Cranford

Late Night Secret Letter Drafting

After Miss Matty retires, the narrator treacherously relights the candle and sits down alone in the drawing-room to compose a carefully worded letter to the Aga Jenkyns. The letter is crafted to affect him deeply if he turns out to be Peter, while appearing as a dry statement of facts if he is a stranger. The narrator does not finish until the church clock peals out two.

Bank Failure and Miss Matty’s Ruin

The next morning brings official and unofficial news that the Town and County Bank has stopped payment. Miss Matty is ruined.

Miss Matty’s Calm Acceptance of Poverty

Miss Matty tries to speak quietly but cannot entirely suppress her tears when she realizes she will have only about five shillings a week to live upon. She explains that she is not crying for herself but for the thought of how her mother would grieve, since their mother always cared for them more than for herself. She observes that many poor people have less, that she is not extravagant, and that, thank God, once the mutton, Martha’s wages, and the rent are paid, she owes nothing. She smiles through her tears, concerned for Martha, who will be sorry to leave her.

第十四章

Chapter XIV, “Friends in Need,” depicts Miss Matty Jenkyns’s immediate response to her reduced financial circumstances after losing her capital. The chapter follows the narrator’s efforts to contact the wealthy Aga Jenkyns, Miss Matty’s loyal servant Martha’s fierce refusal to abandon her mistress, the friends’ anxious evaluation of possible livelihoods, the proposal that Miss Matty sell tea, and finally Martha and her suitor Jem Hearn’s surprise offer of a home together. The chapter emphasizes communal loyalty, practical kindness, and the gentle humor that arises from well-meaning attempts to help.