Пробный камень
II
Povertyandmisfortunehadoverhungherchildhoodandshehadnoneoftheprettydelusionsaboutlifethataresupposedtobethecrowninggraceofgirlhood.Thisverycompetence,whichgaveheratouchingreasonableness,madeGlennard’ssituationmoredifficultthanifhehadaspiredtoaprincessbredinthepurple.Betweenthemtheyaskedsolittle—theyknewsowellhowtomakethatlittledo—buttheyunderstoodalso,andsheespeciallydidnotforamomentlethimforget,thatwithoutthatlittlethefuturetheydreamedofwasimpossible.
ThesightofherphotographquickenedGlennard’sexasperation.Hewassickandashamedoftheparthewasplaying.Hehadlovedhernowfortwoyears,withthetranquiltendernessthatgathersdepthandvolumeasitnearsfulfilment;heknewthatshewouldwaitforhim—butthecertitudewasanaddedpang.Therearetimeswhentheconstancyofthewomanonecannotmarryisalmostastryingasthatofthewomanonedoesnotwantto.
Glennardturneduphisreading-lampandstirredthefire.Hehadalongeveningbeforehimandhewantedtocrowdoutthoughtwithaction.Hehadbroughtsomepapersfromhisofficeandhespreadthemoutonhistableandsquaredhimselftothetask....
Itmusthavebeenanhourlaterthathefoundhimselfautomaticallyfittingakeyintoalockeddrawer.Hehadnomorenotionthanasomnambulistofthementalprocessthathadleduptothisaction.
