Лето
XII
Shedidnotcare:shefelthimtobesopowerlessthatifhehadquestionedhershewouldprobablyhavetoldhimthetruth.ButtheyhadneverspokentoeachothersincethenightonthewharfatNettleton.HehadreturnedtoNorthDormeronlyonthethirddayafterthatencounter,arrivingjustasCharityandVerenaweresittingdowntosupper.Hehaddrawnuphischair,takenhisnapkinfromtheside-boarddrawer,pulleditoutofitsring,andseatedhimselfasunconcernedlyasifhehadcomeinfromhisusualafternoonsessionatCarrickFry’s;andthelonghabitofthehouseholdmadeitseemalmostnaturalthatCharityshouldnotsomuchasraisehereyeswhenheentered.Shehadsimplylethimunderstandthathersilencewasnotaccidentalbyleavingthetablewhilehewasstilleating,andgoingupwithoutawordtoshutherselfintoherroom.AfterthatheformedthehabitoftalkingloudlyandgeniallytoVerenawheneverCharitywasintheroom;butotherwisetherewasnoapparentchangeintheirrelations.
ShedidnotthinkconnectedlyofthesethingswhileshesatwaitingforHarney,buttheyremainedinhermindasasullenbackgroundagainstwhichhershorthourswithhimflamedoutlikeforestfires.Nothingelsemattered,neitherthegoodnorthebad,orwhatmighthaveseemedsobeforesheknewhim.Hehadcaughtherupandcarriedherawayintoanewworld,fromwhich,atstatedhours,theghostofhercamebacktoperformcertaincustomaryacts,butallsothinlyandinsubstantiallythatshesometimeswonderedthatthepeopleshewentaboutamongcouldseeher....
