 three before me.
    »I wish Mrs. Jamieson was here!« said Mrs. Forrester at last; but, to judge
from Mrs. Fitz-Adam's face, she could not second the wish.
    »But without Mrs. Jamieson,« said Miss Pole, with just a sound of offended
merit in her voice, »we, the ladies of Cranford, in my drawing-room assembled,
can resolve upon something. I imagine we are none of us what may be called rich,
though we all possess a genteel competency, sufficient for tastes that are
elegant and refined, and would not, if they could, be vulgarly ostentatious.«
(Here I observed Miss Pole refer to a small card concealed in her hand, on which
I imagine she had put down a few notes.)
    »Miss Smith,« she continued, addressing me (familiarly known as Mary to all
the company assembled, but this was a state occasion), »I have conversed in
private - I made it my business to do so yesterday afternoon - with these ladies
on the misfortune which has happened to our friend, and one and all of us have
agreed that while we have a superfluity, it is not only a duty, but a pleasure -
a true pleasure, Mary!« - her voice was rather choked just here, and she had to
wipe her spectacles before she could go on - »to give what we can to assist her
- Miss Matilda Jenkyns. Only in consideration of the feelings of delicate
independence existing in the mind of every refined female« - I was sure she had
got back to the card now - »we wish to contribute our mites in a secret and
concealed manner, so as not to hurt the feelings I have referred to. And our
object in requesting you to meet us this morning is that, believing you are the
daughter - that your father is, in fact, her confidential adviser in all
pecuniary matters, we imagined that, by consulting with him, you might devise
some mode in which our contribution could be made to appear the legal due which
Miss Matilda Jenkyns ought to receive from -- Probably your father, knowing her
investments, can fill up the blank.«
    Miss Pole concluded her address, and looked round for approval and
agreement.
    »I have expressed your meaning, ladies, have I not? And while Miss Smith
considers what reply to make, allow me to offer you some little refreshment.«
    I had no great reply to make: I had more thankfulness at my heart for their
kind thoughts than I cared to
