XI

           ATtwoo’clockinthemorningthefreckledboyfromCrestonstoppedhissleepyhorseatthedooroftheredhouse,andCharitygotout.HarneyhadtakenleaveofheratCrestonRiver,chargingtheboytodriveherhome.Hermindwasstillinafogofmisery,andshedidnotrememberveryclearlywhathadhappened,orwhattheysaidtoeachother,duringtheinterminableintervalsincetheirdeparturefromNettleton;butthesecretiveinstinctoftheanimalinpainwassostronginherthatshehadasenseofreliefwhenHarneygotoutandshedroveonalone.

           ThefullmoonhungoverNorthDormer,whiteningthemistthatfilledthehollowsbetweenthehillsandfloatedtransparentlyabovethefields.Charitystoodamomentatthegate,lookingoutintothewaningnight.Shewatchedtheboydriveoff,hishorse’sheadwaggingheavilytoandfro;thenshewentaroundtothekitchendoorandfeltunderthematforthekey.Shefoundit,unlockedthedoorandwentin.Thekitchenwasdark,butshediscoveredaboxofmatches,litacandleandwentupstairs.Mr.Royall’sdoor,oppositehers,stoodopenonhisunlitroom;evidentlyhehadnotcomeback.Shewentintoherroom,boltedherdoorandbeganslowlytountietheribbonaboutherwaist,andtotakeoffherdress.Underthebedshesawthepaperbaginwhichshehadhiddenhernewhatfrominquisitiveeyes....

           Shelayforalongtimesleeplessonherbed,staringupatthemoonlightonthelowceiling;dawnwasintheskywhenshefellasleep,andwhenshewokethesunwasonherface.

           Shedressedandwentdowntothekitchen.