"Very probably they are quite aware of what you said yesterday, John-ofthe great advantage it would be to them--to Mr. Hale, I mean, to beintroduced to such people as the Stephenses and the Collingbrooks."
"I"m sure that motive would not influence them. No! I think I understandhow it is."
"John!" said Fanny, laughing in her little, weak, nervous way. "How youprofess to understand these Hales, and how you never will allow thatwe can know anything about them. Are they really so very different tomost people one meets with?"
She did not mean to vex him; but if she had intended it, she could nothave done it more thoroughly. He chafed in silence, however, notdeigning to reply to her question.
"They do not seem to me out of the common way," said Mrs. Thornton.
"He appears a worthy kind of man enough; rather too simple for trade-soit"s perhaps as well he should have been a clergyman first, and now ateacher. She"s a bit of a fine lady, with her invalidism; and as for the girl-she"s the only one who puzzles me when I think about her,--which Idon"t often do. She seems to have a great notion of giving herself airs;and I can"t make out why. I could almost fancy she thinks herself toogood for her company at times. And yet they"re not rich, from all I canhear they never have been."
"And she"s not accomplished, mamma. She can"t play."
"Go on, Fanny. What else does she want to bring her up to yourstandard?"
"Nay! John," said his mother, "that speech of Fanny"s did no harm. Imyself heard Miss Hale say she could not play. If you would let usalone, we could perhaps like her, and see her merits."
"I"m sure I never could!" murmured Fanny, protected by her mother. Mr.
Thornton heard, but did not care to reply. He was walking up and downthe dining-room, wishing that his mother would order candles, andallow him to set to work at either reading or writing, and so put a stopto the conversation. But he never thought of interfering in any of thesmall domestic regulations that Mrs. Thornton observed, in habitualremembrance of her old economies.
"Mother," said he, stopping, and bravely speaking out the truth, "I wishyou would like Miss Hale."
"Why?" asked she, startled by his earnest, yet tender manner. "You"renever thinking of marrying her?--a girl without a penny."
"She would never have me," said he, with a short laugh.
"No, I don"t think she would," answered his mother. "She laughed in myface, when I praised her for speaking out something Mr. Bell had saidin your favour. I liked the girl for doing it so frankly, for it made mesure she had no thought of you; and the next minute she vexed me so byseeming to think----Well, never mind! Only you"re right in saying she"stoo good an opinion of herself to think of you. The saucy jade! I shouldlike to know where she"d find a better!"
If these words hurt her son, the dusky light prevented him frombetraying any emotion. In a minute he came up quite cheerfully to hismother, and putting one hand lightly on her shoulder, said:
"Well, as I"m just as much convinced of the truth of what you have beensaying as you can be; and as I have no thought or expectation of everasking her to be my wife, you"ll believe me for the future that I"m quitedisinterested in speaking about her. I foresee trouble for that girl-perhapswant of motherly care--and I only wish you to be ready to be afriend to her, in case she needs one. Now, Fanny," said he, "I trust youhave delicacy enough to understand, that it is as great an injury to MissHale as to me--in fact, she would think it a greater--to suppose that Ihave any reason, more than I now give, for begging you and my motherto show her every kindly attention."
"I cannot forgive her her pride," said his mother; "I will befriend her, ifthere is need, for your asking, John. I would befriend Jezebel herself ifyou asked me. But this girl, who turns up her nose at us all--who turnsup her nose at you----"
"Nay, mother; I have never yet put myself, and I mean never to putmyself, within reach of her contempt."
"Contempt, indeed!"--(One of Mrs. Thornton"s expressive snorts.)--"Don"tgo on speaking of Miss Hale, John, if I"ve to be kind to her. When I"mwith her, I don"t know if I like or dislike her most; but when I think ofher, and hear you talk of her, I hate her. I can see she"s given herself airsto you as well as if you"d told me out."
"And if she has," said he--and then he paused for a moment--then wenton: "I"m not a lad, to be cowed by a proud look from a woman, or to carefor her misunderstanding me and my position. I can laugh at it!"
"To be sure! and at her too, with her fine notions and haughty tosses!"
"I only wonder why you talk so much about her, then," said Fanny. "I"msure, I"m tired enough of the subject."
"Well!" said her brother, with a shade of bitterness. "Suppose we findsome more agreeable subject. What do you say to a strike, by way ofsomething pleasant to talk about?"
"Have the hands actually turned out?" asked Mrs. Thornton, with vividinterest.
"Hamper"s men are actually out. Mine are working out their week,through fear of being prosecuted for breach of contract I"d have hadevery one of them up and punished for it, that left his work before histime was out."
"The law expenses would have been more than the hands them selveswere worth--a set of ungrateful naughts!" said his mother.
