Jane resumed her bathing, as if what Sarah did or said was not
exactly the thing she liked to repeat.
'Sarah what?' asked Fanny, sharply. 'Don't speak in these half
sentences, or I can't understand you.' 'Well, miss, since you will have it--Sarah, you see, was in the
best place for seeing, being at the right-hand window; and she
says, and said at the very time too, that she saw Miss Hale with
her arms about master's neck, hugging him before all the people.' 'I don't believe it,' said Fanny. 'I know she cares for my
brother; any one can see that; and I dare say, she'd give her
eyes if he'd marry her,--which he never will, I can tell her. But
I don't believe she'd be so bold and forward as to put her arms
round his neck.' 'Poor young lady! she's paid for it dearly if she did. It's my
belief, that the blow has given her such an ascendency of blood
to the head as she'll never get the better from. She looks like a
corpse now.' 'Oh, I wish mamma would come!' said Fanny, wringing her hands. 'I
never was in the room with a dead person before.' 'Stay, miss! She's not dead: her eye-lids are quivering, and
here's wet tears a-coming down her cheeks. Speak to her, Miss
Fanny!' 'Are you better now?' asked Fanny, in a quavering voice.
No answer; no sign of recognition; but a faint pink colour
returned to her lips, although the rest of her face was ashen
pale.
Mrs. Thornton came hurriedly in, with the nearest surgeon she
could find. 'How is she? Are you better, my dear?' as Margaret
opened her filmy eyes, and gazed dreamily at her. 'Here is Mr.
Lowe come to see you.' Mrs. Thornton spoke loudly and distinctly, as to a deaf person.
Margaret tried to rise, and drew her ruffled, luxuriant hair
instinctly over the cut. 'I am better now,' said she, in a very
low, faint voice. I was a little sick.' She let him take her hand
and feel her pulse. The bright colour came for a moment into her
face, when he asked to examine the wound in her forehead; and she
glanced up at Jane, as if shrinking from her inspection more than
from the doctor's.
'It is not much, I think. I am better now. I must go home.' 'Not until I have applied some strips of plaster; and you have
rested a little.' She sat down hastily, without another word, and allowed it to be
bound up.