'My son was engaged up to the last moment on business. He will be

here directly, Mr. Hale. May I beg you to take a seat?' Mr. Hale was standing at one of the windows as Mrs. Thornton

spoke. He turned away, saying, 'Don't you find such close neighbourhood to the mill rather

unpleasant at times?' She drew herself up: 'Never. I am not become so fine as to desire to forget the source

of my son's wealth and power. Besides, there is not such another

factory in Milton. One room alone is two hundred and twenty

square yards.' 'I meant that the smoke and the noise--the constant going out and

coming in of the work-people, might be annoying!' 'I agree with you, Mr. Hale!' said Fanny. 'There is a continual

smell of steam, and oily machinery--and the noise is perfectly

deafening.' 'I have heard noise that was called music far more deafening. The

engine-room is at the street-end of the factory; we hardly hear

it, except in summer weather, when all the windows are open; and

as for the continual murmur of the work-people, it disturbs me no

more than the humming of a hive of bees. If I think of it at all,

I connect it with my son, and feel how all belongs to him, and

that his is the head that directs it. Just now, there are no

sounds to come from the mill; the hands have been ungrateful

enough to turn out, as perhaps you have heard. But the very

business (of which I spoke, when you entered), had reference to

the steps he is going to take to make them learn their place.'

The expression on her face, always stern, deepened into dark

anger, as she said this. Nor did it clear away when Mr. Thornton

entered the room; for she saw, in an instant, the weight of care

and anxiety which he could not shake off, although his guests

received from him a greeting that appeared both cheerful and

cordial. He shook hands with Margaret. He knew it was the first

time their hands had met, though she was perfectly unconscious of

the fact. He inquired after Mrs. Hale, and heard Mr. Hale's

sanguine, hopeful account; and glancing at Margaret, to

understand how far she agreed with her father, he saw that no

dissenting shadow crossed her face. And as he looked with this

intention, he was struck anew with her great beauty. He had never

seen her in such dress before and yet now it appeared as if such

elegance of attire was so befitting her noble figure and lofty

serenity of countenance, that she ought to go always thus

apparelled. She was talking to Fanny; about what, he could not

hear; but he saw his sister's restless way of continually

arranging some part of her gown, her wandering eyes, now glancing

here, now there, but without any purpose in her observation; and

he contrasted them uneasily with the large soft eyes that looked

forth steadily at one object, as if from out their light beamed

some gentle influence of repose: the curving lines of the red

lips, just parted in the interest of listening to what her

companion said--the head a little bent forwards, so as to make a

long sweeping line from the summit, where the light caught on the

glossy raven hair, to the smooth ivory tip of the shoulder; the

round white arms, and taper hands, laid lightly across each

other, but perfectly motionless in their pretty attitude. Mr.

Thornton sighed as he took in all this with one of his sudden

comprehensive glances. And then he turned his back to the young

ladies, and threw himself, with an effort, but with all his heart

and soul, into a conversation with Mr. Hale.




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