"Is Miss Hale so remarkable for truth?" said Mr. Thornton, bitterly. Themoment he had done so, he could have bitten his tongue out. What washe? And why should he stab her with her shame in this way? How evilhe was to-night; possessed by ill-humour at being detained so long fromher; irritated by the mention of some name, because he thought itbelonged to a more successful lover; now ill-tempered because he hadbeen unable to cope, with a light heart, against one who was trying, bygay and careless speeches, to make the evening pass pleasantly away,-thekind old friend to all parties, whose manner by this time might bewell known to Mr. Thornton, who had been acquainted with him formany years. And then to speak to Margaret as he had done! She did notget up and leave the room, as she had done in former days, when hisabruptness or his temper had annoyed her. She sat quite still, after thefirst momentary glance of grieved surprise, that made her eyes look likesome child"s who has met with an unexpected rebuff; they slowlydilated into mournful, reproachful sadness; and then they fell, and shebent over her work, and did not speak again. But he could not helplooking at her, and he saw a sigh tremble over her body, as if shequivered in some unwonted chill. He felt as the mother would havedone, in the midst of "her rocking it, and rating it," had she been calledaway before her slow confiding smile, implying perfect trust in mother"slove, had proved the renewing of its love. He gave short sharp answers;he was uneasy and cross, unable to discern between jest and earnest;anxious only for a look, a word of hers, before which to prostratehimself in penitent humility. But she neither looked nor spoke. Herround taper fingers flew in and out of her sewing, as steadily andswiftly as if that were the business of her life. She could not care forhim, he thought, or else the passionate fervour of his wish would haveforced her to raise those eyes, if but for an instant, to read the laterepentance in his. He could have struck her before he left, in order thatby some strange overt act of rudeness, he might earn the privilege oftelling her the remorse that gnawed at his heart. It was well that the longwalk in the open air wound up this evening for him. It sobered him backinto grave resolution, that henceforth he would see as little of her aspossible,--since the very sight of that face arid form, the very sounds ofthat voice (like the soft winds of pure melody) had such power to movehim from his balance. Well! He had known what love was--a sharppang, a fierce experience, in the midst of whose flames he wasstruggling! but, through that furnace he would fight his way out into theserenity of middle age,--all the richer and more human for havingknown this great passion.
When he had somewhat abruptly left the room, Margaret rose from herseat, and began silently to fold up her work; The long seams wereheavy, and had an unusual weight for her languid arms. The round linesin her face took a lengthened, straighter form, and her whole appearancewas that of one who had gone through a day of great fatigue. As thethree prepared for bed, Mr. Bell muttered forth a little condemnation ofMr. Thornton.
"I never saw a fellow so spoiled by success. He can"t bear a word; a jestof any kind. Everything seems to touch on the soreness of his highdignity. Formerly, he was as simple and noble as the open day; youcould not offend him, because he had no vanity."
"He is not vain now," said Margaret, turning round from the table, andspeaking with quiet distinctness. "To-night he has not been like himselfSomething 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 suddenlyasked,-"
Hale! did it ever strike you that Thornton and your daughter have whatthe 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. Ifthere is anything, it is all on Mr. Thornton"s side. Poor fellow! I hopeand trust he is not thinking of her, for I am sure she would not havehim."
"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 therewere 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 neverentered her head."
"Entering her heart would do. But I merely threw out a suggestion ofwhat might be. I dare say I was wrong. And whether I was wrong orright, I"m very sleepy; so, having disturbed your night"s rest (as I cansee) with my untimely fancies, I"ll betake myself with an easy mind tomy own."
But Mr. Hale resolved that he would not be disturbed by any suchnonsensical idea; so he lay awake, determining not to think about it.
Mr. Bell took his leave the next day, bidding Margaret look to him asone who had a right to help and protect her in all her troubles, ofwhatever nature they might be. To Mr. Hale he said,-"
That Margaret of yours has gone deep into my heart. Take care of her,for she is a very precious creature,--a great deal too good for Milton,-onlyfit for Oxford, in fact. The town, I mean; not the men. I can"t matchher yet. When I can, I shall bring my young man to stand side by sidewith your young woman, just as the genie in the Arabian Nightsbrought Prince Caralmazan to match with the fairy"s Princess Badoura."
"I beg you"ll do no such thing. Remember the misfortunes that ensued;and besides, I can"t spare Margaret."
"No; on second thoughts, we"ll have her to nurse us ten years hence,when we shall be two cross old invalids. Seriously, Hale! I wish you"dleave Milton; which is a most unsuitable place for you, though it wasmy recommendation in the first instance. If you would; I"d swallow myshadows of doubts, and take a college living; and you and Margaretshould come and live at the parsonage--you to be a sort of lay curate,and take the unwashed off my hands; and she to be our housekeeper-thevillage Lady Bountiful--by day; and read us to sleep in the evenings.
I could be very happy in such a life. What do you think of it?"