Cranford

CHAPTER XV.

Chapter XV centers on the long-awaited reunion of Miss Matty Jenkyns with her brother Peter, who has been presumed dead for years after disappearing to India. The chapter traces the moment of recognition, the emotional embrace, the sharing of his adventurous past, Miss Matty’s quiet overnight vigil to confirm his reality, and Peter’s generous distribution of gifts throughout the Cranford community.

Miss Matty Recognizes Long-Lost Brother Peter

Peter enters Miss Matty’s shop and, uncertain how to announce himself, pretends to browse and asks for a pound of almond comfits. Miss Matty is struck by something tender and familiar in his face. She looks up to remonstrate about the excessive quantity and suddenly recognizes him, crying out, “It is—oh, sir! can you be Peter?” Her whole body trembles with the shock of recognition.

Miss Matty and Peter’s Emotional Reunion

Peter rushes around the counter and catches Miss Matty in his arms, both weeping the tearless sobs of old age. The narrator brings wine when Miss Matty’s color changes alarmingly. Peter repeatedly calls her “my little girl” and worries he has been too sudden. He carries her upstairs to the drawing-room sofa, her hand still clutching his even as she nearly faints.

Narrator Shares Reunion News with Martha

While the siblings are reunited, the narrator tends to the shop and breaks the news to Martha, who bursts into tears and questions the identity because Peter is grey-haired, not the handsome young man she had always imagined. The narrator also makes tea.

Peter Reveals Indian Gifts for Miss Matty

At tea, Miss Matty can barely eat or drink for staring at her brother, and remarks that hot climates must age people quickly since he had no grey hairs when he left Cranford. Peter announces he has brought her an Indian muslin gown and a pearl necklace from India. Miss Matty momentarily imagines herself elegantly attired, but the touch of her customary muslin wraps at her throat reminds her the necklace is no longer suitable for her age. She accepts them kindly, saying they are what she would have liked years ago.

Miss Matty Convinces Peter to Stay in Cranford

When the narrator begins arranging a room for Peter, he insists on going to the George Inn for his carpet-bag. Miss Matty becomes deeply distressed, crying out that he must not go. Both the narrator and Peter promise to stay, and Peter sits down again, giving her his hand, which she holds in both of hers.

Miss Matty Recounts Peter’s Past to the Narrator

Into the night and early morning, Miss Matty recounts her brother’s life to the narrator. She explains that he volunteered at the siege of Rangoon, was captured by the Burmese, obtained his freedom by bleeding a chief, found his letters returned marked “Dead,” and had settled in India as an indigo planter. On receiving the narrator’s letter, he sold everything and rushed home. Miss Matty talks the narrator to sleep.

Miss Matty Verifies Peter’s Presence Overnight

Once the narrator falls asleep, Miss Matty becomes tormented by the fear that Peter’s return is only a waking dream. She quietly slips out of bed and creeps to his door to listen to his regular breathing through two closed doors. Only this sound soothes her into sleep, confirming that her long-lost brother is truly present under the same roof.

Peter Shares Gifts with the Cranford Community

Although Peter is not as wealthy as a nabob, he and Miss Matty have enough to live genteelly in Cranford. A day or two after his arrival, the shop closes while Peter showers comfits and lozenges down upon gathered urchins. He distributes tea and gifts to the Cranford ladies, including the Indian muslin gown reserved for Flora Gordon, pearl necklaces, Indian ornaments for Mrs Jamieson and Mrs Fitz-Adam, a fine edition of Dr Johnson’s works for the narrator, and something for every household that had ever shown kindness to his sister.