"Neither a fixed abode nor a form that is thine alone nor any function peculiar to thyself have we given thee, Adam, to the end that according to thy longing and according to thy judgement thou mayest have and possess what abode, what form and what functions thou thyself shalt desire. The nature of all other beings is limited and constrained within the bounds of law. Thou shalt have the power to degenerate into the lower forms of life, which are brutish. Thou shalt have the power, out of thy soul's judgement, to be born into the higher forms, which are divine." Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
Fanny Watson found it frustrating that Margaret had been introduced to so few of Milton's society. Margaret's isolation had resulted in Fanny being placed in the uncomfortable position of providing her friends with an account of Margret's return to Milton and a rationale for why John would chose to marry a stranger, particularly at this time in his life. She had tried to talk to John about the situation, but he waived off Fanny, with assurances that Margaret's entry into Milton society would be on her own terms.
The more practical reason was that as an unmarried woman, Margaret was required to have a chaperone if she accepted a dinner invitation, and an appropriate woman had not been identified. Fanny wanted to have a grand engagement party for John and Margaret; however, Mrs Thornton's failing health made it difficult for her to attend, serving both her roles as mother of the groom and the watchful eye of an older female chaperone. To Margaret's mind, she was relieved not to be burdened with the evening social events, as juggling her work at the school and keeping up with morning social calls to Milton's better families, arranged by Fanny of course, was quite enough on its own. She also left the planning of the wedding breakfast to Fanny, as Mrs. Thornton's health prevented her from visiting with local butchers, bakers and grocers.
John deferred to Margaret's judgment on these matters, as he found it difficult to justify any leisure time to attend dinner parties, after spending so much time away from his business while he was in London. He hoped to settle things at the Mill so that he could take Margaret away for a few days after the wedding, and was working late into the evening with no time for social calls, other than those that allowed him to be alone with Margaret. The Thornton carriage had been seen transporting the school teacher to and from Marlborough Mills on several occasions. With the expectation that the Lennoxs, who were the only out of town guests expected at the wedding, would arrive the next day, Margaret remained after dinner at the Thorntons' home later than was her practice. Hannah Thornton had sat with the couple in the living room for as long as she could, pluck, pluck, plucking at the initials HT JT embroidered on the family linens and replacing them with the initials MT JT in deference to the new mistresses of the house. Hannah did so obligingly, but not happily. She was suspect of Margaret's ability to stand by John and run a proper business, and feared that Margaret's liberal views and acts of charity could steer John in a direction that would deflate the Mill's earnings.
Hannah removed her glasses and placed her embroidery ring in its basket at half past nine, and excused herself for the night. John saw that the day's activities of helping Fanny with the wedding breakfast had taken its toll on his mother and offered to escort her up to her room. "I shall only be a few minutes." He assured Margaret as the older woman leaned heavily on his arm while he guided her up the wide stairway to her bedroom. Hannah Thornton attempted to dismiss her son at her door, but he insisted upon entering her room. He settled her in a comfortable chair by the fire, a place where she could be found most days due to her deteriorating strength. "You are in pain, Mother." John addressed her directly. "You have over exhorted yourself today, and for what? Fanny is more than capable of planning a party. I don't understand your need to stay involved."
"You mean controlling, don't you, John?" his mother sighed, as she remove her black lace cap. John smiled at his mother's honesty, and knelt by her side. "You know me too well, Mother. This has been a strain on you, I know. " He held her long weathered in his own.
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The Journey Home
FanficThis is a continuation of the story of North and South, many years after the last meeting between Margaret and John. In 1854, Margaret was living with her aunt and cousin in London after the death of her father earlier in the year. John Thornton c...
