Margaret Hale and John Thornton　3 of 21

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 ＊＊


It was sundown in Milton. They were in the Thorntons’ living room.

 Hannah was sitting alone, doing embroidery.

 The sound of her son's footsteps on the stairs gradually grew louder.

 There was a hint that he entered the room.

 "Mother."

 She pulled her gaze from her embroidery for the first time and saw John.

 "Welcome back, John"

 John wore a jacket, but with no tie and the stubble on his face was visible.

 

The mother looked away from her son and back at her needlework. She began working again as she said:

 "John, I'm not going to ask where it is you've been... it's good to have you back."

 "..."

 "Your father never came back."

 "..."

 "But you did...and that is enough."

 John couldn't tell whether she spoke to herself or to him.

 He walked up to the chair where his mother was sitting and put his hand on the back of it.

 "Mother... There is something I must tell you."

 He took a small breath and said:

 "I met Ms. Hale today."

 The mother flinched and looked up at a nearby wall.

 "And I proposed to her."

 She slowly turned around and looked at her son.

  He had a soft expression on his face. 

 "She accepted me...for who I am."

 The son sounded satisfied.
She remembered what Margaret said:

 

"You once accused me of not knowing what kind of man I'd rejected.
  And …you were right."
 

 After that, the two had met, she thought.

 "I see."

 The mother blinked at him in thought, trying not to show any emotion.

 There was a brief silence.

 "John... Can you trust that woman?"

 He said with certainty.

 "Yes, I trust her. Everything about her."

 "...Very well. Then I will have no say in the matter."

 The mother returns to her embroidery in an effort to end the conversation.

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