So the winter was getting on, and the days were beginning to lengthen, without bringing with them any of the brightness of hope which usually accompanies the rays of a February sun. Mrs. Thornton had of course entirely ceased to come to the house. Mr. Thornton came occasionally, but his visits were addressed to her father, and were confined to the study. Mr. Hale spoke of him as always the same; indeed, the very rarity of their intercourse seemed to make Mr. Hale set only the higher value on it. And from what Margaret could gather of what Mr. Thornton had said, there was nothing in the cessation of his visits which could arise from any umbrage or vexation. His business affairs had become complicated during the strike, and required closer attention than he had given to them last winter. Nay, Margaret could even discover that he spoke from time to time of her, and always, as far as she could learn, in the same calm friendly way, never avoiding and never seeking any mention of her name.

So the winter was getting on, and the days were beginning to lengthen, without bringing any brightness of hope. Mrs. Thornton had entirely ceased to come to the house. Mr. Thornton came occasionally, but only to visit her father in his study. Mr. Hale spoke of him always with the same high regard. And from what Margaret could gather, he had ceased to visit not from any umbrage, but because his business affairs had required close attention since the strike. Nay, Margaret discovered that he even spoke from time to time of her, always in the same calm, friendly way.
