"God help me, for every one is against me!" cried Margaret, sinking down among the long grass, and laying her throbbing head upon the cold stone. "He comes without notice to terrify me by his anger--me whom he loves above all the world; he leaves my heart to break with his unkindness in the midst of all these indifferent people; he denies me the explanation I demand; and you--you of all others, tell me he is right! I will do without protection, since the two who owe it forsake me: but God is my witness how you wrong me." "Enderby, why do not you go?" said Hope, sternly. Almost before the words were spoken, Enderby had disappeared at the further end of the aisle. "Patience, Margaret! A little patience, my dear sister. All may be well; all must be well for such as you; but I mean that I trust all may be repaired. He has been wrought upon by some bad influence--" "Then all is over. If, knowing me as he did--. But, Edward, do not speak to me. Go: leave me! I cannot speak another word now--" "I cannot leave you here. This is no place for you. Think of your sister, Margaret. You will do nothing to alarm her. If she were to see you now--." Margaret raised herself; took her brother's arm, and went out into the air. No one was near. "Now leave me, brother. I must be alone. I will walk here, and think what I must do. But how can I know, when all is made such a mystery? Oh, brother, tell me what I ought to do!" "Calm yourself now. Command yourself; for this day. You, innocent as you are, may well do so. If I had such a conscience as yours--if I were only in your place, Margaret--if I had nothing to bear but wrongs, I would thank Heaven as Heaven was never yet thanked." "You, Edward!" "If the universe heaped injuries upon me, they should not crush me. If I had a self-respect like yours, I would lift my head to the stars." "You, Edward!" "Margaret, wretched as you are, your misery is nothing to mine. Have pity upon me, and command yourself. For my sake and your sister's, look and act like yourself, and hope peacefully, trust steadily, that all will yet be right." "It cannot be that you have wronged me, brother. You sent him from me, I know; and that was unkind: but you could never really wrong any one." "I never meant it. I honour you, and would protect you--I will protect you as a brother should. Only do not say again that you are forsaken. It would break our hearts to hear you say that again." "I will not. And I will try to be for to-day as if nothing had happened: but I promise no more than to endeavour--I am so bewildered!" "Then I will leave you. I shall not be far off. No one shall come to disturb you."