Літо
XII
TheywouldnotfortheworldhavemissedtheirafternoonsatMissHatchard’s,and,whiletheycutoutandsewedanddrapedandpasted,theirtongueskeptupsuchanaccompanimenttothesewing-machinethatCharity’ssilencesheltereditselfunperceivedundertheirchatter.
Inspiritshewasstillalmostunconsciousofthepleasantstirabouther.Sinceherreturntotheredhouse,ontheeveningofthedaywhenHarneyhadovertakenheronherwaytotheMountain,shehadlivedatNorthDormerasifsheweresuspendedinthevoid.ShehadcomebacktherebecauseHarney,afterappearingtoagreetotheimpossibilityofherdoingso,hadendedbypersuadingherthatanyothercoursewouldbemadness.ShehadnothingfurthertofearfromMr.Royall.Ofthisshehaddeclaredherselfsure,thoughshehadfailedtoadd,inhisexoneration,thathehadtwiceofferedtomakeherhiswife.Herhatredofhimmadeitimpossible,atthemoment,forhertosayanythingthatmightpartlyexcusehiminHarney’seyes.
Harney,however,oncesatisfiedofhersecurity,hadfoundplentyofreasonsforurginghertoreturn.Thefirst,andthemostunanswerable,wasthatshehadnowhereelsetogo.Buttheoneonwhichhelaidthegreateststresswasthatflightwouldbeequivalenttoavowal.If—aswasalmostinevitable—rumoursofthescandaloussceneatNettletonshouldreachNorthDormer,howelsewouldherdisappearancebeinterpreted?Herguardianhadpubliclytakenawayhercharacter,andsheimmediatelyvanishedfromhishouse.Seekersaftermotivescouldhardlyfailtodrawanunkindconclusion.
