XIV

           NORTHDORMER’Scelebrationnaturallyincludedthevillagesattachedtoitstownship,andthefestivitiesweretoradiateoverthewholegroup,fromDormerandthetwoCrestonstoHamblin,thelonelyhamletonthenorthslopeoftheMountainwherethefirstsnowalwaysfell.OnthethirddaytherewerespeechesandceremoniesatCrestonandCrestonRiver;onthefourththeprincipalperformersweretobedriveninbuck-boardstoDormerandHamblin.

           ItwasonthefourthdaythatCharityreturnedforthefirsttimetothelittlehouse.ShehadnotseenHarneyalonesincetheyhadpartedatthewood’sedgethenightbeforethecelebrationsbegan.Intheintervalshehadpassedthroughmanymoods,butforthemomenttheterrorwhichhadseizedherintheTownHallhadfadedtotheedgeofconsciousness.Shehadfaintedbecausethehallwasstiflinglyhot,andbecausethespeakershadgoneonandon....Severalotherpeoplehadbeenaffectedbytheheat,andhadhadtoleavebeforetheexerciseswereover.Therehadbeenthunderintheairalltheafternoon,andeveryonesaidafterwardthatsomethingoughttohavebeendonetoventilatethehall....

           Atthedancethatevening—whereshehadgonereluctantly,andonlybecauseshefearedtostayaway,shehadsprungbackintoinstantreassurance.AssoonassheenteredshehadseenHarneywaitingforher,andhehadcomeupwithkindgayeyes,andsweptheroffinawaltz.Herfeetwerefullofmusic,andthoughheronlytraininghadbeenwiththevillageyouthsshehadnodifficultyintuningherstepstohis.