The following was inspired by the 2007 BBC series Cranford, which was adapted from Cranford, Mr. Harrison's Confessions, and My Lady Ludlow by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Many, many thanks to all who are reading this, and special thanks to those who take the time to review.

Dedicated to Albert and everyone at Revels.

Chapter 24: A Man's a Man

"I'd about given up hope of you, Jem Hearne. Your supper's ready, and there's been no one here to eat it!"

"I had to put Miss Tomkinson's shutters right, didn't I, before nightfall."

"It's a wonder to me you can even go back there," said Martha, setting a plate before her husband. "I mean after what happened."

"I don't bear Miss Tomkinson any ill will. Besides, it's work," added Jem.

"Yes, but you always have work enough."

"Oh, aye, I do. But the more I do, the more money we can lay aside. And I've a lot to do now. Mr. Carter's asked me to make him some furniture before he gets wed."

"Mr. Carter's getting married? Lady Ludlow's steward?"

"Aye. He's marrying Miss Galindo."

"The one who makes all Miss Matty's caps?"

"That's the one. They read the banns, Martha," said Jem reprovingly. "Or were you asleep by then?"

"I don't doze off every Sunday," said Martha primly. "It was just that once. Anyway, I've got other things to think about besides other people's weddings – looking after you, for one. Still, I reckon Mr. Carter needs a woman to look after him now too."

"Oh, aye, she'll be looking after him proper," said Jem with a sly grin. "I'm building a fine broad bed for him and the new Mrs. Carter."

"Jem, Miss Galindo's forty if she's a day, and Mr. Carter's well past that."

"He's still a bridegroom."

"And he's lame, Jem," hissed Martha in a whisper. "He's only got one leg."

"That's not the part that matters, Martha."

"Jem Hearne, you are coarse! I just mean that Mr. Carter – well, it's not like he's a strong young fellow getting wed for the first time, not like you were."

"You think a man isn't a man anymore because his bones creak a bit and folk can see his scars? No, Martha, I reckon a man's in his prime as long as he's a mind to be.

"And I'll tell you something else. It's not right for a man to live alone."

"You sound like the rector."

"Oh, aye, it goes back to Adam," he said. "Only we've got more women about these days," he added, with another smile.

"Yes. Well, mind you keep to one, Jem Hearne."

"I've got my one, haven't I, and so has Mr. Carter, and he's as proud and happy as you please. And he's strong. You see him out and about in all weathers, for all that he uses a walking stick."

"And a false limb," whispered Martha, as though she were conveying a horrible secret.

"And what of that? Constable Graves has a bad leg and a back that's no better, and he's got a brood of children at home, and more coming, likely. And then there's Dr. Morgan. Why, I'd wager he's sixty, and he's just got wed, and don't tell me they're living like brother and sister.

"Any road, I reckon when I have to use a stick myself to get about, I'll still be chasing you round the bedchamber."

"And I'll take that stick and clout you with it!" said Martha with a vigorous nod of her head.

"No, you won't. You'll be old as I am then too, anyway, and I'll be able to catch you, and you'll kiss me"

"Maybe."

"Oh, you will. I know you will."

"Humph. I've seen what comes of kissing," said Martha with her hands on her belly.

Jem chuckled. "And so have the neighbors." He put his hands over hers. "Martha –"

"Yes?"

"Would you have still loved me if Dr. Harrison had cut off my arm?"

"But he didn't, Jem. He put you right."

"But what if he hadn't? Would you have still loved me? Would you have wed me?"

"Oh, Jem, you do talk a lot of nonsense!"

"Martha –"

"Of course I'd have loved you, Jem Hearne, and wed you and all. Now stop worrying – well, at least about that. You've got furniture to make, and a family to support. But I will not have you falling out of any more trees."

"Job! I did not expect to see you," said Bella Gregson, rising from her seat at the table as her husband ducked inside the door of their home. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, woman. Everything's right," said Job Gregson, pulling off his hat and bending down to tousle the hair of one of his little daughters.

"Then why are you home at this hour? I thought you had gone to see Mr. Owen."

"That's why I've come. I've just seen old Owen, and he reckons I can take his place. He likes me, Bella, and knows I can do the work."

"But I thought he was staying on --"

"No, there's no talk of that now. He's not well, Bella --"

"Poor man!"

"And the best place for him is with his daughter. That's what he says. Any road, he's off shortly, and I'm to have his place, and we'll be tenants. We'll never live again as we are living now, Bella."

"Oh, thank God." Bella sank down into the chair. Her face crumpled and the tears came. "I never thought to see this day."

"Never thought to see this day? Why, Bella --"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I've been -- Job, I'm pleased. I'm so pleased."

"As well you should be. And you knew we'd be all right, didn't you?"

"Yes," said his wife, after a moment's hesitation. "Job, I should --"

"And in time there should be something for Malachi as well. It won't be long now before he's --"

"No, Job! We can't talk of that now. Malachi is much too young."

"Are you mad? He's older than I was when I started."

"I know. But I was thinking that we could send Harry to school, as he'd wanted, and perhaps Malachi too, now that --"

"We've no need of that, Bella. I told you we'd be fine, and we are."

"Yes. But wouldn't you like to see Harry have his own shop one day, or maybe be a clerk to --"

"A clerk? To Carter?" Job snorted.

"Well, perhaps to a solicitor in Manchester. Harry's clever, Job, and I thought --"

"You thought to send him to the city? No, Bella, the best thing for Harry is to stay where he is, and for Malachi to follow after. And I'll see to the rest of you."

"The rest of us," she said, as if to herself. She rose slowly from her seat. James toddled towards her and began tugging at her skirts. She bent to lift him up, wincing as she did so, and put him astride her hip.

"We'll have more than enough, Bella, with Harry working, and then Malachi, and now --"

"Job, I should have told you I'm -- Job, there's another child coming." Bella eased herself back into the chair and settled James onto her lap.

"When?"

"Oh, not till the autumn, I think."

"Good. Plenty of time, then."

"Plenty of time? For what?"

"Why, for a better house, of course. To make everything as it should be."

"Job, I'm not certain everything is as it should be."

"Don't you want it?"

"That is not what I meant. I'm not well. I feel so – it's not like the other times."

"No? You've always done all right before."

"I am not joking. I feel so queer just now."

"Well, then this time you'll call the midwife," he said gently. Then his expression changed. "Mind you, you'll need only the midwife. I don't want to hear of you taking some pill or tonic from those quacks in town."

"No, Job. I wouldn't think to call on them."

"That's all right, then. And I'll look after you until it's time."

"Edward, I had nearly given up hope of seeing you this evening," said Miss Galindo, shutting the door behind him.

Edward Carter caught her in his arms and claimed his welcoming kiss. "My love, if you think an evening spent entirely in the company of men would do anything other than drive me directly to your doorstep, you are very much mistaken," he said, his arms still about her waist.

"Surely they did not prove that difficult!"

"No, for the most part, they were quite rational," said Mr. Carter as they walked towards the chairs by the fireplace. "Some were even quite pleased with the plan. Goddard, once he'd satisfied himself about the details, seemed very taken with the idea.

"Morgan, perhaps predictably, supported the principle of a school open to all but was concerned as to how Lady Ludlow might receive it, given her views and of course her own establishment."

"Of course."

"But I need not tell you that young Harrison was wholly in favor.

"Hearne wanted convincing. He works with his hands and doesn't see the value of setting children to learning their letters and sums, and keeping them indoors. I dare say he shall think differently as the years pass and the village changes, but never mind.

"Graves asked good questions; perhaps I have failed to credit him with enough of an imagination before now! He wanted to know what we'd do about harvest time and whether children were to be kept in school when their parents needed their assistance on the land. And he also thought of the prospect of unruly students, and what must be done in the way of discipline.

"And as for Johnson, well –"

"What did he say to you, Edward?"

Mr. Carter grimaced. "Johnson wanted to know if the Irish would be admitted to the school."

"And what did you tell him?"

"I said we'd allow Irish children to attend if there were any to be found in Cranford. That put him out of humor."

"I can well imagine it did! But Edward, you look as exhausted as if you had taken on each one of them in combat. You must have your rest."

"You'd send me away?"

"Not send you away, look after you. And I'd grant you a proper farewell," she said teasingly.

"Mm. There will come a time when you shall not need to send me away."

"Or rather I shall be waiting at home, and you shall return to me. And that time is not far off. Of course," she added, "if you had taken me along with you this evening, we should not have to worry about unnecessary separations."

"What's this?"

"Edward, do you not think that the wives, the mothers, yes, even the spinsters and widows of Cranford might wish to hear you discuss your plan for the school?"

"You mean I ought to have gathered the ladies together as well, or that I should perhaps speak to them separately?"

"Now that is a thought," she said, smiling to herself. "But yes, I do think the women ought to hear of the plan, and pose their questions."

At that Mr. Carter grunted. "As it was, I feared I'd be there all night. Matters are disorderly enough with a group of men!"

"Edward, if you are implying that an assembly of ladies might prove more intractable and unruly than a similar gathering of men, I think you are being most unfair."

"I did not mean it so. It is only that would be more questions to address and more opinions to hear. But the presence of ladies might have been all to the good, and inspired better behavior in the men."

"I should hope so." A new thought occurred to Miss Galindo. "Edward, could you imagine ladies speaking in an assembly, or indeed in Parliament?"

"Ladies in Parliament? Laurie, I sometimes think you are determined to tax my imagination, to say nothing of my patience, with your visions of progress. Next you will declare that a woman ought to succeed Mr. Peel."

"Edward, do be serious!"

Mr. Carter considered her proposition quietly for a moment, amusement in his eyes and a smile on his lips, as she studied his face in the firelight.

"Ladies in Parliament. Hm. You will not be offended if I speak truthfully?

"Not at all. Your usual frankness, if you please."

"Yes, I can very much imagine ladies discussing a topic seriously, and at length, and with wit and understanding, and of course feeling. But for that you must make an admission in return."

"And what is that, Edward?"

"That if some men lack imagination, and tolerance, and understanding, then so do some women."

"Oh, clearly that is true, Edward, and I'd admit that many a woman proves hasty in her words and judgments, particularly in circumstances where she lacks a firm grasp of the facts. I have proof enough of that. Indeed I have done it often enough myself."

"Well, men do the same," he said.

"Indeed they do."

"And I see it often enough – every day, in fact."

"And given my occupation, and the nature of this town, I hear perhaps more advice and opinions from ladies than I'd care to recall." She gave a little gasp. "Edward, you really ought to have considered that before you called your meeting."

"Considered what, Laurie?"

She turned to him and gave him a comforting kiss on the cheek before murmuring into his ear, "Edward, the ladies of Cranford will surely discuss your plan, whether you wish it or not, and whether or not you are present to hear it!"

"What think you of this notion of opening a school, Mrs. Harrison?" said Miss Pole, as Mrs. Morgan poured her another cup of tea.

"I do not as yet know much of the arrangements, Miss Pole, but my husband tells me it is a worthy project, one that will mark Cranford's citizens as forward-thinking. And I must add that my father is quite taken with the plan as well," said Sophy Harrison.

"But what are your own thoughts?" asked Miss Galindo suddenly. "Forgive me, Miss Pole," she added, blushing. "I did not mean to interrupt your tête-à-tête with Mrs. Harrison."

Mrs. Harrison smiled encouragingly. "Miss Galindo, it is only right that you should join our discussion, as you have such a personal connection with the new school."

"Pray do not assume greater involvement on my part than is there, for the plan is a cherished dream of Mr. Carter's, and of course predates my acquaintance with him."

"But a wife always shares in her husband's work in one fashion or another, Miss Galindo," said Mrs. Morgan. "I know the truth of that, and I suspect Mrs. Harrison does as well."

Sophy laughed gently. "Yes, to wed a physician is to marry his profession as well, and consequently learn everything there is to know of pills and house calls!"

"My sister, Deborah, was of a very decided opinion on the part a wife might take in her husband's work. I dare say she thought to marry a curate, and assist him in writing his sermons," said Miss Matty, to the startled laughter of several of the other ladies.

"I should not be so quick to laugh. Miss Jenkyns might have proved quite as eloquent as any man, perhaps more so, had she come to pen those very sermons," said Miss Smith with a nod.

"I believe that as well, Mary," said Mrs. Harrison. "Miss Jenkyns possessed both intelligence and principles, and always expressed her mind so decidedly and so well."

"Then you think the educated woman might take her place in all trades and professions, Mrs. Harrison?" asked Miss Galindo.

"Indeed I cannot say, Miss Galindo. I have concerned myself so much with the education of my brother, and now with the profession of my husband, that I have not given a thought to what I should do, if made to earn my living."

"And that is the lot of woman, Sophy!" said Miss Smith. "We must endeavor to be strong, accomplished, and yet always give way to the demands of fathers and husbands and brothers."

"That was certainly true of my mother," said Mrs. Gordon suddenly, a sorrowful look in her eyes. "For all that I am a soldier's wife myself, I must own that it was my mother who truly knew the meaning of that calling. How patiently she endured my father's absences, and her fears for his safety!"

A melancholy silence descended on the party at that, and Miss Pole undertook to rescue them all. "Isn't it just like a man, Mrs. Gordon, to be positively thriving when his womenfolk are consumed with worry for his welfare? I confess I have never seen husbands and fathers going this place and that, to the degree that the men of your household have done."

"Yes, Father is often away, and of course my husband is as well, the one on railway business, the other making preparations for our new home. Thank God, though, that they are no longer called upon to take up arms, even if they have responsibilities enough at present."

"I rather think, Mrs. Gordon, that a man craves useful work, a sense of purpose. For my part, I do not believe Mr. Carter could bear to be idle, or to see others so," said Miss Galindo.

"Oh, that is certainly true enough, Miss Galindo," said Miss Pole before Jessie could open her mouth in reply. "I have long wondered, for instance, at how he has taken that gipsy boy in hand."

"You mean Harry Gregson?"

"I do. Upon my word, Miss Galindo, do you not worry that such an imp will abuse Mr. Carter's kindness, and create trouble for him at length?"

"I think, Miss Pole, that you should be astonished at the alteration in young Harry's manners. He is clever, amusing, even charming, and speaks like quite the young gentleman now."

"Humph," said Miss Pole, frowning. "And what has effected such a change in the little rogue? He's not feigning obedience, is he, until such time as he might defraud Mr. Carter of a few shillings?"

"Miss Pole, I think you might safely trust Harry –"

"Indeed not!" interrupted Miss Pole. "You know what that father of his is like –"

"I confess I am not acquainted with Mr. Gregson, but I do know his eldest son quite well, and there is no malice in Harry, Miss Pole. He is quite gentle, and under Mr. Carter's tutelage he is thriving. And indeed what Mr. Carter wishes for any child is kindness and discipline, and of course education, even if or perhaps especially when that child must transcend his circumstances."

"Hence the plan for the school," added Mrs. Harrison helpfully.

"Mrs. Johnson says Mr. Carter means to admit the Irish," said Mrs. Forrester, wide-eyed. "Is that true, Miss Galindo?"

"Indeed it is, Mrs. Forrester," said Miss Galindo.

"Mrs. Johnson said her husband came home with the news after the discussion with Mr. Carter and the other gentlemen –"

"Men! Gathering in secret, like thieves, and not telling us a word of it," snorted Miss Pole.

"Miss Pole, the meeting was by no means a secret," said Miss Smith.

"And Mrs. Johnson said her husband told her all about it," continued Mrs. Forrester.

"As well he might, but we have no husbands to give us report of such things, Mrs. Forrester," said Miss Pole.

Mrs. Forrester let that comment pass and turned again to Miss Galindo. "Mrs. Johnson was of a very decided opinion that it should ruin the school if Mr. Carter let the Irish in."

"Oh, but that must be too harsh a judgment," said Miss Matty before anyone else could speak. "I mean that surely the little Irish children ought also to learn their letters and sums. There cannot be any harm in it," she added, looking a little uncertain as to her final pronouncement.

"Indeed there can be no harm in it," said Mary Smith softly. "And I applaud Mr. Carter's ideals, and his wish to provide a school for all the children, girls as well as boys, and the Irish as well as the English and Welsh."

"But I do not think there are any Irish in Cranford, at least not at present," said Mrs. Morgan.

"No, but there surely will be soon," said Miss Pole.

"Whatever do you mean?" said Miss Smith.

"Because of the railway, of course. And that shall be the undoing of us all!"

"Oh, surely not," said Miss Smith, casting a reassuring glance at Mrs. Gordon. "Indeed I think the railway must bring many advantages. Consider the speed with which letters from absent friends will arrive, or the pleasure we shall have when oranges and other goods are brought directly to Cranford, rather than being carried by waggon all the way from Manchester."

"And there will come a time," said Mrs. Gordon quietly, "when I shall wish to return from Scotland to visit Cranford, and the railway will provide by far the swiftest means."

"That is a happy thought," said Miss Matty gently. "And I say that not only on your father's behalf but on our own."

"I shall very much regret having to leave him, and all of you," said Mrs. Gordon.

"You'll be very much missed, my dear," said Mrs. Forrester warmly. "And we know that you only leave us out of duty to your husband, and not for any want of affection for your father. After all, that is the natural order of things."

At that Sophy Harrison smiled. "My father would say it is the will of God."

"What is, Mrs. Harrison?" asked Mrs. Forrester.

"That Mrs. Gordon depart from her father's house and go to her husband's. It is said in the reverse in Genesis: 'Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.'"

At that Miss Pole snorted again. "It is astonishing, is it not, how frequently that which serves the best interests of the men enjoys the very sanction of God Himself."

Mrs. Morgan was bidding her guests farewell when Miss Galindo intercepted Miss Matty and Miss Smith.

"I should very much like to thank you for your kindness in speaking in defense of Mr. Carter," she said quietly. "It means a great deal to me, and of course words are always stronger when they come from an impartial source."

"Why, Miss Galindo, it must be understood that we hold Mr. Carter in the highest esteem," said Miss Matty. "I should not like you to think otherwise!"

"And I confess that I might not be considered impartial," added Miss Smith, "though I too have the most sincere respect for Mr. Carter. But I cannot bear that anyone sit in judgment of a man who is not there to defend himself. I trust you understand my meaning."

"Yes, Miss Smith," said Miss Galindo. "Rest assured that I understand you very well."

Miss Smith and Miss Matty opened the door of the house to find Martha seated on the stairs. She did not rise to receive them but remained where she was, hands folded over her belly.

"Martha, whatever is wrong?" said Miss Matty.

Martha looked up. "I'm sorry, Miss Matty. I just had to rest here a moment. Has Jem come home yet?"

"Why, no, Martha, we cannot expect him for hours. You know that," said Miss Matty. "Martha, are you quite well?"

Martha, her eyes avoiding Miss Matty's, seemed undecided as to what reply to make.

"It's beginning, isn't it, Martha?" said Mary briskly, and at that Martha was able to nod in response.

"Oh," said Miss Matty softly. "Oh! Whatever shall we do first, Mary?"

"I think, Miss Matty, we might help Martha to a more comfortable place."

"Oh, yes. Do give me your hand, Martha." With Matty taking one hand and Mary supporting Martha by the elbow, they lifted her slowly from the stairs. "What next?"

"We must remain calm, and patient."

To be continued…

A/N: Mr. Peel: Robert Peel, prime minister from 1834 to 1835, and from 1841 to 1846.