Chapter 40

CHAPTER XL - OUT OF TUNE

'I have no wrong, where I can claim no right,

Naught ta'en me fro, where I have nothing had,

Yet of my woe I cannot so be quite;

Namely, since that another may he glad

With that, that thus in sorrow makes me sad.'

WYATT.

Margaret had not expected much pleasure to herself from Mr.
Bell's visit--she had only looked forward to it on her father's
account, but when her godfather came, she at once fell into the
most natural position of friendship in the world. He said she had
no merit in being what she was, a girl so entirely after his own
heart; it was an hereditary power which she had, to walk in and
take possession of his regard; while she, in reply, gave him much
credit for being so fresh and young under his Fellow's cap and
gown.

'Fresh and young in warmth and kindness, I mean. I'm afraid I
must own, that I think your opinions are the oldest and mustiest
I have met with this long time.'

'Hear this daughter of yours, Hale Her residence in Milton has
quite corrupted her. She's a democrat, a red republican, a member
of the Peace Society, a socialist--'

'Papa, it's all because I'm standing up for the progress of
commerce. Mr. Bell would have had it keep still at exchanging
wild-beast skins for acorns.'

'No, no. I'd dig the ground and grow potatoes. And I'd shave the
wild-beast skins and make the wool into broad cloth. Don't
exaggerate, missy. But I'm tired of this bustle. Everybody
rushing over everybody, in their hurry to get rich.'

'It is not every one who can sit comfortably in a set of college
rooms, and let his riches grow without any exertion of his own.
No doubt there is many a man here who would be thankful if his
property would increase as yours has done, without his taking any
trouble about it,' said Mr. Hale.

'I don't believe they would. It's the bustle and the struggle
they like. As for sitting still, and learning from the past, or
shaping out the future by faithful work done in a prophetic
spirit--Why! Pooh! I don't believe there's a man in Milton who
knows how to sit still; and it is a great art.'

'Milton people, I suspect, think Oxford men don't know how to
move. It would be a very good thing if they mixed a little more.'

'It might be good for the Miltoners. Many things might be good
for them which would be very disagreeable for other people.'

'Are you not a Milton man yourself?' asked Margaret. 'I should
have thought you would have been proud of your town.'

'I confess, I don't see what there is to be proud of If you'll
only come to Oxford, Margaret, I will show you a place to glory
in.'

'Well!' said Mr. Hale, 'Mr. Thornton is coming to