Cranford

The next morning news came, both official and otherwise, that the Town and County Bank had stopped payment. Miss Matty was ruined. She tried to speak quietly to me; but when she came to the actual fact that she would have but about five shillings a week to live upon, she could not restrain a few tears. “I am not crying for myself, dear,” said she, wiping them away; “I believe I am crying for the very silly thought of how my mother would grieve if she could know; she always cared for us so much more than for herself. But many a poor person has less, and I am not very extravagant, and, thank God, when the neck of mutton, and Martha’s wages, and the rent are paid, I have not a farthing owing. Poor Martha! I think she’ll be sorry to leave me.” Miss Matty smiled at me through her tears, and she would fain have had me see only the smile, not the tears.