Лето

           Sheknewatlast:knewthatshewasthechildofadrunkenconvictandofamotherwhowasn’t“halfhuman,”andwasgladtohavehergo;andshehadheardthishistoryofheroriginrelatedtotheonebeinginwhoseeyesshelongedtoappearsuperiortothepeopleabouther!ShehadnoticedthatMr.Royallhadnotnamedher,hadevenavoidedanyallusionthatmightidentifyherwiththechildhehadbroughtdownfromtheMountain;andsheknewitwasoutofregardforherthathehadkeptsilent.Butofwhatusewashisdiscretion,sinceonlythatafternoon,misledbyHarney’sinterestintheout-lawcolony,shehadboastedtohimofcomingfromtheMountain?Noweverywordthathadbeenspokenshowedherhowsuchanoriginmustwidenthedistancebetweenthem.

           Duringhistendays’sojournatNorthDormerLuciusHarneyhadnotspokenawordoflovetoher.Hehadintervenedinherbehalfwithhiscousin,andhadconvincedMissHatchardofhermeritsasalibrarian;butthatwasasimpleactofjustice,sinceitwasbyhisownfaultthatthosemeritshadbeenquestioned.HehadaskedhertodrivehimaboutthecountrywhenhehiredlawyerRoyall’sbuggytogoonhissketchingexpeditions;butthattoowasnaturalenough,sincehewasunfamiliarwiththeregion.Lastly,whenhiscousinwascalledtoSpringfield,hehadbeggedMr.Royalltoreceivehimasaboarder;butwhereelseinNorthDormercouldhehaveboarded?NotwithCarrickFry,whosewifewasparalysed,andwhoselargefamilycrowdedhistabletoover-flowing;notwiththeTargatts,wholivedamileuptheroad,norwithpooroldMrs.