{"id":333,"date":"2021-05-20T12:57:22","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T16:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/northandsouth\/chapter\/chapter-lii\/"},"modified":"2022-02-03T11:07:50","modified_gmt":"2022-02-03T16:07:50","slug":"52","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/chapter\/52\/","title":{"raw":"Chapter LII: \"Pack clouds away\"","rendered":"Chapter LII: “Pack clouds away”"},"content":{"raw":"
\"<\/span>For joy or grief, for hope or fear\r\nFor all hereafter, as for here,\r\nIn peace or strife, in storm or shine.\"\r\nAnon<\/span>.<\/span><\/blockquote>\r\nEdith went about on tip-toe, and checked Sholto in all loud speaking that next morning, as if any sudden noise would interrupt the conference that was taking place in the drawing-room. Two o'clock came; and they still sate there with closed doors. Then there was a man's footstep running down stairs; and Edith peeped out of the drawing-room.\r\n\r\n\u201cWell, Henry?\u201d said she, with a look of interrogation.\r\n\r\n\u201cWell!\u201d said he, rather shortly.\r\n\r\n\u201cCome in to lunch!\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cNo, thank you, I can't. I've lost too much time here already.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cThen it's not all settled,\u201d said Edith despondingly.\r\n\r\n\u201cNo! not at all. It never will be settled, if the \"it\" is what I conjecture you mean. That will never be, Edith, so give up thinking about it.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cBut it would be so nice for us all,\u201d pleaded Edith. \u201cI should always feel comfortable about the children, if I had Margaret settled down near me. As it is, I am always afraid of her going off to Cadiz.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cI will try, when I marry, to look out for a young lady who has a knowledge of the management of children. That is all I can do. Miss Hale would not have me. And I shall not ask her.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cThen, what have you been talking about?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cA thousand things you would not understand: investments, and leases, and value of land.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cOh, go away if that's all. You and she will be unbearably stupid, if you've been talking all this time about such weary things.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cVery well. I'm coming again to-morrow, and bringing Mr. Thornton with me, to have some more talk with Miss Hale.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cMr. Thornton! What has he to do with it?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cHe is Miss Hale's tenant,\u201d said Mr. Lennox, turning away. \u201cAnd he wishes to give up his lease.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cOh! very well. I can't understand details, so don't give them me.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cThe only detail I want you to understand is, to let us have the back drawing-room undisturbed, as it was to-day. In general, the children and servants are so in and out, that I can never get any business satisfactorily explained; and the arrangements we have to make to-morrow are of importance.\u201d\r\n\r\nNo one ever knew why Mr. Lennox did not keep to his appointment on the following day. Mr. Thornton came true to his time; and, after keeping him waiting for nearly an hour, Margaret came in looking very white and anxious.\r\n\r\nShe began hurriedly:\r\n\r\n\u201cI am so sorry Mr. Lennox is not here,\u2014he could have done it so much better than I can. He is my adviser in this\u201d\u2014\u2014\r\n\r\n\u201cI am sorry that I came, if it troubles you. Shall I go to Mr. Lennox's chambers and try and find him?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cNo, thank you. I wanted to tell you, how grieved I was to find that I am to lose you as a tenant. But, Mr. Lennox says, things are sure to brighten\u201d\u2014\u2014\r\n\r\n\u201cMr. Lennox knows little about it,\u201d said Mr. Thornton quietly. \u201cHappy and fortunate in all a man cares for, he does not understand what it is to find oneself no longer young\u2014yet thrown back to the starting-point which requires the hopeful energy of youth\u2014to feel one half of life gone, and nothing done\u2014nothing remaining of wasted opportunity, but the bitter recollection that it has been. Miss Hale, I would rather not hear Mr. Lennox's opinion of my affairs. Those who are happy and successful themselves are too apt to make light of the misfortunes of others.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cYou are unjust,\u201d said Margaret, gently. \u201cMr. Lennox has only spoken of the great probability which he believes there to be of your redeeming\u2014your more than redeeming what you have lost\u2014don't speak till I have ended\u2014pray don't!\u201d And collecting herself once more, she went on rapidly turning over some law papers, and statements of accounts in a trembling hurried manner. \u201cOh! here it is! and\u2014he drew me out a proposal\u2014I wish he was here to explain it\u2014showing that if you would take some money of mine, eighteen thousand and fifty-seven pounds, lying just at this moment unused in the bank, and bringing me in only two and a half per cent.\u2014you could pay me much better interest, and might go on working Marlborough Mills.\u201d Her voice had cleared itself and become more steady. Mr. Thornton did not speak, and she went on looking for some paper on which were written down the proposals for security; for she was most anxious to have it all looked upon in the light of a mere business arrangement, in which the principal advantage would be on her side. While she sought for this paper, her very heart-pulse was arrested by the tone in which Mr. Thornton spoke. His voice was hoarse, and trembling with tender passion, as he said:\u2014\r\n\r\n\u201cMargaret!\u201d\r\n\r\nFor an instant she looked up; and then sought to veil her luminous eyes by dropping her forehead on her hands. Again, stepping nearer, he besought her with another tremulous eager call upon her name.\r\n\r\n\u201cMargaret!\u201d\r\n\r\nStill lower went the head; more closely hidden was the face, almost resting on the table before her. He came close to her. He knelt by her side, to bring his face to a level with her ear; and whispered-panted out the words:\u2014\r\n\r\n\u201cTake care.\u2014If you do not speak\u2014I shall claim you as my own in some strange presumptuous way.\u2014Send me away at once, if I must go;\u2014Margaret!\u2014\u201d\r\n\r\nAt that third call she turned her face, still covered with her small white hands, towards him, and laid it on his shoulder, hiding it even there; and it was too delicious to feel her soft cheek against his, for him to wish to see either deep blushes or loving eyes. He clasped her close. But they both kept silence. At length she murmured in a broken voice:\r\n\r\n\u201cOh, Mr. Thornton, I am not good enough!\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cNot good enough! Don't mock my own deep feeling of unworthiness.\u201d\r\n\r\nAfter a minute or two, he gently disengaged her hands from her face, and laid her arms as they had once before been placed to protect him from the rioters.\r\n\r\n\u201cDo you remember, love?\u201d he murmured. \u201cAnd how I requited you with my insolence the next day?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cI remember how wrongly I spoke to you,\u2014that is all.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cLook here! Lift up your head. I have something to show you!\u201d She slowly faced him, glowing with beautiful shame.\r\n\r\n\u201cDo you know these roses?\u201d he said, drawing out his pocket-book, in which were treasured up some dead flowers.\r\n\r\n\u201cNo!\u201d she replied, with innocent curiosity. \u201cDid I give them to you?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cNo! Vanity; you did not. You may have worn sister roses very probably.\u201d\r\n\r\nShe looked at them, wondering for a minute, then she smiled a little as she said\u2014\r\n\r\n\u201cThey are from Helstone, are they not? I know the deep indentations round the leaves. Oh! have you been there? When were you there?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cI wanted to see the place where Margaret grew to what she is, even at the worst time of all, when I had no hope of ever calling her mine. I went there on my return from Havre.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cYou must give them to me,\u201d she said, trying to take them out of his hand with gentle violence.\r\n\r\n\u201cVery well. Only you must pay me for them!\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cHow shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?\u201d she whispered, after some time of delicious silence.\r\n\r\n\u201cLet me speak to her.\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cOh, no! I owe to her,\u2014but what will she say?\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cI can guess. Her first exclamation will be, \u2018That man!\u2019\u201d\r\n\r\n\u201cHush!\u201d said Margaret, \u201cor I shall try and show you your mother's indignant tones as she says, \u2018That woman!\u2019\u201d\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n
\r\n\r\nTHE END.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

“<\/span>For joy or grief, for hope or fear
\nFor all hereafter, as for here,
\nIn peace or strife, in storm or shine.”
\nAnon<\/span>.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Edith went about on tip-toe, and checked Sholto in all loud speaking that next morning, as if any sudden noise would interrupt the conference that was taking place in the drawing-room. Two o’clock came; and they still sate there with closed doors. Then there was a man’s footstep running down stairs; and Edith peeped out of the drawing-room.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Henry?\u201d said she, with a look of interrogation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell!\u201d said he, rather shortly.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome in to lunch!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, thank you, I can’t. I’ve lost too much time here already.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it’s not all settled,\u201d said Edith despondingly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! not at all. It never will be settled, if the “it” is what I conjecture you mean. That will never be, Edith, so give up thinking about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it would be so nice for us all,\u201d pleaded Edith. \u201cI should always feel comfortable about the children, if I had Margaret settled down near me. As it is, I am always afraid of her going off to Cadiz.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will try, when I marry, to look out for a young lady who has a knowledge of the management of children. That is all I can do. Miss Hale would not have me. And I shall not ask her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, what have you been talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA thousand things you would not understand: investments, and leases, and value of land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, go away if that’s all. You and she will be unbearably stupid, if you’ve been talking all this time about such weary things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well. I’m coming again to-morrow, and bringing Mr. Thornton with me, to have some more talk with Miss Hale.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Thornton! What has he to do with it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is Miss Hale’s tenant,\u201d said Mr. Lennox, turning away. \u201cAnd he wishes to give up his lease.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh! very well. I can’t understand details, so don’t give them me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only detail I want you to understand is, to let us have the back drawing-room undisturbed, as it was to-day. In general, the children and servants are so in and out, that I can never get any business satisfactorily explained; and the arrangements we have to make to-morrow are of importance.\u201d<\/p>\n

No one ever knew why Mr. Lennox did not keep to his appointment on the following day. Mr. Thornton came true to his time; and, after keeping him waiting for nearly an hour, Margaret came in looking very white and anxious.<\/p>\n

She began hurriedly:<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so sorry Mr. Lennox is not here,\u2014he could have done it so much better than I can. He is my adviser in this\u201d\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry that I came, if it troubles you. Shall I go to Mr. Lennox’s chambers and try and find him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, thank you. I wanted to tell you, how grieved I was to find that I am to lose you as a tenant. But, Mr. Lennox says, things are sure to brighten\u201d\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Lennox knows little about it,\u201d said Mr. Thornton quietly. \u201cHappy and fortunate in all a man cares for, he does not understand what it is to find oneself no longer young\u2014yet thrown back to the starting-point which requires the hopeful energy of youth\u2014to feel one half of life gone, and nothing done\u2014nothing remaining of wasted opportunity, but the bitter recollection that it has been. Miss Hale, I would rather not hear Mr. Lennox’s opinion of my affairs. Those who are happy and successful themselves are too apt to make light of the misfortunes of others.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are unjust,\u201d said Margaret, gently. \u201cMr. Lennox has only spoken of the great probability which he believes there to be of your redeeming\u2014your more than redeeming what you have lost\u2014don’t speak till I have ended\u2014pray don’t!\u201d And collecting herself once more, she went on rapidly turning over some law papers, and statements of accounts in a trembling hurried manner. \u201cOh! here it is! and\u2014he drew me out a proposal\u2014I wish he was here to explain it\u2014showing that if you would take some money of mine, eighteen thousand and fifty-seven pounds, lying just at this moment unused in the bank, and bringing me in only two and a half per cent.\u2014you could pay me much better interest, and might go on working Marlborough Mills.\u201d Her voice had cleared itself and become more steady. Mr. Thornton did not speak, and she went on looking for some paper on which were written down the proposals for security; for she was most anxious to have it all looked upon in the light of a mere business arrangement, in which the principal advantage would be on her side. While she sought for this paper, her very heart-pulse was arrested by the tone in which Mr. Thornton spoke. His voice was hoarse, and trembling with tender passion, as he said:\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cMargaret!\u201d<\/p>\n

For an instant she looked up; and then sought to veil her luminous eyes by dropping her forehead on her hands. Again, stepping nearer, he besought her with another tremulous eager call upon her name.<\/p>\n

\u201cMargaret!\u201d<\/p>\n

Still lower went the head; more closely hidden was the face, almost resting on the table before her. He came close to her. He knelt by her side, to bring his face to a level with her ear; and whispered-panted out the words:\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cTake care.\u2014If you do not speak\u2014I shall claim you as my own in some strange presumptuous way.\u2014Send me away at once, if I must go;\u2014Margaret!\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

At that third call she turned her face, still covered with her small white hands, towards him, and laid it on his shoulder, hiding it even there; and it was too delicious to feel her soft cheek against his, for him to wish to see either deep blushes or loving eyes. He clasped her close. But they both kept silence. At length she murmured in a broken voice:<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, Mr. Thornton, I am not good enough!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot good enough! Don’t mock my own deep feeling of unworthiness.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a minute or two, he gently disengaged her hands from her face, and laid her arms as they had once before been placed to protect him from the rioters.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you remember, love?\u201d he murmured. \u201cAnd how I requited you with my insolence the next day?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember how wrongly I spoke to you,\u2014that is all.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook here! Lift up your head. I have something to show you!\u201d She slowly faced him, glowing with beautiful shame.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know these roses?\u201d he said, drawing out his pocket-book, in which were treasured up some dead flowers.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d she replied, with innocent curiosity. \u201cDid I give them to you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! Vanity; you did not. You may have worn sister roses very probably.\u201d<\/p>\n

She looked at them, wondering for a minute, then she smiled a little as she said\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are from Helstone, are they not? I know the deep indentations round the leaves. Oh! have you been there? When were you there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to see the place where Margaret grew to what she is, even at the worst time of all, when I had no hope of ever calling her mine. I went there on my return from Havre.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must give them to me,\u201d she said, trying to take them out of his hand with gentle violence.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery well. Only you must pay me for them!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow shall I ever tell Aunt Shaw?\u201d she whispered, after some time of delicious silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me speak to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, no! I owe to her,\u2014but what will she say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can guess. Her first exclamation will be, \u2018That man!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHush!\u201d said Margaret, \u201cor I shall try and show you your mother’s indignant tones as she says, \u2018That woman!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

THE END.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":299,"menu_order":52,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[48],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-333","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":3,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/299"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":562,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/333\/revisions\/562"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/333\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=333"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=333"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/northandsouth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}