\"thought fights with thought; out springs a spark oftruthfrom the collision of the sword and shield.\"

w. s. landor.

\"margaret,\" said her father, the next day, \"we must return mrs. thornton\"scall. your mother is not very well, and thinks she cannot walk so far;but you and i will go this afternoon.\"

as they went, mr. hale began about his wife\"s health, with a kind ofveiled anxiety, which margaret was glad to see awakened at last.

\"did you consult the doctor, margaret? did you send for him?\"

\"no, papa, you spoke of his corning to see me. now i was well. but if ionly knew of some good doctor, i would go this afternoon, and ask himto e, for i am sure mamma is seriously indisposed.\"

she put the truth thus plainly and strongly because her father had sopletely shut his mind against the idea, when she had last named herfears. but now the case was changed. he answered in a despondenttone:

\"do you think she has any hidden plaint? do you think she is reallyvery ill? has dixon said anything? oh, margaret! i am haunted by thefear that our ing to milton has killed her. my poor maria!\"

\"oh, papa! don\"t imagine such things,\" said margaret, shocked. \"she isnot well, that is all. many a one is not well for a time; and with goodadvice gets better and stronger than ever.\"

\"but has dixon said anything about her?\"

\"no! you know dixon enjoys making a mystery out of trifles; and she

has been a little mysterious about mamma\"s health, which has alarmedme rather, that is all. without any reason, i dare say. you know, papa,you said the other day i was getting fanciful.\"

\"i hope and trust you are. but don\"t think of what i said then. i like youto be fanciful about your mother\"s health. don\"t be afraid of telling meyour fancies. i like to hear them, though, i dare say, i spoke as if i wasannoyed. but we will ask mrs. thornton if she can tell us of a gooddoctor. we won\"t throw away our money on any but some one first-rate.