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? hāve you seen any of ourfactories? our magnificent warehouses?\"

\"no!\" said margaret. \"i hāve 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 hāve 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 e to reside in a town whichhas risen to eminence in the country, from the character and progress ofits peculiar business, you might hāve 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 her

admission 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 acpany hermother, who was taking leāve 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.\"

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