Cranford

“Marry!” said Miss Matty once again. “Well! I never thought of it. Two people that we know going to be married. It’s coming very near!” “So near that my heart stopped beating when I heard of it, while you might have counted twelve,” said Miss Pole. “One does not know whose turn may come next. Here, in Cranford, poor Lady Glenmire might have thought herself safe,” said Miss Matty, with a gentle pity in her tones. “Bah!” said Miss Pole, with a toss of her head. “Don’t you remember poor dear Captain Brown’s song ‘Tibbie Fowler,’ and the line— ‘Set her on the Tintock tap, The wind will blaw a man till her.’” “That was because ‘Tibbie Fowler’ was rich, I think.” “Well! there was a kind of attraction about Lady Glenmire that I, for one, should be ashamed to have.” I put in my wonder. “But how can she have fancied Mr Hoggins? I am not surprised that Mr Hoggins has liked her.” “Oh! I don’t know. Mr Hoggins is rich, and very pleasant-looking,” said Miss Matty, “and very good-tempered and kind-hearted.”