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underneath； everyone took this novel proceeding as the most natural
thing in the world； and talked on about household forms and ceremonies
as if we all believed that our hostess had a regular servants' hall； second
table； with housekeeper and steward； instead of the one little charity…
school maiden； whose short ruddy arms could never have been strong
enough to carry the tray upstairs； if she had not been assisted in private
by her mistress； who now sat in state； pretending not to know what cakes
were sent up； though she knew； and we knew； and she knew that we
knew； and we knew that she knew that we knew； she had been busy all
the morning making tea…bread and sponge…cakes。
There were one or two consequences arising from this general but
unacknowledged poverty； and this very much acknowledged gentility；
which were not amiss； and which might be introduced into many circles
of society to their great improvement。 For instance； the inhabitants of
Cranford kept early hours； and clattered home in their pattens； under the
guidance of a lantern…bearer； about nine o'clock at night； and the whole
town was abed and asleep by half… past ten。 Moreover； it was considered
〃vulgar〃 （a tremendous word in Cranford） to give anything expensive； in
the way of eatable or drinkable； at the evening entertainments。 Wafer
bread…and…butter and sponge…biscuits were all that the Honourable Mrs
Jamieson gave； and she was sister…in…law to the late Earl of Glenmire；
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Cranford
although she did practise such 〃elegant economy。〃
〃Elegant economy！〃 How naturally one falls back into the
phraseology of Cranford！ There； economy was always 〃elegant；〃 and
money…spending always 〃vulgar and ostentatious〃； a sort of sour…
grapeism which made us very peaceful and satisfied。 I never shall
forget the dismay felt when a certain Captain Brown came to live at
Cranford； and openly spoke about his being poor … not in a whisper to an
intimate friend； the doors and windows being previously closed； but in
the public street！ in a loud military voice！ alleging his poverty as a
reason for not taking a particular house。 The ladies of Cranford were
already rather moaning over the invasion of their territories by a man
and a gentleman。 He was a half…pay captain； and had obtained some
situation on a neighbouring railroad； which had been vehemently
petitioned against by the little town； and if； in addition to his masculine
gender； and his connection with the obnoxious railroad； he was so
brazen as to talk of being poor … why； then； indeed； he must be sent to
Coventry。 Death was as true and as common as poverty； yet people
never spoke about that； loud out in the streets。 It was a word not to be
mentioned to ears polite。 We had tacitly agreed to ignore that any with
whom we associated on terms of visiting equality could ever be
prevented by poverty from doing anything that they wished。 If we
walked to or from a party； it was because the night was SO fine； or the
air SO refreshing； not because sedan…chairs were expensive。 If we
wore prints； instead of summer silks； it was because we preferred a
washing material； and so on； till we blinded ourselves to the vulgar fact
that we were； all of us； people of very moderate means。 Of course；
then； we did not know what to make of a man who could speak of
poverty as if it was not a disgrace。 Yet； somehow； Captain Brown made
himself respected in Cranford； and was called upon； in spite of all
resolutions to the contrary。 I was surprised to hear his opinions quoted
as authority at a visit which I paid to Cranford about a year after he had
settled in the town。 My own friends had been among the bitterest
opponents of any proposal to visit the Captain and his daughters； only
twelve months before； and now he was even admitted in the tabooed
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Cranford
hours before twelve。 True； it was to discover the cause of a smoking
chimney； before the fire was lighted； but still Captain Brown walked
upstairs； nothing daunted； spoke in a voice too large for the room； and
joked quite in the way of a tame man about the house。 He had been
blind to all the small slights； and omissions of trivial ceremonies； with
which he had been received。 He had been friendly； though the
Cranford ladies had been cool； he had answered small sarcastic
compliments in good faith； and with his manly frankness had
overpowered all the shrinking which met him as a man who was not
ashamed to be poor。 And； at last； his excellent masculine common
sense； and his facility in devising expedients to overcome domestic
dilemmas； had gained him an extraordinary place as authority among the
Cranford ladies。 He himself went on in his course； as unaware of his
popularity as he had been of the reverse； and I am sure he was startled
one day when he found his advice so highly esteemed as to make some
counsel which he had given in jest to be taken in sober； serious earnest。
It was on this subject： An old lady had an Alderney cow； which she
looked upon as a daughter。 You could not pay the short quarter of an
hour call without being told of the wonderful milk or wonderful
intelligence of this animal。 The whole town knew and kindly regarded
Miss Betsy Barke