"Nay, miss, that"s not for me to say," answered Jane, with a slight toss ofher head. "Sarah did"---"
Sarah what?" said Fanny, with impatient curiosity.
Jane resumed her bathing, as if what Sarah did or said was not exactlythe thing she liked to repeat.
"Sarah what?" asked Fanny, sharply. "Don"t speak in these half sentences,or I can"t understand you."
"Well, miss, since you will have it--Sarah, you see, was in the best placefor seeing, being at the right-hand window; and she says, and said at thevery time too, that she saw Miss Hale with her arms about master"sneck, hugging him before all the people."
"I don"t believe it," said Fanny. "I know she cares for my brother; any onecan see that; and I dare say, she"d give her eyes if he"d marry her,-whichhe never will, I can tell her. But I don"t believe she"d be so boldand forward as to put her arms round his neck."
"Poor young lady! she"s paid for it dearly if she did. It"s my belief, thatthe blow has given her such an ascendency of blood to the head as she"llnever get the better from. She looks like a corpse now."
"Oh, I wish mamma would come!" said Fanny, wringing her hands. "Inever was in the room with a dead person before."
"Stay, miss! She"s not dead: her eye-lids are quivering, and here"s wettears a-coming down her cheeks. Speak to her, Miss Fanny!"
"Are you better now?" asked Fanny, in a quavering voice.
No answer; no sign of recognition; but a faint pink colour returned toher lips, although the rest of her face was ashen pale.
Mrs. Thornton came hurriedly in, with the nearest surgeon she couldfind.
"How is she? Are you better, my dear?" as Margaret opened her filmyeyes, and gazed dreamily at her. "Here is Mr. Lowe come to see you."
Mrs. Thornton spoke loudly and distinctly, as to a deaf person.
Margaret tried to rise, and drew her ruffled, luxuriant hair instinctlyover the cut.
"I am better now," said she, in a very low, faint voice. I was a little sick."
She let him take her hand and feel her pulse. The bright colour came fora moment into her face, when he asked to examine the wound in herforehead; and she glanced up at Jane, as if shrinking from herinspection more than from the doctor"s.
"It is not much, I think. I am better now. I must go home."
"Not until I have applied some strips of plaster; and you have rested alittle."
She sat down hastily, without another word, and allowed it to be boundup.
"Now, if you please," said she, "I must go. Mamma will not see it, I think.
It is under the hair, is it not?"
"Quite; no one could tell."
"But you must not go," said Mrs. Thornton, impatiently. "You are not fitto go.
"I must," said Margaret, decidedly. "Think of mamma. If they should hear---Besides, I must go," said she, vehemently. "I cannot stay here. May Iask for a cab?"
"You are quite flushed and feverish," observed Mr. Lowe.
"It is only with being here, when I do so want to go. The air--gettingaway, would do me more good than anything," pleaded she.
"I really believe it is as she says," Mr. Lowe replied. "If her mother is soill as you told me on the way here, it may be very serious if she hears ofthis riot, and does not see her daughter back at the time she expects. Theinjury is not deep. I will fetch a cab, if your servants are still afraid togo out."
"Oh, thank you!" said Margaret. "It will do me more good than anything.
It is the air of this room that makes me feel so miserable."
She leant back on the sofa, and closed her eyes. Fanny beckoned hermother out of the room, and told her something that made her equallyanxious with Margaret for the departure of the latter. Not that she fullybelieved Fanny"s statement; but she credited enough to make hermanner to Margaret appear very much constrained, at wishing her goodbye.
Mr. Lowe returned in the cab.
"If you will allow me, I will see you home, Miss Hale. The streets arenot very quiet yet."
Margaret"s thoughts were quite alive enough to the present to make herdesirous of getting rid of both Mr. Lowe and the cab before she reachedCrampton Crescent, for fear of alarming her father and mother. Beyondthat one aim she would not look. That ugly dream of insolent wordsspoken about herself, could never be forgotten--but could be put asidetill she was stronger--for, oh! she was very weak; and her mind soughtfor some present fact to steady itself upon, and keep it from utterlylosing consciousness in another hideous, sickly swoon.