克兰福德没有富人，但人们却忌讳谈论贫穷。绝对不能!那样做很俗气，而脱俗在克兰福德很重要。在尊敬的贾米森夫人的晚会上只有抹了黄油的薄面包(昂贵的食物显得俗气)，杰西·布朗小姐公开谈论她那当店主的舅舅的时候，德博拉·詹金斯小姐生气极了。做生意的舅舅!多可怕啊!

In Cranford nobody is very rich, but you must not talk about being poor. Indeed not! That would be a very vulgar thing to do. And in Cranford it is important not to be vulgar. At the Honourable Mrs Jamieson's evening parties there is only thin bread-and-butter (expensive food would be vulgar), and Miss Deborah Jenkyns is extremely cross when Miss Jessie Brown talks openly about her shopkeeper uncle. An uncle in trade! What horror!

150年前的社会规则虽然和现在的不同，但人并没有什么两样。克兰福德的女士们和任何时代的人一样，她们会有喜怒哀乐，会骄傲、勇敢、嫉妒——也非常善良。可爱温柔的马蒂小姐遇到困难时，大家都想帮她。虽然马蒂小姐在生活中遇到很多不幸，但也有一个惊喜在等待着她……

The rules of society were different 150 years ago, but people stay the same. The ladies of Cranford are just like people in any age. They can be sad, happy, proud, brave, angry, jealous—and very kind. When dear, gentle Miss Matty is in trouble, everybody wants to help her. And though there are many sadnesses in Miss Matty's life, there is also a very happy surprise waiting for her...