Margaret entered the room (where her father and mother still sat, holding low conversation together), looking very pale and white. She came close up to them before she could trust herself to speak.
"Mrs. Thornton will send the water-bed, mamma."
"Dear, how tired you look! Is it very hot, Margaret?"
"Very hot, and the streets are rather rough with the strike."
Margaret's colour came back vivid and bright as ever; but it faded away instantly.
"Here has been a message from Bessy Higgins, asking you to go to her," said Mrs. Hale. "But I'm sure you look too tired."

Margaret, on arriving home, had entered looking very pale and white. She came close up to her parents before she could trust herself to speak.
'Mrs. Thornton will send the water-bed, mamma.'
'Dear, how tired you look! Is it very hot, Margaret?'
'Very hot, and the streets are rather rough with the strike.'
'There has been a message from Bessy Higgins, asking you to go to her,' said Mrs. Hale. 'But I'm sure you look too tired.'
