One evening, Mr. Hale being absent, her mother began to talk to her about her brother Frederick, the very subject on which Margaret had longed to ask questions, and almost the only one on which her timidity overcame her natural openness. 
One evening, Mr. Hale being absent, her mother began to talk about her brother Frederick. This was the very subject about which Margaret had longed to ask questions, and almost the only one on which her timidity overcame her natural openness.
