The Essential Reads

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 32 "Mischances" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:All the following day, the family stays together. Frederick, now leaving, steels his emotions for the final time, which causes Margaret to finally feel her emotions. Mr. Hale starts at every sound and only feels comfortable when Frederick is out of site. That evening, Mr. Hale asks Margaret to go to the quieter station with Frederick so that he has a better chance of getting away unseen. When they arrive at the outward station, they have a 20-minute wait before the train arrives. Frederick says that he is going to ask for his exculpation purely for her sake than anyone else’s, unable to imagine what his sister would do if their father were to go too. Margaret is very touched by this and tries to reassure him. They are holding each other in their arms while waiting, and Margaret goes to talk again when she is arrested by the sight of Mr. Thornton riding past on his horse. Frederick asks quietly who the man is, and when Margaret answers, he makes a quick statement about his scowl. Frederick goes to say that he wishes that they hadn’t sent the cab back as it is getting too dark. At the station again, Margaret goes to buy her brother’s ticket. They go to walk together on the platform together. While waiting, Margaret starts to think that it is a bad idea for Fred to go to London. Suddenly, Frederick is accosted by a man in a worker’s uniform, asking him if his name is Hale, and in a quick bustle the man falls onto the platform, causing Margaret to tell her brother to run to the oncoming train. Margaret runs to the ladies’ room after this and tries to calm herself down before going to buy her own ticket home. In the ticket office she hears news about Leonards, and it seems that it was indeed him who confronted her brother…SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 31 "Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:The cold October morning has arrived in Milton, and the dusky streets are only visible when the sun can push through the smog. Margaret is doing her best to hold herself together while her father and brother grieve; even the funeral proceedings have fallen unto her. Dixon tries to rally her, by telling her that she is the only one in the house who can make decisions, which doesn’t help Margaret, but it is good to be needed. Mr. Hale is very despondent, while Frederick tries to force himself to be happy but can only burst into tears. Mr. Hale cannot help Margaret in organising the Funeral, and just agrees to everything Margaret says, until he finally mutters that Mr. Bell should be invited. Margaret writes to him, happy that her father had something to add. Dixon says that Frederick is speaking to his deceased mother, and suggests that he needs to be roused, so she suggested that it isn’t safe for him to be in town. She goes on to explain to Margaret that she ran into someone they knew, a man called Leonards in town. Dixon is very worried about this encounter and explains that he enquired after Frederick. Margaret agrees with Dixon that Frederick must go immediately so that he can avoid being caught. Her brother comes into the room, and Margaret talks quietly about what Dixon said. Frederick goes on to explain a bit more about the man Leonards’ character. Mr. Hale had been listening to their conversation and comes to speak to his children. He says that Frederick, despite how much both he and Margaret would like for him to stay, must go. Frederick says that if he could get evidence to support his case, he would love to be able to stay. Margaret then suggests that if he could get a night train to London, he could maybe talk with Mr. Henry Lennox, who would be supportive to the Hale family. The family agrees that Frederick will leave for London and then go home to Spain while he waits for his trial. Frederick then tells his family about the girl he is hoping to marry, bringing a ray of sunshine to their grey conversation.SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 30 "Home At Last" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:The following day Mrs. Thornton comes to see Mrs. Hale. The latter is much worse and seems very close to death. Mrs. Thornton, who has not seen her for weeks, is instantly softened. Mrs. Hale, a mother like herself, and a much younger woman than herself, laying in a bed from which she may never rise again. Mrs. Hale rouses herself enough to speak, and asks the other mother, to take care of Margaret as if she was her own child. Mrs. Thornton agrees and says that she will refrain from telling her if she is doing well but will put her on the right path if she strays. Mrs. Hale then falls asleep again. During this time, Dixon and Margaret are discussing how the house is supposed to be ran while Fredrick is there, and question when they will receive a letter from him.That evening, while her Margaret and Mr. Hale are sitting in the living room, lamenting over the advancement of Mrs. Hale’s sickness, the doorbell rings. Mr. Hale hardly even notices it, and Margaret goes to answer it. She opens the door and a tall dark figure is standing there. When he turns around, Frederick’s face greets Margaret full of joy to see her and worry for their mother. Margaret is overcome with emotion and ushers him into her father’s study, while she runs off to tell her father. Back in the study, Margaret leaves her brother and father to talk quietly while she prepares tea for them all. She takes it in, and Frederick immediately goes to help her, making Margaret feel like there is finally someone she can share her burden with. They soon tell Dixon that Frederick is there and she is suddenly filled with an energy that she hasn’t felt in a very long time.When Mrs. Hale finally awakens, mother and son are finally united, and they do not leave each other again. Frederick’s hand lays in his mother’s, and finally, after a few hours, Mrs. Hale breaths her last breath. After this, Frederick’s emotions give way and he wails like a child all through the night. Dixon and Margaret have to go and tell him in the night to be quiet, for fear that a neighbour should hear him. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 29 "A Ray of Sunshine" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret receives a letter from her cousin Edith. Edith writes all about her new baby and reminds Margaret of Edith’s scatterbrain style of speech and writing. She tries to urge Margaret to visit her in Corfu with Mrs. Hale, believing that the smoky air in Milton is the true cause of Mrs. Hale’s illness. She even says that if Mr. Hale wishes to come then she can even hide her husband’s military uniform and tell the band to only play church music. This letter fills Margaret with joy, and Margaret is laughing at it when Dixon helps Mrs. Hale into the room. Mrs. Hale asks about the letter, and her daughter reads it to her. Her mother agrees with Edith that it is the Milton air that had made her ill, but before the topic can be dived further into, Mr Hale enters the room, and Margaret shuts the conversation down. Mr. Thornton comes too, with another fruit basket, and to see Margaret. He bows to her and then never lays an eye on her again before leaving to talk with Mr. Hale. After the men leave, Mrs. Hale tells Margaret that she is really starting to like Mr. Thornton, which causes Margaret a small shock. Mrs. Hale then wonders aloud why Mrs. Thornton never visits, asks Margaret if she would be able to ask Mrs. Thornton to visit her. Margaret readily ascents but says that it must be before Frederick arrives. Mrs. Hale wonders too when they will hear from Frederick. They talk more about the housework, and Margaret suggests that Mary Higgins could help with the housework. In her statement, she uses some factory slang to which her mother reprimands her. Soon after, Mr. Hale and Mr. Thornton enter the room again and Margaret asks Mr. Thornton, with some effort, if he knows of any other way to explain some factory terms without using the local slang. He doesn’t really seem to understand what she is asking and instead goes to Mrs. Hale, reminding Margaret of her mother’s request. Mr. Thornton promises to Margaret that his mother will come the following day. . SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.

North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell chapter 28 "Comfort in Sorrow" narrated by Isaac BirchallSubscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on KO-FI and support me as an independent creator :D⁠https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join⁠Summary:Margaret goes to the Higgins’ house to see Bessy’s body. She is glad that she came. Bessy, whose face was so often tormented by pain, is finally at peace. Margaret is calm but deeply affected by the scene. Downstairs, they come down and see Mr. Higgins, where he looks wild, and like he is struggling to process the news he has heard. He asks Margaret if she was with her when she died. Then asks if she really has died, or has just fainted, like at previous times. Margaret thinks that he has been drinking a little. He breaks down into tears and hurls himself onto the table, which shakes under his wails. Mary goes to him, but she is shoved away by her father. After he calms a little, he makes his way to the door. Mary goes to stop him, proclaiming that Bessy’s last words were to keep their father from drink. Margaret steps in front of the door, not moving a muscle, and standing her ground. At last, Higgins gives in. Margaret asks him to come upstairs and see his daughter, and though uncertain, he goes. Following this, Margaret asks him to come and have tea with her father. They go to the Hale residence. Mr. Higgins suggests that he should have washed himself and while Margaret agrees, she doesn’t want to leave him alone, where he could sneak off to a Gin House. Margaret runs in first to warn her father, and though he is very concerned after all Margaret had said about the man, he consents to sit with him. Margaret goes to her mother. Mrs. Hale is very worried about the letter that Margaret sent to Frederick. She is worried that he will be captured if he comes to England. Margaret, and especially Dixon, manage to calm her down though, Dixon stating that she was thinking of writing to him anyway. Once properly calmed, Margaret goes to sit with her father and Mr. Higgins. Her father and Mr. Higgins are engaged in a deep conversation, which only breaks for Mr. Hale to give his daughter a chair. They talk deeply about religion and politics, and Mr. Hale tells Higgins that he has no goal to convince him today, or tomorrow, but believes that the truth will come out over time. The conversation gets a little heated, but Margaret very gently calms him with soothing words. Eventually, the conversation moves onto the strike, which Higgins says has failed. The riot caused the strike to fail, which made Higgins incredibly angry at Boucher and his like. Margaret asks him questions about the Union, and states that she feels that the Union can be just as worse as the Masters, but she understands the need to for one. Before Higgins goes home, Home as Margaret verified, Mr. Hale asks Higgins to pray with them. SEO stuff I don't want to do. Elizabeth Gaskell's classic, "North and South" sees Margaret Hale's live uprooted as her family moves to the north of England. Initially disgusted by the ugliness of the industrial town of Milton, Margaret develops a strong sense of social justice after seeing the poverty and suffering of local mill workers.