'Let China's earth, enrich'd with colour'd stains,

Pencil'd with gold, and streak'd with azure veins,

The grateful flavour of the Indian leaf,

Or Mocho's sunburnt berry glad receive.'

MRS. BARBAULD.

The day after this meeting with Higgins and his daughter, Mr.

Hale came upstairs into the little drawing-room at an unusual

hour. He went up to different objects in the room, as if

examining them, but Margaret saw that it was merely a nervous

trick--a way of putting off something he wished, yet feared to

say. Out it came at last-'My dear! I've asked Mr. Thornton to come to tea to-night.' Mrs. Hale was leaning back in her easy chair, with her eyes shut,

and an expression of pain on her face which had become habitual

to her of late. But she roused up into querulousness at this

speech of her husband's.

'Mr. Thornton!--and to-night! What in the world does the man want

to come here for? And Dixon is washing my muslins and laces, and

there is no soft water with these horrid east winds, which I

suppose we shall have all the year round in Milton.' 'The wind is veering round, my dear,' said Mr. Hale, looking out

at the smoke, which drifted right from the east, only he did not

yet understand the points of the compass, and rather arranged

them ad libitum, according to circumstances.

'Don't tell me!' said Mrs. Hale, shuddering up, and wrapping her

shawl about her still more closely. 'But, east or west wind, I

suppose this man comes.' 'Oh, mamma, that shows you never saw Mr. Thornton. He looks like

a person who would enjoy battling with every adverse thing he

could meet with--enemies, winds, or circumstances. The more it

rains and blows, the more certain we are to have him. But I'll go

and help Dixon. I'm getting to be a famous clear-starcher. And he

won't want any amusement beyond talking to papa. Papa, I am

really longing to see the Pythias to your Damon. You know I never

saw him but once, and then we were so puzzled to know what to say

to each other that we did not get on particularly well.' 'I don't know that you would ever like him, or think him

agreeable, Margaret. He is not a lady's man.' Margaret wreathed her throat in a scornful curve.

'I don't particularly admire ladies' men, papa. But Mr. Thornton

comes here as your friend--as one who has appreciated you'-'The only person in Milton,' said Mrs. Hale.

'So we will give him a welcome, and some cocoa-nut cakes. Dixon

will be flattered if we ask her to make some; and I will

undertake to iron your caps, mamma.' Many a time that morning did Margaret wish Mr. Thornton far

enough away. She had planned other employments for herself: a

letter to Edith, a good piece of Dante, a visit to the Higginses.

But, instead, she ironed away, listening to Dixon's complaints,

and only hoping that by an excess of sympathy she might prevent

her from carrying the recital of her sorrows to Mrs. Hale. Every

now and then, Margaret had to remind herself of her father's

regard for Mr. Thornton, to subdue the irritation of weariness

that was stealing over her, and bringing on one of the bad

headaches to which she had lately become liable. She could hardly

speak when she sat down at last, and told her mother that she was

no longer Peggy the laundry-maid, but Margaret Hale the lady. She

meant this speech for a little joke, and was vexed enough with

her busy tongue when she found her mother taking it seriously.




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