Among other hopes that had vanished, was the hope, the trust she

had had, that Mr. Bell would have given Mr. Thornton the simple

facts of the family circumstances which had preceded the

unfortunate accident that led to Leonards' death. Whatever

opinion--however changed it might be from what Mr. Thornton had

once entertained, she had wished it to be based upon a true

understanding of what she had done; and why she had done it. It

would have been a pleasure to her; would have given her rest on a

point on which she should now all her life be restless, unless

she could resolve not to think upon it. It was now so long after

the time of these occurrences, that there was no possible way of

explaining them save the one which she had lost by Mr. Bell's

death. She must just submit, like many another, to be

misunderstood; but, though reasoning herself into the belief that

in this hers was no uncommon lot, her heart did not ache the less

with longing that some time--years and years hence--before he

died at any rate, he might know how much she had been tempted.

She thought that she did not want to hear that all was explained

to him, if only she could be sure that he would know. But this

wish was vain, like so many others; and when she had schooled

herself into this conviction, she turned with all her heart and

strength to the life that lay immediately before her, and

resolved to strive and make the best of that.

She used to sit long hours upon the beach, gazing intently on the

waves as they chafed with perpetual motion against the pebbly

shore,--or she looked out upon the more distant heave, and

sparkle against the sky, and heard, without being conscious of

hearing, the eternal psalm, which went up continually. She was

soothed without knowing how or why. Listlessly she sat there, on

the ground, her hands clasped round her knees, while her aunt

Shaw did small shoppings, and Edith and Captain Lennox rode far

and wide on shore and inland. The nurses, sauntering on with

their charges, would pass and repass her, and wonder in whispers

what she could find to look at so long, day after day. And when

the family gathered at dinner-time, Margaret was so silent and

absorbed that Edith voted her moped, and hailed a proposal of her

husband's with great satisfaction, that Mr. Henry Lennox should

be asked to take Cromer for a week, on his return from Scotland

in October.

But all this time for thought enabled Margaret to put events in

their right places, as to origin and significance, both as

regarded her past life and her future. Those hours by the

sea-side were not lost, as any one might have seen who had had

the perception to read, or the care to understand, the look that

Margaret's face was gradually acquiring. Mr. Henry Lennox was

excessively struck by the change.




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