As she approached Margaret could see that Mr. Thornton was deeply involved in his conversation with Mr. Colthurst. But that did not mean that her proximity went unnoticed by him. Not wishing to interrupt the gentlemen, however, Margaret moved instead toward her aunt's side and only half listened to her aunt's conversation with Mrs. Colthurst. The other half of her attention was spent listening to Mr. Thornton's deliciously deep Darkshire brogue.
She heard him say, "… starting from a kind of friendship with one, I was becoming acquainted with many. The advantages were mutual: we were both unconsciously and consciously teaching each other."
Margaret couldn't catch every word and she had to attend and contribute to her aunt's conversation occasionally or her presence there would be suspect. So the next thing she caught from Mr. Thornton was:
"My only wish is to have the opportunity of cultivating some intercourse with the hands beyond the mere 'cash nexus.'"
Then later, "…as soon as I name the one or two experiments that I should like to try."
"You call them 'experiments' I notice," said Mr. Colthurst, with a delicate increase of respect in his manner.
"Because I believe them to be such. I am not sure of the consequences that may result from them. But I am sure they ought to be tried…"
As Margaret continued to listen she heard Mr. Thornton speak about his new philosophy on the relationship between master and worker and the advances he and his men had made in labor relations. Including his mill workers' dining hall. Margaret was impressed that he had found a way to unite his inherent compassion with his sound business sense.
Suddenly, as if a new idea had struck him, he crossed over to where Margaret was, and began, without preface, as if he knew she had been listening to all that had passed:
"Miss Hale, I had a round-robin from some of my men-I suspect in Higgins' handwriting-stating their wish to work for me, if ever I was in a position to employ men again on my own behalf. That was good, wasn't it?"
"Yes. Just right. I am glad of it," said Margaret, looking up straight into his face with her speaking eyes, and then dropping them under his eloquent glance.
He gazed back at her for a minute, as if he did not know exactly what he was about. Then he sighed and said, "I knew you would like it."
"I witnessed something this morning that I also liked," said Margaret with a sparkle in her eye.
"This morning, hmmm," Mr. Thornton replied with a knowing smile, "What might that be?"
"Well," said Margaret, "I was out visiting friends in Chelsea when I spied a tall man in a black frock coat and top hat."
"Curious, I wonder what such a man would be doing in that part of town?" he posited, "One might also wonder what a lady such as yourself was doing there as well. However, anyone who presumed to know you could easily guess your purpose. Maybe this 'gentleman', we'll call him for lack of a better word, had a similar purpose?"
"Yes, I thought as much myself," replied Margaret, "Figuring he might be a kindred spirit, I decided to follow this 'gentleman'. I witnessed him do some very compassionate and heart warming things for the people of that district. Which seemed rather out of character."
"Out of character?" Mr. Thornton was a bit taken aback, "I thought you did not recognize the man."
"Oh, I meant out of character for a gentleman," she replied, "Most men seem to be ruled more by logic than compassion… And I never said I did not recognize the man." Margaret smiled shyly.
"Mmmm, I see," he replied thoughtfully, "A wise person once told me, 'To give a dying baby food is not just a question of logic.' I think if a gentleman were to take this advice to heart he might become more compassionate. Excuse me, did you say that you did recognize him? I too was out walking this morning and saw someone I recognized."
Margaret blushed and they each gave the other a knowing look.
"I know the people of that area. What you did there I'm sure meant a lot to them. I'll wager to say that I will hear about the tall handsome benevolent stranger the next time I visit the neighborhood," she stated.
With a mixture of modesty and mischief, John changed the subject, "Handsome!?"
"Indeed, sir," Margaret affirmed, blushing again. "I am getting rather warm. Would you like to step out on the terrace with me?"
"It would be my pleasure," he replied with a slight bow.
"Please proceed. I will join you shortly," she implored, adding in a whisper, "so we are not seen leaving together."
"Very well," he replied.
As Mr. Thornton slipped out the French doors to the terrace, Margaret moved to speak to Edith. However, as she was occupied, Margaret turned to Captain Lennox instead.
"Margaret," he said, "you look quite flushed. Are you well?"
"Oh yes," she replied, "it is just the heat. I wanted to let Edith know that I was going to cool off on the terrace for a bit."
This was something Margaret often did at Edith's dinner parties when she could no longer stand the insipid conversations. She would tell Edith or Maxwell when she was escaping so that they would know she wanted to be alone. Conveniently, no one had noticed Mr. Thornton's previous departure in the same direction.