It was rather dull for Margaret after dinner. She was glad when thegentlemen came, not merely because she caught her father"s eye tobrighten her sleepiness up; but because she could listen to somethinglarger and grander than the petty interests which the ladies had beentalking about. She liked the exultation in the sense of power whichthese Milton men had. It might be rather rampant in its display, andsavour of boasting; but still they seemed to defy the old limits ofpossibility, in a kind of fine intoxication, caused by the recollection ofwhat had been achieved, and what yet should be. If in her coolermoments she might not approve of their spirit in all things, still therewas much to admire in their forgetfulness of themselves and thepresent, in their anticipated triumphs over all inanimate matter at somefuture time which none of them should live to see. She was ratherstartled when Mr. Thornton spoke to her, close at her elbow:
"I could see you were on our side in our discussion at dinner,--were younot, Miss Hale?"
"Certainly. But then I know so little about it. I was surprised, however,to find from what Mr. Horsfall said, that there were others who thoughtin so diametrically opposite a manner, as the Mr. Morison he spokeabout. He cannot be a gentleman--is he?"
"I am not quite the person to decide on another"s gentlemanliness, MissHale. I mean, I don"t quite understand your application of the word. ButI should say that this Morison is no true man. I don"t know who he is; Imerely judge him from Mr. Horsfall"s account."
"I suspect my "gentleman" includes your "true man.""
"And a great deal more, you would imply. I differ from you. A man is tome a higher and a completer being than a gentleman."
"What do you mean?" asked Margaret. "We must understand the wordsdifferently."
"I take it that "gentleman" is a term that only describes a person in hisrelation to others; but when we speak of him as "a man," we considerhim not merely with regard to his fellow-men, but in relation to himself,-to life--to time--to eternity. A cast-away lonely as Robinson Crusoe--aprisoner immured in a dungeon for life--nay, even a saint in Patmos, hashis endurance, his strength, his faith, best described by being spoken ofas "a man." I am rather weary of this word "gentlemanly," which seemsto me to be often inappropriately used, and often, too, with suchexaggerated distortion of meaning, while the full simplicity of the noun"man," and the adjective "manly" are unacknowledged--that I aminduced to class it with the cant of the day."
Margaret thought a moment,--but before she could speak her slowconviction, he was called away by some of the eager manufacturers,whose speeches she could not hear, though she could guess at theirimport by the short clear answers Mr. Thornton gave, which camesteady and firm as the boom of a distant minute gun. They wereevidently talking of the turn-out, and suggesting what course had bestbe pursued. She heard Mr. Thornton say:
"That has been done." Then came a hurried murmur, in which two orthree joined.
"All those arrangements have been made."
Some doubts were implied, some difficulties named by Mr. Slickson,who took hold of Mr. Thornton"s arm, the better to impress his words.
Mr. Thornton moved slightly away, lifted his eyebrows a very little, andthen replied:
"I take the risk. You need not join in it unless you choose." Still somemore fears were urged.
"I"m not afraid of anything so dastardly as incendiarism. We are openenemies; and I can protect myself from any violence that I apprehend.
And I will assuredly protect all others who come to me for work. Theyknow my determination by this time, as well and as fully as you do."
Mr. Horsfall took him a little on one side, as Margaret conjectured, toask him some other question about the strike; but, in truth, it was toinquire who she herself was--so quiet, so stately, and so beautiful.
"A Milton lady?" asked he, as the name was given.
"No! from the south of England--Hampshire, I believe," was the cold,indifferent answer.
Mrs. Slickson was catechising Fanny on the same subject.
"Who is that fine distinguished-looking girl? a sister of Mr. Horsfall"s?"
"Oh dear, no! That is Mr. Hale, her father, talking now to Mr. Stephens.
He gives lessons; that is to say, he reads with young men. My brotherJohn goes to him twice a week, and so he begged mamma to ask themhere, in hopes of getting him known. I believe, we have some of theirprospectuses, if you would like to have one."
"Mr. Thornton! Does he really find time to read with a tutor, in the midstof all his business,--and this abominable strike in hand as well?"
Fanny was not sure, from Mrs. Slickson"s manner, whether she ought tobe proud or ashamed of her brother"s conduct; and, like all people whotry and take other people"s "ought" for the rule of their feelings, she wasinclined to blush for any singularity of action. Her shame wasinterrupted by the dispersion of the guests.