Margaret was at home and came out to see him. His greeting amazed her, for it differed by much from what she expected. The girl doubted not that her friend had heard the news and had come to offer his congratulations; but he had not heard it, and he came to offer himself. Mr. Crocker had toyed with this achievement for six weeks; and now the storm, and Rhoda, and certain uneasiness begot of Rhoda, and a general vague desire for something feminine as different as possible from Rhoda, together with other emotions and sensations too numerous to define, all affirmed his resolve. He wasted no time, for he was full of desire for Madge and honestly believed that she cared for him. And in answer to his abrupt but impassioned plea, she assured him that she did care for him and that his welfare was no small thing to her. "We’ve known each other ever since we was dinky boy and girl to infant school together; and I, with my managing ways, would oft blow your li’l nubby nose when it wanted it," she said, looking at him with shining eyes and in a mood emotional. "But with my David--yes, my David he is--well, ’twas love, dear Bartley, and we’m tokened. And I’m glad ’twas left for me to tell you, though ’tis terrible strange it should fall out at such a minute as this." He stared and stammered and wished her joy. He was disappointed, but not by any means crushed to the earth. It only occurred to him that no other woman’s lips would that day destroy the flavour of Rhoda Bowden’s. "Then what becomes of me?" he said; but not as though there were no answer to the question. "You’ll get a better far," she replied. "But you--you to go into that silent family--all so stern and proper. Think twice afore ’tis too late, Madge." "I love them all," she answered. "But silent they surely are. I took my dinner along with them yesterday and, if it hadn’t been for Dorcas and me, they’d have gone without a word spoken from grace afore meat to thanksgiving after." "Dorcas is cheerful enough." "I like her--best after David," said Madge, a little nervously, as though she talked treason. Then Mr. Crocker told of the storm and his companion in the Pixies’ House. "Like a damned fool, just because her cheek happened to touch mine, I kissed her." "Bartley!" "Well you may stare. Lord knows what come over me to do it; but I got hell for my fun, and so like as not your David will have a bit more to say later on. Him and Rhoda are the wide world to each other. I suppose you know that?" Margaret’s face clouded, but she was loyal. "Rhoda’s a splendid woman, Bartley." "She is. Now that you won’t take me, I believe I shall have a dash at her. But ’twill be a long year afore she forgives this day’s work." He left Margaret soon afterwards and his depression of spirit steadily gained upon him as he returned home. At ’The Corner House’ he stopped and drank a while; then he got back to his mother and took a gloomy pleasure in shocking her pride with his news.