Лето

VI

           Theyoungmanunderstoodandgottohisfeet.“Thankyou,”hesaid,holdingouthishand.Sheseemednottonoticethegesture,andturnedawayastheyopenedthedoor.

           Therainwasstillcomingdown,buttheyhardlynoticedit:thepureairwaslikebalmintheirfaces.Thecloudswererisingandbreaking,andbetweentheiredgesthelightstreameddownfromremotebluehollows.Harneyuntiedthehorse,andtheydroveoffthroughthediminishingrain,whichwasalreadybeadedwithsunlight.

           ForawhileCharitywassilent,andhercompaniondidnotspeak.Shelookedtimidlyathisprofile:itwasgraverthanusual,asthoughhetoowereoppressedbywhattheyhadseen.Thenshebrokeoutabruptly:“ThosepeoplebacktherearethekindoffolksIcomefrom.Theymaybemyrelations,forallIknow.”Shedidnotwanthimtothinkthatsheregrettedhavingtoldhimherstory.

           “Poorcreatures,”herejoined.“Iwonderwhytheycamedowntothatfever-hole.”

           Shelaughedironically.“Tobetterthemselves!It’sworseupontheMountain.BashHyattmarriedthedaughterofthefarmerthatusedtoownthebrownhouse.Thatwashimbythestove,Isuppose.”

           Harneyseemedtofindnothingtosayandshewenton:“Isawyoutakeoutadollartogivetothatpoorwoman.Whydidyouputitback?”

           Hereddened,andleanedforwardtoflickaswamp-flyfromthehorse’sneck.“Iwasn’tsure——”

           “Wasitbecauseyouknewtheyweremyfolks,andthoughtI’dbeashamedtoseeyougivethemmoney?”

           Heturnedtoherwitheyesfullofreproach

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