IV

           Hestoppedandliftedhishatwithashysmile.“Ibegyourpardon,”hesaid.“Ithoughttherewasnoonehere.”

           Charitystoodbeforehim,barringhisway.“Youcan’tcomein.Thelibraryain’topentothepublicWednesdays.”

           “Iknowit’snot;butmycousingavemeherkey.”

           “MissHatchard’sgotnorighttogiveherkeytootherfolks,anymore’nIhave.I’mthelibrarianandIknowtheby-laws.Thisismylibrary.”

           Theyoungmanlookedprofoundlysurprised.

           “Why,Iknowitis;I’msosorryifyoumindmycoming.”

           “Isupposeyoucametoseewhatmoreyoucouldsaytosetheragainstme?Butyouneedn’ttrouble:it’smylibrarytoday,butitwon’tbethistimetomorrow.I’monthewaynowtotakeherbackthekeyandtheregister.”

           YoungHarney’sfacegrewgrave,butwithoutbetrayingtheconsciousnessofguiltshehadlookedfor.

           “Idon’tunderstand,”hesaid.“Theremustbesomemistake.WhyshouldIsaythingsagainstyoutoMissHatchard—ortoanyone?”

           TheapparentevasivenessofthereplycausedCharity’sindignationtooverflow.“Idon’tknowwhyyoushould.IcouldunderstandOrmaFry’sdoingit,becauseshe’salwayswantedtogetmeoutofhereeversincethefirstday.Ican’tseewhy,whenshe’sgotherownhome,andherfathertoworkforher;norIdaTargatt,neither,whenshegotalegacyfromherstep-brotheron’ylastyear.Butanywayweallliveinthesameplace,andwhenit’saplacelikeNorthDormerit’senoughtomakepeoplehateeachotherjusttohavetowalkdownthesamestreeteveryday.