“If the surprise were all—” said Philip.—“But will she hear me? Will she forgive me? Will she trust me?”
“Was there ever a woman who really loved who would not hear, would not forgive, would not trust?” said Hope, smiling. “I must not answer for Margaret; but I think I may answer for woman in the abstract.”
“I will follow you in an hour, Hope.”
“Do so. Now, madam.”
And Hope followed Mrs Rowland again to the bedside of her dying child.
Chapter Forty Five.
Rest of the Placable.
Margaret was not at Mrs Howell’s at the moment that her brother believed and said she was. She had been there just in time to witness the poor woman’s departure; and she was soon home again and relating the circumstances to Hester, by the fireside. Even the news that Edward was now in the same house with Philip, could not efface from her mind what she had seen; nor could Hester help listening, though full of anxiety about her husband.