Cranford

Peter’s Planned Future

Peter’s friends and family had carefully mapped out his life: he was to distinguish himself at Shrewsbury School, carry his honours onward to Cambridge, and ultimately receive a church living from his godfather, Sir Peter Arley. This pleasant and orderly plan, however, was not what destiny had in store, as the Latin epigraph “Bonus Bernardus non videt omnia” hints—good intentions cannot foresee everything.

Peter’s Family and Character

Within the Jenkyns household, Peter’s mother adored all her children but was somewhat intimidated by Deborah’s superior learning, while their father favoured Deborah, making her his pride after Peter disappointed him. Peter himself had a sweet temper, was gentlemanly in many ways—always ready to help the elderly or children—and resembled Captain Brown in his kindness, even though he indulged in mischievous joking that his family found troubling.

Peter’s School Pranking Reputation

The sole honour Peter brought back from Shrewsbury School was a reputation as the best good fellow who ever lived and the school’s acknowledged captain of practical joking. His father, though disappointed, responded manfully by personally tutoring him in Latin, setting out formidable dictionaries and lexicons in his study each morning. For a long time Peter’s earnest work kept him in his father’s good graces.

Pranks on Cranford Residents

Peter developed a habit of playing practical jokes on the Cranford residents, particularly the elderly ladies, who he believed would believe anything. Miss Matty finds the word “hoaxing” slips out because it was always Peter’s own expression. While she refuses to recount most of his shocking pranks, she notes that the townspeople already had plenty to talk about with the St James’s Chronicle three times a week, and didn’t need Peter’s help making conversation.