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A few days later, Margaret was walking along the pavement on the hill overlooking the town. She saw a familiar black silhouette ahead of her and said:
"Mr. Th__ "
John stood with a composed smile, and watched her scurry up the slightly inclined path. Coming to him, she caught her breath and asked:
"How did you know I'm here?"
"Higgins' daughter told me you might be around here."
"Mary did?" she said smilingly.
They started walking side by side. Gradually they got close and she put her hand on his arm.
"I don't think I'll go to your house tonight because of business affairs."
"I see."
She said worriedly.
"Are you getting enough sleep? Nicholas once told me that you worked on less sleep when your business got worse."
He shook his head and said,
"It was a vicious cycle at that time. But now business is going so well, I want to keep up with it."
He looked at her, touching her hand on his arm.
"And it's because of you, thank you."
Feeling the warmth of his hand she smiled softly. They kept making their way along a path dotted with crosses. It went downhill a bit. She changed the subject:
"I'm taking care of your belongings."
At the questioning look on his face, she added:
"Your gloves."
He got what she mentioned and waited for her next words silently, as she continued.
"...I'll give them back next time."
She supposed that his gloves reminded him of the day of the riot, and the day after. Seeing the statue along the road, she spoke to him.
"When the workers stormed Marlborough Mills during the strike..."
Walking beside her, he listened to her talking:
"I would have done the same for any man there, as long as he had been in danger. I was the one who set him off, so I believe I had a responsibility."
She raised her eyes.
"But I've come to the conclusion that there could have been no one but you. I mean, you are the only man who could have faced the workers alone in that situation, so there was no one else I would have defended, after all."
While their walking speed slowed down little by little, she added:
"I really respect you for doing that. You are a true man."
A true man. He lowered his gaze. They had gradually stopped without realizing. He stood still and nodded slightly, suppressing the urge to hug her. They began to walk again simultaneously and it was his turn to speak.
"I'm certainly not normal, but if you ask me, you're rather peculiar, Margaret...or Miss Hale."
He smiled a little at her narrowing eyes, saying humorously:
"It's not normal to reject the proposal from the owner of the Marlborough Mills, one of the richest men around. Yet, it's mad to accept him when he's gone bankrupt."
" ! "
The two of them giggled, glanced at each other while they moved their feet forward at the same pace. He murmured, looking into her eyes.
" Well, my gloves...You don't have to give them back. Bring them when you move into our home."
She smiled and agreed with it, "Yes."
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They came to the point where the pavement split in two. He looked at his pocket watch, thinking about how they were always silent when they should say goodbye. Taking her hand form his arm, she looked up and gave him a low bow. He nodded, giving a small sigh, and murmured in his low voice:
"There is another reason not to go to your house."
"What?"
He loved it when she looked at him like that.
"It's hard to leave."