Cranford

“I will lock the door after you, Martha. You are not afraid to go, are you?” “No, ma’am, not at all; Jem Hearn will be only too proud to go with me.” Miss Matty drew herself up, and as soon as we were alone, she wished that Martha had more maidenly reserve. “We’ll put out the candle, my dear. We can talk just as well by firelight, you know. There! Well, you see, Deborah had gone from home for a fortnight or so; it was a very still, quiet day, I remember, overhead; and the lilacs were all in flower, so I suppose it was spring. My father had gone out to see some sick people in the parish; I recollect seeing him leave the house with his wig and shovel-hat and cane. What possessed our poor Peter I don’t know; he had the sweetest temper, and yet he always seemed to like to plague Deborah. She never laughed at his jokes, and thought him ungenteel, and not careful enough about improving his mind; and that vexed him.