When they returned to town, Margaret fulfilled one of her sea-sideresolves, and took her life into her own hands. Before they went toCromer, she had been as docile to her aunt"s laws as if she were still thescared little stranger who cried herself to sleep that first night in theHarley Street nursery. But she had learnt, in those solemn hours ofthought, that she herself must one day answer for her own life, and whatshe had done with it; and she tried to settle that most difficult problemfor women, how much was to be utterly merged in obedience toauthority, and how much might be set apart for freedom in working.
Mrs. Shaw was as good-tempered as could be; and Edith had inheritedthis charming domestic quality; Margaret herself had probably theworst temper of the three, for her quick perceptions, and over-livelyimagination made her hasty, and her early isolation from sympathy hadmade her proud; but she had an indescribable childlike sweetness ofheart, which made her manners, even in her rarely wilful moods,irresistible of old; and now, chastened even by what the world calledher good fortune, she charmed her reluctant aunt into acquiescence withher will. So Margaret gained the acknowledgment of her right to followher own ideas of duty.