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She could not banish the thought of the surprise all day； but went about
on tiptoe； and was very silent。 But she stole up to see Martha and they
both cried with joy； and she got into a complimentary speech to Jem； and
did not know how to get out of it again； and was only extricated from
her dilemma by the sound of the shop…bell； which was an equal relief to
the shy； proud； honest Jem； who shook my hand so vigorously when I
congratulated him； that I think I feel the pain of it yet。
I had a busy life while Martha was laid up。 I attended on Miss
Matty； and prepared her meals； I cast up her accounts； and examined into
the state of her canisters and tumblers。 I helped her； too； occasionally；
in the shop； and it gave me no small amusement； and sometimes a little
uneasiness； to watch her ways there。 If a little child came in to ask for
an ounce of almond…comfits （and four of the large kind which Miss
Matty sold weighed that much）； she always added one more by 〃way of
make…weight；〃 as she called it； although the scale was handsomely
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turned before； and when I remonstrated against this； her reply was； 〃The
little things like it so much！〃 There was no use in telling her that the
fifth comfit weighed a quarter of an ounce； and made every sale into a
loss to her pocket。 So I remembered the green tea； and winged my
shaft with a feather out of her own plumage。 I told her how
unwholesome almond…comfits were； and how ill excess in them might
make the little children。 This argument produced some effect； for；
henceforward； instead of the fifth comfit； she always told them to hold
out their tiny palms； into which she shook either peppermint or ginger
lozenges； as a preventive to the dangers that might arise from the
previous sale。 Altogether the lozenge trade； conducted on these
principles； did not promise to be remunerative； but I was happy to find
she had made more than twenty pounds during the last year by her sales
of tea； and； moreover； that now she was accustomed to it； she did not
dislike the employment； which brought her into kindly intercourse with
many of the people round about。 If she gave them good weight； they； in
their turn； brought many a little country present to the 〃old rector's
daughter〃； a cream cheese； a few new…laid eggs； a little fresh ripe fruit； a
bunch of flowers。 The counter was quite loaded with these offerings
sometimes； as she told me。
As for Cranford in general； it was going on much as usual。 The
Jamieson and Hoggins feud still raged； if a feud it could be called； when
only one side cared much about it。 Mr and Mrs Hoggins were very
happy together； and； like most very happy people； quite ready to be
friendly； indeed； Mrs Hoggins was really desirous to be restored to Mrs
Jamieson's good graces； because of the former intimacy。 But Mrs
Jamieson considered their very happiness an insult to the Glenmire
family； to which she had still the honour to belong； and she doggedly
refused and rejected every advance。 Mr Mulliner； like a faithful
clansman； espoused his mistress' side with ardour。 If he saw either Mr
or Mrs Hoggins； he would cross the street； and appear absorbed in the
contemplation of life in general； and his own path in particular； until he
had passed them by。 Miss Pole used to amuse herself with wondering
what in the world Mrs Jamieson would do； if either she； or Mr Mulliner；
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or any other member of her household was taken ill； she could hardly
have the face to call in Mr Hoggins after the way she had behaved to
them。 Miss Pole grew quite impatient for some indisposition or
accident to befall Mrs Jamieson or her dependents； in order that
Cranford might see how she would act under the perplexing
circumstances。
Martha was beginning to go about again； and I had already fixed a
limit； not very far distant； to my visit； when one afternoon； as I was
sitting in the shop…parlour with Miss Matty … I remember the weather
was colder now than it had been in May； three weeks before； and we had
a fire and kept the door fully closed … we saw a gentleman go slowly past
the window； and then stand opposite to the door； as if looking out for the
name which we had so carefully hidden。 He took out a double eyeglass
and peered about for some time before he could discover it。 Then he
came in。 And； all on a sudden； it flashed across me that it was the Aga
himself！ For his clothes had an out…of…the…way foreign cut about them；
and his face was deep brown； as if tanned and re…tanned by the sun。
His complexion contrasted oddly with his plentiful snow…white hair； his
eyes were dark and piercing； and he had an odd way of contracting them
and puckering up his cheeks into innumerable wrinkles when he looked
earnestly at objects。 He did so to Miss Matty when he first came in。
His glance had first caught and lingered a little upon me； but then turned；
with the peculiar searching look I have described； to Miss Matty。 She
was a little fluttered and nervous； but no more so than she always was
when any man came into her shop。 She thought that he would probably
have a note； or a sovereign at least； for which she would have to give
change； which was an operation she very much disliked to perform。
But the present customer stood opposite to