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aristocratic legs； I could not hear of any one with whom his lordship had
held conversation。
My next visit to Cranford was in the summer。 There had been
neither births； deaths； nor marriages since I was there last。 Everybody
lived in the same house； and wore pretty nearly the same well…preserved；
old…fashioned clothes。 The greatest event was； that Miss Jenkyns had
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purchased a new carpet for the drawing…room。 Oh； the busy work Miss
Matty and I had in chasing the sunbeams； as they fell in an afternoon
right down on this carpet through the blindless window！ We spread
newspapers over the places and sat down to our book or our work； and；
lo！ in a quarter of an hour the sun had moved； and was blazing away on
a fresh spot； and down again we went on our knees to alter the position
of the newspapers。 We were very busy； too； one whole morning； before
Miss Jenkyns gave her party； in following her directions； and in cutting
out and stitching together pieces of newspaper so as to form little paths
to every chair set for the expected visitors； lest their shoes might dirty or
defile the purity of the carpet。 Do you make paper paths for every
guest to walk upon in London？
Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns were not very cordial to each other。
The literary dispute； of which I had seen the beginning； was a 〃raw；〃 the
slightest touch on which made them wince。 It was the only difference
of opinion they had ever had； but that difference was enough。 Miss
Jenkyns could not refrain from talking at Captain Brown； and； though he
did not reply； he drummed with his fingers； which action she felt and
resented as very disparaging to Dr Johnson。 He was rather ostentatious
in his preference of the writings of Mr Boz； would walk through the
streets so absorbed in them that he all but ran against Miss Jenkyns； and
though his apologies were earnest and sincere； and though he did not； in
fact； do more than startle her and himself； she owned to me she had
rather he had knocked her down； if he had only been reading a higher
style of literature。 The poor； brave Captain！ he looked older； and more
worn； and his clothes were very threadbare。 But he seemed as bright
and cheerful as ever； unless he was asked about his daughter's health。
〃She suffers a great deal； and she must suffer more： we do what we
can to alleviate her pain； … God's will be done！〃 He took off his hat at
these last words。 I found； from Miss Matty； that everything had been
done； in fact。 A medical man； of high repute in that country
neighbourhood； had been sent for； and every injunction he had given
was attended to； regardless of expense。 Miss Matty was sure they
denied themselves many things in order to make the invalid comfortable；
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but they never spoke about it； and as for Miss Jessie！ … 〃I really think
she's an angel；〃 said poor Miss Matty； quite overcome。 〃To see her way
of bearing with Miss Brown's crossness； and the bright face she puts on
after she's been sitting up a whole night and scolded above half of it； is
quite beautiful。 Yet she looks as neat and as ready to welcome the
Captain at breakfast…time as if she had been asleep in the Queen's bed all
night。 My dear！ you could never laugh at her prim little curls or her
pink bows again if you saw her as I have done。〃 I could only feel very
penitent； and greet Miss Jessie with double respect when I met her next。
She looked faded and pinched； and her lips began to quiver； as if she
was very weak； when she spoke of her sister。 But she brightened； and
sent back the tears that were glittering in her pretty eyes； as she said …
〃But； to be sure； what a town Cranford is for kindness！ I don't
suppose any one has a better dinner than usual cooked but the best part
of all comes in a little covered basin for my sister。 The poor people
will leave their earliest vegetables at our door for her。 They speak short
and gruff； as if they were ashamed of it： but I am sure it often goes to my
heart to see their thoughtfulness。〃 The tears now came back and
overflowed； but after a minute or two she began to scold herself； and
ended by going away the same cheerful Miss Jessie as ever。
〃But why does not this Lord Mauleverer do something for the man
who saved his life？〃 said I。
〃Why； you see； unless Captain Brown has some reason for it； he
never speaks about being poor； and he walked along by his lordship
looking as happy and cheerful as a prince； and as they never called
attention to their dinner by apologies； and as Miss Brown was better that
day； and all seemed bright； I daresay his lordship never knew how much
care there was in the background。 He did send game in the winter
pretty often； but now he is gone abroad。〃
I had often occasion to notice the use that was made of fragments
and small opportunities in Cranford； the rose…leaves that were gathered
ere they fell to make into a potpourri for someone who had no garden；
the little bundles of lavender flowers sent to strew the drawers of some
town…dweller； or to burn in the chamber of some invalid。 Things that
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many would despise； and actions which it seemed scarcely worth while
to perform； were all attended to in Cranford。 Miss Jenkyns stuc