e are too
strong for her--too strong in heart, however weak in fortunes:--because
we are strong in a peace which she cannot poison, and a love which she
will never understand."

Even at a moment like this, and while feeling that she could not have
said the things that Hester said, Margaret's eyes swam in tears of joy.
Here was her sister, in a moment of that high excitement when nothing
but truth ventures upon utterance, acknowledging herself blessed in
peace which could not be poisoned, and love which the vile could not
understand. The day, whatever might be its events, was worth enduring
for this.

Mr Rowland walked once or twice up and down the hall, wiped his brows,
and then, evidently unable to endure Hester's presence, said he would
let himself out, and there await Mr Hope's arrival, or anything else
that might occur.

Oh! would he ever come? It seemed to Hester like a week since she had
given him his umbrella, and seen him ride away.

Hark! Surely this must be--it certainly was his horse this time. Yes--
there was Morris calling from the stairs that her master was fighting
his way down the street! There was Charles giving notice that the crowd
was running round from the back to the front of the house! There was
the noise among the people outside, the groaning, the cries!

"Now, ma'am!" said Morris, breathless with the haste she had made down
stairs. Morris supposed her mistress would softly let down the chain,
open the door just wide enough for Hope to slip in, and shut, bolt, and
chain it again. This was what Hester had intended; but her mood was
changed. She bade the servants all step out of sight, and then threw
the door wide open, going forth herself upon the steps. The people had
closed round Hope's horse; but Philip was pushing his in between the mob
and their object, and riding round and round him with a sort of
ludicrous gravity, which lowered the tone of the whole affair to
Margaret's mind, and gave her great relief. Mr Rowland was shaking
hands with Hope with one hand, and holding the bridle of the uneasy
horse with the other. Hope himself was bespattered with mud from head
to foot, and his umbrella was broken to pieces. He nodded cheerfully to
Hester when she threw open the door. When she held out her hand to him
with a smile as he ascended the steps, the noise of the crowd was
suddenly hushed. They understood rather more of what they saw than of
anything that could be said to them