Лето
XV
Foralongtimeshesatbentabovetheblankpage;butshefoundnothingtosaythatreallyexpressedwhatshewasfeeling....
Harneyhadwrittenthatshehadmadeiteasierforhim,andshewasgladitwasso;shedidnotwanttomakethingshard.Sheknewshehaditinherpowertodothat;sheheldhisfateinherhands.Allshehadtodowastotellhimthetruth;butthatwastheveryfactthatheldherback....HerfiveminutesfacetofacewithMr.Royallhadstrippedherofherlastillusion,andbroughtherbacktoNorthDormer’spointofview.Distinctlyandpitilesslythererosebeforeherthefateofthegirlwhowasmarried“tomakethingsright.”Shehadseentoomanyvillagelove-storiesendinthatway.PoorRoseColes’smiserablemarriagewasofthenumber;andwhatgoodhadcomeofitforherorforHalstonSkeff?Theyhadhatedeachotherfromthedaytheministermarriedthem;andwheneveroldMrs.Skeffhadafancytohumiliateherdaughter-in-lawshehadonlytosay:“Who’deverthinkthebaby’sonlytwo?Andforasevenmonths’child—ain’titawonderwhatasizeheis?”NorthDormerhadtreasuresofindulgenceforbrandsintheburning,butonlyderisionforthosewhosucceededingettingsnatchedfromit;andCharityhadalwaysunderstoodJuliaHawes’srefusaltobesnatched....
Only—wastherenoalternativebutJulia’s?Hersoulrecoiledfromthevisionofthewhite-facedwomanamongtheplushsofasandgiltframes.Intheestablishedorderofthingsassheknewthemshesawnoplaceforherindividualadventure....
