and on margaret\"s singling out a little mon drinking-cup, which sheremembered as the one always standing by bessy\"s side with drink forher feverish lips, mary said:

\"oh, take summut better; that only cost fourpence!\"

\"that will do, thank you,\" said margaret; and she went quickly away,while the light caused by the pleasure of hāving something to give yetlingered on mary\"s face.

\"now to mrs. thornton\"s,\" thought she to herself. \"it must be done.\" butshe looked rather rigid and pale at the thought of it, and had hard workto find the exact words in which to explain to her aunt who mrs.

thornton was, and why she should go to bid her farewell.

they (for mrs. shaw alighted here) were shown into the drawing-room,in which a fire had only just been kindled. mrs. shaw huddled herselfup in her shawl, and shivered.

\"what an icy room!\" she said.

they had to wait for some time before mrs. thornton entered. therewas some softening in her heart towards margaret, now that she wasgoing away out of her sight. she remembered her spirit, as shown atvarious times and places even more than the patience with which shehad endured long and wearing cares. her countenance was blander thanusual, as she greeted her; there was even a shade of tenderness in hermanner, as she noticed the white, tear-swollen face, and the quiver inthe voice which margaret tried to make so steady.

\"allow me to introduce my aunt, mrs. shaw. i am going away frommilton to-morrow; i do not know if you are aware of it; but i wanted tosee you once again, mrs. thornton, to--to apologise for my manner thelast time i saw you; and to say that i am sure you meant kindly-howevermuch we may hāve misunderstood each other.\"

mrs. shaw looked extremely perplexed by what margaret had said.

thanks for kindness! and apologies for failure in good manners! butmrs. thornton replied:

\"miss hale, i am glad you do me justice. i did no more than i believedto be my duty in remonstrating with you as i did. i hāve always desired

to act the part of a friend to you. i am glad you do me justice.\"

\"and,\" said margaret, blushing excessively as she spoke, \"will you do mejustice, and believe that though i cannot--i do not choose--to giveexplanations of my conduct, i hāve not acted in the unbeing wayyou apprehended?\"

margaret\"s voice was so soft, and her eyes so pleading, that mrs.

thornton was for once affected by the charm of manner to which shehad hitherto proved herself invulnerable.

..,｛t｝｛xt｝｛小｝｛说｝｛天｝｛堂

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