It was curious how the presence of Mr. Thornton had power over Mr. Hale to make him unlock the secret thoughts which he kept shut up even from Margaret.  Whether it was that her sympathy would be so keen, and show itself in so lively a manner, that he was afraid of the reaction upon himself, or whether it was that to his speculative mind all kinds of doubts presented themselves at such a time, pleading and crying aloud to be resolved into certainties, and that he knew she would have shrunk from the expression of any such doubts—­nay, from him himself as capable of conceiving them—­whatever was the reason, he could unburden himself better to Mr. Thornton than to her of all the thoughts and fancies and fears that had been frost-bound in his brain till now.  Mr. Thornton said very little; but every sentence he uttered added to Mr. Hale’s reliance and regard for him.  Was it that he paused in the expression of some remembered agony, Mr. Thornton’s two or three words would complete the sentence, and show how deeply its meaning was entered into.  Was it a doubt—­a fear—­a wandering uncertainty seeking rest, but finding none—­so tear-blinded were its eyes—­Mr. Thornton, instead of being shocked, seemed to have passed through that very stage of thought himself, and could suggest where the exact ray of light was to be found, which should make the dark places plain.  Man of action as he was, busy in the world’s great battle, there was a deeper religion binding him to God in his heart, in spite of his strong wilfulness, through all his mistakes, than Mr. Hale had ever dreamed.  They never spoke of such things again, as it happened; but this one conversation made them peculiar people to each other; knit them together, in a way which no loose indiscriminate talking about sacred things can ever accomplish.  When all are admitted, how can there be a Holy of Holies?

And all this while, Margaret lay as still and white as death on the study floor!  She had sunk under her burden.  It had been heavy in weight and long carried; and she had been very meek and patient, till all at once her faith had given way, and she had groped in vain for help!  There was a pitiful contraction of suffering upon her beautiful brows, although there was no other sign of consciousness remaining.  The mouth—­a little while ago, so sullenly projected in defiance—­was relaxed and livid.

’E par che de la sua labbia si mova Uno spirto soave e pien d’amore, Chi va dicendo a l’anima:  sospira!’

The first symptom of returning life was a quivering about the lips—­a little mute soundless attempt at speech; but the eyes were still closed; and the quivering sank into stillness.  Then, feebly leaning on her arms for an instant to steady herself, Margaret gathered herself up, and rose.  Her comb had fallen out of her hair; and with an intuitive desire to efface the traces of weakness, and bring herself into order again, she sought for it, although from time to time, in the course of the search, she