“I remember their sending one to Deborah just like this; but that I did not wonder at, for everybody knew she was so clear-headed.  I am afraid I could not help them much; indeed, if they came to accounts, I should be quite in the way, for I never could do sums in my head.  Deborah, I know, rather wished to go, and went so far as to order a new bonnet for the occasion:  but when the time came she had a bad cold; so they sent her a very polite account of what they had done.  Chosen a director, I think it was.  Do you think they want me to help them to choose a director?  I am sure I should choose your father at once!’

“My father has no shares in the bank,” said I.

“Oh, no!  I remember.  He objected very much to Deborah’s buying any, I believe.  But she was quite the woman of business, and always judged for herself; and here, you see, they have paid eight per cent. all these years.”

It was a very uncomfortable subject to me, with my half-knowledge; so I thought I would change the conversation, and I asked at what time she thought we had better go and see the fashions.  “Well, my dear,” she said, “the thing is this:  it is not etiquette to go till after twelve; but then, you see, all Cranford will be there, and one does not like to be too curious about dress and trimmings and caps with all the world looking on.  It is never genteel to be over-curious on these occasions.  Deborah had the knack of always looking as if the latest fashion was nothing new to her; a manner she had caught from Lady Arley, who did see all the new modes in London, you know.  So I thought we would just slip down—­for I do want this morning, soon after breakfast half-a-pound of tea—­and then we could go up and examine the things at our leisure, and see exactly how my new silk gown must be made; and then, after twelve, we could go with our minds disengaged, and free from thoughts of dress.”

We began to talk of Miss Matty’s new silk gown.  I discovered that it would be really the first time in her life that she had had to choose anything of consequence for herself:  for Miss Jenkyns had always been the more decided character, whatever her taste might have been; and it is astonishing how such people carry the world before them by the mere force of will.  Miss Matty anticipated the sight of the glossy folds with as much delight as if the five sovereigns, set apart for the purchase, could buy all the silks in the shop; and (remembering my own loss of two hours in a toyshop before I could tell on what wonder to spend a silver threepence) I was very glad that we were going early, that dear Miss Matty might have leisure for the delights of perplexity.

If a happy sea-green could be met with, the gown was to be sea-green:  if not, she inclined to maize, and I to silver gray; and we discussed the requisite number of breadths until we arrived at the shop-door.  We were to buy the tea, select the silk, and then clamber up the iron corkscrew stairs that led into what was once a loft, though now a fashion show-room.