Then he went and took hold of her wrists with no gentle grasp, and spoke to her through his set teeth.
"What do you mean, Maggie ?--what do you mean ?" (giving her a little shake.) "Do you mean that you'll stick to your lover through thick and thin, and leave your brother to be transported?
Speak, can't you ?" She looked up at him, and tried to speak, but no words came out of her dry throat.

At last she made a strong effort.
"You must give me time to think.

I will do what is right, by God's help." "As if it was not right--and such can't--to save your brother," said he, throwing her hands away in a passionate manner.
"I must be alone," said Maggie, rising, and trying to stand steadily in the reeling room.

She heard her mother and Edward speaking, but their words gave her no meaning, and she went out.

She was leaving the house by the kitchen-door, when she remembered Nancy, left alone and helpless all through this long morning; and, ill as she could endure detention from the solitude she longed to seek, she patiently fulfilled her small duties, and sought out some breakfast for the poor old woman.
When she carried it up stairs, Nancy said: "There's something up.