Лето

           “IguesswhileI’mdoingityou’dbetterstepoutandbuyyourselfwhateveryouneed.”Hesmiled,andaddedwithanembarrassedlaugh:“YouknowIalwayswantedyoutobeatalltheothergirls.”Hedrewsomethingfromhispocket,andpusheditacrossthetabletoher;andshesawthathehadgivenhertwotwenty-dollarbills.“Ifitain’tenoughthere’smorewherethatcomefrom—Iwantyoutobeat’emallhollow,”herepeated.

           Sheflushedandtriedtostammeroutherthanks,buthehadpushedbackhischairandwasleadingthewayoutofthedining-room.Inthehallhepausedaminutetosaythatifitsuitedhertheywouldtakethethreeo’clocktrainbacktoNorthDormer;thenhetookhishatandcoatfromtherackandwentout.

           AfewminuteslaterCharitywentout,too.Shehadwatchedtoseeinwhatdirectionhewasgoing,andshetooktheoppositewayandwalkedquicklydownthemainstreettothebrickbuildingonthecornerofLakeAvenue.Thereshepausedtolookcautiouslyupanddownthethoroughfare,andthenclimbedthebrass-boundstairstoDr.Merkle’sdoor.Thesamebushy-headedmulattogirladmittedher,andafterthesameintervalofwaitingintheredplushparlorshewasoncemoresummonedtoDr.Merkle’soffice.Thedoctorreceivedherwithoutsurprise,andledherintotheinnerplushsanctuary.

           “Ithoughtyou’dbeback,butyou’vecomeamitetoosoon:Itoldyoutobepatientandnotfret,”sheobserved,afterapauseofpenetratingscrutiny.

           Charitydrewthemoneyfromherbreast.“I’vecometogetmybluebrooch,”shesaid,flushing.