She sat down hastily, without another word, and allowed it to be bound up.
'Now, if you please,' said she, 'I must go.
Mamma will not see it, I think.
It is under the hair, is it not?'
'Quite; no one could tell.'
'But you must not go,' said Mrs. Thornton, impatiently.
'You are not fit to go.
'I must,' said Margaret, decidedly.
'Think of mamma.
If they should hear——Besides, I must go,' said she, vehemently.
'I cannot stay here.
May I ask for a cab?'
'You are quite flushed and feverish,' observed Mr. Lowe.
'It is only with being here, when I do so want to go.
The air—getting away, would do me more good than anything,' pleaded she.
'I really believe it is as she says,' Mr. Lowe replied.
'If her mother is so ill as you told me on the way here, it may be very serious if she hears of this riot, and does not see her daughter back at the time she expects.
The injury is not deep.
I will fetch a cab, if your servants are still afraid to go out.'
'Oh, thank you!' said Margaret.
'It will do me more good than anything.
It is the air of this room that makes me feel so miserable.'
She leant back on the sofa, and closed her eyes.
Fanny beckoned her mother out of the room, and told her something that made her equally anxious with Margaret for the departure of the latter.
Not that she fully believed Fanny's statement; but she credited enough to make her manner to Margaret appear very much constrained, at wishing her good-bye.
Mr. Lowe returned in the cab.
'If you will allow me, I will see you home, Miss Hale.
The streets are not very quiet yet.'
Margaret's thoughts were quite alive enough to the present to make her desirous of getting rid of both Mr. Lowe and the cab before she reached Crampton Crescent, for fear of alarming her father and mother.
Beyond that one aim she would not look.
That ugly dream of insolent words spoken about herself, could never be forgotten—but could be put aside till she was stronger—for, oh! she was very weak; and her mind sought for some present fact to steady itself upon, and keep it from utterly losing consciousness in another hideous, sickly swoon.
Chapter 23 Mistakes
'Which when his mother saw, she in her mind
Was troubled sore, ne wist well what to ween.'
SPENSER.
Margaret had not been gone five minutes when Mr. Thornton came in, his face all a-glow.
'I could not come sooner: the superintendent would——Where is she?' He looked round the dining-room, and then almost fiercely at his mother, who was quietly re-arranging the disturbed furniture, and did not instantly reply.
'Where is Miss Hale?' asked he again.
'Gone home,' said she, rather shortly.
'Gone home!'
'Yes.
She was a great deal better.
Indeed, I don't believe it was so very much of a hurt; only some people faint at the least thing.'
'I am sorry she is gone home,' said he, walking uneasily about.
'She could not have been fit for it.'
'She said she was; and Mr. Lowe said she was.
I went for him myself.'
'Thank you, mother.' He stopped, and partly held out his hand to give her a grateful shake.
But she did not notice the movement.