Лето

           Amongthemorereasonablehepassedforaharmlesscreature,asortoflinkbetweenthemountainandcivilizedfolk,whooccasionallycamedownanddidalittlewoodcuttingforafarmerwhenhandswereshort.Besides,sheknewtheMountainpeoplewouldneverhurther:Liffhimselfhadtoldhersooncewhenshewasalittlegirl,andhadmethimonedayattheedgeoflawyerRoyall’spasture.“Theywon’tanyof’emtouchyouupthere,f’everyouwastocomeup....ButIdon’ts’poseyouwill,”hehadaddedphilosophically,lookingathernewshoes,andattheredribbonthatMrs.Royallhadtiedinherhair.

           Charityhad,intruth,neverfeltanydesiretovisitherbirthplace.ShedidnotcaretohaveitknownthatshewasoftheMountain,andwasshyofbeingseenintalkwithLiffHyatt.Buttodayshewasnotsorrytohavehimappear.AgreatmanythingshadhappenedtohersincethedaywhenyoungLuciusHarneyhadenteredthedoorsoftheHatchardMemorial,butnone,perhaps,sounforeseenasthefactofhersuddenlyfindingitaconveniencetobeongoodtermswithLiffHyatt.Shecontinuedtolookupcuriouslyathisfreckledweather-beatenface,withfeverishhollowsbelowthecheekbonesandthepaleyelloweyesofaharmlessanimal.“Iwonderifhe’srelatedtome?”shethought,withashiverofdisdain.

           “Isthereanyfolkslivinginthebrownhousebytheswamp,upunderPorcupine?”shepresentlyaskedinanindifferenttone.

           LiffHyatt,forawhile,consideredherwithsurprise;thenhescratchedhisheadandshiftedhisweightfromonetatteredsoletotheother.