What do you think happens to your favourite characters after they walk off into the sunset?
I just re-read North and South and was imagining how after they got married they got the mill back up and running as an ethical one that weaves fair trade cotton and then helped Mr Higgins to co found the first co-op to sell reasonably priced food etc to the mill workers.
The Boucher children all go to university and become active in the trade union movement.
Mrs Thornton comes to love Margaret. But moves in with Fanny and gives the son in law hell.