Chapter 14

           DuringmywaitingforthesummonstoMr.Trelawny’sroom,whichIknewwouldcome,thetimewaslongandlonely.AfterthefirstfewmomentsofemotionalhappinessatMargaret’sjoy,Isomehowfeltapartandalone;andforalittletimetheselfishnessofaloverpossessedme.Butitwasnotforlong.Margaret’shappinesswasalltome;andintheconscioussenseofitIlostmybaserself.Margaret’slastwordsasthedoorclosedonthemgavethekeytothewholesituation,asithadbeenandasitwas.Thesetwoproud,strongpeople,thoughfatheranddaughter,hadonlycometoknoweachotherwhenthegirlwasgrownup.Margaret’snaturewasofthatkindwhichmaturesearly.

           Theprideandstrengthofeach,andthereticencewhichwastheircorollary,madeabarrieratthebeginning.Eachhadrespectedtheother’sreticencetoomuchthereafter;andthemisunderstandinggrewtohabit.Andsothesetwolovinghearts,eachofwhichyearnedforsympathyfromtheother,werekeptapart.Butnowallwaswell,andinmyheartofheartsIrejoicedthatatlastMargaretwashappy.WhilstIwasstillmusingonthesubject,anddreamingdreamsofapersonalnature,thedoorwasopened,andMr.Trelawnybeckonedtome.

           "Comein,Mr.Ross!"hesaidcordially,butwithacertainformalitywhichIdreaded.Ienteredtheroom,andheclosedthedooragain.Heheldouthishand,andIputmineinit.Hedidnotletitgo,butstillhelditashedrewmeovertowardhisdaughter.