North and South, Chapter 27 summary

What happens

1. Mr. Thornton conducts business and magistrates’ duties decisively, but thoughts of Margaret overwhelm him when he leaves court.
2. Dr. Donaldson warns that Mrs. Hale has only weeks to live and mentions her craving for fruit.
3. Thornton personally delivers fine fruit to Mrs. Hale while deliberately avoiding any acknowledgment of Margaret.
4. Her father’s memories of their former home upset Margaret, and she retreats upstairs, where Dixon tells her that Bessy is dead.
5. Mary brings Bessy’s request for an item of Margaret’s clothing for burial and reports her final concern about her father’s drinking.
6. Despite her fear of seeing a dead person and Dixon’s objections, Margaret promises to visit Bessy that afternoon.

In this chapter

What to notice

Margaret makes a firm commitment after admitting her fear of seeing a dead person. Her response puts Mary’s grief before her own discomfort.

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