Chapter 51 - Page 2

Colthurst. Oh! to be
sure! and this man comes from Milton. I believe it will be
capital, after all. Mr. Colthurst can pump him well on all the
subjects in which he is interested, and it will be great fun to
trace out your experiences, and this Mr. Thornton's wisdom, in
Mr. Colthurst's next speech in the House. Really, I think it is 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've any sense in you, my
little sister." So I suppose he Is able to sound his h's, which
is not a common Darkshire accomplishment--eh, 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. Miss Hale does us credit, does she not?) I wish I
was as tall as a queen, and as brown as a gipsy, 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'm to be very
civil to him; and as I did not know how, I came to you 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 reddening
as she spoke, began to ask him the questions she wanted to hear
answered about Mr. Thornton.

'He came up about this sub-letting the property--Marlborough
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 is 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 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