"You think Miss Hale looking well," said Mr. Lennox, "don"t you? Miltondidn"t agree with her, I imagine; for when she first came to London, Ithought I had never seen any one so much changed. To-night she islooking radiant. But she is much stronger. Last autumn she was fatiguedwith a walk of a couple of miles. On Friday evening we walked up toHampstead and back. Yet on Saturday she looked as well as she doesnow.
"We!" Who? They two alone?
Mr. Colthurst was a very clever man, and a rising member ofparliament. He had a quick eye at discerning character, and was struckby a remark which Mr. Thornton made at dinner-time. He enquiredfrom Edith who that gentleman was; and, rather to her surprise, shefound, from the tone of his "Indeed!" that Mr. Thornton of Milton wasnot such an unknown name to him as she had imagined it would be. Herdinner was going off well. Henry was in good humour, and brought outhis dry caustic wit admirably. Mr. Thornton and Mr. Colthurst foundone or two mutual subjects of interest, which they could only touchupon then, reserving them for more private after-dinner talk. Margaretlooked beautiful in the pomegranate flowers; and if she did lean back inher chair and speak but little, Edith was not annoyed, for theconversation flowed on smoothly without her. Margaret was watchingMr. Thornton"s face. He never looked at her; so she might study himunobserved, and note the changes which even this short time hadwrought in him. Only at some unexpected mot of Mr. Lennox"s, his faceflashed out into the old look of intense enjoyment; the merry brightnessreturned to his eyes, the lips just parted to suggest the brilliant smile offormer days; and for an instant, his glance instinctively sought hers, asif he wanted her sympathy. But when their eyes met, his wholecountenance changed; he was grave and anxious once more; and heresolutely avoided even looking near her again during dinner.
There were only two ladies besides their own party, and as these wereoccupied in conversation by her aunt and Edith, when they went up intothe drawing-room, Margaret languidly employed herself about somework. Presently the gentlemen came up, Mr. Colthurst and Mr.
Thornton in close conversation. Mr. Lennox drew near to Margaret, andsaid in a low voice:
"I really think Edith owes me thanks for my contribution to her party.
You"ve no idea what an agreeable, sensible fellow this tenant of yoursis. He has been the very man to give Colthurst all the facts he wantedcoaching in. I can"t conceive how he contrived to mismanage hisaffairs."
"With his powers and opportunities you would have succeeded," saidMargaret. He did not quite relish the tone in which she spoke, althoughthe words but expressed a thought which had passed through his ownmind. As he was silent, they caught a swell in the sound of conversationgoing on near the fire-place between Mr. Colthurst and Mr. Thornton.
"I assure you, I heard it spoken of with great interest--curiosity as to itsresult, perhaps I should rather say. I heard your name frequentlymentioned during my short stay in the neighbourhood." Then they lostsome words; and when next they could hear Mr. Thornton wasspeaking.
"I have not the elements for popularity--if they spoke of me in that way,they were mistaken. I fall slowly into new projects; and I find it difficultto let myself be known, even by those whom I desire to know, and withwhom I would fain have no reserve. Yet, even with all these drawbacks,I felt that I was on the right path, and that, starting from a kind offriendship with one, I was becoming acquainted with many. Theadvantages were mutual: we were both unconsciously and consciouslyteaching each other."
"You say "were." I trust you are intending to pursue the same course?"