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desirable arrangement。 As long as Martha would remain with Miss
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Matty； Miss Matty was only too thankful to have her about her； yes； and
Jem too； who was a very pleasant man to have in the house； for she
never saw him from week's end to week's end。 And as for the probable
children； if they would all turn out such little darlings as her god…
daughter； Matilda； she should not mind the number； if Martha didn't。
Besides； the next was to be called Deborah … a point which Miss Matty
had reluctantly yielded to Martha's stubborn determination that her first…
born was to be Matilda。 So Miss Pole had to lower her colours； and
even her voice； as she said to me that； as Mr and Mrs Hearn were still to
go on living in the same house with Miss Matty； we had certainly done a
wise thing in hiring Martha's niece as an auxiliary。
I left Miss Matty and Mr Peter most comfortable and contented； the
only subject for regret to the tender heart of the one； and the social
friendly nature of the other； being the unfortunate quarrel between Mrs
Jamieson and the plebeian Hogginses and their following。 In joke； I
prophesied one day that this would only last until Mrs Jamieson or Mr
Mulliner were ill； in which case they would only be too glad to be
friends with Mr Hoggins； but Miss Matty did not like my looking
forward to anything like illness in so light a manner； and before the year
was out all had come round in a far more satisfactory way。
I received two Cranford letters on one auspicious October morning。
Both Miss Pole and Miss Matty wrote to ask me to come over and meet
the Gordons； who had returned to England alive and well with their two
children； now almost grown up。 Dear Jessie Brown had kept her old
kind nature； although she had changed her name and station； and she
wrote to say that she and Major Gordon expected to be in Cranford on
the fourteenth； and she hoped and begged to be remembered to Mrs
Jamieson （named first； as became her honourable station）； Miss Pole and
Miss Matty … could she ever forget their kindness to her poor father and
sister？ … Mrs Forrester； Mr Hoggins （and here again came in an allusion
to kindness shown to the dead long ago）； his new wife； who as such
must allow Mrs Gordon to desire to make her acquaintance； and who
was； moreover； an old Scotch friend of her husband's。 In short； every
one was named； from the rector … who had been appointed to Cranford in
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the interim between Captain Brown's death and Miss Jessie's marriage；
and was now associated with the latter event … down to Miss Betty
Barker。 All were asked to the luncheon； all except Mrs Fitz…Adam； who
had come to live in Cranford since Miss Jessie Brown's days； and whom
I found rather moping on account of the omission。 People wondered at
Miss Betty Barker's being included in the honourable list； but； then； as
Miss Pole said； we must remember the disregard of the genteel
proprieties of life in which the poor captain had educated his girls； and
for his sake we swallowed our pride。 Indeed； Mrs Jamieson rather took
it as a compliment； as putting Miss Betty （formerly HER maid） on a
level with 〃those Hogginses。〃
But when I arrived in Cranford； nothing was as yet ascertained of
Mrs Jamieson's own intentions； would the honourable lady go； or would
she not？ Mr Peter declared that she should and she would； Miss Pole
shook her head and desponded。 But Mr Peter was a man of resources。
In the first place； he persuaded Miss Matty to write to Mrs Gordon； and
to tell her of Mrs Fitz…Adam's existence； and to beg that one so kind； and
cordial； and generous； might be included in the pleasant invitation。 An
answer came back by return of post； with a pretty little note for Mrs Fitz…
Adam； and a request that Miss Matty would deliver it herself and explain
the previous omission。 Mrs Fitz…Adam was as pleased as could be； and
thanked Miss Matty over and over again。 Mr Peter had said； 〃Leave
Mrs Jamieson to me；〃 so we did； especially as we knew nothing that we
could do to alter her determination if once formed。
I did not know； nor did Miss Matty； how things were going on； until
Miss Pole asked me； just the day before Mrs Gordon came； if I thought
there was anything between Mr Peter and Mrs Jamieson in the
matrimonial line； for that Mrs Jamieson was really going to the lunch at
the 〃George。〃 She had sent Mr Mulliner down to desire that there
might be a footstool put to the warmest seat in the room； as she meant to
come； and knew that their chairs were very high。 Miss Pole had picked
this piece of news up； and from it she conjectured all sorts of things； and
bemoaned yet more。 〃If Peter should marry； what would become of
poor dear Miss Matty？ And Mrs Jamieson； of all people！〃 Miss Pole
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seemed to think there were other ladies in Cranford who would have
done more credit to his choice； and I think she must have had someone
who was unmarried in her head； for she kept saying； 〃It was so wanting
in delicacy in a widow to think of such a thing。〃
When I got back to Miss Matty's I really did begin to think that Mr
Peter might be thinking of Mrs Jamieson for a wife； and I was as
unhappy as Miss Pole about it。 He had the proof sheet of a great
placard in his hand。 〃Signor Brunoni；