“Mrs. Thornton!” exclaimed Mrs. Hale.
“The mother of whom he spoke to us?” said Margaret.
“Mrs. Thornton; the only mother he has, I believe,” said Mr. Hale, quietly.
“I shall like to see her. She must be an uncommon person,” her mother added. “Perhaps she may have a relation who might suit us, and be glad of our place. She sounded to be such a careful economical person, that I should like any one out of the same family.”
“My dear,” said Mr. Hale alarmed. “Pray don’t go off on that idea. I fancy Mrs. Thornton is as haughty and proud in her way as our little Margaret here is in hers, and that she completely ignores that old time of trial, and poverty, and economy, of which he speaks so openly. I am sure, at any rate, she would not like strangers to know anything about it.”
“Take notice that is not my kind of haughtiness, papa, if I have any at all; which I don’t agree to, though you’re always accusing me of it.”
“I don’t know positively that it is hers either; but from little things I have gathered from him, I fancy so.”
They cared too little to ask in what manner her son had spoken about her. Margaret only wanted to know if she must stay in to receive this call, as it would prevent her going to see how Bessy was, until late in the day, since the early morning was always occupied in household affairs; and then she recollected that her mother must not be left to have the whole weight of entertaining her visitor.
CHAPTER XII.
MORNING CALLS.
“Well—I suppose we must.”
Friends in Council.