‘Mr. Thornton!  What has 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 details, 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 am so sorry Mr. Lennox is not here,—­he could have done it so much better than I can.  He is my adviser in this’——­

’I am 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 that I am to lose you as a tenant.  But, Mr. Lennox says, things are sure to brighten’——­

‘Mr. Lennox knows little about it,’ said Mr. Thornton quietly.  ’Happy and fortunate in 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 have 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, eighteen thousand and fifty-seven pounds, lying just at this moment unused in the bank, and bringing me in only two and a half per cent.—­you could pay me much better interest, and might go on working Marlborough Mills.’  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:—­