Cranford

Martha and Jem’s Lodging Proposal

Martha appears at the drawing-room door, dragging in a tall, crimson, perpetually hair-sleeking young man named Jem Hearn. Martha blurts out that Jem wants to marry her off-hand, that they wish to take a lodger to make ends meet, and—most importantly—would Miss Matty consider lodging with them? Jem, flustered and trying to explain that he needs “breathing-time,” stumbles into awkward statements about not wanting common lodgers, but then rallies to address Miss Matty with genuine dignity, expressing his respect for Martha’s kind mistress and offering to keep out of her way as much as possible. Martha, hurt by his earlier hedging, is at last satisfied with this straightforward declaration, and the chapter ends with their earnest proposal hanging in the air.

KAPITEL XIV.

CHAPTER XIV. follows the Cranford ladies’ concerted response to Miss Matty Jenkyns’s financial ruin after the bank failure. The chapter opens with the kind offer of marriage from her servants Jem and Martha, then moves through a secret meeting at Miss Pole’s where the ladies pledge annual contributions. Individual confessions from Mrs Forrester and Mrs Fitz-Adam reveal the true depth of their sacrifice, and the chapter closes with Miss Matty’s father reviewing her affairs and her own resolve to face reduced circumstances with dignity.

Jem and Martha’s Marriage Discussion

Jem and Martha broach the subject of their impending marriage to Miss Matty, who is deeply moved and urges them not to rush into matrimony on her account. Jem protests his willingness good-naturedly despite being somewhat flustered, and Martha, overwhelmed, bursts from the room to be followed and soothed by her lover. Miss Matty then weeps at the shock of the impending change, while both she and the narrator quietly appreciate the honest couple’s kindness.

Miss Pole’s Secret Summons

Early the next morning, the narrator receives a mysteriously wrapped, heavily sealed note from Miss Pole, summoning her to a meeting at eleven o’clock that morning. The oracular writing and elaborate secrecy are noted with some amusement, but the gravity of the summons is clear. Martha delivers the note with Miss Pole’s regards, and the narrator obeys the call.

Cranford Ladies’ Secret Support Meeting

At Miss Pole’s drawing-room, the narrator finds Mrs Forrester already in tears and Mrs Fitz-Adam arriving flushed from hurrying. The table is set with writing materials, cowslip wine, and biscuits in a ceremonial manner befitting the occasion. Miss Pole delivers a formal address, reading partly from a concealed card, proposing that the ladies contribute secretly to support Miss Matty while sparing her feelings of delicate independence. Each lady writes down her annual contribution, signs, and seals the paper, to be opened by the narrator’s father if the plan is accepted.

Mrs Forrester’s Private Contribution Confession

After the formal ceremony, Mrs Forrester waylays the narrator in the dining-parlour to confess how very little she has to live upon, trembling as if confessing a crime. She is terrified that her small contribution will be misread as a measure of her love for Miss Matty, when in truth the sum represents more than a twentieth part of an income that does not nearly reach a hundred pounds. She repeats her wish to be richer purely for Miss Matty’s sake, with no thought of herself.

Mrs Fitz-Adam’s Personal Support Plea

Mrs Fitz-Adam in turn confides to the narrator that she deliberately put down less than she could afford, ashamed to appear too generous. She recounts a long-cherished memory of the young Miss Matty stopping to comfort her when she was only a country girl coming into Cranford with eggs and butter, and says she has loved her ever since. She offers her brother Mr Hoggins’s medical services free of charge, and begs for some secret way to give more without being detected.

Assessment of Miss Matty’s Remaining Assets

Returning to Miss Matty, the narrator finds her absorbed in small arrangements preparatory to giving up her house, a task that provides some relief from distressing thoughts about the bank directors. Old family hoards are examined and valued, though fortunately their monetary worth is small, sparing Miss Matty from having to part with such heirlooms as her mother’s wedding-ring. The household goods are roughly catalogued in readiness for the business meeting the next morning.