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owed it to society to apprehend them； and that she should certainly do
her best to lay hold of them and lock them up in the garret till morning。
When Lady Glenmire came； we almost felt jealous of her。 Mrs
Jamieson's house had really been attacked； at least there were men's
footsteps to be seen on the flower borders； underneath the kitchen
windows； 〃where nae men should be；〃 and Carlo had barked all through
the night as if strangers were abroad。 Mrs Jamieson had been
awakened by Lady Glenmire； and they had rung the bell which
communicated with Mr Mulliner's room in the third storey； and when his
night…capped head had appeared over the bannisters； in answer to the
summons； they had told him of their alarm； and the reasons for it；
whereupon he retreated into his bedroom； and locked the door （for fear
of draughts； as he informed them in the morning）； and opened the
window； and called out valiantly to say； if the supposed robbers would
come to him he would fight them； but； as Lady Glenmire observed； that
was but poor comfort； since they would have to pass by Mrs Jamieson's
room and her own before they could reach him； and must be of a very
pugnacious disposition indeed if they neglected the opportunities of
robbery presented by the unguarded lower storeys； to go up to a garret；
and there force a door in order to get at the champion of the house。
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Lady Glenmire； after waiting and listening for some time in the drawing…
room； had proposed to Mrs Jamieson that they should go to bed； but that
lady said she should not feel comfortable unless she sat up and watched；
and； accordingly； she packed herself warmly up on the sofa； where she
was found by the housemaid； when she came into the room at six o'clock；
fast asleep； but Lady Glenmire went to bed； and kept awake all night。
When Miss Pole heard of this； she nodded her head in great
satisfaction。 She had been sure we should hear of something
happening in Cranford that night； and we had heard。 It was clear
enough they had first proposed to attack her house； but when they saw
that she and Betty were on their guard； and had carried off the plate； they
had changed their tactics and gone to Mrs Jamieson's； and no one knew
what might have happened if Carlo had not barked； like a good dog as he
was！
Poor Carlo！ his barking days were nearly over。 Whether the gang
who infested the neighbourhood were afraid of him； or whether they
were revengeful enough； for the way in which he had baffled them on
the night in question； to poison him； or whether； as some among the
more uneducated people thought； he died of apoplexy； brought on by too
much feeding and too little exercise； at any rate； it is certain that； two
days after this eventful night； Carlo was found dead； with his poor legs
stretched out stiff in the attitude of running； as if by such unusual
exertion he could escape the sure pursuer； Death。
We were all sorry for Carlo； the old familiar friend who had snapped
at us for so many years； and the mysterious mode of his death made us
very uncomfortable。 Could Signor Brunoni be at the bottom of this？
He had apparently killed a canary with only a word of command； his
will seemed of deadly force； who knew but what he might yet be
lingering in the neighbourhood willing all sorts of awful things！
We whispered these fancies among ourselves in the evenings； but in
the mornings our courage came back with the daylight； and in a week's
time we had got over the shock of Carlo's death； all but Mrs Jamieson。
She； poor thing； felt it as she had felt no event since her husband's death；
indeed； Miss Pole said； that as the Honourable Mr Jamieson drank a
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good deal； and occasioned her much uneasiness； it was possible that
Carlo's death might be the greater affliction。 But there was always a
tinge of cynicism in Miss Pole's remarks。 However； one thing was clear
and certain … it was necessary for Mrs Jamieson to have some change of
scene； and Mr Mulliner was very impressive on this point； shaking his
head whenever we inquired after his mistress； and speaking of her loss
of appetite and bad nights very ominously； and with justice too； for if
she had two characteristics in her natural state of health they were a
facility of eating and sleeping。 If she could neither eat nor sleep； she
must be indeed out of spirits and out of health。
Lady Glenmire （who had evidently taken very kindly to Cranford） did
not like the idea of Mrs Jamieson's going to Cheltenham； and more than
once insinuated pretty plainly that it was Mr Mulliner's doing； who had
been much alarmed on the occasion of the house being attacked； and
since had said； more than once； that he felt it a very responsible charge
to have to defend so many women。 Be that as it might； Mrs Jamieson
went to Cheltenham； escorted by Mr Mulliner； and Lady Glenmire
remained in possession of the house； her ostensible office being to take
care that the maid…servants did not pick up followers。 She made a very
pleasant…looking dragon； and； as soon as it was arranged for her stay in
Cranford； she found out that Mrs Jamieson's visit to Cheltenham was
just the best thing in the world。 She had let her house in Edinburgh；
and was for the time house…less； so