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heard。 She reckoned it up； and it was more than fifteen years since she
had heard of any of her acquaintance going to be married； with the one
exception of Miss Jessie Brown； and； as she said； it gave her quite a
shock； and made her feel as if she could not think what would happen
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next。
I don't know whether it is a fancy of mine； or a real fact； but I have
noticed that； just after the announcement of an engagement in any set；
the unmarried ladies in that set flutter out in an unusual gaiety and
newness of dress； as much as to say； in a tacit and unconscious manner；
〃We also are spinsters。〃 Miss Matty and Miss Pole talked and thought
more about bonnets； gowns； caps； and shawls； during the fortnight that
succeeded this call； than I had known them do for years before。 But it
might be the spring weather； for it was a warm and pleasant March； and
merinoes and beavers； and woollen materials of all sorts were but
ungracious receptacles of the bright sun's glancing rays。 It had not
been Lady Glenmire's dress that had won Mr Hoggins's heart； for she
went about on her errands of kindness more shabby than ever。
Although in the hurried glimpses I caught of her at church or elsewhere
she appeared rather to shun meeting any of her friends； her face seemed
to have almost something of the flush of youth in it； her lips looked
redder and more trembling full than in their old compressed state； and
her eyes dwelt on all things with a lingering light； as if she was learning
to love Cranford and its belongings。 Mr Hoggins looked broad and
radiant； and creaked up the middle aisle at church in a brand…new pair of
top…boots … an audible； as well as visible； sign of his purposed change of
state； for the tradition went； that the boots he had worn till now were the
identical pair in which he first set out on his rounds in Cranford twenty…
five years ago； only they had been new…pieced； high and low； top and
bottom； heel and sole； black leather and brown leather； more times than
any one could tell。
None of the ladies in Cranford chose to sanction the marriage by
congratulating either of the parties。 We wished to ignore the whole
affair until our liege lady； Mrs Jamieson； returned。 Till she came back
to give us our cue； we felt that it would be better to consider the
engagement in the same light as the Queen of Spain's legs … facts which
certainly existed； but the less said about the better。 This restraint upon
our tongues … for you see if we did not speak about it to any of the
parties concerned； how could we get answers to the questions that we
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longed to ask？ … was beginning to be irksome； and our idea of the dignity
of silence was paling before our curiosity； when another direction was
given to our thoughts； by an announcement on the part of the principal
shopkeeper of Cranford； who ranged the trades from grocer and
cheesemonger to man…milliner； as occasion required； that the spring
fashions were arrived； and would be exhibited on the following Tuesday
at his rooms in High Street。 Now Miss Matty had been only waiting
for this before buying herself a new silk gown。 I had offered； it is true；
to send to Drumble for patterns； but she had rejected my proposal； gently
implying that she had not forgotten her disappointment about the sea…
green turban。 I was thankful that I was on the spot now； to counteract
the dazzling fascination of any yellow or scarlet silk。
I must say a word or two here about myself。 I have spoken of my
father's old friendship for the Jenkyns family； indeed； I am not sure if
there was not some distant relationship。 He had willingly allowed me
to remain all the winter at Cranford； in consideration of a letter which
Miss Matty had written to him about the time of the panic； in which I
suspect she had exaggerated my powers and my bravery as a defender of
the house。 But now that the days were longer and more cheerful； he
was beginning to urge the necessity of my return； and I only delayed in a
sort of odd forlorn hope that if I could obtain any clear information； I
might make the account given by the signora of the Aga Jenkyns tally
with that of 〃poor Peter；〃 his appearance and disappearance； which I had
winnowed out of the conversation of Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester。
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CHAPTER XIII … STOPPED
PAYMENT
THE very Tuesday morning on which Mr Johnson was going to show
the fashions； the post…woman brought two letters to the house。 I say
the post…woman； but I should say the postman's wife。 He was a lame
shoemaker； a very clean； honest man； much respected in the town； but he
never brought the letters round except on unusual occasions； such as
Christmas Day or Good Friday； and on those days the letters； which
should have been delivered at eight in the morning； did not make their
appearance until two or three in the afternoon； for every one liked poor
Thomas； and gave him a welcome on these festive occasions。 He used
to say； 〃He was welly stawed wi' eating； for there were three or four
houses where nowt would serve 'em but he must share in their
breakfast；〃 and by the time he had done his last breakfast； he came to
some other friend who was beginning dinner； but come what might in
the way of temptation； Tom was always sober； civil； and smiling； and； as
Miss Jenkyns used to say； it was a lesson in patience； that she doubted
not would call out that precious quality in some minds； where； but for
Thomas； it might have lain dormant and undiscovered。 Patience was
certainly very dormant in Miss Jenkyns's mind。 She was always
expecting letters； and always drumming on the table till the post…woman
had called or gone past。 On Christmas Day and Good Friday she
drummed from breakfast till church； from church…time till two o'clock …
unless when the fire wanted stirring； when she invariably knocked down
the fire…irons； and scolded Miss Matty for it。 But equally certain was
the hearty welcome and the good dinner for Thomas； Miss Jenkyns
standing over him like a bold dragoon； questioning him as to his children
… what they were doing … what school they went to； upbraiding him if
another was likely to make its appearance； but sending even the little
babies the shilling and the mince…pie which was her gift to all the
children； with half…a…crown in addition for both father and mother。 The
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post was not half of so much consequence to dear Miss Matty； but not
for the world would she have diminished Thomas's welcome and his
dole； though I could see that she felt rather shy over the ceremony；
which had been regarded by Miss Jenkyns as a glorious opportunity for