'Oh, Margaret! here you are! I have been so wanting you. But how your cheeks are flushed with the heat, poor child! Here you must need some water!' and she poured some cool water into Bessy's cup and handed it to Margaret.

'But only think what that tiresome Henry has done; really, he exceeds brother-in-law's limits. Just when my party was made up so beautifully-fitted in so precisely for Mr. Colthurst-there has Henry come, with an apology it is true, and making use of your name for an excuse, and asked me if he may bring that Mr. Thornton of Milton-your tenant, you know-who is in London about some law business. It will spoil my number, quite.'

Finished quenching her thirst on this hot day, Margaret set Bessy's cup down on her dressing table as she sat.

'I don't mind dinner. I don't want any,' said Margaret, in a low voice. 'Dixon can get me a cup of tea here, and I will be in the drawing-room by the time you come up. I shall really be glad to lie down.'

Margaret glanced at Bessy's cup. Bessy spent many an evening (as well as other parts of the day) lying down due to her illness. The cup always served Margaret as a reminder to enjoy life not just because 'you never know the day or the hour' but because Bessy never had the opportunities Margaret had. But this night... to see Mr. Thornton, after all this time… the thought of it seemed too much for her.

'No, no! that will never do. You do look wretchedly white, to be sure; but that is just the heat, and we can't do without you possibly. (Those flowers a little lower, Dixon. They look glorious flames, Margaret, in your black hair.)…' Edith went on.

Margaret's thoughts ran to Mr. Thornton. How could she face him after all this time. He must still have a very low opinion of her. But face him she must. She was his landlady now. Her focus came back to Edith.

'Mr. Lennox did not say why Mr. Thornton was come up to town? Was it law business connected with the property?' asked Margaret, in a constrained voice.

'Oh! he's failed, or something of the kind, that Henry told you of that day you had such a headache,-what was it? (There, that's capital, Dixon. Miss Hale does us credit, does she not?) I wish I was as tall as a queen, and as brown as a gipsy, Margaret.'

'But about Mr. Thornton?'

'Oh I really have such a terrible head for law business. Henry will like nothing better than to tell you all about it. I know the impression he made upon me was, that Mr. Thornton is very badly off, and a very respectable man, and that I'm to be very civil to him; and as I did not know how, I came to you to ask you to help me. And now come down with me, and rest on the sofa for quarter of an hour.'

So Margaret took another sip from Bessy's cup and said a little prayer. She then walked with Edith down to the drawing room to await their guests and see what providence might bring her that evening.