at the idea, which, as he said truly enough, was now presented to him for the first time; but then Mrs Jamieson must remember that he had been living for a long time among savages—all of whom were heathens—some of them, he was afraid, were downright Dissenters. Then, seeing Miss Matty draw near, he hastily changed the conversation, and after a little while, turning to me, he said, “Don’t be shocked, prim little Mary, at all my wonderful stories. I consider Mrs Jamieson fair game, and besides I am bent on propitiating her, and the first step towards it is keeping her well awake. I bribed her here by asking her to let me have her name as patroness for my poor conjuror this evening; and I don’t want to give her time enough to get up her rancour against the Hogginses, who are just coming in. I want everybody to be friends, for it harasses Matty so much to hear of these quarrels. I shall go at it again by-and-by, so you need not look shocked. I intend to enter the Assembly Room to-night with Mrs Jamieson on one side, and my lady, Mrs Hoggins, on the other. You see if I don’t.”
Somehow or another he did; and fairly got them into conversation together. Major and Mrs Gordon helped at the good work with their perfect ignorance of any existing coolness between any of the inhabitants of Cranford.
Ever since that day there has been the old friendly sociability in Cranford society; which I am thankful for, because of my dear Miss Matty’s love of peace and kindliness. We all love Miss Matty, and I somehow think we are all of us better when she is near us.
Ruth
I. The Dressmaker's Apprentice at Work
II. Ruth Goes to the Shire-Hall
IV. Treading in Perilous Places
VI. Troubles Gather About Ruth
VII. The Crisis—Watching and Waiting
VIII. Mrs Bellingham "Does the Thing Handsomely"
XII. Losing Sight of the Welsh Mountains
XIII. The Dissenting Minister's Household
XIV. Ruth's First Sunday at Eccleston
XVI. Sally Tells of Her Sweethearts, and Discourses on the Duties of Life
XVIII. Ruth Becomes a Governess in Mr Bradshaw's Family
XX. Jemima Refuses to Be Managed
XXI. Mr Farquhar's Attentions Transferred
XXII. The Liberal Candidate and His Precursor
XXIV. The Meeting on the Sands
XXVI. Mr Bradshaw's Virtuous Indignation
XXVII. Preparing to Stand on the Truth
XXVIII. An Understanding Between Lovers
XXIX. Sally Takes Her Money Out of the Bank
XXXI. An Accident to the Dover Coach
XXXII. The Bradshaw Pew Again Occupied
XXXIII. A Mother to Be Proud Of
XXXIV. "I Must Go and Nurse Mr Bellingham"
XXXV. Out of Darkness into Light
Drop, drop, slow tears!
And bathe those beauteous feet,
Which brought from heaven
