Лето

           Isn’titratherabsurdtotalkofherasifshewere?Ibelievesheconsidersherselffreetocomeandgoasshepleases,withoutanyquestionsfromanyone.”Hepausedandadded:“I’mreadytoansweranyshewishestoaskme.”

           Mr.Royallturnedtoher.“Askhimwhenhe’sgoingtomarryyou,then——”Therewasanothersilence,andhelaughedinhisturn—abrokenlaugh,withascrapingsoundinit.“Youdarsn’t!”heshoutedoutwithsuddenpassion.HewentcloseuptoCharity,hisrightarmlifted,notinmenacebutintragicexhortation.

           “Youdarsn’t,andyouknowit—andyouknowwhy!”Heswungbackagainupontheyoungman.“Andyouknowwhyyouain’taskedhertomarryyou,andwhyyoudon’tmeanto.It’sbecauseyouhadn’tneedto;noranyothermaneither.I’mtheonlyonethatwasfoolenoughnottoknowthat;andIguessnobody’llrepeatmymistake—notinEagleCounty,anyhow.Theyallknowwhatsheis,andwhatshecamefrom.TheyallknowhermotherwasawomanofthetownfromNettleton,thatfollowedoneofthoseMountainfellowsuptohisplaceandlivedtherewithhimlikeaheathen.Isawhertheresixteenyearsago,whenIwenttobringthischilddown.Iwenttosaveherfromthekindoflifehermotherwasleading—butI’dbetterhaveleftherinthekennelshecamefrom....”Hepausedandstareddarklyatthetwoyoungpeople,andoutbeyondthem,atthemenacingMountainwithitsrimoffire;thenhesatdownbesidethetableonwhichtheyhadsooftenspreadtheirrusticsupper,andcoveredhisfacewithhishands.