The Essential Reads

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 52 | Audiobook

The Essential Reads

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North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 52 "Pack Clouds Away" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/joinPodcast Link: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/13b1qP3WhCWxam9yc49vIF?si=4e279ef4f5f143a0⁠Summary:Edith is fretting in her room while waiting for the meeting between Margaret and Mr. Lennox to finish. At the sound of footsteps, she interrogates her brother-in-law and asks him to stay for lunch which he refuses. He shuts down her inquiries about a proposal and says that they have been talking business and business only. Before he leaves, he says that he will be back tomorrow with Mr. Thornton to finalise the business.The next day, to Margaret’s shock, Mr. Lennox does not come. Thornton is there alone and after an hour, Margaret determines to lead the meeting herself. She says that she will be sorry to lose him as a tenant. She goes on to explain a business deal wherein she would lend 1857 pounds to Mr. Thornton that is just sitting in the bank, he could pay her back at a better rate of interest and also continue working Marlborough Mills. She goes to look for more papers but is arrested by Thornton saying her name. She drops her head, and at a second call of her name she drops her head again. He comes close and whispers that if she does not speak, he will claim her as his own, and whispers once again her name. She falters at this and claims that she is not good enough for him, to which Thornton says that he too does not feel worthy enough for her. He places her into the same position she was in when she protected him from the rioters. He then say that he wishes to show her something and reaching for his pocketbook he shows her some pressed roses, she at first doesn’t know what they are, and after a minute she realises that they are from Helstone and that Mr. Thornton visited there. He says that he wanted to see that place where Margaret grew up. She tries to take them from him, and he replies that she will have to pay for them, and Margaret announces that she doesn’t know how she could possibly tell Aunt Shaw, Thornton joking that she will say “That Man?!” to her announcement, to which Margaret replies that Mrs. Thornton will say “That Woman?!” to his own announcement. The End.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

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