Page:Gaskell - North and South, vol. I, 1855.djvu/229



Margaret's return home she found two letters on the table: one was a note for her mother,—the other, which had come by the post, was evidently from her Aunt Shaw—covered with foreign postmarks—thin, silvery, and rustling. She took up the other, and was examining it, when her father came in suddenly:

"So your mother is tired, and gone to bed early! I'm afraid, such a thundery day was not the best in the world for the doctor to see her. What did he say? Dixon tells me he spoke to you about her."

Margaret hesitated. Her father's looks became more grave and anxious:

"He does not think her seriously ill?"

"Not at present; she needs care, he says; he was very kind, and said he would call again and see how his medicines worked." "Only care—he did not recommend change of