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which flew about like wildfire just at this time； but it seemed to me then
that there was every reason to believe that at Mardon （a small town
about eight miles from Cranford） houses and shops were entered by
holes made in the walls； the bricks being silently carried away in the
dead of the night； and all done so quietly that no sound was heard either
in or out of the house。 Miss Matty gave it up in despair when she heard
of this。 〃What was the use；〃 said she； 〃of locks and bolts； and bells to
the windows； and going round the house every night？ That last trick
was fit for a conjuror。 Now she did believe that Signor Brunoni was at
the bottom of it。〃
One afternoon； about five o'clock； we were startled by a hasty knock
at the door。 Miss Matty bade me run and tell Martha on no account to
open the door till she （Miss Matty） had reconnoitred through the window；
and she armed herself with a footstool to drop down on the head of the
visitor； in case he should show a face covered with black crape； as he
looked up in answer to her inquiry of who was there。 But it was
nobody but Miss Pole and Betty。 The former came upstairs； carrying a
little hand…basket； and she was evidently in a state of great agitation。
〃Take care of that！〃 said she to me； as I offered to relieve her of her
basket。 〃It's my plate。 I am sure there is a plan to rob my house to…
night。 I am come to throw myself on your hospitality； Miss Matty。
Betty is going to sleep with her cousin at the 'George。' I can sit up here
all night if you will allow me； but my house is so far from any
neighbours； and I don't believe we could be heard if we screamed ever
so！〃
〃But；〃 said Miss Matty； 〃what has alarmed you so much？ Have you
seen any men lurking about the house？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 answered Miss Pole。 〃Two very bad…looking men have
gone three times past the house； very slowly； and an Irish beggar…woman
came not half…an…hour ago； and all but forced herself in past Betty；
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saying her children were starving； and she must speak to the mistress。
You see； she said 'mistress；' though there was a hat hanging up in the hall；
and it would have been more natural to have said 'master。' But Betty
shut the door in her face； and came up to me； and we got the spoons
together； and sat in the parlour…window watching till we saw Thomas
Jones going from his work； when we called to him and asked him to take
care of us into the town。〃
We might have triumphed over Miss Pole； who had professed such
bravery until she was frightened； but we were too glad to perceive that
she shared in the weaknesses of humanity to exult over her； and I gave
up my room to her very willingly； and shared Miss Matty's bed for the
night。 But before we retired； the two ladies rummaged up； out of the
recesses of their memory； such horrid stories of robbery and murder that
I quite quaked in my shoes。 Miss Pole was evidently anxious to prove
that such terrible events had occurred within her experience that she was
justified in her sudden panic； and Miss Matty did not like to be outdone；
and capped every story with one yet more horrible； till it reminded me
oddly enough； of an old story I had read somewhere； of a nightingale
and a musician； who strove one against the other which could produce
the most admirable music； till poor Philomel dropped down dead。
One of the stories that haunted me for a long time afterwards was of
a girl who was left in charge of a great house in Cumberland on some
particular fair…day； when the other servants all went off to the gaieties。
The family were away in London； and a pedlar came by； and asked to
leave his large and heavy pack in the kitchen； saying he would call for it
again at night； and the girl （a gamekeeper's daughter）； roaming about in
search of amusement； chanced to hit upon a gun hanging up in the hall；
and took it down to look at the chasing； and it went off through the open
kitchen door； hit the pack； and a slow dark thread of blood came oozing
out。 （How Miss Pole enjoyed this part of the story； dwelling on each
word as if she loved it！） She rather hurried over the further account of
the girl's bravery； and I have but a confused idea that； somehow； she
baffled the robbers with Italian irons； heated red… hot； and then restored to
blackness by being dipped in grease。
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We parted for the night with an awe…stricken wonder as to what we
should hear of in the morning … and； on my part； with a vehement desire
for the night to be over and gone： I was so afraid lest the robbers should
have seen； from some dark lurking…place； that Miss Pole had carried off
her plate； and thus have a double motive for attacking our house。
But until Lady Glenmire came to call next day we heard of nothing
unusual。 The kitchen fire…irons were in exactly the same position
against the back door as when Martha and I had skilfully piled them up；
like spillikins； ready to fall with an awful clatter if only a cat had
touched the outside panels。 I had wondered what we should all do if
thus awakened and alarmed； and had proposed to Miss Matty that we
should cover up our faces under the bedclothes so that there should be
no danger of the robbers thinking that we could identify them； but Miss
Matty； who was trembling very much； scouted this idea； and said we
owed it to society to apprehend them； and that she should certainly do
her best to lay hold of them and