 Chapter 51 North and South This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Chapter 51 Meeting Again Bear up, Braveheart. We will be calm and strong. Sure we can master eyes or cheek or tongue, nor let the smallest tell-tale sign appear. She ever was, and is, and will be dear. Rhyming Play It was a hot summer's evening. Edith came into Margaret's bedroom. The first time in her habit, the second ready dress for dinner. No one was there at first. The next time Edith found Dixon laying out Margaret's dress on the bed, but no Margaret. Edith remained to fidget about. Oh, Dixon, not those horrid blue flowers, do that dead gold-colored gown. What taste! Wait a minute, and I'll bring you some pomegranate blossoms. It's not a dead gold-colored mammoth straw-color, and blue always goes with straw-color. But Edith had brought the brilliant scarlet flowers before Dickens had half-got-through her remonstrance. Where is Miss Hale, lest Edith, as soon as she had tried the effect of the garniture? I can't think she went unpedishly. How might Aunt allow her to get into such rambling habits in Milton? I'm sure I'm always expected to hear of her having met with some horrible among all those wretched places she pokes herself into. I should never dare to go down some of those streets without a servant. They're not fit for ladies. Dixon was still huffed about her despised taste, so she replied rather shortly. It's no wonder to my mind when I hear ladies talk such a deal about being ladies, and when they're such fearful, delicate, dainty ladies, too. I say it's no wonder to me that there are no longer any saints on earth— Oh, Margaret, here you are! I've been so wanting you. But how your cheeks are flushed with the heat, poor child! But only think what that tiresome Henry has done really. He exceeds brother-in-law's limits. Just when my party was made up so beautifully, fitting in so precisely for Mr. Coldhurst, there has Henry come. With an apology it is true, and making use of your name for an excuse, and ask me if he may bring that Mr. Thornton of Milton, your tenant, you know, who is in London about some law business. It'll spoil my number quite. I don't mind dinner. I don't want any, said Margaret, in a low voice. Dixon can get me a cup of tea here, and I'll be in the drawing-room by the time you come up. I shall really be glad to lie down. No, no, that'll never do. You look wretchedly white, to be sure. But that's just the heat, and we can't do without you possibly. Those flowers a little lower, Dixon, to look glorious. Flames, Margaret, in your black hair. You know, we planned you to talk about Milton to Mr. Coldhurst. Oh, to be sure, and this man comes from Milton. I believe it'll be capital after all. Mr. Coldhurst can pump him well in all the subjects in which he is interested, and it'll be great fun to trace out your experiences and his Mr. Thornton's wisdom in Mr. Coldhurst's next speech in the house. Really, I think it's a happy hit of Henry's. I asked him if he was a man one would be ashamed of, and he replied, not if you have any sense in you, my little sister. So I suppose he is able to sound his h's, which is not a common dark-sharp accomplishment. A. Margaret? Mr. Lennox did not say why Mr. Thornton was come up to town. Was it law business connected with the property? Asked Margaret in a constrained voice. Oh, he's failed, or something of the kind that Henry told you of that day you had such a headache. What was it? There. That's capital, Dixon. Ms. Hale does credit, does she not? I wish I was tall as a queen and brown as a gypsy Margaret, but about Mr. Thornton. Oh, I really have such a terrible head for law business. Henry will like nothing better than to tell you all about it. I know the impression he made upon me was that Mr. Thornton is very badly off and a very respectable man, and that I am to be very civil to him, and as I did not know how, I came to ask you to help me. And now come down with me and rest on the sofa for a quarter of an hour. The privileged brother-in-law came early, and Margaret reddened as she spoke. Began to ask him the question she wanted to hear answered about Mr. Thornton. He came up about subletting the property. Marlboro Mills and the house and premises adjoining, I mean. He is unable to keep it on, and there are deeds and leases to be looked over and agreements to be drawn up. I hope Edith will receive him properly, but she was rather put out as I could see by the liberty I had taken in begging for an invitation for him. But I thought you would like to have some attention shown him, and one would be particularly scrupulous in paying every respect to a man who was going down in the world. He had dropped his voice to speak to Margaret by whom he was sitting, but as he ended he sprang up and introduced Mr. Thornton, who had at that moment entered to Edith and Captain Lennox. Margaret looked with an anxious eye at Mr. Thornton while he was thus occupied. It was considerably more than a year since she had seen him, and events had occurred to change him much in that time. His fine figure yet bore him above the common height of men and gave him a distinguished appearance from the ease of motion which arose out of it and was natural to him. But his face looked older and careworn, yet a noble composure sat upon it, which impressed those who had just been hearing of his changed position with a sense of inherent dignity and manly strength. He was aware, from the first glance he'd given around the room, that Margaret was there. He had seen her intent look of occupation as she listened to Mr. Henry Lennox, and he came up to her with a perfectly regulated manner of an old friend. With his first calm words, a vivid color flashed into her cheeks, which never left them again during the evening. She did not seem to have much to say to him. She disappointed him by the quiet way in which she asked what seemed to him to be merely necessary questions respecting her old acquaintances in Milton. But others came in more intimate in the house than he, and he fell into the background where he and Mr. Lennox talked together from time to time. You think Miss Hale looking well, said Mr. Lennox, don't you? Milton didn't agree with her, I imagine, for when she first came to London I thought I'd never seen anyone so much changed. Tonight she is looking radiant, but she is much stronger. Last autumn she was fatigued with a walk of a couple miles. One Friday evening we walked up to Hampstead and back, yet on Saturday she looked as well as she does now. We who they too alone. Mr. Colters was a very clever man and a rising member of Parliament. He had a quick eye at discerning character and was struck by a remark which Mr. Thornton made at dinnertime. He inquired from Edith who that gentleman was, and rather to her surprise she found from the tone of his, indeed, that Mr. Thornton of Milton was not such an unknown name to him as she had imagined it would be. Her dinner was going off well. Henry was in good humour and brought out his dry, caustic wit admirably. Mr. Thornton and Mr. Colters found one or two mutual subjects of interest, which they could only touch upon then, reserving them for more private after-dinner talk. Margaret looked beautiful in the pomegranate flowers, and if she did lean back in her chair and speak but little Edith was not annoyed, for the conversation flowed unsmoothly without her. Margaret was watching Mr. Thornton's face. He never looked at her, so she might study him unobserved, and note the changes which even this short time had wrought in him. Only at some unexpected moe of Mr. Lennox's his face flashed out into the old look of intense enjoyment. The merry brightness returned to his eyes. The lips just parted to suggest the brilliant smile of former days, and for an instant his glance instinctively sought hers, as if he wanted her sympathy. But when their eyes met his whole countenance changed. He was grave and anxious once more, and he resolutely avoided even looking near her again during dinner. There were only two ladies besides their own party, and as these were occupied in conversation by her aunt and Edith when they went up into the drawing-room, Margaret languidly employed herself about some work. Presently the gentleman came up, Mr. Colters and Mr. Thornton, in close conversation. Mr. Lennox drew near to Margaret and said in a low voice, I really think Edith owes me thanks for my contribution to her party. You have no idea what an agreeable, sensible fellow this tenet of yours is. He has been the very man to give Colters all the facts he wanted coaching in, and I can't conceive how he contrived to mismanage his affairs. With his powers and opportunities you would have succeeded, said Margaret. He did not quite relish the tone in which she spoke, although the words but expressed a thought which had passed through his own mind. As he was silent they caught a swell in the sound of conversation going on near the fireplace between Mr. Colters and Mr. Thornton. I assure you I heard it spoken of with great interest, curiosity, as to its results. Perhaps I should rather say I heard your name frequently mentioned during my short stay in the neighborhood. Then they lost some words. And when next they could hear Mr. Thornton was speaking, I have not the elements for popularity. If they spoke of me in that way they were mistaken. I fall slowly into new projects, and I find it difficult to let myself be known, even by those whom I desire to know, and with whom I'd feign have no reserve. Yet even with all these drawbacks I felt I was on the right path, in that, starting from a kind of friendship with one, I was becoming acquainted with many. The advantages were mutual, we were both unconsciously, unconsciously teaching each other. You say were, I trust you're intending to pursue the same course. I must stop Colters, said Henry Lennox hastedly. And by an abrupt yet apropos question he turned the current of the conversation so as not to give Mr. Thornton the mortification of acknowledging his want of success and consequent change of position. But as soon as the newly started subject had come to a close, Mr. Thornton resumed the conversation just where it had been interrupted, and gave Mr. Colters the reply to his inquiry. I have been unsuccessful in business, and have had to give up my position as master. I am on the lookout for a situation in Milton, where I may meet with employment under someone who will be willing to let me go along my own way in such matters as these. I can depend upon myself for having no go-ahead theories that I would rationally bring into practice. My only wish is to have the opportunity of cultivating some intercourse with the hands beyond the mere cash nexus. But it might be the point our comedies sought from which to move the earth to judge from the importance attached to it by some of our manufacturers who shake their heads in the grave as soon as I name the one or two experiments that I should like to try. You call them experiments, I noticed, said Mr. Colters, with a delicate increase of respect in his manner, because I believe them to be such. I am not sure the consequences that may result from them, but I am sure they ought to be tried. I have arrived at the conviction that no mere institutions, however wise, and however much thought may have been required to organize and arrange them, can attach class to class as they should be attached, unless the working out of such institutions bring the individuals of the different classes into actual personal contact. Such intercourse is the very breath of life. A working man can hardly be made to feel and know how much his employer may have labored in his study at plans for the benefit of his workpeople. A complete plan emerges like a piece of machinery, apparently fitted for every emergency. But the hands accept it as they do machinery, without understanding the intense mental labor and forethought required to bring it to such perfection. But I would take an idea, the working out of which would necessitate personal intercourse. It might not go well at first, but at every hitch, interest would be felt by an increasing number of men. And at last its success in working come to be desired by all, as all had borne apart in the formation of the plan. And even then I'm sure that it would lose its vitality, cease to be living, as soon it was no longer carried on by that sort of common interest, which invariably makes people find means and ways of seeing each other, and becoming acquainted with each other's characters and persons, and even tricks of temper and modes of speech. We should understand each other better, and I'll venture to say we should like each other more. And you think they may prevent the recurrence of strikes? Not at all. My utmost expectation only goes so far as this, that they may render strikes not the bitter, venomous sources of hatred they have here to have been. A more hopeful man might imagine that a closer and more genial intercourse between classes might do away with strikes. But I am not a hopeful man. Suddenly, as if a new idea had struck him, he crossed over to where Margaret was sitting, and began without preface, as if he knew she'd been listening to all that had passed. Miss Hale? I had a round robin from some of my men, I suspect in Higgins' handwriting, stating their wish to work for me if ever I was in a position to employ men again on my own behalf. That was good, wasn't it? Yes. Just right. I'm glad of it, said Margaret, looking up straight into his face with her speaking eyes, and then dropping them under his eloquent glance. He gazed back at her for a minute, as if he did not know exactly what he was about. Then sighed, and sang, I knew you would like it. He turned away, and never spoke to her again, until he bit her formal good night. As Mr. Lennox took his departure, Margaret said with a blush she could not repress, and with some hesitation, can I speak to you tomorrow? I want your help about something. Certainly. I will come at whatever time you name. You cannot give me greater pleasure than by making me of any use. At eleven? Very well. His eye brightened with exultation. How she was learning to depend upon him. It seemed as if any day now might give him the certainty, without having which he had determined never to offer to her again. Chapter 51 Chapter 52 North and South This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Dorothea 23, Boston, Massachusetts North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell Chapter 52 Pack clouds away For joy or grief, for hope or fear, For all hereafter as for here, In peace or strife, in storm or shine, anonymous. Edith went about on tiptoe, and checked Sholtoe 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 sat there with closed doors. Then there was a man's footstep running downstairs, and Edith peeped out of the drawing-room. Well, Henry! said she, with a look of interrogation. Well, said he, rather shortly. Come into lunch. No, thank you, I can't. I've lost too much time here already. Then it's not all settled, said Edith, despondingly. No, 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. But it would be so nice for us all, pleaded Edith. I 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 after Cadiz. I will try, when I marry, to look out for a young lady, who has a knowledge of the management of children, and that is all I can do. Miss Hale would not have me, and I should not ask her. Then what have you been talking about? A thousand things you would not understand—investments and leases and value of land. Oh, 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. Very well. I'm coming again to-morrow, and bringing Mr. Thornton with me, to have some more talk with Miss Hale. Mr. Thornton, what is he to do with it? He is Miss Hale's tenant, said Mr. Lennox, turning away. And he wishes to give up his lease. Oh, very well! I can't understand detail, so don't give them me. The 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. 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. She began hurriedly. I'm so sorry Mr. Lennox is not here. He could have done it so much better than I can. He is my advisor in this. I'm sorry that I came, if it troubles you. Shall I go to Mr. Lennox's chambers and try and find him? No, thank you. I wanted to tell you how grieved I was to find the time to lose you as a tenant. But, Mr. Lennox says, things are short and brightened. Mr. Lennox knows little about it, said Mr. Thornton quietly. Happy and fortunate and all a man cares for, he does not understand what it is to find oneself no longer young, yet thrown back to the starting point, which requires the hopeful energy of youth, to feel one half of life gone, and nothing done, nothing 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. You are unjust, said Margaret gently. Mr. Lennox has only spoken of the great probability which he believes there to be of your redeeming, your more than redeeming what you have lost. Don't speak till I've ended, pray don't. And, collecting herself once more, she went on rapidly turning over some law papers and statements of accounts in a trembling, hurried manner. Oh, here it is! And he drew me out a proposal. I wish he was here to explain it, showing that if you would take some money of mine, 18,057 pounds, lying just at this moment unused in the bank, and bringing me in only two-and-a-half percent, you could pay me much better interest and might go on working marbremills. 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, Margaret! For an instant she looked up, and then saw 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. Margaret! 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, Take care! If you do not speak, I shall claim you as my own in some strange, presumptuous way. Send me away at once, if I must go. Margaret! 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 luscious or loving eyes. He clasped her close, but they both kept silence. At length she murmured in a broken voice, Oh, Mr. Thornton! I am not good enough. Not good enough! Don't mock my own deep feeling of unworthiness. 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. Do you remember, love? He murmured. And how I requited you with my insolence the next day. I remember how wrongly I spoke to you. That is all. Look here! Lift up your head. I have something to show you. She slowly faced him, glowing with beautiful shame. Do you know these roses? He said, drawing out his pocket book, in which were treasured up some dead flowers. No, she replied, with innocent curiosity. Did I give them to you? No, vanity! You did not. You may have worn sister roses, very probably. She looked at them, wondering for a minute. Then she smiled a little, as she said. They are from Hellston, are they not? I know the deep indentations round the leaves. Oh, have you been there? When were you there? I 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 Harvard. You must give them to me, she said, trying to take them out of his hand with gentle violence. Very well. Only you must pay me for them. How shall I ever tell, aren't sure? She whispered, after some time of delicious silence. Let me speak to her. Oh, no! I owe it to her. But what will she say? I can guess. Her first exclamation will be, That man! Hush! said Margaret, or I shall try and show you your mother's indignant tones, as she says. That woman! End of chapter 52. End of North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.