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ladies of Cranford always dressed with chaste elegance and propriety； as
Miss Barker once prettily expressed it。
And with three new caps； and a greater array of brooches than had
ever been seen together at one time since Cranford was a town； did Mrs
Forrester； and Miss Matty； and Miss Pole appear on that memorable
Tuesday evening。 I counted seven brooches myself on Miss Pole's
dress。 Two were fixed negligently in her cap （one was a butterfly made
of Scotch pebbles； which a vivid imagination might believe to be the real
insect）； one fastened her net neckerchief； one her collar； one ornamented
the front of her gown； midway between her throat and waist； and another
adorned the point of her stomacher。 Where the seventh was I have
forgotten； but it was somewhere about her； I am sure。
But I am getting on too fast； in describing the dresses of the
company。 I should first relate the gathering on the way to Mrs
Jamieson's。 That lady lived in a large house just outside the town。 A
road which had known what it was to be a street ran right before the
house； which opened out upon it without any intervening garden or court。
Whatever the sun was about； he never shone on the front of that house。
To be sure； the living…rooms were at the back； looking on to a pleasant
garden； the front windows only belonged to kitchens and housekeepers'
rooms； and pantries； and in one of them Mr Mulliner was reported to sit。
Indeed； looking askance； we often saw the back of a head covered with
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hair powder； which also extended itself over his coat…collar down to his
very waist； and this imposing back was always engaged in reading the
ST JAMES'S CHRONICLE； opened wide； which； in some degree；
accounted for the length of time the said newspaper was in reaching us …
equal subscribers with Mrs Jamieson； though； in right of her
honourableness； she always had the reading of it first。 This very
Tuesday； the delay in forwarding the last number had been particularly
aggravating； just when both Miss Pole and Miss Matty； the former more
especially； had been wanting to see it； in order to coach up the Court
news ready for the evening's interview with aristocracy。 Miss Pole told
us she had absolutely taken time by the forelock； and been dressed by
five o'clock； in order to be ready if the ST JAMES'S CHRONICLE
should come in at the last moment … the very ST JAMES'S
CHRONICLE which the powdered head was tranquilly and composedly
reading as we passed the accustomed window this evening。
〃The impudence of the man！〃 said Miss Pole； in a low indignant
whisper。 〃I should like to ask him whether his mistress pays her
quarter…share for his exclusive use。〃
We looked at her in admiration of the courage of her thought； for Mr
Mulliner was an object of great awe to all of us。 He seemed never to
have forgotten his condescension in coming to live at Cranford。 Miss
Jenkyns； at times； had stood forth as the undaunted champion of her sex；
and spoken to him on terms of equality； but even Miss Jenkyns could get
no higher。 In his pleasantest and most gracious moods he looked like a
sulky cockatoo。 He did not speak except in gruff monosyllables。 He
would wait in the hall when we begged him not to wait； and then look
deeply offended because we had kept him there； while； with trembling；
hasty hands we prepared ourselves for appearing in company。
Miss Pole ventured on a small joke as we went upstairs； intended；
though addressed to us； to afford Mr Mulliner some slight amusement。
We all smiled； in order to seem as if we felt at our ease； and timidly
looked for Mr Mulliner's sympathy。 Not a muscle of that wooden face
had relaxed； and we were grave in an instant。
Mrs Jamieson's drawing…room was cheerful； the evening sun came
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streaming into it； and the large square window was clustered round with
flowers。 The furniture was white and gold； not the later style； Louis
Quatorze； I think they call it； all shells and twirls； no； Mrs Jamieson's
chairs and tables had not a curve or bend about them。 The chair and
table legs diminished as they neared the ground； and were straight and
square in all their corners。 The chairs were all a…row against the walls；
with the exception of four or five which stood in a circle round the fire。
They were railed with white bars across the back and knobbed with gold；
neither the railings nor the knobs invited to ease。 There was a japanned
table devoted to literature； on which lay a Bible； a Peerage； and a
Prayer…Book。 There was another square Pembroke table dedicated to
the Fine Arts； on which were a kaleidoscope； conversation…cards； puzzle…
cards （tied together to an interminable length with faded pink satin
ribbon）； and a box painted in fond imitation of the drawings which
decorate tea…chests。 Carlo lay on the worsted… worked rug； and
ungraciously barked at us as we entered。 Mrs Jamieson stood up；
giving us each a torpid smile of welcome； and looking helplessly beyond
us at Mr Mulliner； as if she hoped he would place us in chairs； for； if he
did not； she never could。 I suppose he thought we could find our way
to the circle round the fire； which reminded me of Stonehenge； I don't
know why。 Lady Glenmire came to the rescue of our hostess； and；
somehow or other； we found ourselves for the first time placed agreeably；
and not formally； in