First Impressions
- Once Mr. Thornton is gone, Mr. Hale turns to Margaret and scolds her for being so rude to a guest (and one of his students, to boot).
- Margaret says that she liked the part of Thornton's story where he talked about his own suffering. But she couldn't stand him when he started thumping his chest about how great a town Milton is. She admits that Thornton has a good heart, but believes that he's totally tainted by the way he always judges everything according to money.
- Mrs. Hale agrees that Mr. Thornton isn't that great a guy, but for different reasons than Margaret. She simply doesn't like "new money." She thinks Thornton is too rough around the edges and not civilized enough.
- All in all, Margaret doesn't like Thornton and her father does. So that's that.
- A few days later, Margaret runs into sickly Bessy Higgins in the street. They make some small talk, during which Bessy keeps talking about dying.
- Margaret asks Bessy if she wants to die. Bessy answers by saying that Margaret would too if she'd lived such a terrible life. Margaret gives the whole necessary spiel about how it's important to keep on keeping on and all that.
- Bessy reminds Margaret that she promised to come visit the Higgins house and never did. Bessy's father Nicholas is convinced that Margaret is full of empty promises like the rest of the world.
- Margaret offers to go to Bessy's house right away so she can explain to Mr. Higgins that she's been busy with family stuff. Bessy warns her that her father might be a bit rude at first.
- Back at the Higgins' house, Margaret keeps talking to Bessy about how life is really worth living. Bessy's dad shows up and asks Margaret how she knows anything at all. Margaret tells him she believes in heaven and Nicholas admits that he only believes in things he can see.
- Bessy faints and Margaret lays her on the couch. Mr. Higgins can tell from the look in her eyes that there's real compassion in her.
- Once Bessy is settled, Margaret returns home and tells her mother she hasn't found a good servant to pair up with Dixon yet.
- Mr. Hale informs them that Mr. John Thornton's mother will be visiting them the next day. He warns them that Mrs. Thornton will be haughty and tough to get along with.