North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 38 "Promises Fulfilled" narrated by Isaac BirchallSupport me as an independent creatorhttps://ko-fi.com/theessentialreadshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinSummary:In the Thornton household, Mr. Thornton is thinking about the look that Margaret shared with the man on the train platform at that late time. At first, he wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt and say that all this is innocent, but he cannot keep that thought in his head for long for the lie she told. He passionately loves her in spite of her faults, but he deems her attached to another man. The very falsehood that stains her is the proof of her love for another. He can focus only on that. He would have done anything for her to look at him like she looked at that other man. He paces up and down the room while thinking about all this. After a long while, his mother asks him to stop. She says that with the death of Leonards, his lover, and their servant, wishes to leave their employment. She goes on to say that Betsy, the servant, told her that Miss Hale was seen on the platform the night when Leonards died. Mr. Thornton says that the scuffle had nothing to do with Miss Hale’s presence on the platform after his conversation with the doctors. Mrs. Thornton goes on to say that she made a promise to Mrs. Hale that she would put Margaret on the right path if she ever strayed and will thus go and talk to her. She then asks her son if he believes that the man Margaret was seen with is her lover, which he confirms before being afflicted with a physical pain. He says to his mother that Margaret needs help, and that she should go to her. She goes to the Hale residence.She practically lets herself into the house and finds Margaret right away, looking to scald her for her assumed actions, but on seeing Margarets countenance, she is slightly subdued. Margaret is glad that the woman has come, but once Mrs. Thornton starts to talk, the whole attitude changes. Margaret call is reprimanded for galivanting around with a strange man late at night so soon after refusing her son’s proposal. Margaret is furious with this characterisation but cannot defend herself and admit who the man is. After a little back and forth, Margaret leaves the room like an offended princess. Mrs. Thornton reflects that if she and her son had gotten together, they he would have to keep an eye on her lest she would lead the household. Mr. Thornton is passing an even worse morning than his mother. He has many orders to complete and has spent a lot of money on new machines, and the new imported Irish hands need to be trained, something he doesn’t have enough time to do. He goes out of the factory and is stopped quickly by Higgins, saying he wishes to talk. Thornton doesn’t have the time, so Higgins decides to wait until the man comes back. On his return, Thornton is surprised to see Higgins still there and invites him in to talk. As he goes in, the overlooker lets his Master know who Higgins is, changing Thornton’s attitude towards Higgins, greatly. Inside, Thornton asks Higgins what he wants, and when Higgins replies that he is there for work, Thornton treats it as a joke. Thornton says that he has lost many workers because of Higgins’ union antics and tells him to look for work elsewhere. Higgins turns around to go, but when he remembers Boucher’s family, he turns round again to state his case. It is no use however, and Thornton sends him on his way. When he leaves his office, Thornton asks the overlooker how long Higgins waited for, it was 5 hours that he had been standing outside the factory gateSEO stuff... Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.
