Лето

V

           Charitywasinstinctivelyawarethatfewthingsconcerningherescapedtheeyesofthesilentmanunderwhoseroofshelived;andinspiteofthelatitudewhichNorthDormeraccordedtocourtingcouplesshehadalwaysfeltthat,onthedaywhensheshowedtooopenapreference,Mr.Royallmight,asshephrasedit,makeher“payforit.”How,shedidnotknow;andherfearwasthegreaterbecauseitwasundefinable.Ifshehadbeenacceptingtheattentionsofoneofthevillageyouthsshewouldhavebeenlessapprehensive:Mr.Royallcouldnotpreventhermarryingwhenshechoseto.Buteverybodyknewthat“goingwithacityfellow”wasadifferentandlessstraightforwardaffair:almosteveryvillagecouldshowavictimoftheperilousventure.AndherdreadofMr.Royall’sinterventiongaveasharpenedjoytothehoursshespentwithyoungHarney,andmadeher,atthesametime,shyofbeingtoogenerallyseenwithhim.

           Asheapproachedsherosetoherknees,stretchingherarmsaboveherheadwiththeindolentgesturethatwasherwayofexpressingaprofoundwell-being.

           “I’mgoingtotakeyoutothathouseupunderPorcupine,”sheannounced.

           “Whathouse?Oh,yes;thatramshackleplaceneartheswamp,withthegipsy-lookingpeoplehangingabout.It’scuriousthatahousewithtracesofrealarchitectureshouldhavebeenbuiltinsuchaplace.Butthepeoplewereasulky-lookinglot—doyousupposethey’llletusin?”

           “They’lldowhateverItellthem,”shesaidwithassurance.

           Hethrewhimselfdownbesideher.“Willthey?”herejoinedwithasmile.

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