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 purpose, could buy all the silks in the shop; and remembering my own loss of two hours in a toy-shop 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.

The young men at Mr. Johnson's had on their best looks, and their best cravats, and pivoted themselves over the counter with surprising activity. They wanted to show us upstairs at once; but on the principle of business first and pleasure afterwards, we stayed to purchase the tea.

Here Miss Matty's absence of mind betrayed itself. If she was made aware that she had been drinking green tea at any time, she always thought it her duty to lie awake half through the night afterward- I have known

her take it in ignorance many a time without such effects — and consequently green tea was prohibited the house; yet to-day she herself asked for the obnoxious article, under the impression that she was talking about the silk. However, the mistake was soon rectified; and then the silks were unrolled in good truth.

By this time the shop was pretty well filled, for it was Cranford market-day, and many of the farmers and country people from the neighborhood round came in, sleeking down their hair, and glancing shyly about from under their eyelids, as anxious to take back some notion of the unusual gayety to the mistress or the lasses at home, and yet feeling that they were out of place among the smart shopmen and gay shawls and summer prints.

One honest-looking man, however, made his way up to the counter at which we stood, and boldly asked to look at a shawl or two. The other country folk confined themselves to the grocery side; but our neighbor was evidently too full of some kind intention toward mistress, wife, or daughter to be shy; and it soon became a question with me, whether he or Miss Matty would keep the shopman the longest time. He thought each shawl more beautiful than the last; and as for Miss Matty, she smiled and sighed over each fresh bale that was brought out; one color set off another, and the heap together would, as she said, make even the rainbow look poor.

“I am afraid,” said she, hesitating, "whichever I choose I shall wish I had taken another. Look at this lovely crimson! it would be so warm in winter. But spring is coming on, you know. I wish I could have a gown for

every season," said she, dropping her voice as we all did in Cranford whenever we talked of anything we wished for but could not afford. "However," she continued, in a louder and more cheerful tone, "it would give me a great deal of trouble to take care of them if I had them; so, I think, I'll take only one. But which must it be, my dear?"

And now she hovered over a lilac with yellow spots, while I pulled out a quiet sage-green that had faded into insignificance under the more brilliant colors, but which was nevertheless a good silk in its humble way.

Our attention was called off to our neighbor. He had chosen a shawl of about thirty shillings' value; and his face looked broadly happy, under the anticipation, no doubt, of the pleasant surprise he should give to some Molly or Jenny at home; he had tugged a leathern purse out of his breeches-pocket, and had offered a five-pound note in payment for the shawl, and for some parcels which had been brought round to him from the grocery counter; and it was just at this point that he attracted our notice. The shopman was examining the note with a puzzled, doubtful air.

"Town and County Bank! I am not sure, sir, but I believe we have received a warning against notes issued by this bank only this morning. I will just step and ask Mr. Johnson, sir; but I'm afraid I must trouble you for payment in cash or in a note of a different bank.”

I never saw a man's countenance fall so suddenly into dismay and bewilderment. It was almost piteous to see

the rapid change.

66

Why," said he, striking his fist down on the table, as if to try which was the harder, "the chap talks as if notes and gold were to be had for the picking up!"

Miss Matty had forgotten her silk gown in her interest for the man. I don't think she had caught the name of the bank, and in my nervous cowardice I was anxious that she should not; and so I began admiring the yellowspotted lilac gown that I had been utterly condemning only a minute before. But it was of no use.

"What bank was it? I mean, what bank did your note belong to?"

"Town and County Bank."

"Let me see it," said she, quietly, to the shopman, gently taking it out of his hand, as he brought it back to return it to the farmer.

Mr. Johnson was very sorry, but, from information he had received, the notes issued by that bank were little better than waste paper.

"I don't understand it," said Miss Matty to me in a low voice. "That is our bank, is it not? the Town and County Bank?"

"Yes," said I. “This lilac silk will just match the ribbons in your new cap, I believe," I continued, holding up the folds so as to catch the light, and wishing that the man would make haste and be gone, and yet having a new wonder, that had only just sprung up, how far it was wise or right in me to allow Miss Matty to make this expensive purchase if the affairs of the bank were really so bad as the refusal of the note implied.

But Miss Matty put on the soft, dignified manner pecul

iar to her, rarely used, and yet which became her so well, and laying her hand gently on mine, she said : "Never mind the silks for a few minutes, dear. I don't understand you, sir," turning now to the shopman who had been attending to the farmer. "Is this a forged note?" "Oh, no, ma'am. It is a true note of its kind; but you see, ma'am, it is a joint-stock bank, and there are reports out that it is likely to break. Mr. Johnson is only doing his duty, ma'am, as I am sure Mr. Dobson knows."

But Mr. Dobson could not respond to the appealing bow by any answering smile. He was turning the note absently over in his fingers, looking gloomily enough at the parcel containing the lately chosen shawl.

"It's hard upon a poor man," said he, “ as earns every farthing, with the sweat of his brow. However, there's no help for it. You must take back your shawl, my man; Lizzie must go on with her cloak for awhile. And yon figs for the little ones I promised them to 'em I'll take them; but the 'bacco, and the other things—"

"I will give you five sovereigns for your note, my good man," said Miss Matty. "I think there is some great mistake about it, for I am one of the shareholders and I'm sure they would have told me if things had not been going on right."

The shopman whispered a word or two across the table to Miss Matty. She looked at him with a dubious air. "Perhaps so," said she. "But I don't pretend to understand business; I only know that if it is going to