Page:Gaskell - North and South, vol. I, 1855.djvu/71

 fireplace, shrunk and stooping; but as she came near he drew himself up to his full height, and, placing his hands on her head, he said, solemnly:

"The blessing of God be upon thee, my child!"

"And may He restore you to His Church," responded she, out of the fulness of her heart. The next moment she feared lest this answer to his blessing might be irreverent, wrong—might hurt him as coming from his daughter, and she threw her arms round his neck. He held her to him for a minute or two. She heard him murmur to himself, "The martyrs and confessors had even more pain to bear—I will not shrink."

They were startled by hearing Mrs. Hale inquiring for her daughter. They started asunder in the full consciousness of all that was before them. Mr. Hale hurriedly said—"Go, Margaret, go. I shall be out all to-morrow. Before night you will have told your mother."

"Yes," she replied, and she returned to the drawing-room in a stunned and dizzy state.