'I declare, I've a good mind to face it out, and stand my trial.
If I could only pick up my evidence! I cannot endure the thought
of being in the power of such a blackguard as Leonards. I could
almost have enjoyed--in other circumstances--this stolen visit:
it has had all the charm which the French-woman attributed to
forbidden pleasures.' 'One of the earliest things I can remember,' said Margaret, 'was
your being in some great disgrace, Fred, for stealing apples. We
had plenty of our own--trees loaded with them; but some one had
told you that stolen fruit tasted sweetest, which you took au
pied de la lettre, and off you went a-robbing. You have not
changed your feelings much since then.' 'Yes--you must go,' repeated Mr. Hale, answering Margaret's
question, which she had asked some time ago. His thoughts were
fixed on one subject, and it was an effort to him to follow the
zig-zag remarks of his children--an effort which ho did not make.
Margaret and Frederick looked at each other. That quick momentary
sympathy would be theirs no longer if he went away. So much was
understood through eyes that could not be put into words. Both
coursed the same thought till it was lost in sadness. Frederick
shook it off first: 'Do you know, Margaret, I was very nearly giving both Dixon and
myself a good fright this afternoon. I was in my bedroom; I had
heard a ring at the front door, but I thought the ringer must
have done his business and gone away long ago; so I was on the
point of making my appearance in the passage, when, as I opened
my room door, I saw Dixon coming downstairs; and she frowned and
kicked me into hiding again. I kept the door open, and heard a
message given to some man that was in my father's study, and that
then went away. Who could it have been? Some of the shopmen?' 'Very likely,' said Margaret, indifferently. 'There was a little
quiet man who came up for orders about two o'clock.' 'But this was not a little man--a great powerful fellow; and it
was past four when he was here.' 'It was Mr. Thornton,' said Mr. Hale. They were glad to have
drawn him into the conversation.
'Mr. Thornton!' said Margaret, a little surprised. 'I
thought----' 'Well, little one, what did you think?' asked Frederick, as she
did not finish her sentence.
'Oh, only,' said she, reddening and looking straight at him, 'I
fancied you meant some one of a different class, not a gentleman;
somebody come on an errand.' 'He looked like some one of that kind,' said Frederick,
carelessly. 'I took him for a shopman, and he turns out a
manufacturer.' Margaret was silent. She remembered how at first, before she knew
his character, she had spoken and thought of him just as
Frederick was doing. It was but a natural impression that was
made upon him, and yet she was a little annoyed by it. She was
unwilling to speak; she wanted to make Frederick understand what
kind of person Mr. Thornton was--but she was tongue-tied.