Лето
XIV
Ifyouhadn’t,youwouldn’thavegoneonlivingundermyroof.Seemstomethefactofyourdoingthatgivesmesomesortofaright;therighttotryandkeepyououtoftrouble.I’mnotaskingyoutoconsideranyother.”
Shelistenedinsilence,andthengaveaslightlaugh.“BetterwaittillI’mintrouble,”shesaid.Hepausedamoment,asifweighingherwords.“Isthatallyouranswer?”
“Yes,that’sall.”
“Well—I’llwait.”
Heturnedawayslowly,butashedidsothethingshehadbeenwaitingforhappened;thedooropenedagainandHarneyentered.
Hestoppedshortwithafaceofastonishment,andthen,quicklycontrollinghimself,wentuptoMr.Royallwithafranklook.
“Haveyoucometoseeme,sir?”hesaidcoolly,throwinghiscaponthetablewithanairofproprietorship.
Mr.Royallagainlookedslowlyabouttheroom;thenhiseyesturnedtotheyoungman.
“Isthisyourhouse?”heinquired.
Harneylaughed:“Well—asmuchasit’sanybody’s.Icomeheretosketchoccasionally.”
“AndtoreceiveMissRoyall’svisits?”
“Whenshedoesmethehonour——”
“Isthisthehomeyouproposetobringhertowhenyougetmarried?”
Therewasanimmenseandoppressivesilence.Charity,quiveringwithanger,startedforward,andthenstoodsilent,toohumbledforspeech.Harney’seyeshaddroppedundertheoldman’sgaze;butheraisedthempresently,andlookingsteadilyatMr.Royall,said:“MissRoyallisnotachild.
