When he had somewhat abruptly left the room, Margaret rose from

her seat, and began silently to fold up her work; The long seams

were heavy, and had an unusual weight for her languid arms. The

round lines in her face took a lengthened, straighter form, and

her whole appearance was that of one who had gone through a day

of great fatigue. As the three prepared for bed, Mr. Bell

muttered forth a little condemnation of Mr. Thornton.

'I never saw a fellow so spoiled by success. He can't bear a

word; a jest of any kind. Everything seems to touch on the

soreness of his high dignity. Formerly, he was as simple and

noble as the open day; you could not offend him, because he had

no vanity.' 'He is not vain now,' said Margaret, turning round from the

table, and speaking with quiet distinctness. 'To-night he has not

been like himself Something must have annoyed him before he came

here.' Mr. Bell gave her one of his sharp glances from above his

spectacles. She stood it quite calmly; but, after she had left

the room, he suddenly asked,-'Hale! did it ever strike you that Thornton and your daughter

have what the French call a tendresse for each other?' 'Never!' said Mr. Hale, first startled and then flurried by the

new idea. 'No, I am sure you are wrong. I am almost certain you

are mistaken. If there is anything, it is all on Mr. Thornton's

side. Poor fellow! I hope and trust he is not thinking of her,

for I am sure she would not have him.' 'Well! I'm a bachelor, and have steered clear of love affairs all

my life; so perhaps my opinion is not worth having. Or else I

should say there were very pretty symptoms about her!' 'Then I am sure you are wrong,' said Mr. Hale. 'He may care for

her, though she really has been almost rude to him at times. But

she!--why, Margaret would never think of him, I'm sure! Such a

thing has never entered her head.' 'Entering her heart would do. But I merely threw out a suggestion

of what might be. I dare say I was wrong. And whether I was wrong

or right, I'm very sleepy; so, having disturbed your night's rest

(as I can see) with my untimely fancies, I'll betake myself with

an easy mind to my own.' But Mr. Hale resolved that he would not be disturbed by any such

nonsensical idea; so he lay awake, determining not to think about

it.




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