Thornton predicts Margaret's response much more accurately, if for the wrong reasons, and doesn't assume that she returns his affections. The events of the strike, however, cause him to prematurely approach Margaret and express his feelings. It's a mistake; up to this point, their interactions have been wary and frequently adversarial, making his proposal seem abrupt and unexpected, leading Margaret to initially assume that he's asking out of a sense of duty. Margaret has slowly been gaining respect for Thornton, though she is still conflicted about some of his opinions, but she is nowhere near ready to receive an offer of marriage from him. She has already shown herself to be awkward in dealing with sudden marriage proposals... embarassed and upset, and then offended by Thornton's demeanor, there was no way Margaret was going to accept him.
It is at this low point, though, that we see Mr. Thornton's innate kindness and nobility of character. Disappointed and angry, it would be easy for Thornton to wash his hands of the entire Hale family. Instead, he remains on friendly terms with Mr. Hale and worries about Mrs. Hale's health, doing what he can to provide things to relieve her symptoms. Thornton also insists his mother refrain from speaking ill of Margaret, despite the fact that she has hurt him badly if unintentionally.
The negative impact of all of this on a personal level is clearly shown through the character of Boucher. He is a reluctant participant in the strike from the first, forced into it by the union. Unable to cope with the deprivations suffered by his family because of the strike, Boucher participates in the riot. Now, despised and reviled by both sides due to his actions, he goes to Nicholas for help and is turned away. A weak man but not an evil one, it is impossible not to pity him as he is driven to desperation by a situation not of his making or choosing.
The tragedy of Bessie's death is rendered even more sad by the knowledge that her final days are spent surrounded by anger and upheaval. The Higgins' house is the scene of the confrontation between an angry Nicholas and hysterical Boucher after the riot. In addition, Nicholas, one of the leaders of the union, is filled with despair over the failure of the strike. Now depressed and angry, he starts spending time at the local pub, coming home intoxicated. It's in this atmosphere of stress and anger that Bessie's life comes to its untimely end.