Літо
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Forawhilethereseemednoescapefromthetideoflatearrivals;butfinallyHarneysecuredthelasttwoplacesonthestandfromwhichthemoreprivilegedweretoseethefireworks.Theseatswereattheendofarow,oneabovetheother.Charityhadtakenoffherhattohaveanuninterruptedview;andwheneversheleanedbacktofollowthecurveofsomedishevelledrocketshecouldfeelHarney’skneesagainstherhead.
Afterawhilethescatteredfireworksceased.Alongerintervalofdarknessfollowed,andthenthewholenightbrokeintoflower.Fromeverypointofthehorizon,goldandsilverarchessprangupandcrossedeachother,sky-orchardsbrokeintoblossom,shedtheirflamingpetalsandhungtheirbrancheswithgoldenfruit;andallthewhiletheairwasfilledwithasoftsupernaturalhum,asthoughgreatbirdswerebuildingtheirnestsinthoseinvisibletree-tops.
Nowandthentherecamealull,andawaveofmoonlightswepttheLake.Inaflashitrevealedhundredsofboats,steel-darkagainstlustrousripples;thenitwithdrewasifwithafurlingofvasttranslucentwings.Charity’sheartthrobbedwithdelight.Itwasasifallthelatentbeautyofthingshadbeenunveiledtoher.Shecouldnotimaginethattheworldheldanythingmorewonderful;butnearhersheheardsomeonesay,“Youwaittillyouseethesetpiece,”andinstantlyherhopestookafreshflight.
