into the ron a corretear de un lado a otro de la playa
air which was full of sunset, returning pedregosa, fundindose con el aire grvido de
to Miss Brodie to hear of her luz del atardecer. Luego regresaron al lado de
forthcoming summer holiday when 60 la seorita Brodie, que les inform de sus pla-
she was going to leave the fattened- nes para las prximas vacaciones veraniegas,
up Mr. Lowther, she was afraid, to alarmada por dejar que el cebado seor Lowther
fend for himself with the aid of the tuviera que arreglrselas por s mismo con la
Misses Kerr, and was going abroad, ayuda de las seoritas Kerr. Tena previsto irse
not to Italy this year but to Germany, 65 al extranjero. Ese ao no ira a Italia, sino a

86

Hitler:Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), dictator of Nazi
Germany who came to power in 1934. He turned
Germany into a one-party state and ruled
through a reign of terror which included the
widespread and systematic massacre of the
Jewish people
Thomas Carlyle: Scottish historian and
visionary (1795-1881) who advocated the
government of society by strong and just leaders
sweetbreads: the pancreas of an animal cooked
as a delicacy
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
where Hitler was become Chancellor, Alemania, donde Hitler se haba convertido en
a prophet-figure like Thomas canciller, una figura proftica, como lo era
Carlyle , and more reliable than Thomas Carlyle, y ms digna de confianza que
Mussolini; the German brownshirts, Mussolini. Los camisas marrones, segn ella,
she said, were exactly the same as the 5 eran exactamente iguales que los camisas ne-
Italian black, only more reliable. gras, aunque ms dignos de confianza.
Jenny and Sandy were going to a Jenny y Sandy iban a pasar las vacaciones
farm for the summer holidays, where de verano en una granja, donde, despus de las
in fact the name of Miss Brodie would 10 dos primeras semanas, el nombre de la seorita
not very much be on their lips or in Brodie apenas saldra de sus labios ni tampoco
their minds after the first two weeks, se acordaran de ella, pues se pasaban los das
and instead they would make hay and recolectando [131] heno y persiguiendo a las
follow the sheep about. It was always ovejas por todas partes. Durante el periodo es-
difficult to realise during term times 15 colar, resultaba difcil imaginarse que el mun-
that the world of Miss Brodie might do de la seorita Brodie pudiera olvidarse casi
be half forgotten, as were the worlds por completo, al igual que el mundo de las com-
of the school houses, Holyrood, petitivas hermandades escolares: Holyrood,
Melrose, Argyll and Biggar. Melrose, Argyll y Biggar.
20
I wonder if Mr. Lowther would Me pregunto si al seor Lowther le ape-
care for sweetbreads done with rice, tecera comer mollejas con arroz dijo la se-
Miss Brodie said. orita Brodie. [132]
25
30
-5- 5
35
Why, its like Miss Brodie! said Por qu? Se parece a la seorita
S a n d y. I t s t e r r i b l y l i k e M i s s Brodie! dijo Sandy. Se parece muchsimo
Brodie. Then, perceiving that what a la seorita Brodie. Entonces, al darse cuenta
she had said had accumulated a de que aquella apreciacin haba adquirido un
meaning between its passing her lips 40 significado adicional entre lo que haba salido
and reaching the ears of Mr. and Mrs. de sus labios y lo que haba llegado a los odos
Lloyd, she said, Though of course del seor y la seora Lloyd, aadi: Aunque
its Rose, its more like Rose, its desde luego es Rose. Se parece ms a Rose. Se
terribly like Rose. parece muchsimo a Rose.
45
Teddy Lloyd shifted the new portrait Teddy Lloyd cambi aquel nuevo retrato de
so that it stood in a different light. It sitio para que pudiera apreciarse con otra luz.
still looked like Miss Brodie. Segua parecindose a la seorita Brodie.
D e i r d r e L l o y d s a i d , 50 Deirdre Lloyd coment:
I havent met Miss Brodie I dont No puedo opinar porque no conozco a la
think. Is she fair? seorita Brodie. Es rubia?
No, said Teddy Lloyd in his No, es castaa dijo Teddy Lloyd con
hoarse way, shes dark. 55 su voz ronca.
Sandy saw that the head on the Sandy advirti que el pelo de la retra-
portrait was fair, it was Roses portrait tada era rubio. Sin duda alguna, era un re-
all right. Rose was seated in profile by a trato de Rose, que posaba de perfil, senta-
window in her gym dress, her hands 60 da junto a una ventana, vestida con la t-
palm-downwards, one on each knee. nica de gimnasia y con las palmas de las
Where was the resemblance to Miss manos apoyadas en las rodillas. Dnde
Brodie? It was the profile perhaps; it was estaba el parecido con la seorita Brodie?
the forehead, perhaps; it was the type of Quizs en el perfil, quizs en la frente, qui-
stare from Roses blue eyes, perhaps, 65 zs en la mirada azul de Rose, que tena
87
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

which was like the dominating stare ese aire arrogante de la mirada castaa de
from Miss Brodies brown. The portrait la seorita Brodie. El retrato reproduca
was very like Miss Brodie. muchos rasgos de la seorita Brodie.

Its Rose, all right, Sandy said, and 5 Va l e , e s R o s e d i j o S a n d y, y

Deirdre Lloyd looked at her. Deirdre Lloyd la mir.

Do you like it? said Teddy Lloyd. Te gusta? le pregunt Teddy Lloyd.
[135]
Yes, its lovely. 10 S, es un retrato precioso.

Well, thats all that matters. Bueno, eso es lo nico que importa.

Sandy continued looking at it through Sandy sigui mirando el retrato

her very small eyes, and while she was 15 con sus ojitos minsculos, pero Teddy
doing so Teddy Lloyd drew the piece of L l o y d , c o n u n m o v i m i e n t o d e s u n i -
sheeting over the portrait with a casual c o brazo, lo cubri i n d i f e r e n t e m e n t e
flip of his only arm. c o n u n pao .

Deirdre Lloyd had been the first
woman to dress up as a peasant whom
Sandy had ever met, and peasant women
were to be fashionable for the next thirty
years or more. She wore a fairly long full-
gathered dark skirt, a bright green blouse
with the sleeves rolled up, a necklace of
large painted wooden beads and gipsy-
looking earrings. Round her waist was a
bright red wide belt. She wore dark
brown stockings and sandals of dark
green suede. In this, and various other
costumes of similar kind, Deirdre was
depicted on canvas in different parts of
the studio. She had an attractive near-
laughing voice. She said:
20 Deirdre Lloyd era la primera mujer
que Sandy vea vestida al estilo campe-
sino, un estilo que se pondra de moda
durante los siguientes treinta aos o in-
cluso ms. Llevaba una falda oscura, muy
25 larga y fruncida, un ancho cinturn rojo,
una blusa de un verde intenso con los
puos remangados, un collar de grandes
abalorios de madera pintada y unos pen-
dientes agitanados. Tambin llevaba unas
30 medias marrones oscuras y sandalias de
ante de color verde botella. De esa gui-
sa, y con atuendos similares, haba va-
rios lienzos que representaban a Deirdre
repartidos por el estudio. Con su risuea
35 y agradable voz dijo:

Weve got a new one of Rose. Tenemos un retrato nuevo de Rose.

Teddy, show Sandy the new one of Teddy, ensale a Sandy el retrato nuevo
Rose. de Rose.
40
It isnt quite at a stage for An no se puede ver, tengo que ha-
l o o k i n g a t . cerle algunos retoques.

Well, what about Red Velvet? Bueno, y Terciopelo rojo? Ensale

Show Sandy that Teddy did a 45 a Sandy se. El verano pasado Teddy hizo un
splendid portrait of Rose last summer, retrato esplndido de Rose. Lo llamamos Ter-
we swathed her in red velvet, and ciopelo rojo porque la envolvimos en ter-
weve called it Red Velvet. ciopelo rojo.

Teddy Lloyd had brought out a canvas 50 Teddy Lloyd lo sac de detrs de una
from behind a few others. He stood it in pila de lienzos y lo coloc sobre un ca-
the light on an easel. Sandy looked at it ballete. Sandy lo mir con aquellos ojos
with her tiny eyes which it was astonishing suyos que resultaba difcil admitir que
that anyone could trust. fuesen tan pequeos.
55
The portrait was like Miss El retrato recordaba a la seorita Brodie.
Brodie. Sandy said, I like the Sandy dijo:
colours. Me gustan los colores.

Does it resemble Miss Brodie? said 60 Se parece a la seorita Brodie? le

Deirdre Lloyd with her near-laughter. pregunt Deirdre Lloyd con su voz risuea.

Miss Brodie is a woman in her La seorita Brodie es una mujer en su

prime, said Sandy, but there is a plenitud, pero, ahora que lo dice, tiene cierto
resemblance now you mention it. 65 parecido le contest Sandy.

88

curve curva; torcerse, hacer curva; [surface]
combarse; a wide, curving staircase una
amplia escalera en curva
harlequin outfit: a diamond-patterned costume
worn by a pantomime character
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
Deirdre Lloyd said: Deirdre Lloyd coment: [136]
Rose was only fourteen at Rose slo tena catorce aos cuando
t h e t i m e ; i t m a k e s h e r l o o k Teddy le hizo este retrato. Tiene un aire muy
v e r y m a t u r e , b u t s h e i s 5 maduro, aunque en realidad es una nia muy
very mature. madura.
The swathing of crimson velvet was La pieza de terciopelo carmes envolva a Rose
so arranged that it did two things at de tal modo que provocaba un efecto doble: por un
once, it made Rose look one-armed like 10 lado, la haca parecer manca, como lo era el propio
the artist himself, and it showed the artista, y, por otro, haca ms prominentes de lo que
curves of her breast to be more eran en realidad las curvas de sus pechos, ms
developed than they were, even now, incluso de lo que eran en ese momento, cuan-
when Rose was fifteen. Also, the do Rose ya contaba quince aos. El retrato
picture was like Miss Brodie, and this 15 tambin guardaba parecido con la seorita
was the main thing about it and the Brodie, y aquello era lo ms significativo y lo
main mystery. Rose had a large-boned ms misterioso de todo. Rose tena una cara
pale face. Miss Brodies bones were plida y alargada. La de la seorita Brodie era
small, although her eyes, nose and pequea, aunque tena los ojos, la nariz y la
mouth were large. It was difficult to see 20 boca grandes. Resultaba difcil desvelar cmo
how Teddy Lloyd had imposed the dark Teddy Lloyd haba transferido la tez broncea-
and Roman face of Miss Brodie on that da y romana de la seorita Brodie a la plida
of pale Rose, but he had done so. Rose, pero el caso es que as era.
Sandy looked again at the other 25 Sandy se fij de nuevo en otros retratos re-
r e c e n t p o r t r a i t s i n t h e s t u d i o , cientes que haba por el estudio: uno de su mu-
Teddy Lloyds wife, his children, jer, de sus hijos y varios de modelos descono-
some unknown sitters. They were cidas. Ninguno de ellos guardaba parecido con
none of them like Miss Brodie. la seorita Brodie.
30
Then she saw a drawing lying on top De repente, vio un dibujo que estaba enci-
of a pile on the work-table. It was Miss ma de un rimero de ellos en la mesa de trabajo.
Brodie leaning against a lamp post in Era un retrato de la seorita Brodie apoyada
the Lawnmarket with a working contra una farola en Lawnmarket, ataviada con
womans shawl around her; on closer 35 un chal de obrera. Tras un examen ms minu-
inspection it proved to be Monica cioso, se dio cuenta de que era un retrato de
Douglas with the high cheekbones and Monica Douglas, con sus pmulos altos y su
long nose. Sandy said: larga nariz. Sandy dijo:
I d i d n t k n o w M o n i c a s a t 40 No saba que Monica hubiese posado
for you. para usted.
Ive done one or two preliminary He hecho uno o dos bocetos pre-
sketches. Dont you think that settings vios. No crees que ese entorno resulta
rather good for Monica? Heres one of 45 bastante adecuado para Monica? Aqu
Eunice in her harlequin outfit, I thought hay uno de Eunice con traje de arlequn.
she looked rather well in it. Pens que le sentara muy bien.
Sandy was vexed. These girls, Sandy estaba irritada. Monica y
Monica and Eunice, had not said 50 Eunice no les haban dicho a las otras ni-
anything to the others about their being as que el profesor de dibujo las haba re-
painted by the art master. But now they tratado. [137] Pero en aquella poca te-
were all fifteen there was a lot they did nan quince aos y haba muchas cosas que
not tell each other. She looked more ya no se contaban. Se fij con mayor aten-
closely at this picture of Eunice. 55 cin en aquel retrato de Eunice.
Eunice had worn the harlequin dress Eunice llevaba el traje de arlequn que se
for a school performance. Small and neat haba puesto para una representacin teatral
and sharp-featured as she was, in the de la escuela. Aunque menuda y de facciones
portrait she looked like Miss Brodie. In 60 angulosas, en el retrato era la viva imagen de
amongst her various bewilderments la seorita Brodie. Sandy estaba perpleja por
Sandy was fascinated by the economy of varios motivos, pero lo que ms fascinada la
Teddy Lloyds method, as she had been tena era la simpleza del mtodo de Teddy
four years earlier by Miss Brodies Lloyd, al igual que se sinti fascinada cuando
variations on her love story, when she had 65 la seorita Brodie, cuatro aos atrs, les con-
89

The Lloyds wereCatholics by force: a
reference to the fact that Roman Catholics are
forbidden to use artificial methods of
contraception
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
attached to her first, war-time lover the t a las nias la historia de amor que mantuvo
attributes of the art master and the singing con su primer novio en los tiempos de la gue-
master who had then newly entered her rra, traspasndole los atributos del profesor de
orbit. Teddy Lloyds method of dibujo y del maestro de canto, que por enton-
presentation was similar, it was 5 ces haban ingresado en su crculo de amista-
economical, and it always seemed des. El mtodo de Teddy Lloyd era parecido,
afterwards to Sandy that where there was igual de simple, y, ms tarde, Sandy tuvo cla-
a choice of various courses, the most ro que, cuando haba que elegir entre varias
economical was the best, and that the opciones, la ms simple era siempre la mejor,
course to be taken was the most expedient 10 y que la opcin ms conveniente habra de ser
and most suitable at the time for all the la que ms se ajustase a lo que en ese preciso
objects in hand. She acted on this instante se trajera entre manos. se fue el prin-
principle when the time came for her to cipio que sigui cuando lleg el momento de
betray Miss Brodie. traicionar a la seorita Brodie.
15
Jenny had done badly in her last A Jenny los exmenes del ltimo
terms examinations and was mostly, t r i m e s t r e l e f u e r o n m a l y s e p a s a b a l a
these days, at home working up her m a y o r p a r t e d e l t i e m p o e s t u d i a n d o a
subjects. Sandy had the definite feeling c o n c i e n c i a e n s u c a s a . S a n d y t u v o l a
that the Brodie set, not to mention Miss 20 i m p r e s i n d e q u e e l g r u p o , y n o d i g a -
Brodie herself, was getting out of hand. m o s y a l a p r o p i a s e o r i t a B r o d i e , e s -
She thought it perhaps a good thing that t a b a d i s p e r s n d o s e , a u n q u e p e n s q u e
the set might split up. tal vez fuese mejor as.
From somewhere below one of the 25 Desde algn lugar de la parte baja de la
Lloyd children started to yell, and casa, uno de los nios de Lloyd empez a gri-
then another, and then a chorus. tar. Otro no tard en imitarlo, y al final era
Deirdre Lloyd disappeared with a ya un coro de gritos. Deirdre Lloyd desapare-
swing of her peasant skirt to see to ci dando vuelo a su falda campesina para
all her children. The Lloyds were 30 ver qu pasaba. Los Lloyd eran catlicos y,
Catholics and so were made to have como tales, estaban obligados a tener muchos
a lot of children by force. hijos. [138]
One day, said Teddy Lloyd as he Algn da coment Teddy Lloyd,
stacked up his sketches before taking 35 mientras apilaba los bocetos antes de ba-
Sandy down to tea, I would like to do jar con Sandy para tomar el t, me gus-
all you Brodie girls, one by one and then tara pintaros a todas las nias de Brodie
all together. He tossed his head to move por separado y despus juntas.
back the golden lock of his hair from his Movi la cabeza para apartarse del
eye. It would be nice to do you all 40 ojo su guedeja dorada. Ser divertido
together, he said, and see what sort of pintaros a todas juntas y ver qu clase
a group portrait I could make of you. de retrato de grupo me sale.
Sandy thought this might be an Sandy pens que tal vez quera hacerlo
attempt to keep the Brodie set 45 para mantener el grupo de Brodie unido a pe-
together at the expense of the newly sar del brote de individualismo que mostra-
glimpsed individuality of its ban ltimamente sus miembros. Se encar con
members. She turned on him in her l y, con aquella hostilidad repentina que em-
new manner of sudden irritability and pezaba a serle caracterstica, le espet:
said, Wed look like one big Miss 50 Supongo que pareceremos una enorme
Brodie, I suppose. seorita Brodie.
He laughed in a delighted way and Teddy Lloyd se ri complacido ante ese
looked at her more closely, as if for the comentario y se qued mirndola fijamente,
first time. She looked back just as closely 55 como si fuese la primera vez que la vea. Ella
through her little eyes, with the near- le devolvi la misma mirada a travs de sus oji-
blackmailing insolence of her tos, con la insolencia casi chantajista de quien
knowledge. Whereupon he kissed her est en el secreto. l le dio un beso largo y h-
long and wetly. He said in his hoarse medo y le dijo con su voz ronca:
voice, Thatll teach you to look at an 60 Esto te ensear a mirar a un ar-
artist like that. tista como tal.
She started to run to the door, wiping Sandy ech a correr hacia la puerta, secn-
her mouth dry with the back of her hand, dose la boca con el dorso de la mano, pero l la
but he caught her with his one arm and 65 agarr con su nico brazo y le dijo:
90
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

said: Theres no need to run away. No hay por qu huir. Eres la cosita
Youre just about the ugliest little thing ms fea que he visto en mi vida.
Ive ever seen in my life. He walked out Sali y la dej plantada en el
and left her standing in the studio, and e s t u d i o . E l l a n o t e n a o t r a o p -
there was nothing for her to do but to 5 c i n q u e i r t r a s l e s c a l e r a s
follow him downstairs. Deirdre Lloyds a b a j o . D e s d e e l s a l n , l e l l e g
voice called from the sitting-room. In l a v o z d e D e i r d r e L l o y d :
here, Sandy. Sandy, estamos aqu.

She spent most of the tea time
trying to sort out her preliminary
feelings in the matter, which was
difficult because of the children who
were present and making demands on
the guest. The eldest boy, who was
eight, turned on the wireless and began
to sing in mincing English tones, Oh
play to me, Gipsy to the accompaniment
of Henry Halls band. The other three
children were making various kinds of din.
Above this noise Deirdre Lloyd requested
Sandy to call her Deirdre rather than. Mrs.
Lloyd. And so Sandy did not have much
opportunity to discover how she was feeling
inside herself about Teddy Lloyds kiss and
his words, and to decide whether she was
insulted or not. He now said, brazenly,
A n d y o u c a n c a l l m e Te d d y
o u t s i d e o f school. Amongst
themselves, in any case, the girls called
him Teddy the Paint. Sandy looked from
one to the other of the Lloyds.
10 La mayor parte del tiempo que estuvieron
tomando el t, Sandy intent poner en orden
los sentimientos inaugurales que le haba pro-
vocado aquel suceso, pero le result difcil,
porque los nios absorban toda la atencin
15 de la invitada. [139] El chico mayor, que te-
na ocho aos, encendi la radio y comenz a
cantar en un ingls melindroso Oh play to
me, Gipsy, al comps de la orquesta
de Henry Hall. Los otros tres alborota-
20 ban cada cual a su manera. Por encima
de toda esa algaraba, Deirdre Lloyd le
pidi a Sandy que la llamase Deirdre
en lugar de se ora Lloyd. De modo que
Sandy no pudo descubrir qu haba senti-
25 do con ese beso y si aquellas palabras que
l le haba dirigido eran insultantes o no.
Con absoluto descaro, l le dijo:
Y a m l l m a m e Te d d y , p e r o
fuera de la escuela.
30 En cualquier caso, entre las nias lo llama-
ban Teddy el Pintor. Sandy miraba alternativa-
mente al matrimonio Lloyd.

Ive heard such a lot about Miss He odo hablar tanto a las nias
Brodie from the girls, Deirdre was 35 de la seorita Brodie, que quiero invi-
saying. I really must ask her to tea. t a r l a a t o m a r e l t d i j o D e i r d r e .
Dyou think shed like to come ? Crees que le gustara venir?

No, said Teddy. No le respondi Teddy.

40
Why ? said Deirdre, not that it Por qu? le pregunt Deirdre, apa-
seemed to matter, she was so languid rentando no dar importancia a aquella negati-
and long-armed, lifting the plate of va, y, con su innata languidez, cogi el plato de
biscuits from the table and passing galletas que estaba encima de la mesa y fue ofre-
them round without moving from the 45 cindolo con sus largos brazos, sin levantarse
low stool on which she sat. del escabel en que estaba sentada.

You kids stop that row or you leave
the room, Teddy declared.
50
Bring Miss Brodie to tea,
Deirdre said to Sandy.
Nios! Os callis o sals inmediatamen-
te de la habitacin amenaz Teddy.
Sandy, invita a la seorita Brodie a to-
mar el t propuso Deirdre.

She wont come, Teddy said, No vendr le asegur Teddy.

will she, Sandy? 55 Sandy..t crees que vendra?

Shes awfully busy, Sandy said. Est ocupadsima contest Sandy.

Pass me a fag, said Deirdre. Psame un pitillo dijo Deirdre.

fag: slang for cigarette
60
Is she still looking after Lowther? Sigue cuidando de Lowther? le pre-
said Teddy. gunt Teddy.

Well, yes, a bit S, un poco.

65

91
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Lowther, said Teddy, waving his Lowther coment Teddy, agitando su

only arm, must have a way with women. nico brazo, se da mucha maa con las mu-
Hes got half the female staff of the school jeres. Tiene a la mitad de la plantilla [140] fe-
looking after him. Why doesnt he menina de la escuela pendiente de l. Por qu
employ a housekeeper? Hes got 5 no contrata a un ama de llaves? Tiene mucho
plenty of money, no wife, no kids, no rent dinero, no tiene mujer ni hijos, no paga rentas
to pay, its his own house. Why doesnt y tiene casa propia. Por qu no se busca a un
he get a proper housekeeper? ama de llaves como Dios manda?

I think he likes Miss Brodie, Sandy 10 Creo que le gusta la seorita Brodie
said. sugiri Sandy.

But what does she see in him? Pero, qu es lo que ella ve en l?

He sings to her, Sandy said, 15 l le canta dijo Sandy con una

suddenly sharp. agudeza repentina.

Deirdre laughed. Miss Brodie Deirdre se ri.

sounds a bit queer, I must say. What age Me da la impresin de que la seorita
is she? 20 Brodie es un poco rara. Qu edad tiene?

Jean Brodie, said Teddy, is a Jean Brodie es una mujer esplndida en

magnificent woman in her prime. la plenitud de su vida concluy Teddy Lloyd,
He got up, tossing back his lock of que se levant, se sacudi la guedeja y sali de
hair, and left the room. 25 la habitacin.

Deirdre blew a cloud of reflective Deirdre exhal una nube de humo,

smoke and stubbed out her cigarette, and pensativa, y apag el cigarrillo.
Sandy said she would have to go now. Sandy dijo que tena que irse.
30

Mr. L o w t h e r h a d c a u s e d M i s s Durante los dos ltimos aos, el seor

B r o d i e a g o o d d e a l o f w o r r y i n 35 Lowther le haba causado muchas preocu-
t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s . T h e r e h a d paciones a la seorita Brodie. Hubo una
b e e n a t i m e w h e n i t s e e m e d h e poca en que daba la impresin de estar ba-
m i g h t b e t h i n k i n g o f m a r r y i n g rajando la posibilidad de casarse con la se-
M i s s A l i s o n K e r r, a n d a n o t h e r orita Alison Kerr y otra poca en que pa-
t i m e w h e n h e s e e m e d t o f a v o u r 40 reca desviar esa posibilidad a la seorita
M i s s E l l e n , a l l t h e w h i l e b e i n g Ellen, a pesar de estar enamorado durante
i n l o v e w i t h M i s s B r o d i e todo ese tiempo de la seorita Brodie, que
h e r s e l f , w h o r e f u s e d h i m a l l b u t haba rechazado sus proposiciones, aunque no
h e r b e d - f e l l o w s h i p a n d h e r el hecho de convertirse en su compaera de
catering . 45 cama y en su proveedora alimenticia.

He tired of food, for it was making l estaba harto de la comida porque engor-
him fat and weary and putting him out daba, lo que le haca cansarse ms y le afectaba
of voice. He wanted a wife to play golf a la voz. Quera una mujer con la que jugar al
with and to sing to. He wanted a 50 golf y a la que poder cantarle. Quera una luna
honeymoon on the Hebridean island of de miel en la isla Hbrida de Eigg, cerca de
Eigg, near Rum, and then to return to Rum, y despus regresar con la novia a
Cramond with the bride. Cramond. [141]

In the midst of this dissatisfaction had 55 En medio de esa insatisfaccin fue cuando
occurred Ellen Kerrs finding of a Ellen Kerr encontr el delicado camisn dobla-
nightdress of quality folded under the do debajo de una de las almohadas de la cama
pillow next to Mr. Lowthers in that de matrimonio del seor Lowther, que, para
double bed on which, to make matters colmo de desgracias, era la cama en la que l
worse, he had been born. 60 haba nacido.

Still Miss Brodie refused him. La seorita Brodie segua rechazndolo. l

He fell into a melancholy mood cay en un estado melanclico tras verse obli-
u p o n h i s r e t i r e m e n t f r o m t h e gado a abandonar los cargos de director de coro
o f f i c e s o f c h o i r - m a s t e r a n d 65 y de dicono de la Iglesia presbiteriana, y las

92

pine long eagerly, ache, yearn, yen,
languish, suspirar, decline or waste
away, esp. from grief, disease, etc.
Silver Jubilee: the celebrations for the
twenty-fifth anniversary of the reign of King
George V in 1935
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
E l d e r, a n d t h e g i r l s t h o u g h t h e nias creyeron que aquel estado se deba a que
brooded often upon t h e no dejaba de rondarle por la cabeza la posibili-
p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t M i s s B r o d i e dad de que la seorita Brodie no se acostum-
could not take to his short legs, brase a sus piernas cortas y que se pasase todo
and was all the time pining for 5 el tiempo suspirando por las largas piernas de
Teddy Lloyds long ones. Teddy Lloyd.
Most of this Miss Brodie Las nias conocan la mayor parte de la his-
obliquely confided in the girls as toria porque la seorita Brodie haba empezado
they grew from thirteen to 10 a confiarles mediante rodeos algunos secretos
fourteen and from fourteen to cuando pasaron de los trece aos a los catorce y
f i f t e e n . S h e d i d n o t s a y, e v e n de los catorce a los quince. No les confesaba, ni
obliquely , that she slept with the siquiera alusivamente, que se acostaba con el
singing master, for she was still testing maestro de canto, porque an las tena so-
them out to see whom she could trust, 15 meti d a s a p r u e b a p a r a v e r e n q u i n p o -
as it would be her way to put it. She da confiar y en quin no. No quera
did not want any alarming suspicions alarmar a sus padres ni que alimenta-
to arise in the minds of their parents. sen ningn tipo de sospecha.
Miss Brodie was always very careful L a seorita Brodie siempre pona mucho cuida-
to impress the parents of her set and to 20 do en causar buena impresin a los padres de las
win their approval and gratitude. So she nias de su grupo y en ganarse su beneplcito y
confided according to what seemed su agradecimiento. As que se sinceraba con ellas
expedient at the time, and was in fact en la medida en que le pareca ms conveniente
now on the look-out for a girl amongst segn el momento. En aquella poca, estaba, de
her set in whom she could confide 25 hecho, a la bsqueda de una nia entre las del
entirely, whose curiosity was greater grupo en la que poder depositar toda su confian-
than her desire to make a sensation za, una nia cuya curiosidad fuese mayor que su
outside, and who, in the need to gain deseo de divulgar las confesiones que le hiciera,
further confidences from Miss Brodie, una nia que, ansiosa por obtener ms confiden-
would never betray what had been 30 cias por parte de la seorita Brodie, jams trai-
gained. Of necessity there had to be but cionara la confianza puesta en ella. Por fuerza
one girl; two would be dangerous. tena que ser una sola nia. Dos sera peligroso.
Almost shrewdly, Miss Brodie fixed on Astutamente, la seori t a B r o d i e p u s o s u s
Sandy, and even then it was not of her o j o s e n [ 1 4 2 ] S a n d y, p e r o , a u n as, jams
own affairs that she spoke. 35 hablaba con ella de sus asuntos amorosos.
In the summer of nineteen-thirty- En el verano de 1935, todas las alumnas
five the whole school was forced to fueron obligadas a llevar escarapelas con cin-
wear rosettes of red, white and blue tas rojas, blancas y azules en la solapa del blazer,
ribbon in the lapels of its blazers, 40 para celebrar el vigsimo quinto aniversario de
because of the Silver Jubilee. Rose la coronacin de Jorge V Rose Stanley perdi
Stanley lost hers and said it was la suya y dijo que seguramente estara en el es-
probably in Teddy Lloyds studio. tudio de Teddy Lloyd. Eso ocurri poco des-
This was not long after Sandys visit pus de la visita de Sandy a la residencia del
to the art master s residence. 45 profesor de dibujo.
What are you doing for the summer Rose, qu vas a hacer este verano?
holidays, Rose? said Miss Brodie. le pregunt la seorita Brodie.
My father s taking me to the 50 Mi padre va a llevarme a pasar quince
Highlands for a fortnight. After that, I das a los Highlands. Despus de eso, no s.
dont know. I suppose Ill be sitting Supongo que lo pasar posando para el seor
for Mr. Lloyd off and on. Lloyd de vez en cuando.
Good, said Miss Brodie. 55 Muy bien le dijo la seorita Brodie.
Miss Brodie started to confide in 60 La seorita Brodie empez a hacer confi-
Sandy after the next summer holidays. dencias a Sandy despus de las vacaciones de
They played rounds of golf in the sunny verano. Las dos jugaban al golf tras las clases
early autumn after school. en los soleados das inaugurales del otoo.
All my ambitions, said Miss Brodie, 65 Tengo todas mis expectativas puestas
93

dragoman: an interpreter or guide in a country
where Arabic, Turkish or Persian is spoken
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
are fixed on yourself and Rose. You will en ti y en Rose le dijo la seorita Brodie
not speak of this to the other girls, it . No hables de esto con las dems nias, por-
would cause envy. I had hopes of Jenny, que provocara envidias. Tena esperanzas
she is so pretty; but Jenny has become puestas en Jenny. Es tan guapa... Pero se ha
insipid, dont you think? 5 vuelto inspida, no te parece?
This was a clever question, Se trataba de una pregunta maliciosa,
because it articulated what was porque incida en algo que a Sandy le ron-
already growing in Sandys mind. daba ya por la cabeza. Jenny la haba abu-
Jenny had bored her this last year, 10 rrido durante el curso anterior, y aquello
and it left her lonely. la hizo sentirse sola.
Dont you think? said No te parece? volvi a preguntarle la se-
M i s s B r o d i e , t o w e r i n g a b o v e orita Brodie, elevada como una torre ante ella, por-
h e r, f o r S a n d y w a s p l a y i n g o u t 15 que Sandy jugaba dentro [143] de un bnker, inten-
o f a b u n k e r. S a n d y g a v e a h a c k tando sacar de all la pelota. Dio un mal golpe
w i t h h e r n i b l i c k a n d s a i d , con el palo del 9 y le contest:
Ye s, a bit, sending the ball in a S, un poco y envi la bola con
little backward half-circle. un pequeo semicrculo hacia atrs.
20
And I had hopes of Eunice, Miss Y tambin tena esperanzas puestas en
Brodie said presently, but she seems to Eunice, pero parece ser que est interesada en
be interested in some boy she goes un chico con el que va a nadar dijo al rato la
swimming with. maestra.
25
Sandy was not yet out of the Sa n d y a n n o h a b a s a l i d o d e l
bunker. It was sometimes difficult to bnker. A ve ces resultaba difcil seguirle
follow Miss Brodies drift when she el hi l o a l a s e o r i t a B r o d i e c u a n d o
was in her prophetic moods. One had e s t a b a d e talante proftico. Haba que
to wait and see what emerged. In the 30 esperar acontecimientos. Mientras s y
meantime she glanced up at Miss mientras no, alz la vista hacia la maestra,
Brodie who was standing on the crest que permaneca de pie en la cresta del
of the bunker which was itself on a bnker, situado asimismo en una cresta del
crest of the hilly course. Miss Brodie accidentado recorrido. La seorita Brodie
looked admirable in her heather-blue 35 estaba perfecta con su traje azul de tweed
tweed with the brown of a recent y con aquel bronceado que se haba trado
holiday in Egypt still warming her de sus recientes vacaciones en Egipto y que
skin. Miss Brodie was gazing out over an le doraba la piel. Hablaba mirando fi-
Edinburgh as she spoke. jamente hacia Edimburgo.
40
Sandy got out of the bunker. Sandy sali del bnker.
Eunice, said Miss Brodie, will settle Eunice sentar cabeza y se casar con
down and marry some professional man. alguien de carrera dijo la seorita Brodie.
Perhaps I have done her some good. Tal vez yo le he servido de algo. Mary, bueno,
Mary, well Mary. I never had any hopes 45 Mary.. Nunca deposit esperanzas en Mary.
of Mary. I thought, when you were young Cre, cuando erais ms nias, que Mary llega-
children that Mary might be something. ra a ser algo. Era un poco pattica, pero ahora
She was a little pathetic. But shes really es una nia de lo ms irritante. Prefiero tratar
a most irritating girl, Id rather deal with con una granujilla que con una tonta. Monica
a rogue than a fool. Monica will get her 50 terminar su licenciatura en ciencias con ma-
B.Sc. with honours Ive no doubt, but she trcula de honor, no me cabe la menor duda,
has no spiritual insight, and of course pero no tiene finura espiritual, y, des-
thats why shes de luego, se es el motivo por el que...
Miss Brodie was to drive off now and La seorita Brodie iba a dar el golpe
she had decided to stop talking until she 55 de salida y decidi dejar de hablar hasta que
had measured her distance and swiped midi la distancia y golpe la pelota . ...se
her ball. Which she did. thats why es el motivo por el que tiene tan mal carc-
she has a bad temper, she understands ter. Slo entiende de signos, de smbolos y
nothing but signs and symbols and de clculos. Sandy, no hay nada que enfurez-
calculations. Nothing infuriates people 60 ca ms a la gente que el saber que carece de
more than their own lack of spiritual finura espiritual. se el motivo por el que los
insight, Sandy, that is why the Moslems musulmanes son tan [144] apacibles: porque
are so placid, they are full of spiritual estn llenos de espiritualidad. Una espiritua-
insight. My dragoman in Egypt would lidad de la que mi trujimn egipcio debi de
not have it that Friday was their Lords 65 olvidarse aquel viernes, que es el da que ellos
94

gross y gruesa son doce docenas, como sustantivos, y
gordo, corpulento, craso [error], como adjetivos, pero
gross ha degradado su denotacin a grosero, des-
corts, indecoroso, escandaloso, estpido, ignoran-
te; en 1os negocios se usa para bruto [ganancia],
entradas, beneficios y, en la jerga juvenil, feo, as-
queroso. La idea bsica de grueso, como adjetivo,
es thick, big, fat y, como sustantivo, thickness,
bulk, depth, main body.
Fabian Society: the principal intellectual grouping
within the Labour Party which seeks to achieve
socialism by constitutional, non-revolutionary
means
be up against enfrentarse
enervated, unnerved deprivation of strength
or resolution, enervado; enervante puede
ser eso (debilitado) y lo contrario (nervioso)
unnerved desconcertado, sacado de quicio, ner-
vioso deprived of courage and strength; the
steeplejack, exhausted and unnerved, couldnt
hold on to his dangerous perch much longer
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
Day. Every day is the Lords day, he consagran a Al. Me dijo: Todos los das
said to me. I thought that very profound, estn consagrados a Al. Aquellas palabras
I felt humbled. We had already said our me resultaron tan profundas, que sent que
farewells on the day before my me daba una leccin de humildad. Antes del
departure, Sandy, but lo and behold 5 da de mi partida, ya nos habamos despedi-
when I was already seated in the train, do, pero, mira por dnde, cuando estaba sen-
along the platform came my dragoman tada en el tren, se present en el andn con
with a beautiful bunch of flowers for me. un hermoso ramo de flores. Era un hombre
He had true dignity. Sandy, you will que tena una gran dignidad. Sandy, no vas a
never get anywhere by hunching over 10 conseguir nada si te encorvas de esa manera
your putter, hold your shoulders back sobre el putter. Echa hacia atrs los hom-
and bend from the waist. He was a very bros y dobla la cintura. Era una persona
splendid person with a great sense of his esplndida con un gran sentido del sa-
bearing. ber estar.
15
They picked up their balls Recogieron las pelotas y se encaminaron al
and walked to the next tee. siguiente punto de salida.
Have you ever played with Ha jugado alguna vez con la seorita
Miss Lockhart? Sandy said. Lockhart? le pregunt Sandy.
20
Does she play golf? Juega al golf?
Ye s , r a t h e r w e l l . S a n d y h a d S, bastante bien.
met the science mistress Un sbado por la maana, para su sorpresa,
s u r p r i s i n g l y o n t h e g o l f c o u r s e 25 Sandy se haba encontrado a la profesora de
o n e S a t u r d a y m o r n i n g p l a y i n g ciencias en el campo de golf jugando con
w i t h G o r d o n L o w t h e r. Gordon Lowther.
Good shot, Sandy. I know very Buen golpe, Sandy. Conozco muy poco a la
little of Miss Lockhart, said Miss 30 seorita Lockhart reconoci la seorita Brodie.
Brodie. I leave her to her jars and La dejo con sus frascos y sus gases. Las mujeres de la
gases. They are all gross materialists, escuela secundaria son unas burdas materialistas.
these women in the Senior school, they Todas pertenecen a la Sociedad Fabiana y son
all belong to the Fabian Society and pacifistas. A eso es a lo que tenemos que
are pacifists. Thats the sort of thing Mr. 35 enfrentarnos el seor Lowther, el seor
Lowther, Mr. Lloyd and myself are up Lloyd y yo misma ________________
against when we are not up against __ ________ cuando no estamos ocupados
the narrow-minded, half-educated en enfrentarnos a esa gente de mentalidad
crowd in the junior departments. Sandy, cerrada e inculta que pulula en la primaria.
Ill swear you are short-sighted, the way 40 Sandy, jurara que eres miope por el modo
you peer at people. You must get como escudrias a la gente. Tienes que po-
spectacles. nerte gafas. [145]
Im hot, said Sandy irritably, it No, da esa impresin, pero no las nece-
only seems so. 45 sito le replic Sandy malhumorada.
Its unnerving , said Miss Es desconcertante le dijo la seorita
Brodie. Do you know, Sandy dear, Brodie. Sabes una cosa, querida Sandy? To-
all my ambitions are for you and das mis esperanzas estn puestas en ti y en Rose.
Rose. You have got insight, perhaps 50 T tienes perspicacia, tienes finura, quiz no
not quite spiritual, but youre a deep una finura exactamente espiritual, pero eres un
one, and Rose has got instinct, Rose misterio, y Rose tiene instinto. S, Rose tiene
has got instinct. instinto.
Perhaps not quite spiritual, said Sandy. 55 Quiz no exactamente espiritual.
Yes, said Miss Brodie, youre right. Rose S, tienes razn. Rose tiene futu-
has got a future by virtue of her instinct. ro en virtud de su instinto.
She has an instinct how to sit for 60 Tiene instinto a la hora de posar
her portrait, said Sandy. a f i r m S a n d y.
Thats what I mean by your insight, A eso me refiero cuando hablo
said Miss Brodie. I ought to know, de tu perspicacia. Lo s porque la ple-
because my prime has brought me 65 n i t u d d e m i v i d a m e h a d a d o i n s t i n t o
95
 Sparks Brodie
instinct and insight, both.
Fully to savour her position, Sandy
would go and stand outside St. Giles
Cathedral or the Tolbooth, and
contemplate these emblems of a dark
and terrible salvation which made the
fires of the damned seem very merry
to the imagination by contrast, and
much preferable. Nobody in her life,
at home or at school, had ever spoken
of Calvinism except as a joke that had
once been taken seriously. She did not
at the time understand that her
environment had not been on the
surface peculiar to the place, as was
the environment of the Edinburgh
social classes just above or, even more,
just below her own. She had no
experience of social class at all. In its
outward forms her fifteen years might
have been spent in any suburb of any
city in the British Isles; her school,
with its alien house system, might have
been in Ealing. All she was conscious
of now was that some quality of life
peculiar to Edinburgh and nowhere
else had been going on unbeknown to
her all the time, and however
undesirable it might be she felt
deprived of it; however undesirable,
she desired to know what it was, and
to cease to be protected from it by
enlightened people.
In fact, it was the religion of Calvin
of which Sandy felt deprived, or rather
a specified recognition of it. She
desired this birthright; something
definite to reject. It pervaded the place
in proportion as it was
unacknowledged. In some ways the
most real and rooted people whom
Sandy knew were Miss Gaunt and the
Kerr sisters who made no evasions
about their belief that God had planned
for practically everybody before they
were born a nasty surprise when they
died. Later, when Sandy read John
Calvin, she found that although
popular conceptions of Calvinism
were sometimes mistaken, in this
particular there was no mistake, indeed
it was but a mild understanding of the
case, he having made it Gods pleasure
to implant in certain people an
erroneous sense of joy and salvation,
so that their surprise at the end might
be the nastier.
Sandy was unable to formulate these
exciting propositions; nevertheless she 65 tantes propuestas. Sin embargo, las perciba
96
Silvia Barbero
y perspicacia, ambas cosas.
5
Para saborear intensamente su nuevo ran-
go, Sandy se paraba ante la catedral de Saint
Giles o ante la antigua crcel de Tolbooth y se
quedaba contemplando aquellos emblemas de
10 una salvacin terrible y siniestra que hacan que
el fuego en que se consuman los condenados
se lo imaginara, por contraste, como algo muy
alegre, y mucho ms deseable. Nadie, ni en su
casa ni en la escuela, le haba hablado jams
15 del calvinismo, a no ser como una broma que
alguna vez haba sido tomada en serio por al-
gunos. Por aquel entonces, an no era conscien-
te de que su entorno no guardaba relacin con
la escala social de la ciudad, con las clases so-
20 ciales edimburguesas que estaban justo por arri-
ba de la suya o menos an justo por deba-
jo de ella. No tena nocin alguna de la diferen-
cia de clases. Al menos en los aspectos bsicos,
sus quince aos podra haberlos pasado en cual-
25 quier barrio de una ciudad cualquiera de las Is-
las Britnicas, y su escuela, con su extrao sis-
tema de hermandades, lo mismo podra haber
estado en la ciudad de Ealing. De lo nico de lo
que por aquel entonces tena certidumbre era
30 de que en Edimburgo exista un modo peculiar
de vida que no se daba [146] en ningn otro
sitio y que ella desconoca por completo. Por
desagradable que resultase ese modo de vida,
se senta privada de su conocimiento; por des-
35 agradable que fuese, deseaba conocerlo, y de-
jar de una vez de sentirse protegida de ese mun-
do por parte de las personas ilustradas.
De hecho, era de la religin de Calvino
40 de lo que Sandy se senta privada, o, mejor
dicho, de un conocimiento especfico de ella.
Reivindicaba ese derecho: algo concreto con
lo que estar en desacuerdo. Aquella religin
impregnaba el lugar en la misma proporcin
45 en que era ignorada por la gente. En cierto
sentido, las personas ms aferradas a la rea-
lidad de cuantas conoca Sandy eran la seo-
rita Gaunt y las hermanas Kerr, que no des-
cuidaban su firme creencia de que Dios ha-
50 ba planeado para prcticamente todo el mun-
do, antes de nacer, una sorpresa desagrada-
ble para despus de la muerte. Ms tarde,
cuando Sandy ley a Calvino, comprob que,
aunque los conceptos populares del calvinis-
55 mo a veces eran errneos, en ese punto en
particular no haba error alguno; en realidad,
no era ms que un visin dulcificada del asun-
to, ya que, para Calvino, Dios haba inculca-
do a determinadas personas una nocin falsa
60 de la alegra y de la salvacin, de modo que
su sorpresa final resultase an ms desagra-
dable.
Sandy no poda formularse esas inquie-

Morningside and Merchiston: middle-class
suburbs of south Edinburgh
There was a whiff of sulphur about the idea:
in popular belief sulphur, an evil-smelling
substance found in volcanic regions, has been
associated with the fires of hell. The idea that
Sandy should report on Roses relationship with
Teddy Lloyd is seen as being suitably wicked
D. H. Lawrence: D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence
(1885-1930), novelist who created strong-willed
heroines in novels such as Sons and Lovers
(1913) and Lady Chatterleys Lover (1928).
Much of his work is concerned with sexual
freedom and frankness
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
experienced them in the air she breathed, en el aire que respiraba, las adivinaba en la
she sensed them in the curiously defiant manera curiosamente temeraria en que la gen-
way in which the people she knew broke te que ella conoca profanaba el domingo y
the Sabbath, and she smelt them in the las ola en los excesos que cometa la seori-
excesses of Miss Brodie in her prime. 5 ta Brodie en su etapa de plenitud. En aquel
Now that she was allowed to go about tiempo en que Sandy ya tena permiso para
alone, she walked round the certainly salir sola, iba a los barrios prohibidos de
forbidden quarters of Edinburgh to look Edimburgo y merodeaba en torno a los mo-
at the blackened monuments and hear the numentos ennegrecidos. Oa all las incre-
unbelievable curses of drunken men and 10 bles palabrotas de las mujeres y de los borra-
women, and, comparing their faces with chos y, tras comparar sus caras con las caras
the faces from Morningside and conocidas que vea en [147] Morningside y
Merchisten with which she was familiar, en Merchisten, se daba cuenta, con una
she saw, with stabs of new and exciting novedosa y excitante punzada de culpabili-
Calvinistic guilt, that there was not much 15 dad calvinista, de que no haba mucha dife-
difference. rencia entre unas y otras.
In this oblique way, she began to sense De manera oblicua, empez a intuir la
what went to the makings of Miss Brodie estrategia de la seorita Brodie, que ha-
who had elected herself to grace in so 20 ba optado por ennoblecerse a s misma
particular a way and with more exotic de un modo muy peculiar, con una voca-
suicidal enchantment than if she had cin suicida ms extica y encantadora
simply taken to drink like other spinsters que la de darse a la bebida, como hacan
who couldnt stand it any more. muchas solteras desesperadas.
25
It was plain that Miss Brodie wanted Estaba claro que la seorita Brodie preten-
Rose with her instinct to start preparing da preparar a la instintiva Rose para que se con-
to be Teddy Lloyds lover, and Sandy virtiera en la amante de Teddy Lloyd y a la pers-
with her insight to act as informant on picaz Sandy para que hiciera de informante de la
the affair. It was to this end that Rose and 30 aventura ante ella. Con esa finalidad, Sandy y
Sandy had been chosen as the crme de Rose haban sido elegidas como la crme de la
la crme. There was a whiff of sulphur crme. Haba cierto tufillo a azufre alrededor de
about the idea which fascinated Sandy ese plan que fascinaba a Sandy en aquel momen-
in her present mind. After all, it was only to. Despus de todo, era slo un plan. Y no haba
an idea. And there was no pressing hurry 35 ninguna prisa, porque a la seorita Brodie le gus-
in the matter, for Miss Brodie liked to taba tomarse su tiempo para elaborar sus planes,
take her leisure over the unfolding of her ya que cuando de verdad disfrutaba era durante
plans, most of her joy deriving from the la fase de preparacin, y, adems, incluso si aquel
preparation, and moreover, even if these plan lo tena ya tan claro como lo tena Sandy,
plans were as clear to her own mind as 40 las nias eran an demasiado jvenes para lle-
they were to Sandys, the girls were too varlo a cabo. De todas formas, cuando las nias
young. All the same, by the time the girls cumplieron los diecisis aos, la seorita Brodie
were sixteen Miss Brodie was saying to le deca a todo el grupo:
her set at large: Sandy will make an Sandy ser una excelente agente
excellent Secret Service agent, a great 45 del servicio secreto. Ser una gran espa.
spy; and to Sandy alone she had started Y a Sandy le comentaba en privado:
saying, Rose will be a great lover. She Rose ser una gran amante. Est por en-
is above the common moral code, it does cima del cdigo moral comn. A ella no
not apply to her. This is a fact which it is le afecta. Es algo de lo que no conviene
not expedient for anyone to hear about 50 que se entere nadie que no est dotado
who is not endowed with insight. de perspicacia.
For over a year Sandy entered into Durante ms de un ao, Sandy se implic
the spirit of this plan, for she visited the en cuerpo y alma en el plan, ya que visitaba
Lloyds frequently, and was able to report 55 con frecuencia a los Lloyd y poda informar
to Miss Brodie how things were going luego a la seorita Brodie acerca del avance de
with the portraits of Rose which so aquellos retratos de Rose que tanto parecido
resembled Miss Brodie. guardaban con la seorita Brodie. [148]
Rose, said Miss Brodie, is like a 60 Rose es como una herona sacada de una
heroine from a novel by D. H. Lawrence. novela de D. H. Lawrence. Tiene instinto
She has got instinct. segn repeta la seorita Brodie.
B u t i n f a c t t h e a r t m a s t e r s Pero, en realidad, el nico inters que te-
i n t e r e s t i n R o s e w a s s i m p l y a 65 na el profesor de dibujo por Rose era mera-
97
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

professional one, she was a good mente profesional. Era una modelo muy bue-
model; Rose had an instinct to be na. Rose tena el instinto suficiente como para
satisfied with this role, and in the sentirse satisfecha con ese papel, y result que
event it was Sandy who slept with fue Sandy la que acab acostndose con Teddy
Teddy Lloyd and Rose who carried 5 Lloyd y Rose la que inform de ello a la seo-
back the information. rita Brodie.

It was some time before these things
came to pass, and meanwhile Miss
Brodie was neglecting Mr. Lowther at
Cramond and spending as much time as
possible with Rose and Sandy
discussing art, and then the question of
sitting for an artist, and Roses future as
a model, and the necessity for Rose to
realise the power she had within her, it
was a gift and she an exception to all
the rules, she was the exception that
proved the rule. Miss Brodie was too
cautious to be more precise and Rose
only half-guessed at Miss Brodies
meaning, for she was at this time, as
Sandy knew, following her instinct and
becoming famous for sex among the
schoolboys who stood awkwardly with
their bicycles at a safe distance from the
school gates. Rose was greatly popular
with these boys, which was the only
reason why she was famed for sex,
although she did not really talk about
sex, far less indulge it. She did
everything by instinct, she even listened
to Miss Brodie as if she agreed with
every word.
When you are seventeen or
eighteen, Rose, you will come to the
moment of your great fulfilment.
Pero an faltaba algn tiempo para que
aquello ocurriese. Entretanto, la seorita Brodie
10 fue desatendiendo al seor Lowther y pasaba
todo el tiempo que le era posible con Rose y
con Sandy hablando de arte, de lo que signifi-
caba posar para un artista y del futuro de Rose
como modelo, as como de la necesidad que
15 tena Rose de tomar conciencia del poder que
posea, ya que ese poder era un don y la con-
verta en una excepcin a todas las reglas: ella
era la excepcin que confirmaba la regla. La
seorita Brodie pona mucho cuidado en no re-
20 sultar ms explcita, y Rose slo acertaba a com-
prender a medias lo que le deca su antigua
maestra, porque en aquellos momentos se en-
contraba y Sandy lo saba atendiendo a su
instinto y convirtindose en una celebridad
25 sexual entre los escolares que se apostaban in-
cmodos con sus bicicletas a una distancia pru-
dente de la puerta de la escuela. Rose tena
mucho xito entre esos chicos, y aqulla era la
nica razn por la que tena fama sexual, aun-
30 que en realidad ella no hablaba nunca de sexo,
y mucho menos an lo practicaba. Todo lo ha-
cia por instinto. Incluso escuchaba a la seorita
Brodie como si estuviese de acuerdo con cada
palabra que sala de su boca.
35
Rose, cuando tengas diecisiete o diecio-
cho aos, llegar el momento de tu gran reali-
zacin.

Yes, honestly I think so, Miss 40 S, seorita Brodie, francamente creo que
Brodie. s. [149]

Teddy Lloyds passion for Jean La pasin que Teddy Lloyd senta por Jean
Brodie was greatly in evidence in Brodie se hizo evidente en todos los retratos
a l l t h e p o r t r a i t s h e d i d o f t h e 45 que pint de las distintas componentes del gru-
various members of the Brodie set. po. Durante un trimestre, justo antes de las va-
He did them in a group during one caciones de verano, las pint a todas juntas,
summer term, wearing their panama cada cual con el panam puesto a su estilo, y
hats each in a different way, each se daba el caso de que cada uno de aquellos
h a t a d o r n i n g , i n a m a g i c a l 50 sombreros embelleca, en una transfiguracin
transfiguration, a different Jean mgica, a una Jean Brodie diferente bajo las
Brodie under the forms of Rose, formas de Rose, de Sandy, de Jenny, de Mary,
Sandy, Jenny, Mary, Monica and de Monica y de Eunice. Pero, sobre todo, la
Eunice. But mostly it was Rose, antigua maestra estaba en Rose, porque
because she was instinctively a 55 instintivamente era una buena modelo y por-
good model and Teddy Lloyd paid que Teddy Lloyd le pagaba cinco chelines por
her five shillings a sitting, which posar, circunstancia que a Rose le result muy
Rose found useful, being addicted beneficiosa, ya que se haba convertido en una
to the cinema. adicta al cine.
60
Sandy felt warmly towards Miss Por aquellos das, cuando Sandy se dio
Brodie at these times when she saw cuenta de hasta qu punto la seorita Brodie
how she was misled in her idea of estaba equivocada con respecto a Rose, empe-
Rose. It was then that Miss Brodie z a sentir afecto por ella. Fue una poca en
looked beautiful and fragile, just as 65 que la maestra irradiaba una luz hermosa y fr-

98
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

graceful se usa para lleno de gracia, con mucho gar-
bo, elegante, digno [retiro]. gracefully es comn
para con dignidad, con garbo. Corts
dark heavy Edinburgh itself could gil, igual que la encapotada Edimburgo poda
suddenly be changed into a floating transformarse de repente en una ciudad
city when the light was a special pearly ingrvida cuando la envolva una luz con blan-
white and fell upon one of the cura de perla y esa luz se derramaba por alguna
gracefully fashioned streets. In the 5 de sus calles elegantes. De la misma manera,
same way Miss Brodies masterful los rasgos dominantes de la seorita Brodie se
features became clear and sweet to atenuaron y dulcificaron para Sandy cuando los
Sandy when viewed in the curious contempl bajo la curiosa luz de la locura de la
light of the womans folly, and she antigua maestra, y, en los aos posteriores, cuan-
never felt more affection for her in her 10 do la recordaba, el afecto que senta por ella
later years than when she thought upon era mayor si se paraba a considerar la ridiculez
Miss Brodie silly. de la seorita Brodie.

15

But Miss Brodie as the leader of the
set, Miss Brodie as a Roman matron,
Miss Brodie as an educational
reformer were still prominent. It was
not always comfortable, from the
school point of view, to be associated
with her. The lack of team spirit alone,
the fact that the Brodie set preferred
golf to hockey or netball if they
preferred anything at all, were enough
to set them apart, even if they had not
dented in the crowns of their hats and
tilted them backwards or forwards. It
was impossible for them to escape
from the Brodie set because they were
the Brodie set in the eyes of the school.
Nominally, they were members of
Holyrood, Melrose, Argyll and Biggar,
but it had been well known that the
Brodie set had no team spirit and did
not care which house won the shield.
They were not allowed to care. Their
disregard had now become an
institution, to be respected like the
house system itself. For their own part,
and without this reputation, the six
girls would have gone each her own
way by the time she was in the fourth
form and had reached the age of
sixteen.
Pero la seorita Brodie como lder del gru-
po, la seorita Brodie como matrona romana
y la seorita Brodie como reformista pedag-
20 gica segua siendo an una figura prominente.
No siempre resultaba cmodo, a efectos esco-
lares, estar asociada [150] a ella. La falta de
espritu de equipo de la que hacan gala las
nias de su grupo, el hecho de que prefiriesen
25 jugar a golf en vez de al hockey o al balonces-
to, en el caso de que en realidad prefiriesen
algo, eran motivos suficientes para que desta-
caran sobre las dems, aun si no hubiesen op-
tado por aplastarse la copa del sombrero y la-
30 dearlo hacia delante o hacia atrs. Les resul-
taba imposible desmarcarse del grupo de
Brodie porque, a los ojos de toda la escuela,
eran el grupo de Brodie. En teora, eran miem-
bros de Holyrood, Melrose, Argyll y Biggar,
35 pero era bien sabido que el grupo de Brodie
no tena espritu de equipo y que le importaba
muy poco qu hermandad se alzase con el Tro-
feo. Al grupo no le estaba permitido que aque-
llo le importara. La indiferencia que mostra-
40 ban las nias se convirti en toda una institu-
cin que deba ser respetada en la misma me-
dida que el sistema de hermandades. De no
haber gozado de aquella reputacin, las seis
nias habran seguido cada cual su camino
45 cuando estaban en cuarto curso de secundaria
y haban cumplido ya diecisis aos.

But it was irrevocable, and they Pero aquello era irrevocable, y sacaban
made the most of it, and saw that el mximo partido de su situacin, a la vez
t h e i r p o s i t i o n w a s r e a l l y q u i t e 50 que comprobaban que se trataba de una posi-
enviable. Everyone thought the cin muy envidiable. Todo el mundo crea que
Brodie set had more fun than anyone el grupo de Brodie se diverta ms que cual-
else, what with visits to Cramond, to quier otro, con todas esas visitas a Cramond,
Teddy Lloyds studio, to the theatre al estudio de Teddy Lloyd, al teatro y al apar-
and teas with Miss Brodie. And 55 tamento de la seorita Brodie para tomar el
indeed it was so. And Miss Brodie t. Y, en verdad, as era. Y la seorita Brodie
was always a figure of glamorous siempre fue una figura sofisticada incluso a
activity even in the eyes of the non- los ojos de las nias que no pertenecan a su
Brodie girls. grupo.
60
Miss Brodies struggles with the Las luchas que la seorita Brodie mantena
authorities on account of her con las autoridades escolares a causa de su
educational system were increasing mtodo pedaggico fueron incrementndose
throughout the years, and she made ao tras ao, y convirti en un deber moral que
it a moral duty for her set to rally 65 el grupo se solidarizase con ella cada vez que

99
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

r o u n d h e r e a c h t i m e h e r b a t t l e la batalla alcanzaba un punto crtico. En esos

reached a crisis. Then she would casos, ella poda encontrarlas [151] perdiendo
find them, perhaps, loitering with el tiempo con los chicos de las bicicletas des-
the bicycle boys after school, and pus de clase, por ejemplo, y aquellas bicicle-
the bicycles would rapidly bear the 5 tas se llevaban a los chicos en un abrir y cerrar
b o y s a w a y, a n d t h e y w o u l d b e de ojos, y entonces ella las emplazaba a que
b i d d e n t o s u p p e r t h e f o l l o w i n g fuesen a cenar al da siguiente a su apartamen-
evening. to.

T h e y w e n t t o t h e t r a m - c a r 10 Mientras la acompaaban a la parada del

s t o p w i t h h e r . I t h a s b e e n tranva, las pona al corriente de la situacin:
suggested again that I Se ha vuelto a sugerir que debera soli-
s h o u l d a p p l y for a post at one of citar un puesto de trabajo en una de esas escue-
the progressive, that is to say, crank las progresistas; es decir, en una de esas escue-
schools. I shall not apply for a post at 15 las elitistas. No solicitar un puesto en ninguna
a crank school. I shall remain at this escuela elitista. Me quedar en esta fbrica edu-
education factory where my duty lies. cativa, porque es aqu donde est mi deber. Por
There needs must be a leaven in the fuerza tiene que haber al menos una nia a la
lump . Give me a girl at an que yo le sirva de levadura. Dadme una nia
impressionable age and she is mine 20 que est en una edad influenciable y ser ma
for life. The gang who oppose me de por vida. La faccin que se opone a m no se
shall not succeed. saldr con la suya.

No, said everyone. No, of course No contestaron todas. No, desde

they wont. 25 luego que no.

The headmistress had not quite given La directora no dejaba de sondear a las ni-
up testing the girls of the Brodie set to as del grupo de Brodie para comprobar lo que
see what they knew. In her frustration she saban. A veces, movida por la frustracin, to-
sometimes took reprisals against them 30 maba represalias contra ellas en cuanto poda
when she could do so under the guise of con la excusa del juego limpio, aunque aquello
fair play, which was not often. no suceda muy a menudo.

If they do not try to unseat me on Si no pueden vencerme en el te-

personal calumny:a slander or false accusation
against an individual
the grounds of my educational policy,
they attempt personal calumny, said
Miss Brodie one day. It is unfortunate,
but true, that there have been implications
against my character in regard to my
relations with poor Mr. Lowther. As you
girls well know, I have given much of
my energy to Mr. Lowthers health. I am
fond of Mr. Lowther. Why not? Are we
not bidden to love one another? I am
Gordon Lowthers closest friend, his
confidante. I have neglected him of late
I am afraid, but still I have been all things
to Gordon Lowther, and I need only lift
my little finger and he would be at my
side. This relationship has been
distorted...
35 rreno de mi poltica educativa, lo inten-
tan con la calumnia les dijo un da la
seorita Brodie. Es lamentable, aunque
cierto, que se han hecho insinuaciones
contra mi reputacin con respecto a mis
40 relaciones con el pobre seor Lowther.
Como bien sabis, me he preocupado por
la salud del seor Lowther en cuerpo y
alma. Le quiero mucho. Por qu no? No
estamos obligados a amarnos los unos a
45 los otros? Soy la amiga ms ntima de
Gordon Lowther. Soy su confidente. Me
temo que ltimamente lo tengo desaten-
dido, pero an lo soy todo para l. [152]
Con slo levantar el dedo meique esta-
50 ra a mi lado. Han tergiversado la ndole
de nuestra relacin...

It was some months, now, that Miss Haca algunos meses que la seorita Brodie
Brodie had neglected the singing master, haba empezado a desatender al maestro de
and the girls no longer spent Saturday 55 canto, y las nias no iban ya a pasar la tarde
afternoons at Cramond. Sandy assumed de los sbados a Cramond. Sandy supuso que
that the reason why Miss Brodie had la razn por la que la seorita Brodie haba
stopped sleeping with Gordon Lowther dejado de acostarse con Gordon Lowther era
was that her sexual feelings were que sus sentimientos sexuales estaban
satisfied by proxy; and Rose was 60 satisfechos por poderes, ya que Rose estaba
predestined to be the lover of Teddy predestinada a ser la amante de Teddy Lloyd.
Lloyd. I have had much calumny to put He tenido que aguantar muchas calum-
up with on account of my good offices nias a causa de mis buenos oficios en Cramond
at Cramond, said Miss Brodie. les coment la seorita Brodie. Sin em-
However, I shall survive it. If I wished 65 bargo, las sobrellevar. Si quisiese, maana

100
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

I could marry him tomorrow. mismo podra casarme con l.

The morning after this saying, the A la maana siguiente, el compromiso de

The Scotsman: daily newspaper published in
Edinburgh
engagement of Gordon Lowther to
Miss Lockhart, the science teacher, was
announced in The Scotsman. Nobody
had expected it. Miss Brodie was
greatly taken aback and suffered
untimely, for a space, from a sense of
having been betrayed. But she seemed
to recall herself to the fact that the true
love of her life was Teddy Lloyd whom
she had renounced; and Gordon
Lowther had merely been useful. She
subscribed with the rest of the school
to the china tea-set which was presented
to the couple at the last assembly of the
term. Mr. Lowther made a speech in
which he called them you girlies,
glancing shyly from time to time at
Miss Brodie who was watching the
clouds through the window. Sometimes
he looked towards his bride to be, who
stood quietly by the side of the
headmistress half-way up the hall
waiting till he should be finished and
they could join him on the platform. He
had confidence in Miss Lockhart, as
everyone did, she not only played golf
well and drove a car, she could also
blow up the school with her jar of
gunpowder and would never dream of
doing so.
Gordon Lowther y la seorita Lockhart, la pro-
5 fesora de ciencias, apareci publicado en The
Scotsman. Nadie se lo esperaba. La seorita
Brodie se qued muy desconcertada y, duran-
te un tiempo, experiment la sensacin an
prematura de haber sido traicionada. Pero
10 daba la impresin de que se haba recordado a
s misma el hecho de que el verdadero amor
de su vida era Teddy Lloyd, a quien haba re-
nunciado, y que Gordon Lowther slo repre-
sent para ella un factor prctico. Contribuy
15 con el personal de la escuela a la compra del
juego de t de China que fue entregado a la
pareja durante la ltima asamblea del trimes-
tre. El seor Lowther hizo un discurso en el
que se refera a las nias como nenitas y, de
20 vez en cuando, lanzaba una mirada tmida a la
seorita Brodie, que se dedicaba a observar el
movimiento de las nubes a travs de una ven-
tana. A veces, miraba a la que iba a ser su
mujer, que permaneca de pie en mitad del
25 saln, tranquila, junto a la directora, esperan-
do a que l terminase su discurso para subir a
la tarima y reunirse con l. Al igual que todo
el mundo, l confiaba en la seorita Lockhart.
No slo [153] porque jugaba muy bien al golf
30 y porque conduca un coche, sino tambin por-
que poda hacer volar la escuela con sus fras-
cos de plvora y nunca se le haba pasado por
la cabeza hacerlo.

Miss Brodies brown eyes were fixed 35 Los ojos castaos de la seorita Brodie es-
on the clouds, she looked quite beautiful taban fijos en las nubes. Pareca una mujer muy
and frail, and it occurred to Sandy that hermosa y dbil, y Sandy se permiti pensar
she had possibly renounced Teddy Lloyd que posiblemente haba renunciado a Teddy
only because she was aware that she Lloyd slo porque era consciente de que no
could not keep up this beauty; it was a 40 poda mantener aquella belleza en todo momen-
quality in her that came and went. to. Su belleza era una cualidad intermitente.

Next term, when Mr. Lowther El siguiente trimestre, cuando el seor

returned from his honeymoon on the Lowther regres de su luna de miel en la isla de
island of Eigg, Miss Brodie put her spare 45 Eigg, la seorita Brodie invirti su energa en
energy into her plan for Sandy and Rose, el plan que tena trazado para Sandy y Rose,
with their insight and instinct; and what aprovechndose de la perspicacia y del instinto
energy she had to spare from that she now que respectivamente posean. Y la energa res-
put into political ideas. tante la dirigi al terreno de la poltica. [154]
50

55

60

65

101
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

-6- 6

Miss Mackay, the headmistress ... the Brodie
set: the headmistress never stopped asking
them questions about Miss Brodie - in order to
discover evidence which would incriminate her
Miss Mackay, the headmistress, La seorita Mackay, la directora, no cejaba
never gave up pumping the Brodie en su afn de sonsacar informacin a las nias
set. She knew it was useless to do so 5 del grupo de Brodie. Saba que resultaba infruc-
directly, her approach was indirect, tuoso hacerlo de manera directa, de modo que
in the hope that they would be tricked lo haca mediante rodeos, con la esperanza de
i n t o l e t t i n g f a l l s o m e p i e c e o f que cayeran en la trampa y le proporcionasen
evidence which could be used to alguna prueba que pudiera ser utilizada para
enforce Miss Brodies retirement. 10 forzar la destitucin de la seorita Brodie. Un
Once a term, the girls went to tea da de cada trimestre las nias iban a tomar el
with Miss Mackay. t con la seorita Mackay.

But in any case there was now very Pero, en cualquier caso, ya no haba nada
little they could say without implicating 15 que pudieran decir sin que ellas mismas
themselves. By the time their friendship acabasen implicadas. La amistad que com-
with Miss Brodie was of seven years partan con la seorita Brodie se remontaba
standing, it had worked itself into their a siete aos atrs, y esa amistad la tenan ya
bones, so that they could not break away tan metida en los huesos que no podan des-
without, as it were, splitting their bones 20 prenderse de ella sin que tales huesos se
to do so. rompieran.

You still keep up with Miss Segus relacionndoos con la seorita

Brodie? said Miss Mackay, with Brodie? pregunt la seorita Mackay con
a gleaming smile. She had new 25 una sonrisa reluciente, ya que estrenaba den-
teeth. tadura.

Oh, yes, rather... Oh, s, por supuesto...

Yes, oh yes, from time to time... 30 S, s. De vez en cuando...

Miss Mackay said to Sandy La seorita Mackay le coment confiden-

confidentially when her turn came round
because she treated the older girls as
equals, which is to say, as equals
definitely wearing school uniform
Dear Miss Brodie, she sits on under the
elm, telling her remarkable life story to
the junior children. I mind when Miss
Brodie first came to the school, she was
a vigorous young teacher, but now
She sighed and shook her head. She
had a habit of putting the universal
wise saws into Scots dialect to make
them wiser. Now she said, What
canna be cured maun be endured. But
I fear Miss Brodie is past her best. I
doubt her class will get through its
qualifying examination this year. But
dont think Im criticising Miss
Brodie. She likes her wee drink, Im
sure. After all, its nobodys business,
so long as it doesnt affect her work
and you girls.
She doesnt drink, said Sandy,
except for sherry on her birthday, half
a bottle between the seven of us.
cialmente a Sandy cuando le toc el turno de
acudir a su despacho porque trataba a las ni-
35 as mayores como a iguales; es decir, como a
iguales que llevaban uniforme escolar:
La querida seorita Brodie se sienta bajo
el olmo y les cuenta a las nias de la escuela
primaria su singular biografa. [157] Me acuer-
40 do de cuando vino por primera vez a la escuela.
Era una maestra joven y enrgica, pero ahora...
Suspir y movi la cabeza con gesto de
disgusto. Tena la costumbre de traducir al dia-
lecto escocs los proverbios universales para
45 darles de ese modo una mayor apariencia de
sabidura. Hay que tomar las cosas como
vienen. Pero me temo que la seorita Brodie
ya ha dejado atrs lo mejor de s. Dudo que su
clase apruebe el examen eliminatorio este ao.
50 Pero no creas que estoy criticndola. Estoy
segura de que le gusta tomarse una copita de
vez en cuando. Pero eso es asunto suyo y de
nadie ms, a menos que afecte a su trabajo y a
vosotras.
55
No bebe le precis Sandy, excepto
una copa de Jerez en su cumpleaos. Entre las
siete nos bebemos media botella.

M i s s M a c k a y c o u l d b e 60 Poda apreciarse cmo la seorita

o b s e r v e d m e n t a l l y s c o r i n g Mackay tachaba mentalmente la bebida
d r i n k o f f h e r l i s t o f t h i n g s de la lista de acusaciones en contra de
a g a i n s t M i s s B r o d i e . la seorita Brodie.
O h, thats all I meant, said Miss Oh, eso es lo que quera decir aclar
Mackay. 65 la directora.

102
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

matriarchally: in the manner of a woman ruler
switch of hair:.. .a long bunch or coil of hair
The Brodie girls, now that they
were seventeen, were able to detach
Miss Brodie from her aspect of
t e a c h e r. W h e n t h e y c o n f e r r e d
amongst themselves on the subject
they had to admit, at last, and
without doubt, that she was really
an exciting woman as a woman. Her
eyes flashed, her nose arched
proudly, her hair was still brown,
and coiled matriarchally at the
nape of her neck. The singing
master, well satisfied as he was with
Miss Lockhart, now Mrs. Lowther
and lost to the school, would glance
at Miss Brodie from under his
ginger eyebrows with shy
admiration and memories whenever
h e s a w h e r. O n e of her greatest
admirers was the new girl called Joyce
Emily Hammond who had been sent to
Blaine School as a last hope, having been
obliged to withdraw from a range of
expensive schools north and south of the
border, because of her alleged
delinquency which so far had not been
revealed, except once or twice when she
had thrown paper pellets at Mr. Lowther
and succeeded only in hurting his
feelings. She insisted on calling herself
Joyce Emily, was brought to school in
the morning by a chauffeur in a large
black car, though she was obliged to
make her own way home; she lived in a
huge house with a stables in the near
environs of Edinburgh. Joyce Emilys
parents, wealthy as they were, had
begged for a trial period to elapse before
investing in yet another set of school
uniform clothing for their daughter. So
Joyce Emily still went about in dark
green, while the rest wore deep violet,
and she boasted five sets of discarded
colours hanging in her wardrobe at home
besides such relics of governesses as a
substantial switch of hair cut off by Joyce
Emilys own hand, a post office savings
book belonging to a governess called
Miss Michie, and the charred remains of
a pillow-case upon which the head of yet
another governess called Miss Chambers
had been resting when Joyce Emily had
set fire to it.
Las nias de Brodie, que por aquel enton-
ces tenan diecisiete aos, podan separar a la
seorita Brodie como persona de la seorita
Brodie como maestra. Cuando hablaban entre
5 ellas del asunto, se vean obligadas a recono-
cer que, al fin y al cabo, y sin ninguna duda,
era una mujer verdaderamente fascinante como
tal mujer: aquellos ojos encendidos, su arro-
gante nariz arqueada, su pelo castao y reco-
10 gido matriarcalmente en la nuca. El maestro
de canto, satisfechsimo como estaba con la
seorita Lockhart, convertida ya en la seora
Lowther y perdida para la escuela, le lanzaba
miradas tmidas por debajo de sus cejas co-
15 brizas cada vez que vea a la seorita Brodie,
y aquellas miradas dejaban traslucir tanto la
admiracin que senta por ella como los re-
cuerdos que le traa. [158]
Una de las mayores admiradoras de la se-
20 orita Brodie era la nueva alumna Joyce
Emily Hammomd, que haba sido enviada a
la Escuela Blaine como ltima esperanza, al
haber sido expulsada de diversas escuelas
caras de toda Escocia a causa de sus
25 fechoras, de las que, hasta el momento, no
haba hecho gala, salvo en un par de ocasio-
nes en que le arroj bolitas de papel al seor
Lowther, con lo que slo consigui herirle
los sentimientos. Insista en que la llamaran
30 Joyce Emily, y todas las maanas llegaba a
la escuela en un gran coche negro conducido
por un chfer, aunque el camino de vuelta a
casa tena que hacerlo por su cuenta. Viva
en una casa inmensa con caballerizas en las
35 inmediaciones de Edimburgo. Los padres de
Joyce Emily, aunque ricos, haban pedido que
admitiesen a su hija durante un periodo de
prueba antes de comprarle el uniforme regla-
mentario. De modo que Joyce Emily llevaba
40 un uniforme verde oscuro, mientras que el
resto de las nias llevaba el uniforme violeta
del colegio, y presuma de tener cinco uni-
formes de distintos colores colgados del ro-
pero de su casa, junto a diversas reliquias de
45 sus institutrices, tales como un considerable
mechn de pelo cortado por la propia mano
de Joyce Emily, una cartilla de ahorros de una
caja postal que perteneci a una institutriz
llamada seorita Michie y los restos carbo-
50 nizados de una funda de almohada sobre la
que descansaba la cabeza de otra institutriz
llamada seorita Chambers cuando Joyce
Emily le prendi fuego.

The rest of the girls listened to her chatter, 55 Las dems nias escuchaban su parloteo,
but in general she was disapproved of not pero, en general, la ninguneaban no slo por
only because of her green stockings and llevar calcetines y falda de color verde, por su
skirt, her shiny car and chauffeur, but chfer y su coche radiantes, sino tambin por-
because life was already exceedingly que demasiado tenan ya ellas con prepararse
full of working for examinations and 60 para los exmenes y con las competiciones para
playing for the shield. It was the Brodie ganar el Trofeo. Era al grupo de Brodie al que
set to which Joyce Emily mostly Joyce Emily deseaba unirse con ahnco, al ad-
desired to attach herself, perceiving vertir el individualismo que reinaba en l, pero
their individualism; but they, less than [159] las nias del grupo, menos que nadie, no
anybody, wanted her. With the 65 la queran a su lado. De hecho, con la excep-

103
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

exception of Mary Macgregor, they
were, in fact, among the brightest girls
in the school, which was somewhat a
stumbling-block to Miss Mackay in her
efforts to discredit Miss Brodie.
cin de Mary Macgregor, se contaban entre las
nias ms alegres de la escuela, extremo que
acabara convirtindose en un escollo para la
seorita Mackay en sus esfuerzos por desacre-
5 ditar a la seorita Brodie.

The Brodie set, moreover, had outside
interests. Eunice had a boy friend with
whom she practised swimming and
diving. Monica Douglas and Mary
Macgregor went slum-visiting together
with bundles of groceries, although Mary
was reported to be always making
remarks like, Why dont they eat cake?
(What she actually said was, Well, why
dont they send their clothes to the
laundry? when she heard complaints of
the prohibitive price of soap.) Jenny was
already showing her dramatic talent and
was all the time rehearsing for something
in the school dramatic society. Rose
modelled for Teddy Lloyd and Sandy
occasionally joined her, and was
watchful, and sometimes toyed with the
idea of inducing Teddy Lloyd to kiss her
again just to see if it could be done by
sheer looking at him insolently with her
little eyes. In addition to these activities
the Brodie set were meeting Miss Brodie
by twos and threes, and sometimes all
together after school. It was at this time,
in nineteen-thirty-seven that she was
especially cultivating Rose, and
questioning Sandy, and being answered
as to the progress of the great love affair
presently to take place between Rose and
the art master.
Adems, el grupo de Brodie tena inte-
reses al margen de la escuela. Eunice se
haba echado un novio con el que practica-
10 ba la natacin y el submarinismo. Monica
Douglas y Mary Macgregor visitaban los
barrios bajos con fardos de comida, aun-
que a Mary se le acusaba de hacer comen-
tarios del tipo Por qu no comen tarta?
15 (Lo que deca exactamente era: Pero por
qu no envan la ropa a la lavandera?,
cuando oa quejarse a las mujeres del pre-
cio prohibitivo del jabn.) Jenny demos-
traba ya su talento dramtico y se pasaba
20 todo el tiempo ensayando con la compaa
teatral de la escuela. Rose posaba para
Teddy Lloyd, y Sandy la acompaaba du-
rante algunas sesiones, vigilante, acarician-
do alguna que otra vez la idea de inducir a
25 Teddy Lloyd a que la besara de nuevo, slo
para comprobar si era capaz de hacerlo mi-
rndole insolentemente con sus ojitos. Ade-
ms de esas actividades, las nias del gru-
po de la seorita Brodie seguan reunin-
30 dose con ella por parejas o tros, y a veces
todas juntas, despus de las clases. Fue
durante ese ao de 1937 cuando la maestra
se dedic a instruir intensivamente a Rose
y a hacerle preguntas a Sandy sobre los
35 avances de la gran aventura amorosa que
dentro de poco habran de protagonizar
Rose y el profesor de dibujo.

So that they had no time to do De modo que no tenan mucho tiempo para
much about a delinquent whose 40 dedicarlo a una delincuente aun en el caso
parents had dumped her on the de que se tratase de una delincuente slo en
school by their influence, even if teora a la que sus padres, valindose de su
she was apparently a delinquent influencia, haban logrado que admitiesen en
i n n a m e o n l y . M i s s B r o d i e , la escuela para de ese modo librarse de ella.
however, found time to take her 45 Sin embargo, la seorita Brodie encontr tiem-
u p . T h e B r o d i e g i r l s s l i g h t l y po para Joyce Emily. Aquello cre cierto [160]
r e s e n t e d t h i s b u t w e r e r e l i e v e d malestar entre las nias del grupo, aunque las
t h a t t h e y w e r e n o t o b l i g e d t o consol el hecho de que no estuviesen obliga-
share the girls company, and that das a compartir su compaa y de que la seo-
Miss Brodie took her to tea and 50 rita Brodie la invitara al teatro y a tomar el t
the theatre on her own. por separado.

One of Joyce Emilys boasts was Una de las cosas de las que alardeaba Joyce
that her brother at Oxford had gone Emily era que su hermano, que estudiaba en
to fight in the Spanish Civil War. This 55 Oxford, se haba ido a luchar a la guerra civil
dark, rather mad girl wanted to go too, espaola. Aquella nia sombra y locuela que-
and to wear a white blouse and black ra ir tambin all para poder desfilar con una
skirt and march with a gun. Nobody falda negra, una camisa blanca y una pistola al
had taken this seriously. The Spanish cinto. Nadie se tom aquello en serio. La gue-
Civil War was something going on 60 rra civil espaola era algo lejano de lo que ha-
outside in the newspapers and only blaban los peridicos y un tema que se trataba
once a month in the school debating apenas una vez al mes en el club de debates de
society. Everyone, including Joyce la escuela. Todo el mundo, incluida Joyce
Emily, was anti-Franco if they were Emily, era antifranquista, en el caso de tener
anything at all. 65 que ser algo.

104
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

One day it was realised that Joyce Dado que Joyce Emily llevaba algu-
Emily had not been at school for some nos das sin aparecer por clase, otra nia
days, and soon someone else was no tard en ocupar su pupitre. Nadie
occupying her desk. No one knew why 5 sospechaba el motivo de su ausencia,
she had left until, six weeks later, it was hasta que, al cabo de seis semanas, se
reported that she had run away to Spain les inform de que se haba escapado a
and had been killed in an accident when Espaa y de que haba muerto en un ac-
the train she was travelling in had been cidente, cuando el tren en que viajaba
attacked. The school held an abbreviated 10 fue atacado. La escuela celebr un pe-
form of remembrance service for her. queo oficio religioso en su memoria.

15
Mary had gone to be a shorthand Mary dej la escuela para convertirse en
typist and Jenny had gone to a taquimecangrafa y Jenny ingres en una aca-
school of dramatic art. Only four demia de arte dramtico. Slo cuatro compo-
remained of the Brodie set for the nentes del grupo de Brodie seguan en Marcia
last year. It was hardly like being 20 Blaine durante su ltimo curso. Aquello era
at school at all, there was so much como no estar en la escuela. Las nias de sexto
free time, so many lectures and so curso de secundaria gozaban de tanto tiempo
much library research outside the libre, asistan a tantas conferencias y tenan que
school building for the sixth-form pasar tanto tiempo fuera de la escuela para do-
girls that it was just a matter of 25 cumentarse en las bibliotecas pblicas, que se
w a l k i n g i n a n d o u t . T h e y w e r e trataba tan slo de un asunto de entrar y salir.
deferred to and consulted, and had Eran respetadas y consultadas, [161] y tenan
the feeling that they could, if they la sensacin de que, si quisiesen, podran diri-
wished, run the place. gir la escuela.
30
Eunice was to do modern languages, Eunice iba a estudiar lenguas modernas,
although she changed her mind a year aunque al ao siguiente cambi de opinin y se
later and became a nurse. Monica was hizo enfermera. Monica hall su destino en las
destined for science, Sandy for ciencias y Sandy en la psicologa. Rose esper,
psychology. Rose had hung on, not for 35 no por ninguna razn prctica, sino porque su
any functional reason, but because her padre crey conveniente que sacara el mximo
father thought she should get the best provecho de su educacin, aunque luego se
out of her education, even if she was matriculara en una escuela de arte o, en el peor
only going to the art school later on, or de los casos, se convirtiese en modelo de artis-
at the worst, become a model for artists 40 tas o de modistos. El padre de Rose representa-
or dress designers. Roses father played ba un gran papel en su vida. Era un viudo cor-
a big part in her life, he was a huge pulento, tan varonilmente guapo como
widower, as handsome in his masculine femeninamente guapa lo era Rose, y que pro-
way as was Rose in her feminine, clamaba con orgullo su oficio de zapatero, aun-
proudly professing himself a cobbler; 45 que en realidad por aquel entonces era propie-
that was to say, he now owned an tario de una importante fbrica de calzado. Unos
extensive shoe-making business. Some aos atrs, una vez en que mantuvo una reunin
years ago, on meeting Miss Brodie he con la seorita Brodie, mostr enseguida un
had immediately taken a hearty male sincero inters galante por ella, al igual que
interest in her, as so many men did, not 50 muchos otros hombres, porque no le result tan
thinking her to be ridiculous as might ridcula como se la esperaba, aunque la seori-
have been expected, but she would have ta Brodie no le hizo ningn caso al seor Stanley
none of Mr. Stanley, for he was hardly porque no era precisamente lo que ella consi-
what she would call a man of culture. deraba un hombre cultivado. Lo vea demasia-
She thought him rather carnal. The 55 do carnal. Sin embargo, a las nias siempre les
girls, however, had always guiltily liked haba gustado con un sentimiento de culpa
Roses father. And Rose, instinctive as el padre de Rose. Y Rose, instintiva sin duda
she undoubtedly was, followed her como era, obedeci el dictado de su instinto
instinct so far as to take on his hard- hasta el punto de asumir el pragmatismo y la
carnality: sensuality headed and merry carnality, and made 60 alegre carnalidad de su padre y acab haciendo
a good marriage soon after she left un buen casamiento poco despus de dejar la
school. She shook off Miss Brodies escuela. Se sacudi la influencia de la seorita
influence as a dog shakes pond-water Brodie como un perro se sacude el agua de una
from its coat. charca.
65

105
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Miss Brodie was not to know
that this would be, and meantime
Rose was inescapably famous for
sex and was much sought after
by sixth-form schoolboys and
first-year university students.
And Miss Brodie said to Sandy:
Fro m what you tell me I should think
that Rose and Teddy Lloyd will soon
be lovers. All at once Sandy realised
that this was not all theory and a kind
of Brodie game, in the way that so
much of life was unreal talk and game-
planning, like the prospects of a war
and other theories that people were
putting about in the air like pigeons,
and one said, Yes, of course, its
inevitable. But this was not theory,
Miss Brodie meant it. Sandy looked at
her, and perceived that the woman was
obsessed by the need for Rose to sleep
with the man she herself was in love
with; there was nothing new in the idea,
it was the reality that was new. She
thought of Miss Brodie eight years ago
sitting under the elm tree telling her first
simple love story and wondered to what
extent it was Miss Brodie who had
developed complications throughout
the years, and to what extent it was her
own conception of Miss Brodie that had
changed.
La seorita Brodie no poda imaginarse que
eso era lo que iba ocurrir. Mientras tanto, Rose
se haca ineludiblemente famosa por su aura de
sexualidad y era perseguida por los chicos de
5 sexto curso de secundaria y por los estudiantes
de primero de carrera. La seorita Brodie le
coment a Sandy: [162]
Por lo que me dices, deduzco que Rose y
Teddy Lloyd se convertirn en amantes muy
10 pronto: De repente, Sandy se dio cuenta de que
aquello no era una suposicin terica ni uno de
los juegos propios de la seorita Brodie, en el
sentido en que muchos aspectos de la vida eran
pura palabrera y un mero juego de posibilida-
15 des, como por ejemplo el prximo estallido de
una guerra y otras conjeturas que la gente echa-
ba a volar como si fuesen palomas. Alguien
deca: S, por supuesto, es algo inevitable.
Pero aquello no era una suposicin: la seorita
20 Brodie lo deca en serio. Sandy la mir y se dio
cuenta de que aquella mujer estaba obsesiona-
da por que Rose se acostase con el hombre del
que ella estaba enamorada. La idea no era nue-
va, pero la realidad s. Se acordaba de aquella
25 seorita Brodie que, ocho aos atrs, se senta-
ba debajo del olmo y les contaba su primera y
sencilla historia de amor, y se preguntaba hasta
qu punto era la seorita Brodie la que haba
ido hacindose ms enrevesada con el paso del
30 tiempo y hasta qu punto era su propio con-
cepto de la seorita Brodie lo que haba cam-
biado.

During the year past Sandy had
continued seeing the Lloyds. She went
shopping with Deirdre Lloyd and got
herself a folkweave skirt like Deirdres.
She listened to their conversation, at the
same time calculating their souls by
signs and symbols, as was the habit in
those days of young persons who had
read books of psychology when
listening to older persons who had not.
Sometimes, on days when Rose was
required to pose naked, Sandy sat with
the painter and his model in the studio,
silently watching the strange mutations
of the flesh on the canvas as they
represented an anonymous nude figure,
and at the same time resembled Rose,
and more than this, resembled Miss
Brodie. Sandy had become highly
interested in the painters mind, so
involved with Miss Brodie as it was, and
not accounting her ridiculous.
A lo largo de aquel ao, Sandy continu
35 visitando a los Lloyd. Iba de compras con
Deirdre e incluso lleg a comprarse una fal-
da campesina como las que llevaba ella. Escu-
chaba con atencin las conversaciones que
mantena la pareja y, al mismo tiempo, juz-
40 gaba sus almas segn las seales y los sm-
bolos que perciba, como acostumbraban a
hacer en aquellos tiempos los jvenes que
haban ledo libros de psicologa cuando oan
hablar a los mayores, que no saban nada de
45 tales libros. A veces, cuando Rose tena que
posar desnuda, Sandy se sentaba junto al pin-
tor en el estudio y observaba en silencio las
extraas mutaciones que iba sufriendo aque-
lla carnalidad en el lienzo: era un desnudo
50 annimo, pero al mismo tiempo tena pareci-
do con Rose y, an ms, con la seorita
Brodie. Sandy estaba muy intrigada por la
mente de [163] aquel pintor, tan obsesiona-
do por la seorita Brodie, que no se percata-
55 ba de la ridiculez de la maestra.

From what you tell me I should Por lo que me dices, deduzco que Rose y
think that Rose and Teddy Lloyd will Teddy Lloyd se convertirn en amantes muy
soon be lovers. Sandy realised that pronto. Sandy se dio cuenta de que la seorita
Miss Brodie meant it. She had told 60 Brodie lo deca en serio. Le coment a su an-
Miss Brodie how peculiarly all his tigua maestra que, curiosamente, todos los re-
portraits reflected her. She had said so tratos que pintaba guardaban parecido con ella.
again and again, for Miss Brodie loved Se lo haba repetido una y otra vez, porque a la
to hear it. She had said that Teddy seorita Brodie le encantaba orlo. Le cont que
Lloyd wanted to give up teaching and 65 Teddy Lloyd quera dejar la enseanza y que

106
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

was preparing an exhibition, and was
encouraged in this course by art critics
and discouraged by the thought of his
large family.
5
I am his Muse, said Miss Brodie.
But I have renounced his love in order
to dedicate my prime to the young girls
in my care. I am his Muse but Rose shall
take my place. 10
estaba preparando una exposicin. Tambin le
dijo que estaba muy alentado por los crticos
de arte, aunque se desalentaba cada vez que pen-
saba en su familia numerosa.
Soy su Musa dijo la seorita Brodie
. Pero he renunciado a su amor para dedicar la
plenitud de mi vida a las jovencitas que tengo a
mi cargo. Soy su Musa, pero Rose ocupar mi
lugar.

She thinks she is Providence, thought Se cree que es la Divina Providen-

Sandy, she thinks she is the God of cia; pens Sandy; se cree que es el Dios
Calvin, she sees the beginning and the de Calvino, que ve el principio y el fin.
end. And Sandy thought, too, the woman 15 Y tambin pens que esa mujer era les-
is an unconscious Lesbian. And many biana sin saberlo. Muchas teoras sacadas
theories from the books of psychology de los libros de psicologa tipificaban a
categorised Miss Brodie, but failed to la seorita Brodie, pero no lograban bo-
obliterate her image from the canvases rrar su imagen de los lienzos que pintaba
of one-armed Teddy Lloyd. 20 el manco Teddy Lloyd.

When she was a nun, sooner or Cuando se meti a monja, sus antiguas com-
later one and the other of the Brodie paeras del grupo de Brodie fueron a visitarla
set came to visit Sandy, because it was antes o despus, porque aquella visita la inter-
something to do, and she had written 25 pretaban como una obligacin y tambin por-
her book of psychology, and everyone que haba escrito el libro de psicologa. Aparte
likes to visit a nun, it provides a de eso, a todo el mundo le gusta visitar a una
spiritual sensation, a catharsis to go monja: proporciona una dosis de espiritualidad,
home with, especially if the nun una catarsis que luego puedes llevarte a casa,
clutches the bars of the grille. Rose 30 sobre todo si la monja se agarra a los barrotes
came, now long since married to a de la verja. Rose, casada haca ya mucho tiem-
successful business man who varied po con un prspero hombre de negocios des-
in his line of business from canned de las conservas enlatadas hasta la banca mer-
goods to merchant banking. They fell cantil, fue una vez a visitarla. La conversa-
to talking about Miss Brodie. 35 cin deriv hacia la seorita Brodie. [164]

She talked a lot about Nos hablaba mucho de la dedica-

dedication, said Rose, but she cin le coment Rose, pero no se re-
didnt mean your sort of dedication. fera a esta clase de dedicacin. No crees
But dont you think she was dedicated 40 que, en cierto sentido, estaba del todo
to her girls in a way ? dedicada a sus nias?

Oh yes, I think she was, Oh, desde luego. Creo que lo estaba
s a i d S a n d y. le contest Sandy.
45
Why did she get the push? said Por qu la echaron? Fue por cuestio-
Rose. Was it sex? nes sexuales? le pregunt Rose.

No, politics. No, fue por cuestiones polticas.

50
I didnt know she bothered about No saba que le interesara la
politics. poltica.

It was only a side line, Sandy said, Slo fue algo secundario, pero sirvi
but it served as an excuse. 55 de excusa le inform Sandy.

Monica Douglas came to visit Sandy Monica Douglas visit a Sandy porque es-
because there was a crisis in her life. She taba pasando por una crisis. Se haba casado
had married a scientist and in one of her con un cientfico y, en uno de sus arrebatos de
fits of anger had thrown a live coal at his 60 clera, le arroj a su cuada un tronco ar-
sister. Whereupon the scientist demanded diendo. Despus de aquello, el cientfico le
a separation, once and for all. pidi la separacin definitiva.

Im not much good at that sort No soy experta en esa clase de proble-
of problem, said Sandy. But Monica 65 mas le confes Sandy. Pero Monica no espe-

107
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

had not thought she would be able
to help much, for she knew Sandy of
old, and persons known of old can
never be of much help. So they fell
to talking of Miss Brodie.
raba que le resultase de gran ayuda, porque co-
noca a Sandy desde haca tiempo y las personas
que se conocen desde antiguo jams pueden
servirnos de mucha ayuda. De modo que aca-
5 baron hablando de la seorita Brodie.

Did she ever get Rose to sleep with Lleg a conseguir que Rose se acostara
Teddy Lloyd? said Monica. con Teddy Lloyd? le pregunt Monica.

No, said Sandy. 10 No le contest Sandy.

Was she in love with Teddy Lloyd Estaba de verdad tan enamorada de
herself? Teddy Lloyd?

renunciation: the act of giving up or disowning.
Miss Brodie deliberately uses religious
terminology to describe the ending of her
relationship with Teddy Lloyd
Yes, said Sandy, and he was in love with her. 15 S, y l lo estaba de ella.
Then it was a real renunciation in a Entonces, en cierto sentido, se trat de
way, said Monica. una renuncia real dijo Monica.
Yes, it was, said Sandy. After all, 20 As fue. Despus de todo, era una mujer
she was a woman in her prime. en su plenitud.

You used to think her talk about Antes creas que cuando hablaba de la re-
renunciation was a joke, said Monica. nuncia lo deca en broma le achac Monica.
25
So did you, said Sandy. Y t tambin. [165]

In the summer of nineteen-thirty- En el verano de 1938, despus de que el

eight, after the last of the Brodie set had ltimo miembro del grupo de Brodie hubiese
left Blaine, Miss Brodie went to Germany 30 dejado Blaine, la antigua maestra se fue a Ale-
and Austria, while Sandy read mania y a Austria. Sandy segua leyendo li-
psychology and went to the Lloyds to bros de psicologa y se pasaba por la casa de
sit for her own portrait. Rose came and los Lloyd para posar. De vez en cuando, Rose
kept them company occasionally. iba por all y les haca compaa.
35
When Deirdre Lloyd took the children Cuando Deirdre se fue al campo con
into the country Teddy had to stay on in los nios, Teddy tuvo que quedarse en
Edinburgh because he was giving a Edimburgo porque estaba impartiendo
summer course at the art school. Sandy un curso de verano en una escuela de
continued to sit for her portrait twice a 40 arte. Dos veces por semana, Sandy iba
week, and sometimes Rose came and a posar y, a veces, apareca Rose por
sometimes not. el estudio.

One day when they were alone, Sandy Un da en que los dos estaban solos,
told Teddy Lloyd that all his portraits, 45 Sandy le dijo a Teddy Lloyd que todos los
even that of the littlest Lloyd baby, were rostros que pintaba, incluso el del ms pe-
now turning out to be likenesses of Miss queo de sus hijos, se iban pareciendo cada
Brodie, and she gave him her insolent vez ms al de la seorita Brodie, y le dedic
blackmailing stare. He kissed her as he una de sus insolentes miradas chantajistas.
had done three years before when she was 50 l la bes, como ya hiciera tres aos atrs,
fifteen, and for the best part of five weeks cuando ella tena quince, y durante cinco se-
of the summer they had a love affair in manas de aquel verano mantuvieron una
the empty house, only sometimes aventura amorosa en la casa vaca. Slo con-
answering the door to Rose, but at other testaban al timbre si era Rose, y no siempre.
times letting the bell scream on. 55 Las dems veces lo dejaban sonar.

During that time he painted a little, and she Durante aquel periodo, pint poco y Sandy le dijo:
said: You are still making me look like Jean An me sacas parecido con la seorita Brodie.
Brodie. S o h e s t a r t e d a n e w De modo que empez a pintar otro
c a n v a s , b u t i t w a s t h e s a m e 60 retrato, pero volvi a suceder lo mis-
again. mo.
Sandy le pregunt:
She said: Why are you obsessed with Por qu sigues obsesionado con
that woman? Cant you see shes esa mujer? No te das cuenta de que es
ridiculous? 65 ridcula?

108
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

He said, yes, he could see Jean l le contest que s, que se daba cuenta de
Brodie was ridiculous. He said, que Jean Brodie era ridcula, y le pidi con
would she kindly stop analysing mucha amabilidad que dejara de analizar su
his mind, it was unnatural in a 5 mente, porque aquello no era propio de una
girl of eighteen. muchacha de dieciocho aos.

Miss Brodie telephoned for Sandy to
come to see her early in September. She
had returned from Germany and Austria
which w e r e n o w m a g n i f i c e n t l y
organised. After the war Miss
Brodie admitted to Sandy, as they
sat in the Braid Hills Hotel, Hitler
was rather naughty, but at this time
she was full of her travels and quite
sure the new regime would save the
world. Sandy was bored, it did not
seem necessary that the world
should be saved, only that the poor
people in the streets and slums of
Edinburgh should be relieved. Miss
Brodie said there would be no war. Sandy
never had thought so, anyway. Miss
Brodie came to the point: Rose tells me
you have become his lover.
La seorita Brodie telefone a Sandy para que
fuese a verla a principios de septiembre. Haba
10 regresado de Alemania y de Austria, pases que
estaban magnficamente organizados. [166]
Despus de la guerra, la seorita Brodie
le confes a Sandy, cuando se vieron en el
hotel Braid Hills: Hitler se port muy mal.
15 Pero en aquel momento se mostraba
pletrica, hablando de sus viajes, y
segursima de que el nuevo rgimen salva-
ra el mundo. Aquello aburra a Sandy, que
no crea que hubiese necesidad de salvar el
20 mundo, sino slo que la pobre gente de los
barrios bajos de Edimburgo fuese socorri-
da. La antigua maestra le dijo que no habra
guerra. De todas formas, Sandy tampoco lo
crea. La seorita Brodie fue al grano:
25 Rose me ha dicho que te has converti-
do en la amante de Teddy Lloyd.

Yes, does it matter which one of us it is? S, importa cul de las dos lo sea?

Whatever possessed you? said 30 Cmo se te ocurri tal cosa? le pre-

Miss Brodie in a very Scottish way, as gunt la seorita Brodie con una irritacin ca-
if Sandy had given away a pound of ractersticamente escocesa, como si Sandy le
marmalade to an English duke. hubiese regalado un bote de mermelada a un
duque ingls.
He interests me, said Sandy. 35
Me interesa le respondi Sandy.
Interests you, forsooth, said
Miss Brodie. A girl with a mind, a Caramba! Te interesadijo la seorita
girl with insight. He is a Roman Brodie. Una chica con espritu, una chica con
Catholic and I dont see how you can 40 perspicacia... l es catlico y no s qu tienes
have to do with a man who cant think t que ver con un hombre que no puede pensar
for himself. Rose was suitable. Rose por s mismo. Rose era la adecuada. Rose tiene
has instinct but no insight. instinto, pero no perspicacia:

Te d d y Lloyd c o n t i n u e d 45 Teddy Lloyd sigui reproduciendo a Jean

r e p r o d u c i n g J e a n B r o d i e i n h i s Brodie en sus cuadros.
p a i n t i n g s . Yo u h a v e i n s t i n c t , Tienes instinto le dijo Sandy, pero
Sandy told him, but no insight, or no perspicacia, de lo contrario te daras cuen-
you would see that the woman isnt to ta de que a esa mujer no hay que tomrsela
be taken seriously. 50 en serio.

I k n o w s h e i s n t , h e s a i d . S que no hay que tomrsela en serio

Yo u a r e t o o a n a l y t i c a l a n d le dijo l. Resultas demasiado analtica e iras-
irritable for your age. cible para tu edad.
55
The family had returned and their La familia regres y sus encuentros se
meetings were dangerous and exciting. volvieron peligrosos, pero excitantes. Cuan-
The more she discovered him to be still to ms descubra que Teddy Lloyd segua
in love with Jean Brodie, the more she enamorado de Jean Brodie, mayor curiosidad
was curious about the mind that loved 60 senta por la mente que amaba a aquella mu-
the woman. By the end of the year it jer. Al final de aquel ao, perdi todo inters
happened that she had quite lost interest por el hombre en s y se centr en [167]su
in the man himself, but was deeply mente, de la que, entre otras cosas, extrajo
absorbed in his mind, from which she su religin, del mismo modo que se extrae la
extracted, among other things, his 65 pulpa de una fruta. La mente de Sandy se

109

slump 1 (de la economa) profunda
depresin 2 (en las ventas) bajn
verbo intransitivo 1 (las ventas) caer
en picado (los precios) desplomarse 2
(los nimos, la economa) decaer 3
(una persona) caer, desplomarse: she
slumped to the ground, se desplom en
el suelo
Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero
religion as a pith from a husk. Her mind colm de la religin de Teddy Lloyd en la
was as full of his religion as a night sky misma medida en que el cielo nocturno est
is full of things visible and invisible. She colmado de cosas visibles e invisibles. Se
left the man and took his religion and olvid del hombre y se apoder de su reli-
became a nun in the course of time. 5 gin. Al cabo de los aos, se hizo monja.
But that autumn, while she was Pero aquel otoo de 1938, mientras segua
still probing the mind that invented investigando la mente que inventaba a la seo-
Miss Brodie on canvas after canvas, rita Brodie lienzo tras lienzo, Sandy se encon-
Sandy met Miss Brodie several times. 10 tr con ella algunas veces. Al principio, la maes-
She was at first merely resigned to tra estaba simplemente resignada ante la rela-
Sandys liaison with the art master. cin que Sandy mantena con el profesor de
Presently she was exultant, and dibujo. Poco despus, se mostr exultante y
presently again enquired for details, enseguida empez a pedirle que le diera deta-
which she did not get. 15 lles, cosa que no consigui.
His portraits still Los retratos que pinta siguen
resemble me? said Miss parecindoseme? le pregunt la seorita
Brodie. Brodie.
20
Yes, very much, said Sandy. S, mucho le contest Sandy.
Then all is well, said Miss Brodie. Entonces todo va bien dijo la seorita
And after all, Sandy, she said, you Brodie. Al fin y al cabo, Sandy, ests desti-
are destined to be the great lover, 25 nada a ser la gran amante, aunque jams lo hu-
although I would not have thought it. biera imaginado. La realidad es ms extraa que
Truth is stranger than fiction. I wanted la ficcin. Quera a Rose para l, tengo que
Rose for him, I admit, and sometimes I admitirlo, y a veces me he arrepentido de haber
regretted urging young Joyce Emily to alentado a la joven Joyce Emily para que fuese
go to Spain to fight for Franco, she 30 a Espaa a luchar en las filas de Franco. Podra
would have done admirably for him, a haber sido una amante idnea para Teddy. Una
girl of instinct, a chica de instinto, una...
Did she go to fight for Franco? Se fue a luchar en el bando de Franco?,
said Sandy. 35 le pregunt Sandy.
That was the intention. I made her Esa era su intencin. Hice que entrase
see sense. However, she didnt have the en razn. Sin embargo, no tuvo oportunidad de
chance to fight at all, poor girl. luchar. Pobre nia.
40
When Sandy returned, as was C u a n d o a q u e l o t o o S a n d y, s e g n
expected of her, to see Miss Mackay that e r a d e e s p e r a r, f u e a v i s i t a r a l a s e -
autumn, the headmistress said to this o r i t a M a c k a y, l a d i r e c t o r a l e d i j o a
rather difficult old girl with the a q u e l l a d i f i c i l s i m a a n t i g u a a l u m n a
abnormally small eyes, Youll have 45 d e o j o s a n o r m a l m e n t e p e q u e o s :
been seeing something of Miss Brodie, Me imagino que habrs visto a la seo-
I hope. You arent forgetting your old rita Brodie alguna que otra vez. Espero que
friends, I hope. no te olvides de tus viejas amigas.
Ive seen her once or twice, said 50 La he visto una o dos veces le con-
Sandy. firm Sandy. [168]
Im afraid she put ideas into your Me temo que os meti ideas raras en vues-
young heads, said Miss Mackay with a tras jvenes cabezas sugiri la seorita Mackay
knowing twinkle, which meant that now 55 con su habitual malicia, dando a entender que,
Sandy had left school it would be all right ahora que Sandy haba dejado la escuela, resul-
to talk openly about Miss Brodies tara conveniente hablar sin tapujos de los teje-
goings-on. manejes de la seorita Brodie.
Yes, lots of ideas, Sandy said. 60 S, muchas ideas.
I wish I knew what some of Ojal conociese algunas de ellas dijo
t h e m w e r e , s a i d M i s s M a c k a y, la seorita Mackay, a quien se la vea algo
slumping a little and genuinely desmoralizada y bastante inquieta. Por-
worried. Because it is still going on, I 65 que es algo que sigue ocurriendo. Quiero
110
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

mean class after class, and now she has decir que sigue ocurriendo curso tras curso.
formed a new set, and they are so out Ahora ha formado un grupo nuevo, y des-
of key with the rest of the school, Miss entonan con el resto de la escuela. El grupo
Brodies set. They are precocious. Do de la seorita Brodie. Son nias precoces.
you know what I mean? 5 Sabes a qu me refiero?

Yes, said Sandy. But you wont be
able to pin her down on sex. Have you
thought of politics?
10
Miss Mackay turned her chair so that
it was nearly square with Sandys. This
was business.
S le contest Sandy. Pero no po-
dr atraparla por motivos sexuales. No ha pen-
sado en la poltica?
La seorita Mackay gir la silla para po-
nerla casi en ngulo recto con la de Sandy. Se
trataba de negocios.

My dear, she said, what do you 15 Querida, a qu te refie-

mean? I didnt know she was attracted r e s ? N o s a b a q u e l e i n t e r e s a -
by politics. se la poltica.

Neither she is, said Sandy, except No le interesa le dijo Sandy, salvo
as a side interest. Shes a born Fascist, 20 como factor secundario. Es una fascista innata.
have you thought of that? No ha considerado ese aspecto?

I shall question her pupils on those Ta n t e a r a s u s a l u m n a s p o r

lines and see what emerges, if that is what a h y v e r q u s a l e , s i e s o e s l o q u e
you advise, Sandy. I had no idea you felt 25 m e a c o n s e j a s , S a n d y. N o t e n a n i
so seriously about the state of world i d e a d e q u e t e a f e c t a s e t a n s e r i a -
affairs, Sandy, and Im more than m e n t e l a s i t u a c i n m u n d i a l . N o s a -
delighted bes cunto me alegra...

Im not really interested in world 30 En realidad, no me interesan los asun-

affairs, said Sandy, only in putting a tos del mundo, slo quiero acabar con la se-
stop to Miss Brodie. orita Brodie le confes Sandy.

It was clear the headmistress thought Estaba claro que la directora pens que se tra-
this rather unpleasant of Sandy. But she 35 taba de una contestacin de lo ms desagradable
did not fail to say to Miss Brodie, when en boca de Sandy. Pero, cuando lleg el momento
the time came, It was one of your own de hablar con la seorita Brodie, no la delat:
girls who gave me the tip, one of your Fue una de sus nias quien me aconse-
set, Miss Brodie. j. Una de su grupo, seorita Brodie. [169]
40
Sandy was to leave Edinburgh at the Sandy tuvo que marcharse de Edimburgo
end of the year and when she said a finales de ao. Cuando fue a casa de los
goodbye to the Lloyds she looked round Lloyd para despedirse, ech un vistazo alre-
the studio at the canvases on which she dedor del estudio y se fij en aquellos lien-
had failed to put a stop to Miss Brodie. 45 zos en los que no haba logrado borrar el ras-
She congratulated Teddy Lloyd on the tro de la seorita Brodie. Felicit a Teddy
economy of his method. He Lloyd por la simpleza de su mtodo. l la
congratulated her on the economy of felicit por la suya, y Deirdre intent desci-
hers, and Deirdre looked to see whatever frar qu significaba aquello. Sandy pens: Si
did he mean? Sandy thought, if he knew 50 l supiese que he sido yo la que le he parado
about my stopping of Miss Brodie, he los pies a la seorita Brodie, an me consi-
would think me more economical still. derara ms simple: En aquel momento es-
She was more fuming, now, with taba ms furiosa con la moral catlica que el
Christian morals, than John Knox. propio reformista John Knox.
55
Miss Brodie was forced to retire at La seorita Brodie se vio forzada a dimi-
the end of the summer term of nineteen- tir al final del ltimo trimestre de 1939, acu-
thirty-nine, on the grounds that she had sada de haber estado fomentando el fascismo
been teaching Fascism. Sandy, when she en clase. Cuando Sandy se enter, se acord
heard of it, thought of the marching 60 de las fotografas que haba en una de las pa-
troops of black shirts in the pictures on redes del aula y que reproducan el desfile de
the wall. By now she had entered the los camisas negras. Para entonces ya se haba
Catholic Church, in whose ranks she had convertido al catolicismo, en cuyas filas se
found quite a number of Fascists much top con bastantes fascistas mucho menos
less agreeable than Miss Brodie. 65 agradables que la seorita Brodie.

111
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

Of course, said Miss Brodie when Desde luego, segn rezaba la carta que
she wrote to tell Sandy the news of her la seorita Brodie le escribi a Sandy para dar-
retirement, this political question was le a conocer los detalles de su jubilacin forzo-
only an excuse. They tried to prove 5 sa, la cuestin poltica slo fue una excusa.
personal immorality against me on many En muchas ocasiones intentaron acusarme por
occasions and failed. My girls were inmoralidad, pero no lo lograron. Mis nias
always reticent on these matters. It was siempre fueron muy reservadas en esos asun-
my educational policy they were up tos. En realidad, iban en contra de mi poltica
against which had reached its perfection 10 educativa, que haba alcanzado su perfeccin
in my prime. I was dedicated to my girls, durante mi plenitud. Como sabes, siempre es-
as you know. But they used this political tuve dedicada a mis nias. Pero utilizaron la
excuse as a weapon. What hurts and excusa poltica como arma. Lo que ms me
amazes me most of all is the fact, if Miss duele y me asombra de todo es el hecho de que,
Mackay is to be believed, that it was one 15 si hay que creer a la seorita Mackay, fue una
of my own set who betrayed me and put nia de mi propio grupo la que me traicion y
the enquiry in motion. la que desencaden la investigacin.

You will be astonished. I can Estars asombrada. Puedo hablarte de esto

Fay Compton: English actress (1894-1978) who
began her career as a music-hall artiste but later
graduated to stage, film and television. During
the 1920s and 1930s she was particularly well
known for her interpretation of Shakespearean
roles
write to you of this, because you of
all my set are exempt from
suspicion, you had no reason to
betray me. I think first of Mary
M a c g r e g o r. P e r h a p s M a r y h a s
nursed a grievance, in her stupidity
of mind, against me she is such
an exasperating young woman. I
think of Rose. It may be that Rose
resented my coming first with Mr.
L. Eunice I cannot think it could be
Eunice, but I did frequently have to
come down firmly on her commonplace
ideas. She wanted to be a Girl Guide,
you remember. She was attracted to the
Team Spirit could it be that Eunice
bore a grudge? Then there is Jenny.
Now you know Jenny, how she went off
and was never the same after she wanted
to be an actress. She became so dull. Do
you think she minded my telling her that
she would never be a Fay Compton, far
less a Sybil Thorndike? Finally, there is
Monica. I half incline to suspect Monica.
There is very little Soul behind the
mathematical brain, and it may be that,
in a fit of rage against that Beauty, Truth
and Goodness which was beyond her
grasp, she turned and betrayed me.
20 porque t, de entre todas las de mi grupo, ests
libre de sospecha. No tenas [170] motivo al-
guno para traicionarme. Mi primera candidata
es Mary Macgregor. Quiz Mary ha alimenta-
do algn motivo de queja en esa estpida men-
25 te suya para ponerse en mi contra. Es una mu-
chacha que me saca de quicio. Luego estara
Rose. Puede que a Rose le molestara que yo
siempre estuviese por delante de ella en las pre-
ferencias del seor L.
30 En cuanto a Eunice, no creo que fuese ella,
aunque con frecuencia tuve que reprenderla
duramente por sus ideas vulgares. Quera in-
gresar en las exploradoras, te acuerdas? Se
senta atrada por el Espritu de Equipo. Es
35 posible que Eunice me guarde rencor? Despus
est Jenny. Ya conoces a Jenny, cmo se ech a
perder y nunca volvi a ser la misma cuando
decidi hacerse actriz. Se convirti en una per-
sona tan aburrida... Crees que le molest que
40 le dijera que nunca llegara a ser una Fay
Compton, y mucho menos una Sybil Thorndike?
Por ltimo, est Monica. Casi me inclino a sos-
pechar de ella. Detrs de una mente matemti-
ca siempre hay muy poca cantidad de Alma, y
45 puede ser que, en un arrebato de clera contra
aquella Belleza, Verdad y Bondad que estaban
ms all de su alcance, le diese un vuelco la
cabeza y me traicionara.

You, Sandy, as you see, I exempt from 50 Sandy, como puedes ver, ests libre de
suspicion, since you had no reason sospecha, ya que no tenas ningn motivo para
whatsoever to betray me, indeed you have traicionarme. De hecho, has sido la principal
had the best part of me in my confidences depositaria de mis confidencias y quien ha dis-
and in the man I love. Think, if you can, frutado del hombre al que amo. Si puedes, in-
who it could have been. I must know 55 tenta pensar quin ha podido ser. Tengo que
which one of you betrayed me... saber cul de vosotras me traicion...

Sandy replied like an enigmatic Sandy le contest como si fuese un Papa

Pope: If you did not betray us it is enigmtico: Si usted no nos traicion, es im-
impossible that you could have been 60 posible que haya sido traicionada por nosotras.
betrayed by us. The word betrayed Por cierto, el verbo traicionar no se emplea
does not apply... en...

She heard again from Miss Brodie Volvi a tener noticias de la seorita Brodie
at the time of Mary Macgregors death, 65 a la muerte de Mary Macgregor, cuando aque-

112
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

when the girl ran hither and thither in lla muchacha corra de un [171] lado a otro del
the hotel fire and was trapped by it. pasillo del hotel en llamas y qued atrapada
If this is a judgment on poor Mary entre ellas. Si se trata de un castigo a la pobre
for betraying me, I am sure I would Mary por haberme traicionado, te aseguro que
not have wished... 5 no le habra deseado tal cosa...

Im afraid, Jenny wrote, Miss Me temo; le escribi Jenny a Sandy, que

Brodie is past her prime. She keeps la seorita Brodie ya no est en su plenitud.
wanting to know who betrayed her. It Sigue queriendo saber quin la traicion. No se
isnt at all like the old Miss Brodie, she 10 parece en absoluto a la antigua seorita Brodie,
was always so full of fight. siempre tan luchadora.

Her name and memory, after her Su nombre y su recuerdo, despus de su

flit 1 move lightly, softly, or rapidly, pasar
(flitted from one room to another). 2 fly
lightly, revolotear; make short flights (flitted
from branch to branch). 3 Brit. colloq. leave
ones house etc. secretly to escape
creditors or obligations. 4 esp. Sc. &
N.Engl. change ones home; move.
revolotear: the butterflies flitted around the
flowers, las mariposas revoloteaban alre-
dedor de las flores
death, flitted from mouth to mouth muerte, revolotearon de boca en boca, como
like swallows in summer, and in winter 15 las golondrinas en verano, pero al llegar el in-
they were gone. It was always in vierno se esfumaron del todo. Siempre era en
summer time that the Brodie set came verano cuando el grupo de Brodie visitaba a
to visit Sandy, for the nunnery was Sandy, porque su convento estaba situado muy
deep in the country. al interior del pas.
20
When Jenny came to see Sandy, who Cuando Jenny fue a visitar a Sandy, que
now bore the name Sister Helena of the ya se llamaba sor Helena de la Transfigura-
Transfiguration, she told Sandy about her cin, le cont la ancdota de su repentino
sudden falling in love with a man in enamoramiento de un hombre en Roma, aun-
Rome and there being nothing to be done 25 que no pas nada entre ellos. Y le dijo:
about it. Miss Brodie would have liked A la seorita Brodie le habra
to know about it, she said, sinner as g u s t a d o s a b e r l o , t a n p e c a d o r a c o m o
she was. era.

Oh, she was quite an innocent in her 30 Oh, a su manera era bastante inocen-
way, said Sandy, clutching the bars of te, replic Sandy, agarrada a los barrotes
the grille. de la verja.

Eunice, when she came, told Sandy, Cuando Eunice fue a verla, le coment:
We were at the Edinburgh Festival last 35 El ao pasado estuvimos en el Festival
year. I found Miss Brodies grave, I de Edimburgo. Encontr la tumba de la seori-
put some flowers on it. Ive told my ta Brodie y le puse flores. Le cont a mi marido
husband all the stories about her, todas las historias sobre ella, cuando se sen-
sitting under the elm and all that; he taba bajo el olmo y todo eso. Cree que fue una
thinks she was marvellous fun. 40 persona maravillosa y divertida.

So she was, really, when you think of it. Si lo piensas, s que lo fue.

Yes, she was, said Eunice, when S, lo fue mientras goz de su plenitud
she was in her prime. 45 concluy Eunice.

Monica came again. Before Monica volvi a visitarla.

she died, she said, Miss Antes de morir le dijo, la seorita
B r o d i e t h o u g h t i t w a s y o u w h o Brodie sospechaba que fuiste t quien la trai-
b e t r a y e d h e r. 50 cion. [172]

Its only possible to betray where Slo es posible traicionar cuando existe
loyalty is due, said Sandy. una lealtad debida le dijo Sandy.

We l l , w a s n t i t d u e t o M i s s 55 S, pero no se le deba esa lealtad a la

Brodie? seorita Brodie?

Only up to a point, said Slo hasta cierto punto le contest

Sandy.
60
And there was that day when the
enquiring young man came to see
Sandy because of her strange book of
psychology, The Transfiguration of
the Commonplace, which had 65
Sandy.
Y entonces lleg el da en que acudi a vi-
sitarla un joven para hacerle unas preguntas
relacionadas con el curioso libro de psicologa
que haba publicado: La transfiguracin de los
tpicos. La aparicin de aquel libro haba ge-

113
 Sparks Brodie Silvia Barbero

brought so many visitors that Sandy nerado tal aluvin de visitantes, que Sandy se
clutched the bars of her grille more agarraba a los barrotes de la verja ms desespe-
desperately than ever. radamente que nunca.

What were the main influences of 5 Sor Helena, cules fueron las principa-
your school days, Sister Helena? Were les influencias que tuvo en sus das escolares?
they literary or political or personal? Fueron literarias, polticas o personales? O
Was it Calvinism? acaso fue el calvinismo?

S a n d y s a i d : T h e r e w a s a 10 Sandy le respondi:
Miss Jean Brodie in her Fue una seorita Jean Brodie en su
prime. plenitud. [173]

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

65

114

Summaries of THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN
BRODIE
A general summary
The novel is briefly told in some 60,000 words
and the main characters and their roles are
introduced in the opening pages. The title comes
from the belief of the main character, Miss Jean
Brodie, that having reached the age of thirty-nine
she is in the prime of her life and that it is the
good fortune of the chosen few pupils of her set
that she can share it with them.
The members of her set are: Monica Douglas
(famous mostly for mathematics which she could
do in her brain), Rose Stanley (famous for sex),
Eunice Gardner (spritely gymnastics and
glamorous swimming), Sandy Stranger (famous
for her vowel sounds), Jenny Gray (the prettiest
and most graceful girl of the set), and Mary
Macgregor (whose fame rested on her being a
silent lump). The final girl, Joyce Emily Hammond,
only joins the school in the final years although
she too is determined to get into the famous set.
The girls are also known, with religious intention,
as Miss Brodies disciples.
From the very beginning of the novel, Miss Brodie
emerges as a mass of apparent contradictions. She
tells the girls that she distrusts the Roman Catholic
church yet spends her holidays in Italy and
worships Italian church art. She kicks against the
schools team spirit and denounces middle-class
morality but she is a fervent admirer of Mussolini
and his fascists. Forever proclaiming the splendour
of passionate love, she settles for a clandestine
affair with the worthy Mr Lowther while refusing
the romantic art teacher Teddy Lloyd because he
is a married man.
She is also dogmatic. Grotto is preferred to
Leonardo da Vinci as the greatest Italian artist,
simply because she likes his work and not because
of any intrinsic artistic superiority. Mussolini is
praised without any understanding of the political
changes in Europe at that time - the 1930s. And
the girls are made to agree with their teachers
recommendations, almost as if they are Miss
Brodies surrogates and not the individuals she
would prefer them to be. As the novel progresses
the girls, however, become aware of the dichotomy
of her interests and begin to question them.
It is left to Sandy to be the agent of Miss Brodies
destruction. Gradually she becomes aware that the
girls have been forced to become an elite and that
they are little more than pale images of their
teachers dreams and aspirations. When Miss
Brodie attempts vicariously to satisfy her love for
Teddy Lloyd by encouraging Rose Stanley to sleep
with him, Sandy takes the initiative and becomes
his mistress while Miss Brodie is visiting Hitlers
Germany. vicariously at second hand. Sentir la emocin
ajena como si fuera la de uno mismo.
As a result Sandy Stranger arranges for Miss
Brodies dismissal by informing the headmistress,
the stern Miss Mackay, of Miss Brodies promotion
of fascism - especially in the case of Joyce Emily
Hammond whom she has persuaded to go to Spain
and fight for Franco in the Spanish Civil War, and
who dies there, without ever understanding the
issues.
Later in life, Sandy becomes a Roman Catholic and
as Sister Helen of the Transfiguration withdraws
from the world after writing a psychological
treatise on the nature of moral perception called
The Transformation of the Commonplace.
Significantly, when she is asked what was the main
influence on the creation of the book, Sandy
replies, There was a Miss Jean Brodie in her prime.
Detailed summaries
NOTE: The novel is divided into six separate
chapters of differing length but within each chapter
there are several sub-divisions - marked by gaps in
the text - which introduce changes of pace or
flashbacks and flashforwards in the narrative.
Sparks Brodie
Chapter 1 summary
The first chapter opens outside the Marcia Blaine
School in Edinburgh and quickly establishes the
identities of the six girls who make up Miss
Brodies set. It is quite obvious that they are
different from the other girls at the school and 5 loved another. Throughout the novel the girls,
that they are keen to accentuate those differences.
Each one of them is famous, or at least
well-known within the school for an attribute. Now
in the fourth form, they have all known each other
since their days in junior school - with the exception
of a new girl, Joyce Emily Hammond, who is
obviously very keen to join the set.
10 Shalott. While the poem is being read Sandy
The presence of the boys on their bicycles
reinforces the idea that this is a girls school with
its own rules and values. The Marcia Blaine School
caters for middle-class Edinburgh girls. Its
prevailing ethos is introduced briefly but effectively:
the founder, Marcia Blaine, has a manly portrait
below which sits a bunch of hard-wearing flowers 15 that Sandy has her own double life to stave off
and the biblical text reinforces the importance of
female virtue.
Miss Jean Brodie is introduced with broad
brushstrokes to establish her character. Not only
is she an unconventional teacher whose interests
range from Italian art to the fascists, but she is
willing, even eager, to confide in her pupils. As 20 offer of marriage even if it came from the Lord
she leaves the school and passes her group of girls
she informs them that there is a new plot to force
her to resign from her post. Having discussed the
problem Miss Brodie reminds the girls that any
attempt to oust her will fail because she is in the
prime of her life.
Her hold on the girls is reinforced by a flashback
to six years earlier when she taught them in the
junior school. Taking the lesson outside beneath a
big elm tree she turns the lesson to her own
experience of love and war. She tells them the story
of her lost fiance, Hugh, who was killed during
the First World War, one week before the Armistice
of November 1918.
The sentimental story of their doomed love is
bound in with the story of the Battle of Flodden,
one of the great tragedies in Scottish history and
it has an emotional effect on the girls. At no point
does Miss Brodie attempt to explain the reasons
for the First World War or the harsh reality of the 35 During a walk with Miss Brodie the girls are taken
fighting on the western front. She is simply playing
on their emotions. As Rose Stanley begins to weep,
Miss Mackay the headmistress appears and asks
what is wrong. The girls show their loyalty to Miss
Brodie by agreeing with her explanation that she
was giving them a history lesson.
The chapter ends with the hapless and stupid Mary 40
Macgregor getting into trouble for not paying
attention. When she is asked what is golden,
instead of correctly answering silence, she listens
to Sandys malicious whisper and answers the
falling leaves.
to be privy to tener conocimiento de
Chapter 2
A flashforward shows that Mary Macgregor has
always been the outsider in the group, the girl who
was never privy to all of Miss Brodies secrets.
During the Second World War, while serving in
the Womens Royal Naval Service she dies in a hotel 55 Towards the end of the walk Miss Brodie tells the
fire in Cumberland, still ignorant of all that has
happened before in her life. The moment of the
flashforward occurs when Mary is accused of
spilling ink on the classroom floor.
At this stage in their lives, at the age of ten, the
girls are told by Miss Brodie that the best is still to
come, that they are going to be the creme de la 60 she refuses, pleading that she has a cold. The sight
creme. Sandy and Jenny ponder their futures and
consider the matter of sex. Jenny tells Sandy that
sexual intercourse happens on the spur of the
moment - her information comes from the
experience of one of her fathers female employees
who has become pregnant. The realistic Sandy
responds that, surely, the urge would have passed 65
by the time they had removed their clothes.
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During a birthday tea party at Sandys house they
set to work on The Mountain Eyrie, an imaginary
story about Miss Brodies dead lover Hugh
Carruthers. In their version Hugh has not been
killed in the war but returns to find that Miss Brodie
Sandy and Jenny in particular, are fascinated by
Miss Brodies sexual relationships.
Sandys imagination also comes to the fore in Miss
Brodies classes, especially when she is reading
poetry - an activity that allows her to pretend to
converse with characters such as the Lady of
imagines herself asking the Lady of Shalott how
her name came to be written on the prow of the
boat which took her to Shalott. Or, during a walk,
she is able to summon up Alan Breck Stewart, the
romantic hero of Robert Louis Stevensons novel,
Kidnapped. This introduces the reader to the fact
boredom.
The chapter introduces Mr Lowther, the schools
singing teacher who is Miss Brodies lover -
although at this stage the information remains
unrevealed. To the girls she says that they alone
are her vocation and that she would refuse any
Lyon King-of-Arms, Scotlands principal heraldic
officer.
There is also Miss Lockhart, the vivacious science
teacher who gives the girls a glimpse beyond the
world of Miss Brodies interest in the liberal arts.
25 When her pupils show signs of being fascinated
by science, Miss Brodie reminds them that art is
greater than science.
By the end of 1931, their first year with Miss
Brodie, the girls in her set have been chosen and,
in turn, she rewards them with confidential
information about her position in the school and
30 the threats she faces from the headmistress. In a
flashforward to later life Eunice, now married to a
doctor, tells her husband about Miss Brodie. When
they next visit Edinburgh, she says, she wants to
put flowers on her grave. She makes it clear that
Miss Brodie had a strong effect on her upbringing.
from the middleclass New Town into the area of
the Old Town, the old medieval quarter of
Edinburgh which was in a state of advanced decay
and poverty in the 1930s. Once again Sandy shows
a malicious side to her nature when she refuses to
take Mary Macgregors hand and retreats into her
world of make-believe with Alan Breck Stewart.
When they see a group of unemployed men, Miss
Brodie makes the absurd contention that the
problem has been solved in Italy. For Sandy,
brought up in a polite suburb, it is like entering a
foreign country and she and the other girls look at
the poor as if they are strangers. In a flashforward
45 to the time when she has become a nun and famous
theological author, Sandy is visited by a male
scholar who was also educated in Edinburgh. As a
boy he was delighted by the citys varied
architecture, but Sandy can only remember the
slums in the Canongate. For both of them
Edinburgh was two different cities.
50 Like the divided city, Miss Brodie is also full of
contradictions. Some become apparent during the
walk-she abhors the team spirit of the Girl Guides,
for instance, but keeps her girls well disciplined.
For Sandy this provides a flash of insight: the
Brodie set was Miss Brodies fascisti.
girls that she is in disagreement with the
headmistress about her methods of instruction but
that she is determined to stick to them. As with
most of Miss Brodies discourses she expects full
agreement from her girls. Once again Sandy
retreats into her world of make-believe and when
Miss Brodie invites the girls to come to her flat
of the unemployed in the poverty-stricken Old
Town and the slow revelation of her feelings about
Miss Brodie have thoroughly unsettled her -
although as soon as she gets home she regrets the
decision.

Chapter 3
The chapter opens in 1931, the last year which
Miss Brodies set will spend with her in the junior
school. The narrator reminds the reader that Miss
Brodie was not alone in feeling that she was a
spinster in her prime. Many other women in
Edinburgh enjoyed the same intellectual curiosity
about modern life: the loss of so many young men
during the First World War was one of the reasons
why they remained unmarried.
At the beginning of their opening lesson Miss
Brodie tells them about her summer holiday in Italy
and of her admiration for Mussolini and his fascist
followers. She also reminds them that she is in her
prime - this device is used throughout the novel
to reinforce Miss Brodies personality. However,
Miss Mackay returns the girls to reality by
reminding them that they must study hard for their
qualifying examination for the senior school.
It is also clear that Miss Brodies behaviour has
roused the antagonism of her colleagues - with
the exception of Gordon Lowther, the singing
master, and Teddy Lloyd, the married art teacher,
who both compete for her attention. During an
art appreciation lesson the girls are overcome with
giggles by Lloyds treatment of the curves of the
female figure in Botticellis Primavera.
Their sexual awakening is increased by speculation
over Miss Brodies relationship with both men and
over the vexed question of whether or not Monica
Douglas saw Mr Lloyd kissing Miss Brodie. In a
flashforward, Miss Brodie tells Sandy that she was
indeed in love with Teddy Lloyd but renounced
him because he was a married man and a Catholic.
During Miss Brodies and Mr Lowthers absence
from school - an incident which causes much
comment amongst the staff-Sandy and Jenny
speculate about the possibility of a sexual
relationship between the two teachers. Even the
sight of the sewing-machines shuttle going up and
down has sexual connotations and the girls engage
in much heated consideration about their teachers
sexual life. While Miss Brodie is absent they are
taught by Miss Gaunt, an elderly spinster who
makes them work hard. There is a striking contrast
between her and Miss Brodies methods: whereas
Miss Brodie enjoys reading poetry to her pupils,
Miss Gaunt punishes Rose by making her write
out a hundred lines from Scotts poem, Marmion.
Once again, Sandy takes refuge in her fantasy life,
this time pretending that she is in conversation
with Mr Rochester from Charlotte Brontes novel,
Jane Eyre.
As this is the last year before the girls proceed to
the secondary school they are interviewed
individually by Miss Mackay, the headmistress.
Ostensibly this is to enable them to discuss which
subjects they will study, but Miss Mackay uses the
opportunity to question them about Miss Brodies
teaching methods of which she obviously
disapproves. An instance is the visit to the theatre
to see Pavlova dancing Swan Lake. Miss Brodie
tells her girls that they must grow up to be
dedicated women, just as she has dedicated herself
to them.
When Miss Brodie tells the girls that Pavlova
insisted on the highest standards, whatever the cost,
Sandy imagines a conversation with the great
ballerina. During the course of this, Pavlova sounds
like Miss Brodie and this leads to an important
fiashforward. In later life, when she is dying in a
nursing home, Miss Brodie wonders if it was Sandy
who betrayed her. Instead of the dedication
demanded by Pavlova, and by Miss Brodie, Sandy
chooses to become a nun, which, Miss Brodie says,
is not the sort of dedication I meant.
The girls interests are temporarily dampened when
a man exposes himself to Jenny but this incident
also allows Sandy to extend her make-believe world
to include an imagined friendship with the
policewoman who investigates the incident. In her
fantasies she and the policewoman - Sergeant Ann
Grey - work together to eliminate sex from
Edinburgh and environs (p. 68). The investigation
will also include Miss Brodies relationships.
The culmination of Sandys and Jennys fascination
with sex is the concoction of a hilarious romantic
fiction which envisages Jean Brodie and Gordon
Lowther having sexual intercourse on Arthurs Seat
Sparks Brodie
while the storm raged about us (p. 73). On one
level this is the continuation of Sandys and Jennys
fantasies about Miss Brodie, but on another level
the story is also the evidence about her sexual
impropriety which Sandy wants to give to her
fictional policewoman. This is a hint of her future
act of betrayal.
Chapter 4
The girls are now in senior school and coming to
terms with a wider range of interesting subjects,
such as chemistry which is taught by Miss Lockhart.
However, despite being divided into different
houses and classes this is part of Miss Mackays 15
plans to break them up - the Brodie set refuse to
embrace the all-pervasive team spirit thereby
earning the displeasure of the headmistress.
In an incident which points to a future occurrence
Mary Macgregor panics during a chemistry lesson
involving an experiment with magnesium flares -
a premonition of her future death in a hotel fire in 20 She, too, is taken up by Miss Brodie, but her life is
Cumberland. This prompts two related
flashforwards in which both Sandy and Miss Brodie
regret their unkind behaviour towards Mary.
During this intense period of induction to the
wider range of subjects in the senior school, Miss
Brodie keeps in touch with her girls and attempts, 25 Lloyd but is disconcerted to discover that all his
vicariously, to share their new enthusiasms, even
to the extent of learning Greek with them after
school hours. She also reveals to them the extent
of her relationship with Gordon Lowther and the
attempts made by the school to put a stop to it.
Miss Gaunt has encouraged the schools sewing
mistresses, the sisters Miss Alison Ken and Miss
Ellen Kerr, to work as his housekeepers. The 30 continues to meet Miss Brodie. During one
discovery of Miss Brodies nightdress in his bed is
reported to Miss Gaunt and used as evidence to
sack Miss Brodie but Miss Mackay feels that it is
insufficient evidence to warrant further action.
Undeterred by the schools disapproval, Miss
Brodie spends more time with Lowther at his house 35 Brodies interests in fascism. At the end of the
in Cramond. The girls are also invited, but in their
company Miss Brodie demands to know more
about Teddy Lloyd. Not only has he started
painting Rose Stanleys portrait but he is anxious
to spend time with them because they are members
of Miss Brodies set. At this stage they are thirteen
years old.
During the summer holidays Miss Brodie visits
Nazi Germany which she imagines to be more
reliable than Mussolinis Italy.
Chapter 5
When Sandy sees Teddy Lloyds portrait of Rose 50 In further flashforwards each of the remaining
Stanley she immediately notices that it has the
likeness of Jean Brodie. Other portraits of the girls convent. Jenny tells her about falling in love with a
also resemble her. By this time Sandy has become
friendly with Teddy and his wife Deirdre but while
visiting the studio Sandy is kissed by him.
As the girls grow older Miss Brodie confides in 55 that Sandy had betrayed her. Sandy replies that
Sandy while they are playing golf together. She
says that she has placed all her hopes in her and
Rose but there is a sub-text to her comments which
becomes apparent later in the novel. She hopes
that Rose will become Teddy Lloyds lover and that
Sandy will keep her informed about the affair.
Her vicarious pleasure in this possibility has also 60 of her cell and admitting to a visitor that the major
been created by the gradual demise (fallecimiento,
desaparicin) of her relationship with Gordon
Lowther and the termination of the girls visits to
Cramond. At the end of term he announces his
engagement to Miss Lockhart.
Increasingly, during this period, Sandy begins to 65
make connections between Jean Brodies elite set
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Silvia Barbero
and the elect of Calvinism as she sees it portrayed
in Edinburghs history and society. The feeling is
made more intense when she stands outside the
High Church of St Giles with its emblems of a
dark and terrible salvation (p. 108). Nevertheless
Sandy is tempted to enter the spirit of Miss Brodies
5 plan and for over a year she agrees to remain an
informant and fellow-plotter in her teachers plans.
When Gordon Lowther marries Miss Lockhart,
Miss Brodie puts all her energies into planning a
relationship between Teddy Lloyd and Rose.
10
Chapter 6
When the girls are seventeen they end that Miss
Mackay is still interested in getting evidence that
can lead to Miss Brodies being sacked. Despite
frequent questioning, the girls remain loyal,
although all are developing separate and different
interests. A new member joins the set: Joyce Emily
Hammond, a wealthy girl with a disturbed past.
cut short when she runs away to join her brother
in the Spanish Civil War and is killed when her
train is bombed.
In the summer of 1938 after the last of the Brodie
set leaves school Sandy has a love affair with Teddy
portraits of the girls and his family still resemble
Miss Brodie. When her old teacher discovers the
affair, she is at first upset that her plans have gone
awry but is then pleased that she still has a surrogate
in his bed.
After leaving school Sandy studies psychology but
meeting in the autumn of 1938 she learns that
Miss Brodie encouraged Joyce Emily Hammond
to go to Spain to fight on Francos side - even
though her brother was serving on the opposition
communist side. This information encourages
Sandy to give evidence to Miss Mackay of Jean
school year in 1939 Jean Brodie is obliged to leave
the school. At the time Britain was preparing to
go to war against Nazi Germany and her political
leanings provide the headmistress with an apposite
excuse to dismiss her.
Sandy excuses the betrayal by claiming that Miss
40 Brodie had betrayed her set by living her life
through them - playing God with them, as she sees
it. Although Miss Brodie could have been sacked
for sexual impropriety, Sandy chooses politics as
the most practical means. In a flashforward Miss
Brodie writes to Sandy about her dismissal and
informs her that politics were only an excuse: the
45 headmistress had tried to find evidence of
immorality on several occasions but had always
failed. The letter ends with the disturbing
information - to Miss Brodie at least - that it was
one of her girls who had betrayed her. Although
Miss Brodie suspects that it might have been
Monica she excuses Sandy from any guilt.
members of the set visits Sandy, now a nun in her
man in Rome and wishing that she could have told
Miss Brodie. Eunice tells her about putting flowers
on Miss Brodies grave, but it is left to Monica to
tell her that before Miss Brodie died she suspected
betrayal is only possible when loyalty is deserved.
Later Sandy becomes a nun, thereby following
Teddy Lloyds religion, but she is still uncertain
about the moral rectitude of her act of betrayal.
The novel ends with Sandy, now Sister Helena of
the Transfiguration, desperately clutching the bars
influence of her schooldays was in fact Miss
Brodie.