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 utterly

losing consciousness in another hideous, sickly swoon.

。./|?

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