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intelligence of this animal。 The whole town knew and kindly regarded
Miss Betsy Barker's Alderney； therefore great was the sympathy and
regret when； in an unguarded moment； the poor cow tumbled into a
lime…pit。 She moaned so loudly that she was soon heard and rescued；
but meanwhile the poor beast had lost most of her hair； and came out
looking naked； cold； and miserable； in a bare skin。 Everybody pitied
the animal； though a few could not restrain their smiles at her droll
appearance。 Miss Betsy Barker absolutely cried with sorrow and
dismay； and it was said she thought of trying a bath of oil。 This
remedy； perhaps； was recommended by some one of the number whose
advice she asked； but the proposal； if ever it was made； was knocked on
the head by Captain Brown's decided 〃Get her a flannel waistcoat and
flannel drawers； ma'am； if you wish to keep her alive。 But my advice is；
kill the poor creature at once。〃
Miss Betsy Barker dried her eyes； and thanked the Captain heartily；
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she set to work； and by…and…by all the town turned out to see the
Alderney meekly going to her pasture； clad in dark grey flannel。 I have
watched her myself many a time。 Do you ever see cows dressed in
grey flannel in London？
Captain Brown had taken a small house on the outskirts of the town；
where he lived with his two daughters。 He must have been upwards of
sixty at the time of the first visit I paid to Cranford after I had left it as a
residence。 But he had a wiry； well…trained； elastic figure； a stiff
military throw…back of his head； and a springing step； which made him
appear much younger than he was。 His eldest daughter looked almost
as old as himself； and betrayed the fact that his real was more than his
apparent age。 Miss Brown must have been forty； she had a sickly；
pained； careworn expression on her face； and looked as if the gaiety of
youth had long faded out of sight。 Even when young she must have
been plain and hard… featured。 Miss Jessie Brown was ten years younger
than her sister； and twenty shades prettier。 Her face was round and
dimpled。 Miss Jenkyns once said； in a passion against Captain Brown
（the cause of which I will tell you presently）； 〃that she thought it was
time for Miss Jessie to leave off her dimples； and not always to be trying
to look like a child。〃 It was true there was something childlike in her
face； and there will be； I think； till she dies； though she should live to a
hundred。 Her eyes were large blue wondering eyes； looking straight at
you； her nose was unformed and snub； and her lips were red and dewy；
she wore her hair； too； in little rows of curls； which heightened this
appearance。 I do not know whether she was pretty or not； but I liked
her face； and so did everybody； and I do not think she could help her
dimples。 She had something of her father's jauntiness of gait and
manner； and any female observer might detect a slight difference in the
attire of the two sisters … that of Miss Jessie being about two pounds per
annum more expensive than Miss Brown's。 Two pounds was a large
sum in Captain Brown's annual disbursements。
Such was the impression made upon me by the Brown family when I
first saw them all together in Cranford Church。 The Captain I had met
before … on the occasion of the smoky chimney； which he had cured by
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some simple alteration in the flue。 In church； he held his double eye…
glass to his eyes during the Morning Hymn； and then lifted up his head
erect and sang out loud and joyfully。 He made the responses louder
than the clerk … an old man with a piping feeble voice； who； I think； felt
aggrieved at the Captain's sonorous bass； and quivered higher and higher
in consequence。
On coming out of church； the brisk Captain paid the most gallant
attention to his two daughters。
He nodded and smiled to his acquaintances； but he shook hands with
none until he had helped Miss Brown to unfurl her umbrella； had
relieved her of her prayer…book； and had waited patiently till she； with
trembling nervous hands； had taken up her gown to walk through the wet
roads。
I wonder what the Cranford ladies did with Captain Brown at their
parties。 We had often rejoiced； in former days； that there was no
gentleman to be attended to； and to find conversation for； at the card…
parties。 We had congratulated ourselves upon the snugness of the
evenings； and； in our love for gentility； and distaste of mankind； we had
almost persuaded ourselves that to be a man was to be 〃vulgar〃； so that
when I found my friend and hostess； Miss Jenkyns； was going to have a
party in my honour； and that Captain and the Miss Browns were invited；
I wondered much what would be the course of the evening。 Card…
tables； with green baize tops； were set out by daylight； just as usual； it
was the third week in November； so the evenings closed in about four。
Candles； and clean packs of cards； were arranged on each table。 The
fire was made up； the neat maid…servant had received her last directions；
and there we stood； dressed in our best； each with a candle…lighter in our
hands； ready to dart at the candles as soon as the first knock came。
Parties in Cranford were solemn festivities； making the ladies feel
gravely elated as they sat together in their best dresses。 As soon as
three had arrived； we sat down to