'Now, if you please,' said she, 'I must go. Mamma will not see

it, I think. It is under the hair, is it not?' 'Quite; no one could tell.' 'But you must not go,' said Mrs. Thornton, impatiently. 'You are

not fit to go.

'I must,' said Margaret, decidedly. 'Think of mamma. If they

should hear----Besides, I must go,' said she, vehemently. 'I

cannot stay here. May I ask for a cab?' 'You are quite flushed and feverish,' observed Mr. Lowe.

'It is only with being here, when I do so want to go. The

air--getting away, would do me more good than anything,' pleaded

she.

'I really believe it is as she says,' Mr. Lowe replied. 'If her

mother is so ill as you told me on the way here, it may be very

serious if she hears of this riot, and does not see her daughter

back at the time she expects. The injury is not deep. I will

fetch a cab, if your servants are still afraid to go out.' 'Oh, thank you!' said Margaret. 'It will do me more good than

anything. It is the air of this room that makes me feel so

miserable.' She leant back on the sofa, and closed her eyes. Fanny beckoned

her mother out of the room, and told her something that made her

equally anxious with Margaret for the departure of the latter.

Not that she fully believed Fanny's statement; but she credited

enough to make her manner to Margaret appear very much

constrained, at wishing her good-bye.

Mr. Lowe returned in the cab.

'If you will allow me, I will see you home, Miss Hale. The

streets are not very quiet yet.' Margaret's thoughts were quite alive enough to the present to

make her desirous of getting rid of both Mr. Lowe and the cab

before she reached Crampton Crescent, for fear of alarming her

father and mother. Beyond that one aim she would not look. That

ugly dream of insolent words spoken about herself, could never be

forgotten--but could be put aside till she was stronger--for, oh!

she was very weak; and her mind sought for some present fact to

steady itself upon, and keep it from utterly losing consciousness

in another hideous, sickly swoon.




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