Cranford

Father’s Gentle Transformation After Wife’s Illness

The father, seeing that his wife’s health was failing, became remarkably gentle and humble after his severity, checking himself if he spoke too harshly and seeking reassurance that he had said nothing to hurt his daughters.

Mother’s Death and Posthumous Shawl Arrival

A large soft white Indian shawl with a narrow border arrived for the mother from Peter the day after her death, arriving too late for her ever to wear it in life.

Father’s Request to Bury Wife in Peter’s Shawl

The father, sitting with his wife’s hand in his all night, declared she should be buried in Peter’s shawl—the very shawl she had wished for at her marriage and never received—and she was laid out in it looking fair and smiling.

Family’s Reduced Circumstances After Loss

After the father’s death, the sisters were compelled to leave the rectory with its maids and man and move to a small house with a single servant-of-all-work, though Deborah maintained they had always lived genteelly despite reduced circumstances.

Deborah’s Devotion to Her Father

Deborah devoted herself wholly to her aging father, reading to him, writing and copying on his behalf, conducting parish business, and even writing to the bishop; Miss Matty quietly did odd jobs to set Deborah at liberty to serve him.

Peter’s Brief Return as a Naval Lieutenant

Peter returned home once as a naval lieutenant, and he and his father became devoted companions, with the proud father taking Peter’s arm about the parish and relying on him as he had once relied on Deborah.