Лето

           Royalldiedsevenoreightyearslater;andbythattimeCharityhadtakenthemeasureofmostthingsabouther.SheknewthatMrs.Royallwassadandtimidandweak;sheknewthatlawyerRoyallwasharshandviolent,andstillweaker.SheknewthatshehadbeenchristenedCharity(inthewhitechurchattheotherendofthevillage)tocommemorateMr.Royall’sdisinterestednessin“bringingherdown,”andtokeepaliveinherabecomingsenseofherdependence;sheknewthatMr.Royallwasherguardian,butthathehadnotlegallyadoptedher,thougheverybodyspokeofherasCharityRoyall;andsheknewwhyhehadcomebacktoliveatNorthDormer,insteadofpractisingatNettleton,wherehehadbegunhislegalcareer.

           AfterMrs.Royall’sdeaththerewassometalkofsendinghertoaboarding-school.MissHatchardsuggestedit,andhadalongconferencewithMr.Royall,who,inpursuanceofherplan,departedonedayforStarkfieldtovisittheinstitutionsherecommended.Hecamebackthenextnightwithablackface;worse,Charityobserved,thanshehadeverseenhim;andbythattimeshehadhadsomeexperience.

           Whensheaskedhimhowsoonshewastostartheansweredshortly,“Youain’tgoing,”andshuthimselfupintheroomhecalledhisoffice;andthenextdaytheladywhokepttheschoolatStarkfieldwrotethat“underthecircumstances”shewasafraidshecouldnotmakeroomjustthenforanotherpupil.

           Charitywasdisappointed;butsheunderstood.Itwasn’tthetemptationsofStarkfieldthathadbeenMr.Royall’sundoing;itwasthethoughtoflosingher.