She was so gentle and ladylike in her mode of reception that her visitor was somewhat daunted; and it became impossible to utter the speech, so easy of arrangement with no one to address it to. Margaret's low rich voice was softer than usual; her manner more gracious, because in her heart she was feeling very grateful to Mrs. Thornton for the courteous attention of her call. She exerted herself to find subjects of interest for conversation; praised Martha, the servant whom Mrs. Thornton had found for them: had asked Edith for a little Greek air, about which she had spoken to Miss Thornton. Mrs. Thornton was fairly discomfited. Her sharp Damascus blade seemed out of place, and useless among rose-leaves. She was silent because she was trying to task herself up to her duty. At last she stung herself into its performance by a suspicion which, in spite of all probability, she allowed to cross her mind, that all this sweetness was put on with a view of propitiating Mr. Thornton; that, somehow, the other attachment had fallen through, and that it suited Miss Hale's purpose to recall her rejected lover. Poor Margaret! there was perhaps so much truth in the suspicion as this; that Mrs. Thornton was the mother of one whose regard she valued, and feared to have lost; and this thought unconsciously added to her natural desire of pleasing one who was showing her kindness by her visit. Mrs. Thornton stood up to go, but yet she seemed to have something more to say. 
She was so gentle and ladylike that her visitor was somewhat daunted; and it became impossible to utter the speech, so easy to prepare with no one to address it to. Margaret's low rich voice was softer than usual; her manner more gracious, because she was feeling very grateful to Mrs. Thornton for the courteous attention of her call. She exerted herself to make conversation; and praised Martha, the servant whom Mrs. Thornton had found for them.
Mrs. Thornton was fairly discomfited. Her sharp blade seemed out of place, and useless among rose-leaves. She was silent until she stung herself into performing her duty by reflecting that all this sweetness was probably put on just to propitiate her. She suspected that the other attachment had fallen through, and Miss Hale hoped to recall her rejected lover.
Poor Margaret! It was true that Mrs. Thornton was the mother of one whose regard she valued, and feared to have lost; and this thought unconsciously added to her natural desire of pleasing her. Mrs. Thornton