Mrs. Thornton was shy. It was only of late years that she had hadleisure enough in her life to go into society; and as society she did notenjoy it. As dinner-giving, and as criticising other people"s dinners, shetook satisfaction in it. But this going to make acquaintance withstrangers was a very different thing. She was ill at ease, and lookedmore than usually stern and forbidding as she entered the Hales" littledrawing-room.
Margaret was busy embroidering a small piece of cambric for somelittle article of dress for Edith"s expected baby--"Flimsy, useless work,"
as Mrs. Thornton observed to herself. She liked Mrs. Hale"s doubleknitting far better; that was sensible of its kind. The room altogetherwas full of knick-knacks, which must take a long time to dust; and timeto people of limited income was money.
She made all these reflections as she was talking in her stately way toMrs. Hale, and uttering all the stereotyped commonplaces that mostpeople can find to say with their senses blindfolded. Mrs. Hale wasmaking rather more exertion in her answers, captivated by some real oldlace which Mrs. Thornton wore; "lace," as she afterwards observed toDixon, "of that old English point which has not been made for thisseventy years, and which cannot be bought. It must have been an heirloom,and shows that she had ancestors." So the owner of the ancestrallace became worthy of something more than the languid exertion to beagreeable to a visitor, by which Mrs. Hale"s efforts at conversationwould have been otherwise bounded. And presently, Margaret, rackingher brain to talk to Fanny, heard her mother and Mrs. Thornton plungeinto the interminable subject of servants.
"I suppose you are not musical," said Fanny, "as I see no piano."
"I am fond of hearing good music; I cannot play well myself; and papaand mamma don"t care much about it; so we sold our old piano when wecame here."
"I wonder how you can exist without one. It almost seems to me anecessary of life."
"Fifteen shillings a week, and three saved out of them!" thoughtMargaret to herself "But she must have been very young. She probablyhas forgotten her own personal experience. But she must know of thosedays." Margaret"s manner had an extra tinge of coldness in it when shenext spoke.
"You have good concerts here, I believe."
"Oh, yes! Delicious! Too crowded, that is the worst. The directors admitso indiscriminately. But one is sure to hear the newest music there. Ialways have a large order to give to Johnson"s, the day after a concert."
"Do you like new music simply for its newness, then?"
"Oh; one knows it is the fashion in London, or else the singers wouldnot bring it down here. You have been in London, of course."
"Yes," said Margaret, "I have lived there for several years."
"Oh! London and the Alhambra are the two places I long to see!"
"London and the Alhambra!"
"Yes! ever since I read the Tales of the Alhambra. Don"t you knowthem?"
"I don"t think I do. But surely, it is a very easy journey to London."
"Yes; but somehow," said Fanny, lowering her voice, "mamma has neverbeen to London herself, and can"t understand my longing. She is veryproud of Milton; dirty, smoky place, as I feel it to be. I believe sheadmires it the more for those very qualities."
"If it has been Mrs. Thornton"s home for some years, I can wellunderstand her loving it," said Margaret, in her clear bell-like voice.
"What are you saying about me, Miss Hale? May I inquire?"
Margaret had not the words ready for an answer to this question, whichtook her a little by surprise, so Miss Thornton replied:
"Oh, mamma! we are only trying to account for your being so fond ofMilton."
"Thank you," said Mrs. Thornton. "I do not feel that my very naturalliking for the place where I was born and brought up,--and which hassince been my residence for some years, requires any accounting for."
Margaret was vexed. As Fanny had put it, it did seem as if they hadbeen impertinently discussing Mrs. Thornton"s feelings; but she alsorose up against that lady"s manner of showing that she was offended.
Mrs. Thornton went on after a moment"s pause:
"Do you know anything of Milton, Miss Hale? Have you seen any of ourfactories? our magnificent warehouses?"
"No!" said Margaret. "I have not seen anything of that description as yet.
Then she felt that, by concealing her utter indifference to all suchplaces, she was hardly speaking with truth; so she went on:
"I dare say, papa would have taken me before now if I had cared. But Ireally do not find much pleasure in going over manufactories."
"They are very curious places," said Mrs. Hale, "but there is so muchnoise and dirt always. I remember once going in a lilac silk to seecandles made, and my gown was utterly ruined."
"Very probably," said Mrs. Thornton, in a short displeased manner. "Imerely thought, that as strangers newly come to reside in a town whichhas risen to eminence in the country, from the character and progress ofits peculiar business, you might have cared to visit some of the placeswhere it is carried on; places unique in the kingdom, I am informed. IfMiss Hale changes her mind and condescends to be curious as to themanufactures of Milton, I can only say I shall be glad to procure heradmission to print-works, or reed-making, or the more simpleoperations of spinning carried on in my son"s mill. Every improvementof machinery is, I believe, to be seen there, in its highest perfection."
"I am so glad you don"t like mills and manufactories, and all those kindof things," said Fanny, in a half-whisper, as she rose to accompany hermother, who was taking leave of Mrs. Hale with rustling dignity.
"I think I should like to know all about them, if I were you," repliedMargaret quietly.
"Fanny!" said her mother, as they drove away, "we will he civil to theseHales: but don"t form one of your hasty friendships with the daughter.
She will do you no good, I see. The mother looks very ill, and seems anice, quiet kind of person."
"I don"t want to form any friendship with Miss Hale, mamma," saidFanny, pouting. "I thought I was doing my duty by talking to her, andtrying to amuse her."
"Well! at any rate John must he satisfied now."