her sharp damascus blade seemed out of place, and useless among rose-leāves. she was silent, because she was trying to task herself up to herduty at last, she stung herself into its performance by a suspicionwhich, in spite of all probability, she allowed to cross her mind, that allthis sweetness was put on with a view of propitiating mr. thornton;that, somehow, the other attachment had fallen through, and that itsuited miss hale\"s purpose to recall her rejected lover. poor margaret!

there was perhaps so much truth in the suspicion as this: that mrs.

thornton was the mother of one whose regard she valued, and feared tohāve lost; and this thought unconsciously added to her natural desire ofpleasing one who was showing her kindness by her visit. mrs. thorntonstood up to go, but yet she seemed to hāve something more to say. shecleared her throat and began:

\"miss hale, i hāve a duty to perform. i promised your poor mother that,as far as my poor judgment went, i would not allow you to act in anyway wrongly, or (she softened her speech down a little here)inadvertently, without remonstrating; at least, without offering advice,

whether you took it or not.\"

margaret stood before her, blushing like any culprit, with her eyesdilating as she gazed at mrs. thornton. she thought she had e tospeak to her about the falsehood she had told--that mr. thornton hademployed her to explain the danger she had exposed herself to, of beingconfuted in full court! and although her heart sank to think he had notrather chosen to e himself, and upbraid her, and receive herpenitence, and restore her again to his good opinion, yet she was toomuch humbled not to bear any blame on this subject patiently andmeekly.

mrs. thornton went on:

\"at first, when i heard from one of my servants, that you had been seenwalking about with a gentleman, so far from home as the outwoodstation, at such a time of the evening, i could hardly believe it. but myson, i am sorry to say, confirmed her story. it was indiscreet, to say theleast; many a young woman has lost her character before now----\"

margaret\"s eyes flashed fire. this was a new idea--this was tooinsulting. if mrs. thornton had spoken to her about the lie she had told,well and good--she would hāve owned it, and humiliated herself but tointerfere with her conduct--to speak of her character! she--mrs.

thornton, a mere stranger--it was too impertinent! she would notanswer her--not one word. mrs. thornton saw the battle-spirit inmargaret\"s eyes, and it called. up her bativeness also.

\"for your mother\"s sake, i hāve thought it right to warn you against suchimproprieties; they must degrade you in the long run in the estimationof the world, even if in fact they do not lead you to positive harm.\"

\"for my mother\"s sake,\" said margaret, in a tearful voice, \"i will bearmuch; but i cannot bear everything. she never meant me to be exposedto insult, i am sure.\"

\"insult, miss hale!\"

\"yes, madam,\" said margaret more steadily, \"it is insult. what do youknow of me that should lead you to suspect--oh!\" said she, breakingdown, and covering her face with her hands--\"i know now, mr.

thornton has told you----\"