‘But you have had the rudiments of a good education,’ remarked Mr. Hale.  ’The quick zest with which you are now reading Homer, shows me that you do not come to it as an unknown book; you have read it before, and are only recalling your old knowledge.’

’That is true,—­I had blundered along it at school; I dare say, I was even considered a pretty fair classic in those days, though my Latin and Greek have slipt away from me since.  But I ask you, what preparation they were for such a life as I had to lead?  None at all.  Utterly none at all.  On the point of education, any man who can read and write starts fair with me in the amount of really useful knowledge that I had at that time.’

’Well!  I don’t agree with you.  But there I am perhaps somewhat of a pedant.  Did not the recollection of the heroic simplicity of the Homeric life nerve you up?’

‘Not one bit!’ exclaimed Mr. Thornton, laughing.  ’I was too busy to think about any dead people, with the living pressing alongside of me, neck to neck, in the struggle for bread.  Now that I have my mother safe in the quiet peace that becomes her age, and duly rewards her former exertions, I can turn to all that old narration and thoroughly enjoy it.’

’I dare say, my remark came from the professional feeling of there being nothing like leather,’ replied Mr. Hale.

When Mr. Thornton rose up to go away, after shaking hands with Mr. and Mrs. Hale, he made an advance to Margaret to wish her good-bye in a similar manner.  It was the frank familiar custom of the place; but Margaret was not prepared for it.  She simply bowed her farewell; although the instant she saw the hand, half put out, quickly drawn back, she was sorry she had not been aware of the intention.  Mr. Thornton, however, knew nothing of her sorrow, and, drawing himself up to his full height, walked off, muttering as he left the house—­

’A more proud, disagreeable girl I never saw.  Even her great beauty is blotted out of one’s memory by her scornful ways.’

CHAPTER XI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

’There’s iron, they say, in all our blood,
And a grain or two perhaps is good;
But his, he makes me harshly feel,
Has got a little too much of steel.’ 
Anon.

‘Margaret!’ said Mr. Hale, as he returned from showing his guest downstairs; ’I could not help watching your face with some anxiety, when Mr. Thornton made his confession of having been a shop-boy.  I knew it all along from Mr. Bell; so I was aware of what was coming; but I half expected to see you get up and leave the room.’