Love England

Chapter 9

It was already past eleven o’clock when we left the Thornton Mansion after the dinner. Although it was late at night, the night in Milton’s early summer lacked the black smoke from the chimneys of the factory during the day. It turned out to be very clear and people could see the bright moon. hanging in the night sky.I left with the Hales, Mr. Bell and Mr. Lennox with us.Originally, the Hale family and I were going to go back in a cab sent by Mr. Thornton, but because the night was beautiful tonight, Mr. Bell asked me to walk back with Mr. Hale, and Mrs. Hale went back in a cab because she was tired. home.

In this way, at the invitation of Mr. Bell, Mr. Hale, Mr. Lennox and I walked back. The Thornton House is not far from Mr. Hale’s residence. From Marlborough Street is New Street. Walk along New Street until you arrive at Mr. Hale's house. With the bright moonlight and few street lamps, the road is still easy to walk.Mr. Bell and Mr. Hale walked side by side, supporting each other, talking and laughing along the way, as if they were back to their good old days in college; Mr. Lennox let me hold his arm Follow behind, chatting while walking.

"Your singing really captivates and impresses me, Miss Addams!" Mr. Lennox said kindly.

"Thank you for your kindness!"

"This banquet is really good. Mrs. Thornton is a very capable lady, Miss Thornton is also versatile, and Mr. Thornton is a very hospitable host."

"Yes, you are right, Mr. Lennox. Also, thank you for understanding me in discussing the strike!"

"This is my true thought, Miss Addams! In fact, I will tell you that the most impressive thing about this party is you."

"Just because I'm an American!" I replied with a smile.

"It's not just that, Miss Addams. At this banquet, many gentlemen are talking about you. They have asked Mr. Hale, Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Thornton and even Miss Thornton about you, hoping to get to know this lady as soon as possible. What kind of person is the beautiful Miss Addams, I am honestly as curious as these gentlemen."

"Then what did you find out?"

"Everyone at the banquet now knows that you are the only daughter of a large manor owner from the United States. Countless cotton is grown on the manor, and you are a lady worthy of favor."

"Although it sounds a bit exaggerated, it is roughly true. My father has a medium-sized farm, mostly cotton is grown on the farm. I am his only child. As for other descriptions, I don't like it at all."

"You seem to me to be an intelligent, insightful, attractive lady, like Margaret, Miss Addams."

"You can call me Cali, you are Margaret's best friend, and I have always regarded you as my friend, although we only met today for the first time."

"I heard that you are Margaret's pen pal. Have you also written to Edith?" He didn't respond to my invitation to change my address, and I became a little alarmed.

"Yes, I wrote to Edith for Mrs. Hale, I mean Mrs. Lennox, your brother and sister wrote a letter telling her about Margaret's recent situation and why I sent her Reason for writing."

"You said Margaret went to London with your family, and you came to the Hale house, didn't you?" Mr. Lennox's tone changed, and he was now like an interrogator. the policeman, or the lawyer who questioned court witnesses, even though he was a lawyer.

"What do you want to say to me, Mr. Lennox?" I lowered my voice and asked with dissatisfaction and bewilderment.

"I just want to know who you are, and more importantly, where Margaret has gone, Miss Addams!" I stopped and took my arm out of his, "I got Edith I have a letter from you saying that Margaret has come to London, and that you are in Hale's house. I doubt what you said, so I inquired about the ship from the United States that has been parked in London for nearly a month. There are seven passenger ships in total, and there is no one named Addams on the passenger list!"

I can't refute his doubts, but I can't tell Mr. Lennox everything at this time.Anyone who hears the experience of me and Margaret will not easily believe it unless they saw it with their own eyes, but now I can't open the door to the future world to prove that what I said is true. Equal to the reality I experienced would feel like a fairytale story, would think I was a crazy person full of nonsense. "I know you are worried about Margaret, and I know your feelings for Margaret, and I can understand why you don't trust me, or even doubt me, but there are certain things I can't explain to you, because I don't I can't explain things that I can't even understand. I can only tell you that it was a coincidence that I came to Milton to be with the Hale family. It may be God's arrangement. Please believe me, Mr. Lennox! I mean no ill will to the Hales, I love them more than you can imagine, and I assure you that Margaret is safe and will be cared for as well as I am."

"So you admit that Margaret isn't in London anymore? What you told Edith was a lie!" Mr Lennox didn't look like he wanted to stop there.By this time Mr. Hale and Mr. Bell were far away, waving at us and urging us to hurry up.

"Sorry, I'm a little tired, I want to take a break!" I responded to the two gentlemen walking in front.

"Would you like to call you another carriage, Cali, my boy!" Mr. Hale stopped worryingly and asked loudly from a distance.I quickly said no, explaining that I didn't want to waste a good night, and Mr. Lennox told Mr. Hale that he would be with me, please don't worry, and we'll follow.Mr. Hale nodded, Mr. Bell jokingly told his lawyer that he should be a "caretaker", and the two gentlemen walked on.

Now it was just me and Mr. Lennox, looking around and then at me, he could now let go of his voice and say to me: "Miss Addams, since I learned of your lie, I was planning to go to Milton right away and warn Mr. and Mrs. Hale about you, but I happened to see Mr. Bell want to hire a lawyer to come to Milton with him to deal with business, so I offered to be his. Lawyer. After I came to Milton, through my understanding and observation, I found that the Hale family was indeed deceived by your lies, Mr. Hale and Mrs. Hale really liked you, and even Mr. Bell had feelings for you High evaluation, this made me change my mind about exposing you in public, I don't want to make Mr. Hale and Mrs. Hale feel sad..." Mr. Lennox's expression was solemn, as if he had changed. He showed a kind of majesty that can only be seen in court, and said, "Even if you assured me that Margaret is safe, I can't believe what you said [-]%. Therefore, I ask you to leave within two days." The Hales and told me all about Margaret's true whereabouts."

"What?" His request was impossible for me. "I didn't expect you to be so unreasonable! I thought you could trust me as you trusted Marguerite!"

"Miss Addams, please don't use Margaret as an excuse. I don't want to make you sound like a liar, but your explanations are so unconvincing to me and I've given you two days Come to consider your current position, I don't want to embarrass you, you have plenty of time!"

I am speechless now, seeing that although Mr. Lennox is gentle on the outside, he is an unselfish person in his bones. I will not say anything to him, because I know that there is no way for me to change his mind for the time being.He sent me to Hale's house silently, and reminded me in a low voice to "do it for yourself" when he was parting.I pretended to ignore it and went into the house, said goodnight to Mrs. Hale and Mr. Hale, and went straight to the bedroom.

I tossed and turned that night thinking about how I would face the next two days and the only one who could get me out of it was Margaret, but I tried everything I could to get in touch with her, but it was always useless And then, how could I expect a miracle to happen in just two days?If I had to leave the Hales, maybe Bessie and Nicholas would take me in, and I'd find a job in Milton, like the Bessie sisters, to support myself.I am not afraid of working, and I am not afraid of being looked down upon by others, but what I am afraid of is that many people will think that I am a liar who pretends to be a rich man. Thinking of Mr. Thornton's face full of disdain for me, I I just can't stand it.

Early the next morning, I came to that door again, calling for Margaret to give me a slight response. I once gave her the letter that was slipped through the door. I don’t know if she saw it or not. , I wonder if she can feel my embarrassing and dangerous situation in Milton at this moment.With the last hope, I wrote another note and slipped it through the crack of the door of time and space, telling Margaret of my current emergency situation, hoping that she could come back.I've been fidgeting all day, and I've come up to the attic countless times to see if there's a connection.

After dinner, Mr. Bell called on us, and Mr. Lennox came with us.Mr. Lennox was no different from yesterday, he was still kind and gentle, but the questioning eyes he seemed to cast on me inadvertently made me shudder.In the bustling sitting room, Mr. Hale was talking about the day when Mr. Hamper, Mr. Slickson Jr., and the Lester brothers had asked him to be their private tutor.This was a pleasant surprise to Mr. Hale, and a novelty to Mrs. Hale and Mr. Bell, because everyone knew that the factory owners in Milton cared only about their factories and their interests, and no one cared. Philosophy, literature, art, even religion - Mr Thornton is a special case.Mr. Bell speculates that Mr. Thornton may have brokered or played a good role model for such a new atmosphere.But Mr. Hale also said that these people all hoped to come to Mr. Hale's house to study, and they also asked about my situation.

"Miss Addams, what do you think of this?" Mr. Lennox asked me suddenly.

"What... what?" Actually, I have been listening to everyone's chat absently, always thinking about my fate in a day, "Sorry! I was a little distracted just now!"

"Cali, your complexion is not very good, do you feel unwell?" Mrs. Hale asked with concern, "You have been helping Dixon all day today."

"I'm a bit tired, Mrs. Hale!" I said, rising slowly and curtseying to everyone. "Once again, I am very sorry, gentlemen! I would like to go upstairs to rest, and please allow me to wish you all a good night in advance! "

"Yes, my boy!" Mr. Hale nodded.

"Do you need me to send someone to find the doctor, Miss Addams!" Mr. Bell also asked with concern.

"You needn't worry, Mr. Bell! I'm just a little tired! Good night again, and don't waste a good evening on my account!"

"Good night, Miss Addams! I wish you a good night's sleep!" Mr. Lennox said to me pointedly.

"I will, Mr. Lennox!" I replied flatly, walking quickly upstairs.

I lie in bed thinking about everything I've experienced since I came to Milton, as if it happened yesterday. It's sad to leave Hale's house, but I can still stay in the city where Margaret lives. I still feel very lucky to be able to occasionally meet Mr. Thornton on the street and say hello to him here.I took out the novel "The South and the North", looked at the simple and elegant cover of the pocket novel by the moonlight, felt relieved, and said to myself: "It's time to quit Margaret's life, go It's time for Milton to write his own story! Maybe I can be a union leader like Nicholas!" Then I treasured the novel again and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, I got up early, went to the attic to make sure the door was still silent, went back to the bedroom, tidied up my room, helped Dixon prepare breakfast, chatted with Mrs. Hale in the living room, and Mr. Hale went to the shop, and even quietly enjoined Dixon to take care of Mrs. Hale's illness, and to write as soon as possible to Margaret's brother, Frederick, to bring him back—I will be at Hale's. Live your last day peacefully.I know that Mr. Lennox will definitely accompany Mr. Bell to visit Hale's house, because today is the deadline he made to me.

As expected, Mr. Lennox and Mr. Bell came at tea time, and Mr. Hale had gone to give a voluntary lecture to the workers in the morning and had not returned yet.Mr. Bell and Mrs. Hale chatted happily, and Mr. Lennox came to me and said in a low voice: "Miss Addams, this is the second day after the dinner. It's done, I think everything should have a result, don't you think so?"

"Yes, I have decided what to do!" I looked at him without hesitation.

Mr. Lennox looked at me carefully and said, "Your expression is not as absent-minded as yesterday. It seems that you have really thought about it."

"Yes!" I replied firmly.

"Miss Addams! Miss Addams!" At this moment Dixon came into the living room and interrupted my conversation with Mr. Lennox. "I was looking for something in the attic. There is a letter by the false door in the attic. It says With your name on it, I think you must have dropped it!" I was a little surprised to hear where the letter was found, and I hurriedly took the letter from her, and put a very beautiful letter on the envelope. It reads "Received by Calpernia Addams" in elegant font.

"Thank you so much, Dixon! I was busy ignoring the letter in my pocket. It must have fallen in the attic." I improvised an excuse.

Although there is no sender's information on the envelope, I have already guessed who sent the letter.With excitement, I eagerly and cautiously typed the letter, glanced over the contents of the letter greedily, and then showed the letter to Mrs. Hale.

"It's Margaret's letter, this child, what a worry!" Mrs. Hale complained lovingly after reading the letter, but she seemed as happy as I was.

"Is it a letter from Margaret? I haven't seen my lovely goddaughter for a long time. I don't know how she is doing?" Mr. Bell also asked beamingly.

"Very well, she is very well!" replied Mrs. Hale.

"Can you tell me the contents of the letter?" Mr. Lennox stood up at this moment and asked anxiously.

"Is that okay, Cali? This is a letter for you, after all!" Mrs. Hale asked for my opinion.

"Of course, I thought Mr. Lennox could read this letter for you?" Then I handed the letter to him with care.

"Then I'd rather be respectful than obedient!" He wanted to ask and bowed slightly, took the letter, and read it in the most respectful voice:

"Dearest Cali:

You don't blame me for not replying to you for so long!You must be worried about how I'm doing here and anxious about the trouble I've caused you.

First of all, I offer my apologies thousands of times for replying to your letter so late; secondly, I want to tell you that everything is fine here, and I have become friends with Ginger who can talk about everything. He took good care of me, and I even helped out in the children's welfare home. Every day was full and fresh.It's as warm and pleasant here as Helstone, and it makes me feel as though I've never left home.Finally, thank you for everything you did for me in Milton, thank you for taking care of my mother, thank you for being considerate to my father, thank you for helping Dixon, I feel that I have no words to express my gratitude and affection to you, You are a good friend I will always trust, my dear Cali!

Please pass on the following to my parents (or show them this letter):

Mom and Dad, I am now with Cali's family in a country house not far from Bath. I have made many friends and they all treat me very friendly. I can do what I want to do with peace of mind.So I still want to stay here for a while, please forgive my daughter's waywardness. Cali is my best friend, she knows as much about our family as I do, please trust her, please take care of Cali like me, I will come back to you soon, please don't worry about me!

Always love you Margaret"

When the letter was finished, Mr Lennox looked up at me with a puzzled look on his face and said: "It is indeed Margaret's handwriting. Is she in Bath?"

"Henry, haven't you just finished reading the letter?" Mr. Bell said with a smile, "It seems that our little Margaret is doing well!"

"I trust you, Miss Addams! Please forgive my faux pas!" He handed the letter back to me and bowed again.

I curtsied and said, "You needn't, Mr. Lennox!"

"Mr. Hale will be delighted to see this letter when he returns! I thank you as much as Margaret, Cali! Mr. Hale and I have treated you as our daughter, and we have always trust you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Hale!" I went and hugged her, and she gave me a motherly kiss on the forehead.

At this moment, the doorbell rang, and Mr. Hale must have returned, and Dixon hurried downstairs to open the door. A minute later, Mr. Hale came to the living room with a helpless sadness on his face. "I didn't have class this morning, and the workers took over the classroom and held a rally. I was waiting at the door, listening to their meeting - this rally was different because they had already decided when to strike."

No doubt the people in the living room were so shocked by the news that the strike which had been so much discussed lately was finally coming, that they even forgot to tell Mr. Hale the news of Margaret's letter.No one knew what impact and troubles this appalling strike would bring to everyone when it really started, and everyone was caught in a lingering anxiety.

"When will the workers go on strike?" asked Mr. Bell.

Mr. Hale replied feebly: "Tomorrow, tomorrow, after get off work at 5 o'clock in the afternoon!"