Her first thought was a fear about Elizabeth.
"Bessy is well, I hope?" said she eagerly.
"Quite well. At last I see you again! How difficult you have made this to me! How impossible it was at Ashdale to gain speech of you even for a moment!"
"Have you long returned from Ireland?" said Margaret, feeling greatly embarrassed by the tone of her companion.
"Long? This instant! As soon as I learned where you were, I followed you."
"And Bessy is really well?"
"Bessy? Yes," said he in a tone of impatience. "Let me speak about yourself. Margaret, you have done me a great injustice, and you have not given me the means of defending myself. You have thought me incapable of loving you as you deserved."
Margaret held up her hand as if to stop him, he seized it, and pressed it to his lips.
"I tell you what, Mr. Hubert Gage, this will not do," said Margaret gravely, regaining possession of her hand; "there is a great want of consideration in your conduct. I am sure you pay very little regard to my tranquillity in coming here. My uncle is very ill, and all my time and thoughts are occupied in attending upon him. I have no time, and I must say no patience for these scenes."
Land came down at this moment with Mr. Grey's compliments, and "hearing Mr. Hubert was below, hoped he would stop to dinner."