‘Don’t do that,’ said Margaret.  ’You won’t risk it if you do.  And it will be a risk only it is worth trying.  You can sail from London as well as from Liverpool?’

’To be sure, little goose.  Wherever I feel water heaving under a plank, there I feel at home.  I’ll pick up some craft or other to take me off, never fear.  I won’t stay twenty-four hours in London, away from you on the one hand, and from somebody else on the other.’

It was rather a comfort to Margaret that Frederick took it into his head to look over her shoulder as she wrote to Mr. Lennox.  If she had not been thus compelled to write steadily and concisely on, she might have hesitated over many a word, and been puzzled to choose between many an expression, in the awkwardness of being the first to resume the intercourse of which the concluding event had been so unpleasant to both sides.  However, the note was taken from her before she had even had time to look it over, and treasured up in a pocket-book, out of which fell a long lock of black hair, the sight of which caused Frederick’s eyes to glow with pleasure.

‘Now you would like to see that, wouldn’t you?’ said he.  ’No! you must wait till you see her herself She is too perfect to be known by fragments.  No mean brick shall be a specimen of the building of my palace.’

CHAPTER XXXII

MISCHANCES

’What! remain to be
Denounced—­dragged, it may be, in chains.’ 
Werner.

All the next day they sate together—­they three.  Mr. Hale hardly ever spoke but when his children asked him questions, and forced him, as it were, into the present.  Frederick’s grief was no more to be seen or heard; the first paroxysm had passed over, and now he was ashamed of having been so battered down by emotion; and though his sorrow for the loss of his mother was a deep real feeling, and would last out his life, it was never to be spoken of again.  Margaret, not so passionate at first, was more suffering now.  At times she cried a good deal; and her manner, even when speaking on indifferent things, had a mournful tenderness about it, which was deepened whenever her looks fell on Frederick, and she thought of his rapidly approaching departure.  She was glad he was going, on her father’s account, however much she might grieve over it on her own.  The anxious terror in which Mr. Hale lived lest his son should be detected and captured, far out-weighed the pleasure he derived from his presence.  The nervousness had increased since Mrs. Hale’s death, probably because he dwelt upon it more exclusively.  He started at every unusual sound; and was never comfortable unless Frederick sate out of the immediate view of any one entering the room.  Towards evening he said: 

’You will go with Frederick to the station, Margaret?  I shall want to know he is safely off.  You will bring me word that he is clear of Milton, at any rate?’