North and South

Margaret pays another visit to Bessy. Her sister, Mary, has attempted to clean the home for her visit, but it is still dirty in places. Bessy’s condition has worsened, and she is bedridden. Bessy admires Margaret’s fine clothes and asks Margaret to tell her about Helstone. Margaret speaks of the peaceful beauty of her home, and it brings her joy to speak of it again. Bessy says she longs for rest, and she will get it soon, once she is in the grave. She feverishly speaks of her father and how she had to go to work in the mill after her mother died: “I began to work in a carding room soon after, and the fluff got into my lungs, and poisoned me” (139).

Margaret asks if there is anything they can do to prevent lung disease. Bessy says there is a filter that removes the fibers from the air, but it is costly, and the owners do not want to incur the expense. Some factory owners use them, but the workers complain their bellies are emptier when they aren’t full of fluff. Bessy says her father knew about the dangers, but they needed the money for Mary’s schooling. Margaret shudders at the notion that she and Bessy are the same age but are in such different circumstances. Bessy asks Margaret to be friends with Mary after her death. She hopes Mary can live with Margaret and work for the family so she can stay out of the mill. Margaret promises to help as much as she can.

Maria’s illness worsens, but Richard is in denial and gets angry when Margaret broaches the subject.

Margaret is happy her mother desires to spend time with her, but Maria is disturbed by a recurring dream she has of Frederick. Margaret was staying in London when Frederick disappeared, so she asks her mother to tell her the full story. Maria goes through his old letters with Margaret to explain the mutiny that took place on his ship. While under the command of Captain Reid on the Orion, Frederick came to dislike the captain and his authoritarian leadership. Captain Reid once threatened to flog sailors who were not working hard enough. One sailor fell from the riggings and died of his injuries; the remaining soldiers revolted and set the captain adrift. Frederick escaped, but the other soldiers were hanged for treason. Now, Frederick is living in Spain under another name. Maria is grieved she cannot see her son again but proud that he stood up for justice: “I am prouder of Frederick standing up against injustice, than if he had been simply a good officer” (148). Margaret agrees her brother is an honorable man. Maria longs to see him again, but Frederick cannot return to the country.

Richard and Margaret visit Thornton in response to Mrs. Thornton’s visit, though Maria is not well enough to travel. Richard is now just as concerned as Margaret about his wife’s condition and hopes Thornton can recommend a doctor.

Richard and Margaret walk to Marlborough Street where Thornton resides. The noise of the nearby mill is so deafening they can barely speak to each other. Margaret is surprised by the size of the house, and though the outside bears the stain of pollution, the inside is spotless: The furnishings are wrapped to prevent soiling from dust. Thornton is delayed, and Mrs. Thornton greets them when they arrive. Margaret unsuccessfully explains why Maria is not in attendance. Mrs. Thornton, thinking Maria is just being snobby, is offended. Thornton has missed some tutoring sessions, and Richard is anxious to resume them. Mrs. Thornton, however, feels the tutoring is a waste of time. She contends that the men of Milton do not have time to study the past as they have too many responsibilities in the present day. Margaret argues that an idle brain is dangerous. Mrs. Thornton states that her son is well respected across Europe for his business endeavors and that he is anything but idle. Margaret says they had only heard of Thornton before coming to Milton through Bell. Mrs. Thornton says many women have tried to secure a marriage with Thornton, insinuating this is Margaret’s goal. Margaret assures her it is not. There are rumors of a coming strike, which is a regular occurrence, according to Mrs. Thornton. In the past, she intervened to protect a mill owner from violent striking workers. Richard says the workers only desire higher wages, but Mrs. Thornton asserts they desire to rule over their masters. Citizenship in Milton requires bravery.

Thornton repays the visit later and brings a note with the name of a doctor. He is concerned about the strike because he believes the workers do not trust the owners to use the profits responsibly. Margaret believes it is the owners’ Christian duty to act honorably. Thornton feels he does not owe his workers an explanation of what he does with the mill’s money: The hierarchy of manager over workers does not extend outside the factory.

Margaret does not understand the system. She is accustomed to a community where members depend on one another. Margaret says she has heard owners desire their workers to remain ignorant, but Thornton argues he has the same goals as his workers. He compares the running of a mill to parenting children or governing a country. Margaret objects to this philosophy, claiming Thornton has a moral obligation to treat his workers with more dignity than that of a child or subject. He states he leads by example and claims this is all his workers need. Margaret argues that society works best when everyone is on equal footing, working together in mutual understanding and compassion. She does not see his strength of character as an equal exchange for despotic rule over his workers. Thornton must leave for an appointment but whispers to Margaret an apology if his tone has been too harsh for her.