overcome his reluctance to be presented on
the courtly scene of Miss Matilda Jenkyns'
drawing-room.

"And please, ma'am, he wants to marry
me off-hand. And please, ma'am, we want
to take a lodger—just one quiet lodger, to
make our two ends meet—and we'd take any
house conformable; and, oh dear Miss Matey,
if I may be so bold, would you have objections
to lodging with us? Jem wants it as
much as I do." [To Jem:]—"You great oaf!
why can't you back me?—but he does want it
ail the same very bad, don't you, Jem?—only,
you see, he's dazed at being called on to speak
before quality."

"It's not that," broke in Jem. "It's that
you've taken me all on a sudden, and I didn't
think for to get married so soon—and such
quick work does flabbergast a man. It's not
that I'm against it, ma'am," (addressing Miss
Matey), "only Martha has such quick ways
with her, when once she takes a thing into
her head; and marriage, ma'am,—marriage
nails a man, as one may say. I dare say I
shan't mind it after it's once over."

"Please, ma'am," said Martha, who had
plucked at his sleeve, and nudged him with
her elbow, and otherwise tried to interrupt
him all the time he had been speaking, "don't
mind him, he'll come to; 'twas only last night
he was an-axing me, and an-axing me, and all
the more because I said I could not think of
it for years to come, and now he's only taken
aback with the suddenness of the joy; but
you know, Jem, you are just as full as me
about wanting a lodger." (Another great
nudge.)

"Ay! if Miss Matey would lodge with us
—otherwise I've no mind to be cumbered
with strange folk in the house," said Jem,
with a want of tact which I could see
enraged Martha, who was trying to represent
a lodger as the great object they wished to
obtain, and that in fact Miss Matey would
be smoothing their path, and conferring a
favour, if she would only come and live with
them.

Miss Matey herself was bewildered by the
pair; their, or rather Martha's sudden
resolution in favour of matrimony staggered her,
and stood between her and the contemplation
of the plan which Martha had at heart. Miss
Matey began,—

"Marriage is a very solemn thing, Martha."

"It is indeed, Ma'am," quoth Jem. "Not
that I've no objections to Martha."

"You've never let me a-be for asking me
for to fix when I would be married," said
Martha, her face all afire, and ready to cry
with vexation, "and now you're shaming me
before my missus and all."

"Nay, now! Martha, don't ee! don't ee!
only a man likes to have breathing time,"
said Jem, trying to possess himself of her
hand, but in vain. Then seeing that she was
more seriously hurt than he had imagined, he
seemed to try to rally his scattered faculties,
and with more straightforward dignity than,
ten minutes before, I should have thought it
possible for him to assume, he turned to Miss
Matey, and said, "I hope, ma'am, you know
that I'm bound to respect every one who has
been kind to Martha. I always looked on
her as to be my wife—some time; and she
has often and often spoken of you as the
kindest lady that ever was; and though the
plain truth is I would not like to be troubled
with lodgers of the common run; yet if,
ma'am, you'd honour us by living with us,
I am sure Martha would do her best to make
you comfortable; and I'd keep out of your
way as much as I could, which I reckon
would be the best kindness such an awkward
chap as me could do."

Miss Matey had been very busy with
taking off her spectacles, wiping them, and
replacing them; but all she could say was,
"Don't let any thought of me hurry you into
marriage: pray don't! Marriage is such a
very solemn thing!"

"But Miss Matilda will think of your
plan, Martha," said I, struck with the
advantages that it offered, and unwilling to lose
the opportunity of considering about it. "And
I'm sure neither she nor I can ever forget
your kindness, nor yours either, Jem."

"Why, yes, ma'am! I'm sure I mean
kindly, though I'm a bit fluttered by being
pushed straight a-head into matrimony, as
it were, and mayn't express myself conformable.
But I'm sure I'm willing enough, and
give me time to get accustomed; so, Martha,
wench, what's the use of crying so, and
slapping me if I come near?"

This last was sotto voce, and had the effect
of making Martha bounce out of the room,
to be followed and soothed by her lover.
Whereupon Miss Matey sat down and cried
very heartily, and accounted for it by
saying that the thought of Martha being
married so soon gave her quite a shock,
and that she should never forgive herself if
she thought she was hurrying the poor
creature. I think my pity was more for
Jem, of the two; but both Miss Matey and
I appreciated to the full the kindness of the
honest couple, although we said little about
this, and a good deal about the chances
and dangers of matrimony.

The next morning, very early, I received a
note from Miss Pole, so mysteriously wrapped
up, and with so many seals on it to secure
secresy, that I had to tear the paper before I
could unfold it. And when I came to the
writing I could hardly understand the
meaning, it was so involved and oracular.
I made out, however, that I was to go to
Miss Pole's at eleven o'clock; the number
eleven being written in full length as well as
in numerals, and A. M. twice dashed under, as
if I were very likely to come at eleven at
night, when all Cranford was usually a-bed,
and asleep by ten; there was no signature
except Miss Pole's initials, reversed, P. E., but