Once again I would like to acknowledge that where my story converges with the original I have used excerpts from Gaskell's book rather than re-tell it. Gaskell's words are clearly marked in italics. Forgive me - there is a fair amount of it in this chapter but it just seemed appropriate. PJ

For some days her spirits varied strangely; and her father was beginning to be anxious about her, when news arrived from one or two quarters that promised some change and variety for her. Mr. Hale received a letter from Mr. Bell, in which that gentleman volunteered a visit to them; and Mr. Hale imagined that the promised society of his old Oxford friend would give as agreeable a turn to Margaret's ideas as it did to his own. Margaret tried to take an interest in what pleased her father; but she was too languid to care about any Mr. Bell, even though he were twenty times her godfather.

She was more roused by a letter from Edith, full of sympathy about her aunt's death; full of details about herself, her husband, and child; and at the end saying, that as the climate did not suit, the baby, and as Mrs. Shaw was talking of returning to England, she thought it probable that Captain Lennox might sell out, and that they might all go and live again in the old Harley Street house; which, however, would seem very incomplete with-out Margaret. Margaret yearned after that old house, and the placid tranquillity of that old well-ordered, monotonous life. She had found it occasionally tiresome while it lasted; but since then she had been buffeted about, and felt so exhausted by this recent struggle with herself, that she thought that even stagnation would be a rest and a refreshment.

So she began to look towards a long visit to the Lennoxes, on their return to England, as to a point—no, not of hope—but of leisure, in which she could regain her power and command over herself. At present it seemed to her as if all subjects tended towards Mr. Thornton; as if she could not for-get him with all her endeavours…Her father had resumed their readings together, and quoted his opinions perpetually. And when Margaret began spending much of her spare time at the Higgenses helping Mary with the children, she would hear of him there.

To tell the truth,' said Nicholas one evening, 'he fairly bamboozles me. He's two chaps. One chap I knowed of old as were measter all o'er. T'other chap hasn't an ounce of measter's flesh about him. How them two chaps is bound up in one body, is a craddy for me to find out.

I'll not be beat by it, though. Meanwhile he comes here pretty often; that's how I know the chap that's a man, not a measter. And I reckon he's taken aback by me pretty much as I am by him; for he sits and listens and stares, as if I were some strange beast newly caught in some of the zones. But I'm none daunted. It would take a deal to daunt me in my own house, as he sees. And I tell him some of my mind that I reckon he'd ha' been the better of hearing when he were a younger man.'

… 'Well! I'll not say th' advantage is all on his side, for all I take credit for improving him above a bit. Sometimes he says a rough thing or two, which is not agreeable to look at at first, but has a queer smack o' truth in it when yo' come to chew it. He'll be coming to-night..

'Mr Thornton is coming here tonight?' Fear coursed through Margaret that she should still be there when he arrived.

'I reckon, about them childer's schooling. He's not satisfied wi' the make of it, and wants for t' examine 'em.'

'The children's schooling? Why does Mr Thornton think it his concern?'

Nicholas shrugged. 'I can't make him out Miss.'

Margaret thought about Mr Thornton's apprehensions for the Boucher children as she readied herself for bed that evening. Whilst the elder children were at humble schools, the younger six infants were at home with Mary. Margaret feared the girl was ill equipped for her responsibilities. A kindly neighbour helped out from time to time, but the burden was yet heavy.

Mary did her best to keep the children clothed and fed on Nicholas's wages alone. But Margaret knew enough about running a household – and particularly one with eight children to provide for - to realise that the Higgenses would need Mary to work soon if they were to continue to make ends meet.

What would she do with the children then? Margaret wondered how many other young women and mothers were in similar situations to Mary. Forced to make the choice between their children starving or letting them fend for themselves on the streets while they went to work to put food on the table.

Helstone had been so different. Many of the town's folk were farmers and their work was at home. These poor city dwellers had it much harder.

Margaret mulled all this over until she fell asleep. In the morning she woke feeling inspired by an idea she had fashioned in the dawn hours.

Without hesitating and allowing time to plant the seed of doubt, Margaret put on her best coat and hat and made her way to the rectory in Milton.

Perhaps it was fortunate that only the Reverand's wife was at home the day Margaret called at the rectory. Reverand Hughes was known to be a kind man, but was very conservative and unmoving in his views. Margaret however found Mrs Hughes an intelligent and discerning woman with foresight and vision.

Mrs Hughes invited Margaret into her home and listened attentively. Margaret told her of the need in the community for a facility to care and educate younger children whilst their parents were at work. How infants of such a tender age could and should be rescued from child labour or a life on the streets. She was impassioned as she said that a school catering for infants would not only be a safe haven but could better prepare children for junior school by teaching them to be more obedient and to develop good work habits.

Now as Margaret looked back on that day – only six weeks ago – she was delighted by how much had been achieved in so short a time. Within days, Mrs Hughes had rallied women of the church, and the inaugral meeting of the Milton Infant School Ladies Committee was held. It resulted in plans to raise funds and secure resources for the facility and ideas for how it should be run.

Margaret, escorted by a well-known and formidable lady by the name of Mrs Phillips, had walked the length of New Street appealing for the philanthropic support of local businessmen. As Mrs Phillips commanded the business owner's attention, Margaret persuaded them of the merits of having workers (who were also parents) being better able to concentrate on their work - and therefore being more productive - knowing their children were safe and not making a nuisance of themselves on the street.

Within hours they had secured enough funds to open the centre for fifty children between the ages of two and seven for at least three months.

Though only operating for three weeks in the old Sunday School room as the church, demand for places continued to rise. They were charging workers a small fee but they would still need more funds to stay open past the initial three months.

They could not afford to hire a qualified teacher so Margaret spent a lot of her own time working with children and coordinating the duties of the other women hired to care for them.

Mary was the first to be engaged by Margaret. She was to work in the 'baby' class where children under 4 would be taught to speak properly, understand pictures, recite the alphabet and enjoy music. For the older children, Margaret enlisted an out of work governess to teach reading, writing and arithmetic.

The church ladies donated clothes and bedding to the school as well as food and toys. It was only early days, but the success so far gave Margaret reason to feel optimistic that their efforts could make a difference to the lives of the women in the town.

Just before the school opened, Margaret received correspondence from Frederick confirming he had reached Spain safely. She had considered for a fleeting moment whether she should go and see Mr Thornton, but decided almost as quickly that he was unlikely to be sympathetic to her appeals.

Mr Bell also arrived in Milton during this time. Margaret had not expected much pleasure to herself from Mr. Bell's visit—she had only looked forward to it on her father's account, but when her godfather came, she at once fell into the most natural position of friendship in the world. He said she had no merit in being what she was, a girl so entirely after his own heart; it was an hereditary power which she had, to walk in and take possession of his regard; while she, in reply, gave him much credit for being so fresh and young under his Fellow's cap and gown.

'Fresh and young in warmth and kindness, I mean. I'm afraid I must own, that I think your opinions are the oldest and mustiest I have met with this long time.'

'Hear this daughter of yours, Hale. Her residence in Milton has quite corrupted her. She's a democrat, a red republican, a member of the Peace Society, a socialist—'

'Papa, it's only because I want the poor and their children to have a better quality of life. Or at least a chance at it.'

'It is not every one who can sit comfortably in a set of college rooms, and let his riches grow without any exertion of his own. No doubt there is many a man here who would be thankful if his property would increase as yours has done, without his taking any trouble about it,' said Mr. Hale.

'I don't believe they would. It's the bustle and the struggle they like. As for sitting still, and learning from the past, or shaping out the future by faithful work done in a prophetic spirit—Why! Pooh! I don't believe there's a man in Milton who knows how to sit still; and it is a great art.'

'Milton people, I suspect, think Oxford men don't know how to move. It would be a very good thing if they mixed a little more.'

'It might be good for the Miltoners. Many things might be good for them which would be very disagreeable for other people.'

'Are you not a Milton man yourself?' asked Margaret. 'I should have thought you would have been proud of your town.'

'I confess, I don't see what there is to be proud of. If you'll only come to Oxford, Margaret, I will show you a place to glory in.'

'Well!' said Mr. Hale, 'Mr. Thornton … is as proud of Milton as you of Oxford. You two must try and make each other a little more liberal-minded.'

'I don't want to be more liberal-minded, thank you,' said Mr. Bell. 'But if it pleases you both, you and Margaret can moderate our debate tomorrow evening at dinner to ensure we give each other a fair hearing.'

'Dinner!' Margaret regretted the alarm that crept into her voice.

'Why yes, my dear. Much of my day today has been occupied in negotiation with Mr Thornton, preparing the terms of a new lease for Marlborough Mill. He drove a hard bargain. Anyway, to show their appreciation for my settlement on such agreeable terms, Mrs Thornton extended an invitation for dinner at Marlborough Street. So I accepted, but only on the condition that I could bring my friend and his daughter to even up the party.'

Margaret searched for a way in which she could escape the engagement. 'Mr Bell, I hardly think it fair that you should prevail upon Mrs Thornton's hospitality on our account. It would be better that you should go alone, or if you must take a companion, just with my father.'

'My dear Margaret, I get the impression that you are trying to avoid spending time with your old Godfather. Or is it the thought of spending an unpromising evening with Mrs Thornton that deters you.'

Margaret tried to rebut but he held up his hand.

'I insist Margaret. I am a selfish creature and I am not willing to deprive myself of your loveliness purely for an evening of business. Your presence will make the evening infinitely more tolerable.' Then turning to his friend he said, 'And given my concessions in the Marlborough lease the least the Thorntons can do is provide a meal to the dearest people in the world to me.'