North and South

Bell and Margaret travel to Helstone. As they pass into the village, memories of her mother and father overwhelm Margaret. They lodge at the Leonards’s and the landlady, Mrs. Purkis, tells them about the new vicar: He has seven children and does not drink alcohol. Mrs. Purkis says there was a man there in the spring who told them about Maria’s death. The Hepworths serve the community well and have made many changes to the house. Margaret notices many cottages have been torn down and the old man she loved to visit has died.

They visit Susan, an old friend of Margaret’s. Susan relates a strange story about her neighbor burning her cat alive. Margaret leaves troubled by the story of superstition leading neighbors toward hateful acts. Next, they visit the village school, and Margaret becomes saddened. They meet the vicar’s wife and see all the changes made to the parsonage. The only part that is unchanged is her father’s study. The family there is large and boisterous: “The whole family were quick, brisk, loud-talking, kind-hearted, and not troubled with much delicacy of perception” (535). Over tea, Margaret confesses to Bell about Frederick and the lie she told to protect him.