"If I were put out, I had no right to be," replied Margaret. "As to being myself, I was too much myself, for it's just me to say a sharp word when I ought to have spoken kindly or to hold my tongue, and seem sulky when Adam was waiting for a word. Eh, dear, dear! My old mother used to say civility cost nothing and went a long way, and I've mostly thought of this, and been pretty mannerly towards my neighbours. But I've got a fresh lesson to-day, and I find that good manners, like charity, should begin at home. Many and many a time I've acted and spoke to Adam as if any sort was good enough for the best husband that ever lived."
The streaming tears stopped Margaret from further speech, but Sarah's kind heart was full of sympathy for her, and she showed this by looks, words, and acts, whilst busying herself with household duties.
At first Margaret tried to assist, but Sarah could not help noticing that she stopped from time to time, as if unequal to any exertion, so she begged her to rest.
"I can do everything easily," she said; "you must rest to get up strength and spirits for Adam's sake."
Margaret agreed, more willingly than might have been expected, and Sarah could not help thinking that the shock had affected her more than she had at first realized.
The children were fed and sent off to school again, the least of all having been carried off and cared for by a neighbour. Margaret had forced herself to swallow a few morsels of food, and was anxiously waiting for Richard to return, when Mr. Drummond made his appearance instead.
"I am thankful to bring as good news as possible under the circumstances," he said. "Your husband's arm is well set, and his other hurts are not serious. He must, however, stay where he is at present, and you may depend on his being well attended to. For myself, Mrs. Livesey, I owe him a lifelong debt of gratitude. But for his bravery and presence of mind, my wife would now be a widow and my little ones fatherless. Probably more lives would have been lost, but certainly mine would. My one sorrow is that your brave, good husband is suffering for what he did to save me."
Margaret felt proud to hear such words from a man who stood in such high esteem as Mr. Drummond, and she was, in a sense, glad that he stood there alive and well, the messenger of good tidings. But it would be too much to suppose that she did not consider his safety too dearly bought.
Thought is rapid, and as Margaret had rested on the couch whilst Sarah worked on her behalf, many vision had passed through her mind.
Adam, not being a skilled mechanic, only a sort of labourer, was not in a club. There would be no allowance during his illness. When he was well again, what would he be able to do? Just jobbing work, most likely, with uncertain wages, and these poor at the best.