Among them she came to four or five of Mr. Henry Lennox's, relating to Frederick's affairs; and she carefully read them over again, with the sole intention, when she began, to ascertain exactly on how fine a chance the justification of her brother hung. But when she had finished the last, and weighed the pros and cons, the little personal revelation of character contained in them forced itself on her notice. It was evident enough, from the stiffness of the wording, that Mr. Lennox had never forgotten his relation to her in any interest he might feel in the subject of the correspondence. They were clever letters; Margaret saw that in a twinkling; but she missed out of them all hearty and genial atmosphere. They were to be preserved, however, as valuable; so she laid them carefully on one side. When this little piece of business was ended, she fell into a reverie; and the thought of her absent father ran strangely in Margaret's head that night. She almost blamed herself for having felt her solitude (and consequently his absence) as a relief; but these two days had set her up afresh, with new strength and brighter hope. Plans which had lately appeared to her in the guise of tasks, now appeared like pleasures. The morbid scales had fallen from her eyes, and she saw her position and her work more truly. If only Mr. Thornton would restore her the lost friendship,--nay, if he would only come from time to time to cheer her father as in former days,--though she should never see him, she felt as if the course of her future life, though not brilliant in prospect, might lie clear and even before her. 
Among them were four or five of Mr. Henry Lennox's, relating to Frederick's affairs; and she carefully read them over again, in order to judge exactly her brother's chances. But the little personal revelation of character contained in them forced itself on her notice. It was evident, from the stiff wording, that Mr. Lennox had never forgotten his proposal to her. They were clever letters; but they contained nothing hearty or genial. They were to be kept, however; so she laid them carefully on one side.
Then she fell into a reverie; and the thought of her father ran strangely in her head that night. She almost blamed herself for having felt his absence as a relief; but these two days had set her up afresh, with new strength and brighter hope. The morbid scales had fallen from her eyes, and she saw her position and her work more truly. If only Mr. Thornton would restore her the lost friendship - or only come from time to time to cheer her father - though she should never see him, she felt as if the course of her future life, though not brilliant in prospect, might lie clear and even before her.
