Літо
XII
Iliketheideaofitsallbeinghomemade,don’tyou?Wehaven’thadtocallinanyforeigntalent:myyoungcousinLuciusHarney,thearchitect—youknowhe’supherepreparingabookonColonialhouses—he’stakenthewholethinginhandsocleverly;butyoumustcomeandseehissketchforthestagewe’regoingtoputupintheTownHall.”
OneofthefirstresultsoftheOldHomeWeekagitationhad,infact,beenthereappearanceofLuciusHarneyinthevillagestreet.Hehadbeenvaguelyspokenofasbeingnotfaroff,butforsomeweekspastnoonehadseenhimatNorthDormer,andtherewasarecentreportofhishavingleftCrestonRiver,wherehewassaidtohavebeenstaying,andgoneawayfromtheneighbourhoodforgood.SoonafterMissHatchard’sreturn,however,hecamebacktohisoldquartersinherhouse,andbegantotakealeadingpartintheplanningofthefestivities.Hethrewhimselfintotheideawithextraordinarygood-humour,andwassoprodigalofsketches,andsoinexhaustibleindevices,thathegaveanimmediateimpetustotheratherlanguidmovement,andinfectedthewholevillagewithhisenthusiasm.
“Luciushassuchafeelingforthepastthathehasrousedusalltoasenseofourprivileges,”MissHatchardwouldsay,lingeringonthelastword,whichwasafavouriteone.
