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making candle…lighters； or 〃spills〃 （as she preferred calling them）； of
coloured paper； cut so as to resemble feathers； and knitting garters in a
variety of dainty stitches。 I had once said； on receiving a present of an
elaborate pair； that I should feel quite tempted to drop one of them in the
street； in order to have it admired； but I found this little joke （and it was
a very little one） was such a distress to her sense of propriety； and was
taken with such anxious； earnest alarm； lest the temptation might some
day prove too strong for me； that I quite regretted having ventured upon
it。 A present of these delicately…wrought garters； a bunch of gay
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〃spills；〃 or a set of cards on which sewing…silk was wound in a mystical
manner； were the well…known tokens of Miss Matty's favour。 But would
any one pay to have their children taught these arts？ or； indeed； would
Miss Matty sell； for filthy lucre； the knack and the skill with which she
made trifles of value to those who loved her？
I had to come down to reading； writing； and arithmetic； and； in
reading the chapter every morning； she always coughed before coming
to long words。 I doubted her power of getting through a genealogical
chapter； with any number of coughs。 Writing she did well and
delicately … but spelling！ She seemed to think that the more out…of…the…
way this was； and the more trouble it cost her； the greater the
compliment she paid to her correspondent； and words that she would
spell quite correctly in her letters to me became perfect enigmas when
she wrote to my father。
No！ there was nothing she could teach to the rising generation of
Cranford； unless they had been quick learners and ready imitators of her
patience； her humility； her sweetness； her quiet contentment with all that
she could not do。 I pondered and pondered until dinner was announced
by Martha； with a face all blubbered and swollen with crying。
Miss Matty had a few little peculiarities which Martha was apt to
regard as whims below her attention； and appeared to consider as
childish fancies of which an old lady of fifty…eight should try and cure
herself。 But to…day everything was attended to with the most careful
regard。 The bread was cut to the imaginary pattern of excellence that
existed in Miss Matty's mind； as being the way which her mother had
preferred； the curtain was drawn so as to exclude the dead brick wall of a
neighbour's stable； and yet left so as to show every tender leaf of the
poplar which was bursting into spring beauty。 Martha's tone to Miss
Matty was just such as that good； rough…spoken servant usually kept
sacred for little children； and which I had never heard her use to any
grown…up person。
I had forgotten to tell Miss Matty about the pudding； and I was afraid
she might not do justice to it； for she had evidently very little appetite
this day； so I seized the opportunity of letting her into the secret while
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Martha took away the meat。 Miss Matty's eyes filled with tears； and
she could not speak； either to express surprise or delight； when Martha
returned bearing it aloft； made in the most wonderful representation of a
lion COUCHANT that ever was moulded。 Martha's face gleamed with
triumph as she set it down before Miss Matty with an exultant 〃There！〃
Miss Matty wanted to speak her thanks； but could not； so she took
Martha's hand and shook it warmly； which set Martha off crying； and I
myself could hardly keep up the necessary composure。 Martha burst
out of the room； and Miss Matty had to clear her voice once or twice
before she could speak。 At last she said； 〃I should like to keep this
pudding under a glass shade； my dear！〃 and the notion of the lion
COUCHANT； with his currant eyes； being hoisted up to the place of
honour on a mantelpiece； tickled my hysterical fancy； and I began to
laugh； which rather surprised Miss Matty。
〃I am sure； dear； I have seen uglier things under a glass shade before
now；〃 said she。
So had I； many a time and oft； and I accordingly composed my
countenance （and now I could hardly keep from crying）； and we both
fell to upon the pudding； which was indeed excellent … only every morsel
seemed to choke us； our hearts were so full。
We had too much to think about to talk much that afternoon。 It
passed over very tranquilly。 But when the tea…urn was brought in a
new thought came into my head。 Why should not Miss Matty sell tea …
be an agent to the East India Tea Company which then existed？ I could
see no objections to this plan； while the advantages were many … always
supposing that Miss Matty could get over the degradation of
condescending to anything like trade。 Tea was neither greasy nor
sticky … grease and stickiness being two of the qualities which Miss
Matty could not endure。 No shop…window would be required。 A
small； genteel notification of her being licensed to sell tea would； it is
true； be necessary； but I hoped that it could be placed where no one
would see it。 Neither was tea a heavy article； so as to tax Miss Matty's
fragile strength。 The only thing against my plan was the buying and
selling involved。
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