'Don't think hardly on him--he's a good man, he is. I sometimes
think I shall be moped wi' sorrow even in the City of God, if
father is not there.' The feverish colour came into her cheek,
and the feverish flame into her eye. 'But you will be there,
father! you shall! Oh! my heart!' She put her hand to it, and
became ghastly pale.
Margaret held her in her arms, and put the weary head to rest
upon her bosom. She lifted the thin soft hair from off the
temples, and bathed them with water. Nicholas understood all her
signs for different articles with the quickness of love, and even
the round-eyed sister moved with laborious gentleness at
Margaret's 'hush!' Presently the spasm that foreshadowed death
had passed away, and Bessy roused herself and said,-'I'll go to bed,--it's best place; but,' catching at Margaret's
gown, 'yo'll come again,--I know yo' will--but just say it!' 'I will come to-morrow, said Margaret.
Bessy leant back against her father, who prepared to carry her
upstairs; but as Margaret rose to go, he struggled to say
something: 'I could wish there were a God, if it were only to ask
Him to bless thee.' Margaret went away very sad and thoughtful.
She was late for tea at home. At Helstone unpunctuality at
meal-times was a great fault in her mother's eyes; but now this,
as well as many other little irregularities, seemed to have lost
their power of irritation, and Margaret almost longed for the old
complainings.
'Have you met with a servant, dear?' 'No, mamma; that Anne Buckley would never have done.' 'Suppose I try,' said Mr. Hale. 'Everybody else has had their
turn at this great difficulty. Now let me try. I may be the
Cinderella to put on the slipper after all.' Margaret could hardly smile at this little joke, so oppressed was
she by her visit to the Higginses.
'What would you do, papa? How would you set about it?' 'Why, I would apply to some good house-mother to recommend me one
known to herself or her servants.' 'Very good. But we must first catch our house-mother.' 'You have caught her. Or rather she is coming into the snare, and
you will catch her to-morrow, if you're skilful.' 'What do you mean, Mr. Hale?' asked his wife, her curiosity
aroused.
'Why, my paragon pupil (as Margaret calls him), has told me that
his mother intends to call on Mrs. and Miss Hale to-morrow.' 'Mrs. Thornton!' exclaimed Mrs. Hale.