Лето
VIII
Ididn’tknowwhereyouwere:Iwasn’toutofthishouselastnight.”
Shemadenoanswerandhewenton:“IsitaliethatyouwereseencomingoutofMissHatchard’snighontomidnight?”
Shestraightenedherselfwithalaugh,allherrecklessinsolencerecovered.“Ididn’tlooktoseewhattimeitwas.”
“Youlostgirl...you...you....Oh,myGod,whydidyoutellme?”hebrokeout,droppingintohischair,hisheadboweddownlikeanoldman’s.
Charity’sself-possessionhadreturnedwiththesenseofherdanger.“DoyousupposeI’dtakethetroubletolietoYOU?Whoareyou,anyhow,toaskmewhereIgotowhenIgooutatnight?”
Mr.Royallliftedhisheadandlookedather.Hisfacehadgrownquietandalmostgentle,assherememberedseeingitsometimeswhenshewasalittlegirl,beforeMrs.Royalldied.
“Don’tlet’sgoonlikethis,Charity.Itcan’tdoanygoodtoeitherofus.Youwereseengoingintothatfellow’shouse...youwereseencomingoutofit....I’vewatchedthisthingcoming,andI’vetriedtostopit.AsGodseesme,Ihave....”
“Ah,itWASyou,then?Iknewitwasyouthatsenthimaway!”
Helookedatherinsurprise.“Didn’thetellyouso?Ithoughtheunderstood.”Hespokeslowly,withdifficultpauses,“Ididn’tnameyoutohim:I’dhavecutmyhandoffsooner.IjusttoldhimIcouldn’tsparethehorseanylonger;andthatthecookingwasgettingtooheavyforVerena.Iguesshe’sthekindthat’sheardthesamethingbefore.Anyhow,hetookitquietlyenough.
