North and South, Chapter 35 summary

What happens

1. Mr. Thornton comforts Mr. Hale through a private discussion of grief and faith, while Margaret recovers from her collapse.
2. George Watson tells Thornton about Margaret’s denial, and Thornton arranges to stop the inquest because the medical evidence is uncertain.
3. Watson informs Margaret that the inquiry ends, and she realizes Thornton knows about her lie.
4. Frederick’s delayed letter confirms his escape and describes Henry Lennox’s conditional hope of clearing him through reliable witnesses.
5. Margaret prays, keeps her troubles from her father, and struggles to understand why Thornton’s opinion matters so deeply.
6. Her father tends her, and Margaret comes to feel gratitude toward Thornton, who sends a book without visiting.

In this chapter

What to notice

Margaret begins to recognize Thornton’s importance to her, but resists understanding the feeling behind her shame.

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