'I declare, I've a good mind to face it out, and stand my trial.

If I could only pick up my evidence! I cannot endure the thought

of being in the power of such a blackguard as Leonards. I could

almost have enjoyed--in other circumstances--this stolen visit:

it has had all the charm which the French-woman attributed to

forbidden pleasures.' 'One of the earliest things I can remember,' said Margaret, 'was

your being in some great disgrace, Fred, for stealing apples. We

had plenty of our own--trees loaded with them; but some one had

told you that stolen fruit tasted sweetest, which you took au

pied de la lettre, and off you went a-robbing. You have not

changed your feelings much since then.' 'Yes--you must go,' repeated Mr. Hale, answering Margaret's

question, which she had asked some time ago. His thoughts were

fixed on one subject, and it was an effort to him to follow the

zig-zag remarks of his children--an effort which ho did not make.

Margaret and Frederick looked at each other. That quick momentary

sympathy would be theirs no longer if he went away. So much was

understood through eyes that could not be put into words. Both

coursed the same thought till it was lost in sadness. Frederick

shook it off first: 'Do you know, Margaret, I was very nearly giving both Dixon and

myself a good fright this afternoon. I was in my bedroom; I had

heard a ring at the front door, but I thought the ringer must

have done his business and gone away long ago; so I was on the

point of making my appearance in the passage, when, as I opened

my room door, I saw Dixon coming downstairs; and she frowned and

kicked me into hiding again. I kept the door open, and heard a

message given to some man that was in my father's study, and that

then went away. Who could it have been? Some of the shopmen?' 'Very likely,' said Margaret, indifferently. 'There was a little

quiet man who came up for orders about two o'clock.' 'But this was not a little man--a great powerful fellow; and it

was past four when he was here.' 'It was Mr. Thornton,' said Mr. Hale. They were glad to have

drawn him into the conversation.

'Mr. Thornton!' said Margaret, a little surprised. 'I

thought----' 'Well, little one, what did you think?' asked Frederick, as she

did not finish her sentence.

'Oh, only,' said she, reddening and looking straight at him, 'I

fancied you meant some one of a different class, not a gentleman;

somebody come on an errand.' 'He looked like some one of that kind,' said Frederick,

carelessly. 'I took him for a shopman, and he turns out a

manufacturer.' Margaret was silent. She remembered how at first, before she knew

his character, she had spoken and thought of him just as

Frederick was doing. It was but a natural impression that was

made upon him, and yet she was a little annoyed by it. She was

unwilling to speak; she wanted to make Frederick understand what

kind of person Mr. Thornton was--but she was tongue-tied.




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