"You are unjust," said Margaret, gently. "Mr. Lennox has only spoken ofthe great probability which he believes there to be of your redeeming-yourmore than redeeming what you have lost--don"t speak till I haveended--pray don"t!" And collecting herself once more, she went onrapidly turning over some law papers, and statements of accounts in atrembling hurried manner. "Oh! here it is! and--he drew me out aproposal--I wish he was here to explain it--showing that if you wouldtake some money of mine, eighteen thousand and fifty-seven pounds,lying just at this moment unused in the bank, and bringing me in onlytwo and a half per cent.--you could pay me much better interest, andmight go on working Marlborough Mills." Her voice had cleared itselfand become more steady. Mr. Thornton did not speak, and she went onlooking for some paper on which were written down the proposals forsecurity; for she was most anxious to have it all looked upon in the lightof a mere business arrangement, in which the principal advantagewould 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 voicewas hoarse, and trembling with tender passion, as he said:-"
Margaret!"
For an instant she looked up; and then sought to veil her luminous eyesby dropping her forehead on her hands. Again, stepping nearer, hebesought her with another tremulous eager call upon her name.
"Margaret!"
Still lower went the head; more closely hidden was the face, almostresting on the table before her. He came close to her. He knelt by herside, to bring his face to a level with her ear; and whispered-panted outthe words:-"
Take care.--If you do not speak--I shall claim you as my own in some strange presumptuous way.--Send me away at once, if I must go;-Margaret!--"
At that third call she turned her face, still covered with her small whitehands, towards him, and laid it on his shoulder, hiding it even there; andit was too delicious to feel her soft cheek against his, for him to wish tosee either deep blushes or loving eyes. He clasped her close. But theyboth kept silence. At length she murmured in a broken voice: