'We must go back to the second, I think. That one,--in Crampton,

don't they call the suburb? There were three sitting-rooms; don't

you remember how we laughed at the number compared with the three

bed-rooms? But I have planned it all. The front room down-stairs

is to be your study and our dining-room (poor papa!), for, you

know, we settled mamma is to have as cheerful a sitting-room as

we can get; and that front room up-stairs, with the atrocious

blue and pink paper and heavy cornice, had really a pretty view

over the plain, with a great bend of river, or canal, or whatever

it is, down below. Then I could have the little bed-room behind,

in that projection at the head of the first flight of

stairs--over the kitchen, you know--and you and mamma the room

behind the drawing-room, and that closet in the roof will make

you a splendid dressing-room.' 'But Dixon, and the girl we are to have to help?' 'Oh, wait a minute. I am overpowered by the discovery of my own

genius for management. Dixon is to have--let me see, I had it

once--the back sitting-room. I think she will like that. She

grumbles so much about the stairs at Heston; and the girl is to

have that sloping attic over your room and mamma's. Won't that

do?' 'I dare say it will. But the papers. What taste! And the

overloading such a house with colour and such heavy cornices!' 'Never mind, papa! Surely, you can charm the landlord into

re-papering one or two of the rooms--the drawing-room and your

bed-room--for mamma will come most in contact with them; and your

book-shelves will hide a great deal of that gaudy pattern in the

dining-room.' 'Then you think it the best? If so, I had better go at once and

call on this Mr. Donkin, to whom the advertisement refers me. I

will take you back to the hotel, where you can order lunch, and

rest, and by the time it is ready, I shall be with you. I hope I

shall be able to get new papers.' Margaret hoped so too, though she said nothing. She had never

come fairly in contact with the taste that loves ornament,

however bad, more than the plainness and simplicity which are of

themselves the framework of elegance. Her father took her through

the entrance of the hotel, and leaving her at the foot of the

staircase, went to the address of the landlord of the house they

had fixed upon. Just as Margaret had her hand on the door of

their sitting-room, she was followed by a quick-stepping waiter: 'I beg your pardon, ma'am. The gentleman was gone so quickly, I

had no time to tell him. Mr. Thornton called almost directly

after you left; and, as I understood from what the gentleman

said, you would be back in an hour, I told him so, and he came

again about five minutes ago, and said he would wait for Mr.

Hale. He is in your room now, ma'am.' 'Thank you. My father will return soon, and then you can tell

him.' Margaret opened the door and went in with the straight,

fearless, dignified presence habitual to her. She felt no

awkwardness; she had too much the habits of society for that.

Here was a person come on business to her father; and, as he was

one who had shown himself obliging, she was disposed to treat him

with a full measure of civility. Mr. Thornton was a good deal

more surprised and discomfited than she. Instead of a quiet,

middle-aged clergyman, a young lady came forward with frank

dignity,--a young lady of a different type to most of those he

was in the habit of seeing. Her dress was very plain: a close

straw bonnet of the best material and shape, trimmed with white

ribbon; a dark silk gown, without any trimming or flounce; a

large Indian shawl, which hung about her in long heavy folds, and

which she wore as an empress wears her drapery. He did not

understand who she was, as he caught the simple, straight,

unabashed look, which showed that his being there was of no

concern to the beautiful countenance, and called up no flush of

surprise to the pale ivory of the complexion. He had heard that

Mr. Hale had a daughter, but he had imagined that she was a

little girl.




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