'Is Miss Hale within?' She knew she was, for she had seen her at

the window, and she had her feet inside the little hall before

Martha had half answered her question.

Margaret was sitting alone, writing to Edith, and giving her many

particulars of her mother's last days. It was a softening

employment, and she had to brush away the unbidden tears as Mrs.

Thornton was announced.

She was so gentle and ladylike in her mode of reception that her

visitor was somewhat daunted; and it became impossible to utter

the speech, so easy of arrangement with no one to address it to.

Margaret's low rich voice was softer than usual; her manner more

gracious, because in her heart she was feeling very grateful to

Mrs. Thornton for the courteous attention of her call. She

exerted herself to find subjects of interest for conversation;

praised Martha, the servant whom Mrs. Thornton had found for

them; had asked Edith for a little Greek air, about which she had

spoken to Miss Thornton. Mrs. Thornton was fairly discomfited.

Her sharp Damascus blade seemed out of place, and useless among

rose-leaves. She was silent, because she was trying to task

herself up to her duty At last, she stung herself into its

performance by a suspicion which, in spite of all probability,

she allowed to cross her mind, that all this sweetness was put on

with a view of propitiating Mr. Thornton; that, somehow, the

other attachment had fallen through, and that it suited Miss

Hale's purpose to recall her rejected lover. Poor Margaret! there

was perhaps so much truth in the suspicion as this: that Mrs.

Thornton was the mother of one whose regard she valued, and

feared to have lost; and this thought unconsciously added to her

natural desire of pleasing one who was showing her kindness by

her visit. Mrs. Thornton stood up to go, but yet she seemed to

have something more to say. She cleared her throat and began: 'Miss Hale, I have a duty to perform. I promised your poor mother

that, as far as my poor judgment went, I would not allow you to

act in any way wrongly, or (she softened her speech down a little

here) inadvertently, without remonstrating; at least, without

offering advice, whether you took it or not.' Margaret stood before her, blushing like any culprit, with her

eyes dilating as she gazed at Mrs. Thornton. She thought she had

come to speak to her about the falsehood she had told--that Mr.

Thornton had employed her to explain the danger she had exposed

herself to, of being confuted in full court! and although her

heart sank to think he had not rather chosen to come himself, and

upbraid her, and receive her penitence, and restore her again to

his good opinion, yet she was too much humbled not to bear any

blame on this subject patiently and meekly.




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