[Margaret has arrived in London and stands in theAunt Shaw's home.  She is standing by a veiled window, with no real purpose and a blank expression.  Edith and Henry are talking together in a separate room, but watching Margaret.]

Edith:   I don’t know when she’s going to cheer up.  It’s been three months now and she's still insisting on wearing black.  [with a sigh]  Henry, I’m counting on you.  You know how much Captain Lennox and I would like the two of you to get together.  Mind you, she’s terribly good with Sholto.  I should hate to lose her.  Perhaps we could all live together in one big house. [Henry smiles]  Mr. Bell arrives today. Maybe he can make her smile.

[Later, Margaret rises from a chair after she and Mr. Bell have been talking]

Margaret:   [joyfully]  Mr. Bell, do you really mean it?

Mr. Bell:   Of course!  I was sitting on the train thinking, “How could we amuse ourselves?”  When I got it in my head we should visit Helstone.  Do you really like the idea?

Margaret:   When can we go?  Tomorrow?

[Mr. Bell laughs with joy]

[Margaret and Mr. Bell are walking in a lush green area.  They are walking towards Helstone parsonage.  They go up the few steps leading to the home.  The new vicar and his wife are sitting at a table on the veranda, he is reading to her.  Margaret has a warm vision of her parents sitting there instead, waving to her and smiling.  A bird squawks and the vision is gone.  The reality of the new occupants is dismal and less appealing to Margaret.  They approach the house and sit down to talk with them.  The wife is serving some tea for all of them.]

Wife:   We had to make some improvements.  Well, alterations.  We have seven children.

Margaret:   Yes, of course.  It’s just…it’s a pity the roses are gone.

Wife:   The children must have a place to play.  Fresh air prepares the mind for God.

Mr. Bell:   [sarcastically]  Ah, better than all that book-reading, that’s what I say.

Vicar:   Precisely my very words.  We have to get back to simple truth.  Forget about all this intellectualism, this questioning.

Margaret:   [tensely]  This…dissenting?  Like my father?  Is that what you mean?

Vicar:   Well, no!  Well, yes.  I thought we ought to keep things simple.

Margaret:   Ignorant?  Uneducated?  Is that what you mean?  I’m sure the world would be a better place!

Wife:   [explaining to her husband]  Miss Hale has been in the North, where life is a little more…  Well, more wild.

[Mr. Bell senses Margaret’s pain and reaches over to take her hand to try and calm her.]

[Mr. Bell and Margaret are walking together later on. A bell chimes]

Margaret:   Why are you smiling?

Mr. Bell:   [chuckling]  I was thinking of Mrs. Thornton, of how she’d love to be called wild.

[They both chuckle]

Margaret:   Oh dear, I nearly lost my temper.

Mr. Bell:   Yes, I’m afraid this trip has not gone as I’d wished.  I’m sorry.

Margaret:   When we first arrived in Milton I was guilty of romanticizing the South.  I’ve got to work hard now at not doing the opposite.

Mr. Bell:   Oh no, I can’t have this!  Mrs. Thornton being wild is bad enough.  But romantic?  No, no!  You wouldn’t call Milton romantic in any way at all, surely?

[They sit down on a bench]

Margaret:   [not answering his question]  Mr. Bell.  When Mother was dying, Fredrick came to Milton.  We-we were very secret.  You know why.  He left before the funeral.  I went with him to the station and we were seen…  by Mr. Thornton.

Mr. Bell:   I see.  [he realizes what she means]  Ah.  You were seen embracing at the station late at night.  Oh, I see.

Margaret:   No, no.  That’s not the worst of it.  A man approached Frederick, someone that knew him.  He fell and died later.  Someone had seen me and I… had to lie to the police inspector.

Mr. Bell:   Well, I don’t quite see the problem.  Frederick didn’t cause this man’s death?

Margaret:   No, no. I… I lied.  I was worried because Fred was still in the country.  I lied and… Mr. Thornton knows it.

Mr. Bell:   Is Frederick safe now?

Margaret:   Yes.  Yes, he’s married now.  Settled down in Cadiz.  Sometimes I think I’ll never see him again.

Mr. Bell:   But that’s not why you’re upset?

Margaret:   No, it’s just… I hate to think… I hate to think that Mr. Thornton thinks badly of me.

Mr. Bell:   Are you sure that’s all?

Margaret:   [she sighs and looks away]  I thought it was going to be such a lovely day.

Mr. Bell:   [taking her hand]  Look.  Perhaps I could have a word with Thornton, though I’m afraid he doesn’t think much of me.

Margaret:   Oh, no, no.  I don’t want him to know about Fred.  I do sometimes wish he knew, but don’t say anything.  Please.  [sighing]  I don’t know what I want.

Mr. Bell:   [letting go of her hand]  Very well.  Let us think of other things.  You know, Margaret, I had an idea when your father died ... of … looking after you.

Margaret:   [smiling] You have.  You are.

Mr. Bell:   [more seriously]  No, you don’t quite understand.  [pause]  I rather hoped you would wish to look after me as well.

[Margaret’s smile disappears and she looks uncomfortable, he goes on]

Mr. Bell:   I never thought to have a wife.  Too busy being an Oxford academic.  Anyway, I hoped.  [quickly changing the subject]  Oh, but that doesn’t matter.  I promised your father I would take care of you.  Now, I have often thought how very depressing it would be if one were to leave one’s fortune to people who were waiting around hoping you would die off.  So, I mean to sign over the bulk of my monies and property to you now.

Margaret:   Oh no, I can’t.  I will not!

Mr. Bell:   Yes, you will.  I am going back to South America where I shall live out the rest of my life in perfect peace and prosperity knowing that you are putting my money to good use.

Margaret:   [shaking her head]  Well, I couldn’t.  Well, what about you?

Mr. Bell:   Well, something I’ve been trying to ignore.  My trip to London was not just to see you, my dear. I…. saw my doctor.

[Margaret looks worried, Mr. Bell tries to comfort her]

Mr. Bell:   Oh, shh… You must think of me living the life under the Argentine skies.  Not many men can plan their exit from this world in such a leisurely way.  Come now, we must cheer up.  Ah, if we go now we’ll be in London in time for dinner.  Now, I’m in very great need of good food.

[They stand to leave. Margaret takes his arm and looks up at him, still concerned]

[In Mr. Thornton’s office.  He and Mr. Bell are going over papers and Mr. Thornton is signing documents]

Mr. Bell:   So, I’m almost at the end of sorting my business affairs.

Mr. Thornton:   When do you sail?

Mr. Bell:   On Wednesday.  I shall be pleased to be warmed by the sun again.  I spent much of my youth there.

[Mr. Thornton looks at the document, stops, and looks up at Mr. Bell in uncertainty.]

Mr. Bell:   [answering his unspoken question]  Yes, I have signed all my property and fortune to my goddaughter Miss Hale.  I have no other family and Hale is my oldest friend.

[Thornton takes in this news, though it seems difficult for him.  He changes the subject.]

Mr. Thornton:   But South America?  Won’t you need money to live on?

Mr. Bell:   Oh, I have sufficient for a very good life there.  What remains of it.

Mr. Thornton:   I’m sorry.

Mr. Bell:   Thank you, but don’t be.  I consider myself lucky to be able to settle my own affairs.  To know that Miss Hale is secure will ease my heart in these last few months.  [pause]  By the way, Miss Hale is unlikely to bother you or to interfere.  She is landlord in name only.

Mr. Thornton:   [without looking up]  Even if Miss Hale were minded to interfere, she has little enough opinion of me.  There may not be much left for her to interfere with.  [Hands Bell the signed documents]

Mr. Bell:   Yes, well, I’m sorry.  I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do.  I have left business behind me. [He stands to leave]  I sail on Wednesday.

[Mr. Thornton puts his hand on his forehead and over his eyes.  Mr. Bell puts his hand out to shake with Thornton.  As he sees Thornton is thinking and does not see the outstretched hand, we withdraws it and goes to leave.  As he gets to the door he pauses and turns back to Mr. Thornton.]

Mr. Bell:   You might be mistaken, Thornton, if you think Miss Hale has a bad opinion of you.

[As Mr. Bell mentions Margaret's name, Thornton rises from his chair, agitatated. He walks to the side of the room and turns away from Mr. Bell.  He pauses as Mr. Bell continues.]

Mr. Bell:   And you might not judge her as harshly as you do…  In fact…

Mr. Thornton:   [interrupting him, and without looking back]  As you say, Mr. Bell, your business Milton is finished. And now the future of this mill is no concern of yours.  I’m afraid I’m busy too. Good day.

[Mr. Bell pauses and turns to leave]