VII

           SINCEherreinstatementinMissHatchard’sfavourCharityhadnotdaredtocurtailbyamomentherhoursofattendanceatthelibrary.Sheevenmadeapointofarrivingbeforethetime,andshowedalaudableindignationwhentheyoungestTargattgirl,whohadbeenengagedtohelpinthecleaningandrearrangingofthebooks,cametrailinginlateandneglectedhertasktopeerthroughthewindowattheSollasboy.Nevertheless,“librarydays”seemedmorethaneverirksometoCharityafterhervividhoursofliberty;andshewouldhavefoundithardtosetagoodexampletohersubordinateifLuciusHarneyhadnotbeencommissioned,beforeMissHatchard’sdeparture,toexaminewiththelocalcarpenterthebestmeansofventilatingthe“Memorial.”

           Hewascarefultoprosecutethisinquiryonthedayswhenthelibrarywasopentothepublic;andCharitywasthereforesureofspendingpartoftheafternooninhiscompany.TheTargattgirl’spresence,andtheriskofbeinginterruptedbysomepasser-bysuddenlysmittenwithathirstforletters,restrictedtheirintercoursetotheexchangeofcommonplaces;buttherewasafascinationtoCharityinthecontrastbetweenthesepubliccivilitiesandtheirsecretintimacy.

           Thedayaftertheirdrivetothebrownhousewas“libraryday,”andshesatatherdeskworkingattherevisedcatalogue,whiletheTargattgirl,oneeyeonthewindow,chantedoutthetitlesofapileofbooks.Charity’sthoughtswerefaraway,inthedismalhousebytheswamp,andunderthetwilightskyduringthelongdrivehome,whenLuciusHarneyhadconsoledherwithendearingwords.