Page:Gaskell - North and South, vol. II, 1855.djvu/367

 children, if I had Margaret settled down near me. As it is, I am always afraid of her going off to Cadiz."

"I will try, when I marry, to look out for a young lady who has a knowledge of the management of children. That is all I can do. Miss Hale would not have me. And I shall not ask her."

"Then, what have you been talking about?"

"A thousand things you would not understand: Investments, and leases, and value of land."

"Oh, go away if that's all. You and she will be unbearably stupid, if you've been talking all this time about such weary things."

"Very well. I'm coming again to-morrow, and bringing Mr. Thornton with me, to have some more talk with Miss Hale."

"Mr. Thornton! What has he to do with it?"

"He is Miss Hale's tenant," said Mr. Lennox, turning away. "And he wishes to give up his lease."

"Oh! very well. I can't understand details, so don't give them me."

"The only detail I want you to understand is, to let us have the back drawing-room undisturbed, as it was to-day. In general, the children and servants are so in and out, that I can never get any business satisfactorily explained; and the arrangements we have to make to-morrow are of importance."

No one ever knew why Mr. Lennox did not keep to his appointment on the following day. Mr. Thornton came true to his time; and, after keeping him waiting for nearly an hour, Margaret came in looking very white and anxious.