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on in Miss Matty's present abode； the sum which the Cranford ladies had
agreed to contribute annually being sufficient to meet the greater part of
the rent； and leaving Martha free to appropriate what Miss Matty should
pay for her lodgings to any little extra comforts required。 About the
sale； my father was dubious at first。 He said the old rectory furniture；
however carefully used and reverently treated； would fetch very little；
and that little would be but as a drop in the sea of the debts of the
Town and County Bank。 But when I represented how Miss Matty's
tender conscience would be soothed by feeling that she had done what
she could； he gave way； especially after I had told him the five…pound
note adventure； and he had scolded me well for allowing it。 I then
alluded to my idea that she might add to her small income by selling tea；
and； to my surprise （for I had nearly given up the plan）； my father
grasped at it with all the energy of a tradesman。 I think he reckoned his
chickens before they were hatched； for he immediately ran up the profits
of the sales that she could effect in Cranford to more than twenty pounds
a year。 The small dining…parlour was to be converted into a shop；
without any of its degrading characteristics； a table was to be the
counter； one window was to be retained unaltered； and the other changed
into a glass door。 I evidently rose in his estimation for having made
this bright suggestion。 I only hoped we should not both fall in Miss
Matty's。
But she was patient and content with all our arrangements。 She
knew； she said； that we should do the best we could for her； and she only
hoped； only stipulated； that she should pay every farthing that she could
be said to owe； for her father's sake； who had been so respected in
Cranford。 My father and I had agreed to say as little as possible about
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the bank； indeed never to mention it again； if it could be helped。 Some
of the plans were evidently a little perplexing to her； but she had seen
me sufficiently snubbed in the morning for want of comprehension to
venture on too many inquiries now； and all passed over well with a hope
on her part that no one would be hurried into marriage on her account。
When we came to the proposal that she should sell tea； I could see it was
rather a shock to her； not on account of any personal loss of gentility
involved； but only because she distrusted her own powers of action in a
new line of life； and would timidly have preferred a little more privation
to any exertion for which she feared she was unfitted。 However； when
she saw my father was bent upon it； she sighed； and said she would try；
and if she did not do well； of course she might give it up。 One good
thing about it was； she did not think men ever bought tea； and it was of
men particularly she was afraid。 They had such sharp loud ways with
them； and did up accounts； and counted their change so quickly！ Now；
if she might only sell comfits to children； she was sure she could please
them！
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CHAPTER XV … A HAPPY
RETURN
BEFORE I left Miss Matty at Cranford everything had been
comfortably arranged for her。 Even Mrs Jamieson's approval of her
selling tea had been gained。 That oracle had taken a few days to
consider whether by so doing Miss Matty would forfeit her right to the
privileges of society in Cranford。 I think she had some little idea of
mortifying Lady Glenmire by the decision she gave at last； which was to
this effect： that whereas a married woman takes her husband's rank by
the strict laws of precedence； an unmarried woman retains the station her
father occupied。 So Cranford was allowed to visit Miss Matty； and；
whether allowed or not； it intended to visit Lady Glenmire。
But what was our surprise … our dismay … when we learnt that Mr and
MRS HOGGINS were returning on the following Tuesday！ Mrs Hoggins！
Had she absolutely dropped her title； and so； in a spirit of bravado； cut
the aristocracy to become a Hoggins！ She； who might have been called
Lady Glenmire to her dying day！ Mrs Jamieson was pleased。 She
said it only convinced her of what she had known from the first； that the
creature had a low taste。 But 〃the creature〃 looked very happy on
Sunday at church； nor did we see it necessary to keep our veils down on
that side of our bonnets on which Mr and Mrs Hoggins sat； as Mrs
Jamieson did； thereby missing all the smiling glory of his face； and all
the becoming blushes of hers。 I am not sure if Martha and Jem looked
more radiant in the afternoon； when they； too； made their first
appearance。 Mrs Jamieson soothed the turbulence of her soul by
having the blinds of her windows drawn down； as if for a funeral； on the
day when Mr and Mrs Hoggins received callers； and it was with some
difficulty that she was prevailed upon to continue the ST JAMES'S
CHRONICLE； so indignant was she with its having inserted the
announcement of the marriage。
Miss Matty's sale went off famously。 She retained the furniture of
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her sitting…room and bedroom； the former of which she was to occupy
till Martha could meet with a lodger who might wish to take it； and into
this sitting…room and bedroom she had to cram all sorts of