\"very well. i\"m ing again to-morrow, and bringing mr. thorntonwith me, to hāve some more talk with miss hale.\"

\"mr. thornton! what has he to do with it?\"

\"he is miss hale\"s tenant,\" said mr. lennox, turning away. \"and hewishes to give up his lease.\"

\"oh! very well. i can\"t understand details, so don\"t give them me.\"

\"the only detail i want you to understand is, to let us hāve the backdrawing-room undisturbed, as it was to-day. in general, the children andservants are so in and out, that i can never get any businesssatisfactorily explained; and the arrangements we hāve to make tomorroware of importance.\"

no one ever knew why mr. lennox did not keep to his appointment onthe following day. mr. thornton came true to his time; and, afterkeeping him waiting for nearly an hour, margaret came in looking verywhite and anxious.

she began hurriedly:

\"i am so sorry mr. lennox is not here,--he could hāve done it so much

better than i can. he is my adviser in this\"---\"

i am sorry that i came, if it troubles you. shall i go to mr. lennox\"schambers and try and find him?\"

\"no, thank you. i wanted to tell you, how grieved i was to find that i amto lose you as a tenant. but, mr. lennox says, things are sure tobrighten\"---\"

mr. lennox knows little about it,\" said mr. thornton quietly. \"happyand fortunate in all a man cares for, he does not understand what it is tofind oneself no longer young--yet thrown back to the starting-pointwhich requires the hopeful energy of youth--to feel one half of lifegone, and nothing done--nothing remaining of wasted opportunity, butthe bitter recollection that it has been. miss hale, i would rather nothear mr. lennox\"s opinion of my affairs. those who are happy andsuccessful themselves are too apt to make light of the misfortunes ofothers.\"

.?小?说?天堂

0 0