’Well, Margaret, now to luncheon, as fast we can.  Have you ordered it?’

’No, papa; that man was here when I came home, and I have never had an opportunity.’

’Then we must take anything we can get.  He must have been waiting a long time, I’m afraid.’

’It seemed exceedingly long to me.  I was just at the last gasp when you came in.  He never went on with any subject, but gave little, short, abrupt answers.’

’Very much to the point though, I should think.  He is a clearheaded fellow.  He said (did you hear?) that Crampton is on gravelly soil, and by far the most healthy suburb in the neighbour hood of Milton.’

When they returned to Heston, there was the day’s account to be given to Mrs. Hale, who was full of questions which they answered in the intervals of tea-drinking.

‘And what is your correspondent, Mr. Thornton, like?’

‘Ask Margaret,’ said her husband.  ’She and he had a long attempt at conversation, while I was away speaking to the landlord.’

‘Oh!  I hardly know what he is like,’ said Margaret, lazily; too tired to tax her powers of description much.  And then rousing herself, she said, ’He is a tall, broad-shouldered man, about—­how old, papa?’

‘I should guess about thirty.’

’About thirty—­with a face that is neither exactly plain, nor yet handsome, nothing remarkable—­not quite a gentleman; but that was hardly to be expected.’

‘Not vulgar, or common though,’ put in her father, rather jealous of any disparagement of the sole friend he had in Milton.

‘Oh no!’ said Margaret.  ’With such an expression of resolution and power, no face, however plain in feature, could be either vulgar or common.  I should not like to have to bargain with him; he looks very inflexible.  Altogether a man who seems made for his niche, mamma; sagacious, and strong, as becomes a great tradesman.’

‘Don’t call the Milton manufacturers tradesmen, Margaret,’ said her father.

‘They are very different.’

’Are they?  I apply the word to all who have something tangible to sell; but if you think the term is not correct, papa, I won’t use it.  But, oh mamma! speaking of vulgarity and commonness, you must prepare yourself for our drawing-room paper.  Pink and blue roses, with yellow leaves!  And such a heavy cornice round the room!’

But when they removed to their new house in Milton, the obnoxious papers were gone.  The landlord received their thanks very composedly; and let them think, if they liked, that he had relented from his expressed determination not to repaper.  There was no particular need to tell them, that what he did not care to do for a Reverend Mr. Hale, unknown in Milton, he was only too glad to do at the one short sharp remonstrance of Mr. Thornton, the wealthy manufacturer.

CHAPTER VIII

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