all wrong, what do you
really suppose about his coming so much to Deerbrook?"

"I have little doubt that those friends of yours--Mrs Grey and the
others--are right. But--."

"But what?"

"Just this. If I might warn you by myself; I would caution you, not
only against dwelling much upon such a fact, but against interpreting it
to mean more than it possibly may. This is my reason for speaking to
you upon the matter at all. I do it because you will be pretty sure to
hear how the fact itself is viewed by others, while no one else would be
likely to give you the caution. Mr Enderby _may_ come, as you suppose,
entirely to see his mother. He may come to see you: but, supposing he
does, if he is like other men, he may not know his own mind yet: and,
there is another possible thing--a thing which is possible, Margaret,
though he is such a dear and intimate friend--that he may not know
yours--all its strength of affection, all its fidelity, all its trust
and power of self-control."

"Oh, stop; pray stop," said Margaret. "You frighten me with the
thoughts of all you have been saying this evening, though I could so
entirely satisfy you as to what our intercourse has been--though I know
Mr Enderby so much better than you do. You need warn me no more. I
will think of what you have said, if I find myself doubting whether he
comes to see his mother--if I find myself listening to what others may
suppose about his reasons. Indeed, I will remember what you have said."

"Then I am glad I ventured to say it, particularly as you are not angry
with me this time."

"I am not at all angry: how could I be so? But I do not agree with you
about the fact."

"I know it, and I may be mistaken."

"Now tell me," said Margaret, "what you suppose Morris meant when she
said what you heard about the pleasure of solitude depending on one's
thoughts being happy or otherwise. I know it is a common old idea
enough; but Morris does not know that; and I am sure she had some
particular instance in view. Morris does not make general propositions,
except with a particular case in her mind's eye; and she is a wise
woman; and we think her sayings are weighty."

"It struck me that she had a real probability in her mind; but I did not
think it related to Mr Enderby, or to anything so exclusively your own
concern."

"No; I hope not: but what then?"

"I think that Morris knows more of life and the world than you, and that
she does not anticip