第十三章
Chapter XIII follows the narrator and Miss Matty through the immediate aftermath of exchanging bank notes for gold. Mr Johnson shares alarming news about the Town and County Bank, and Miss Matty conducts her account review before news arrives that the bank has stopped payment, leaving her financially ruined yet resigned to her fate.
Mr Johnson’s Ill-Timed Bank News
As the narrator and Miss Matty pass through the shop, Mr Johnson — informed of the gold exchange — attempts to offer condolence. Though well-meaning, he shows a lack of tact by exaggerating the bank’s troubles, claiming her shares are worthless and that the bank cannot pay a shilling in the pound. Miss Matty appears mildly incredulous, though the narrator cannot tell whether this is genuine or a mask of self-control befitting a lady of her standing in Cranford, who would never show distress to an inferior or in a public shop.
Silent Walk Home and Unspoken Annoyance
The pair walk home in silence. The narrator admits to feeling vexed and annoyed that Miss Matty had claimed the note so decisively, having set her heart on Miss Matty getting a new silk gown she needed. Despite Miss Matty’s usual indecisiveness, her firm action in this case could not be overturned, and the narrator remains put out by the outcome.
Regrettable Question About Repurchasing Notes
After midday, both women feel satiated in their curiosity about fashions and physically fatigued from the mental strain. They do not speak of the note until something compels the narrator to ask Miss Matty whether she would feel obligated to offer sovereigns for all Town and County Bank notes she encountered. The narrator immediately regrets the question, realizing she has added a new perplexity to Miss Matty’s already troubled mind.
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