sfied that you have done by
her as you would have her do by you. This is your own affair, Fanny; so
now, without any one trying to see in your face what you think of
yourself, we will go to our business."

The scratching of pens in the exercise-books, and the turning over of
the dictionary, now proceeded for some time in profound silence, in the
midst of which Margaret stole back to her corner.

"There goes twelve!" softly exclaimed Mary. "Mamma said we might go
with her to call at cousin Hester's, if we were home and ready by
half-past twelve. We shall not have nearly done, Miss Young."

Miss Young did not take the hint. She only said--

"Is your mamma going to call on Mrs Hope? Then, Margaret, do not let
us detain you here. You will wish to be at home, I am sure."

Never, as Maria supposed, had Margaret more impatiently desired to be at
home. Though accustomed to go in and out of Maria's abode, with or
without reason assigned, she had not now ventured to move, though the
little room felt like a prison. An awkward consciousness had fixed her
to her seat. Now, however, she made haste to depart, promising to visit
her friend again very soon. The little girls wanted her to arrange to
come every morning, and stay all the time of lessons: but Margaret
declined making any such engagement.

As she went home, she scarcely raised her eyes, for fear of seeing
_him_; and yet she lingered for an instant at her brother's door, from a
feeling of disappointment at having met no one she knew.

She had fully and undoubtingly intended to tell Hester of Philip's
arrival; but when she had taken off her bonnet, and settled herself
beside her sister in the drawing-room, she found that it was quite
impossible to open the subject. While she was meditating upon this, the
entrance of the Greys seemed to settle the matter. She supposed they
would make the disclosure for her: but she soon perceived that they had
not heard the news. Mrs Grey went on quoting Mrs Enderby and Phoebe,
and Sophia remarked on the forsaken condition of the old lady, in a way
which was quite incompatible with any knowledge of the new aspect which
affairs had assumed this morning. It was a great relief to Margaret to
be spared the discussion of a fact, on which so much was to be said; but
lo! in the midst of a flow of talk about fomentations, and the best kind
of night-light for a sick room, there was a knock at the door, every
stroke of which was reco