\"hallo! who\"s there! where are we? who\"s that,--margaret? oh, now iremember all. i could not imagine what woman was sitting there in sucha doleful attitude, with her hands clasped straight out upon her knees,and her face looking so steadfastly before her. what were you lookingat?\" asked mr. bell, ing to the window, and standing behindmargaret.

\"nothing,\" said she, rising up quickly, and speaking as cheerfully as shecould at a moment\"s notice.

\"nothing indeed! a bleak back-ground of trees, some white linen hung

out on the sweet-briar hedge, and a great waft of damp air. shut thewindow, and e in and make tea.\"

margaret was silent for some time. she played with her teaspoon, anddid not attend particularly to what mr. bell said. he contradicted her,and she took the same sort of smiling notice of his opinion as if he hadagreed with her. then she sighed, and putting down her spoon, shebegan, apropos of nothing at all, and in the high-pitched voice whichusually shows that the speaker has been thinking for some time on thesubject that they wish to introduce--\"mr. bell, you remember what wewere saying about frederick last night, don\"t you?\"

\"last night. where was i? oh, i remember! why it seems a week ago.

yes, to be sure, i recollect we talked about him, poor fellow.\"

\"yes--and do you not remember that mr. lennox spoke about his hāvingbeen in england about the time of dear mamma\"s death?\" askedmargaret, her voice now lower than usual.

\"i recollect. i hadn\"t heard of it before.\"

../|?

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