Лето
II
Withhereartoherkeyholesheheardhimfeelhiswaydownthedarkstairs,andtowardthekitchen;andshelistenedforthecrashofthecupboardpanel,butinsteadsheheardhim,afteraninterval,unlockthedoorofthehouse,andhisheavystepscametoherthroughthesilenceashewalkeddownthepath.Shecrepttothewindowandsawhisbentfigurestridinguptheroadinthemoonlight.Thenabelatedsenseoffearcametoherwiththeconsciousnessofvictory,andsheslippedintobed,coldtothebone.
AdayortwolaterpoorEudoraSkeff,whofortwentyyearshadbeenthecustodianoftheHatchardlibrary,diedsuddenlyofpneumonia;andthedayafterthefuneralCharitywenttoseeMissHatchard,andaskedtobeappointedlibrarian.TherequestseemedtosurpriseMissHatchard:sheevidentlyquestionedthenewcandidate’squalifications.
“Why,Idon’tknow,mydear.Aren’tyourathertooyoung?”shehesitated.
“Iwanttoearnsomemoney,”Charitymerelyanswered.
“Doesn’tMr.Royallgiveyouallyourequire?NooneisrichinNorthDormer.”
“Iwanttoearnmoneyenoughtogetaway.”
“Togetaway?”MissHatchard’spuzzledwrinklesdeepened,andtherewasadistressfulpause.“YouwanttoleaveMr.Royall?”
“Yes:orIwantanotherwomaninthehousewithme,”saidCharityresolutely.
MissHatchardclaspedhernervoushandsaboutthearmsofherchair.Hereyesinvokedthefadedcountenancesonthewall,andafterafaintcoughofindecisionshebroughtout:“The...thehousework’stoohardforyou,Isuppose?”
Charity’sheartgrewcold.
