Meeting Again

'Oh! he's failed, or something of the kind, that Henry told you
of that day you had such a headache,--what was it? (There, that's
capital, Dixon. Miss Hale does us credit, does she not?) I wish I
was as tall as a queen, and as brown as a gipsy, Margaret.' 'But about Mr. Thornton?' 'Oh I really have such a terrible head for law business. Henry
will like nothing better than to tell you all about it. I know
the impression he made upon me was, that Mr. Thornton is very
badly off, and a very respectable man, and that I'm to be very
civil to him; and as I did not know how, I came to you to ask you
to help me. And now come down with me, and rest on the sofa for a
quarter of an hour.' The privileged brother-in-law came early and Margaret reddening
as she spoke, began to ask him the questions she wanted to hear
answered about Mr. Thornton.

'He came up about this sub-letting the property--Marlborough
Mills, and the house and premises adjoining, I mean. He is unable
to keep it on; and there are deeds and leases to be looked over,
and agreements to be drawn up. I hope Edith will receive him
properly; but she was rather put out, as I could see, by the
liberty I had taken in begging for an invitation for him. But I
thought you would like to have some attention shown him: and one
would be particularly scrupulous in paying every respect to a man
who is going down in the world.' He had dropped his voice to
speak to Margaret, by whom he was sitting; but as he ended he
sprang up, and introduced Mr. Thornton, who had that moment
entered, to Edith and Captain Lennox.