Лето

           TheywouldnotfortheworldhavemissedtheirafternoonsatMissHatchard’s,and,whiletheycutoutandsewedanddrapedandpasted,theirtongueskeptupsuchanaccompanimenttothesewing-machinethatCharity’ssilencesheltereditselfunperceivedundertheirchatter.

           Inspiritshewasstillalmostunconsciousofthepleasantstirabouther.Sinceherreturntotheredhouse,ontheeveningofthedaywhenHarneyhadovertakenheronherwaytotheMountain,shehadlivedatNorthDormerasifsheweresuspendedinthevoid.ShehadcomebacktherebecauseHarney,afterappearingtoagreetotheimpossibilityofherdoingso,hadendedbypersuadingherthatanyothercoursewouldbemadness.ShehadnothingfurthertofearfromMr.Royall.Ofthisshehaddeclaredherselfsure,thoughshehadfailedtoadd,inhisexoneration,thathehadtwiceofferedtomakeherhiswife.Herhatredofhimmadeitimpossible,atthemoment,forhertosayanythingthatmightpartlyexcusehiminHarney’seyes.

           Harney,however,oncesatisfiedofhersecurity,hadfoundplentyofreasonsforurginghertoreturn.Thefirst,andthemostunanswerable,wasthatshehadnowhereelsetogo.Buttheoneonwhichhelaidthegreateststresswasthatflightwouldbeequivalenttoavowal.If—aswasalmostinevitable—rumoursofthescandaloussceneatNettletonshouldreachNorthDormer,howelsewouldherdisappearancebeinterpreted?Herguardianhadpubliclytakenawayhercharacter,andsheimmediatelyvanishedfromhishouse.Seekersaftermotivescouldhardlyfailtodrawanunkindconclusion.