"No, Miss Hale," said Mrs. Thornton, her truthfulness causing her to arrest the confession Margaret was on the point of making, though her curiosity was itching to hear it. "Stop. Mr. Thornton has told me nothing. You do not know my son. You are not worthy to know him. He said this. Listen, young lady, that you may understand, if you can, what sort of a man you rejected. This Milton manufacturer, his great tender heart scorned as it was scorned, said to me only last night, 'Go to her. I have good reason to know that she is in some strait arising out of some attachment; and she needs womanly counsel.' I believe those were his very words. 
'No, Miss Hale,' said Mrs. Thornton, her truthfulness causing her to break in. 'Stop. Mr. Thornton has told me nothing. You do not know my son. You are not worthy to know him. He said this. Listen, young lady, and understand, if you can, what sort of a man you rejected. He said to me last night, "Go to her. I have good reason to know that she is in some difficulty, arising out of an attachment; and she needs womanly counsel." 