She felt it a duty to undergo the pleasures her aunt appointed for her, but she could not forego the other duties in which she found her only pleasure.
She kept up her music still because she could employ it at the meetings for the entertainment, and, as she hoped, the elevation of her working-women; but she neglected the other aesthetic interests which once occupied her; and, at sight of Beaton talking with her, Mrs.
Horn caught at the hope that he might somehow be turned to account in reviving Margaret's former interest in art.

She asked him if Mr.Wetmore had his classes that winter as usual; and she said she wished Margaret could be induced to go again: Mr.Wetmore always said that she did not draw very well, but that she had a great deal of feeling for it, and her work was interesting.

She asked, were the Leightons in town again; and she murmured a regret that she had not been able to see anything of them, without explaining why; she said she had a fancy that if Margaret knew Miss Leighton, and what she was doing, it might stimulate her, perhaps.

She supposed Miss Leighton was still going on with her art?
Beaton said, Oh yes, he believed so.
But his manner did not encourage Mrs.Horn to pursue her aims in that direction, and she said, with a sigh, she wished he still had a class; she always fancied that Margaret got more good from his instruction than from any one else's.
He said that she was very good; but there was really nobody who knew half as much as Wetmore, or could make any one understand half as much.
Mrs.Horn was afraid, she said, that Mr.Wetmore's terrible sincerity discouraged Margaret; he would not let her have any illusions about the outcome of what she was doing; and did not Mr.Beaton think that some illusion was necessary with young people?
Of course, it was very nice of Mr.Wetmore to be so honest, but it did not always seem to be the wisest thing.

She begged Mr.Beaton to try to think of some one who would be a little less severe.