"No. Why, I was here then. I hadn't seen Hale for years and years: and, if you remember, I came--No, it was some time after that that I came. But poor Frederick Hale was not here then. What made you think he was?"
"I saw a young man walking with Miss Hale one day," replied Mr. Thornton, "and I think it was about that time."
"Oh, that would be this young Lennox, the Captain's brother. He's a lawyer, and they were in pretty constant correspondence with him; and I remember Mr. Hale told me he thought he would come down. Do you know," said Mr. Bell, wheeling round, and shutting one eye, the better to bring the forces of the other to bear with keen scrutiny on Mr. Thornton's face, "that I once fancied you had a little tenderness for Margaret?"

'No. Why, I was here then - no, it was some time later. But poor Frederick was not here then. What made you think he was?'
'I saw a young man walking with Miss Hale one day, about that time,' replied Mr. Thornton.
'Oh, that would be young Lennox, the Captain's brother. He's a lawyer, and they were in pretty constant correspondence with him; I remember Mr. Hale told me he thought he would come down. Do you know,' said Mr. Bell, wheeling round, 'that I once fancied you had a little tenderness for Margaret?'
