Mr. Hale did not answer for a minute or two. He played with some papers on the table in a nervous and confused manner, opening his lips to speak several times, but closing them again without having the courage to utter a word. Margaret could not bear the sight of the suspense, which was even more distressing to her father than to herself.
"But why, dear papa? Do tell me!"
He looked up at her suddenly, and then said with a slow and enforced calmness,
"Because I must no longer be a minister in the Church of England."

Mr. Hale did not answer for a minute or two. Nervous and confused, he opened his lips to speak several times, but closed them again without having the courage to utter a word. Margaret could not bear the suspense.
'But why, dear papa? Do tell me!'
He looked up at her suddenly, and then said with enforced calmness:
'Because I must no longer be a minister in the Church of England.'
