'A letter from Henry Lennox. It makes Margaret very hopeful.' Mr. Bell nodded. Margaret was red as a rose when Mr. Thornton

looked at her. He had the greatest mind in the world to get up

and go out of the room that very instant, and never set foot in

the house again.

'We were thinking,' said Mr. Hale, 'that you and Mr. Thornton had

taken Margaret's advice, and were each trying to convert the

other, you were so long in the study.' 'And you thought there would be nothing left of us but an

opinion, like the Kilkenny cat's tail. Pray whose opinion did you

think would have the most obstinate vitality?' Mr. Thornton had not a notion what they were talking about, and

disdained to inquire. Mr. Hale politely enlightened him.

'Mr. Thornton, we were accusing Mr. Bell this morning of a kind

of Oxonian mediaeval bigotry against his native town; and

we--Margaret, I believe--suggested that it would do him good to

associate a little with Milton manufacturers.' 'I beg your pardon. Margaret thought it would do the Milton

manufacturers good to associate a little more with Oxford men.

Now wasn't it so, Margaret?' 'I believe I thought it would do both good to see a little more

of the other,--I did not know it was my idea any more than

papa's.' 'And so you see, Mr. Thornton, we ought to have been improving

each other down-stairs, instead of talking over vanished families

of Smiths and Harrisons. However, I am willing to do my part now.

I wonder when you Milton men intend to live. All your lives seem

to be spent in gathering together the materials for life.' 'By living, I suppose you mean enjoyment.' 'Yes, enjoyment,--I don't specify of what, because I trust we

should both consider mere pleasure as very poor enjoyment.' 'I would rather have the nature of the enjoyment defined.' 'Well! enjoyment of leisure--enjoyment of the power and influence

which money gives. You are all striving for money. What do you

want it for?' Mr. Thornton was silent. Then he said, 'I really don't know. But

money is not what I strive for.' 'What then?' 'It is a home question. I shall have to lay myself open to such a

catechist, and I am not sure that I am prepared to do it.' 'No!' said Mr. Hale; 'don't let us be personal in our catechism.

You are neither of you representative men; you are each of you

too individual for that.' 'I am not sure whether to consider that as a compliment or not. I

should like to be the representative of Oxford, with its beauty

and its learning, and its proud old history. What do you say,

Margaret; ought I to be flattered?' 'I don't know Oxford. But there is a difference between being the

representative of a city and the representative man of its

inhabitants.' 'Very true, Miss Margaret. Now I remember, you were against me

this morning, and were quite Miltonian and manufacturing in your

preferences.' Margaret saw the quick glance of surprise that Mr.

Thornton gave her, and she was annoyed at the construction which

he might put on this speech of Mr. Bell's. Mr. Bell went on-'Ah! I wish I could show you our High Street--our Radcliffe

Square. I am leaving out our colleges, just as I give Mr.

Thornton leave to omit his factories in speaking of the charms of

Milton. I have a right to abuse my birth-place. Remember I am a

Milton man.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024