Літо
XII
“Yougoose—notevenifthey’rehideous?”
Hepushedthehairfromherforehead,bendingherfaceback,ashiswaywas,andleaningoversothathisheadloomedblackbetweenhereyesandthepalenessofthesky,inwhichthewhitestarfloated...
Sidebysidetheyspedbackalongthedarkwood-roadtothevillage.Alatemoonwasrising,fullorbedandfiery,turningthemountainrangesfromfluidgraytoamassiveblackness,andmakingtheupperskysolightthatthestarslookedasfaintastheirownreflectionsinwater.Attheedgeofthewood,halfamilefromNorthDormer,Harneyjumpedfromhisbicycle,tookCharityinhisarmsforalastkiss,andthenwaitedwhileshewentonalone.
Theywerelaterthanusual,andinsteadoftakingthebicycletothelibrarysheproppeditagainstthebackofthewood-shedandenteredthekitchenoftheredhouse.Verenasattherealone;whenCharitycameinshelookedatherwithmildimpenetrableeyesandthentookaplateandaglassofmilkfromtheshelfandsetthemsilentlyonthetable.Charitynoddedherthanks,andsittingdown,fellhungrilyuponherpieceofpieandemptiedtheglass.Herfaceburnedwithherquickflightthroughthenight,andhereyesweredazzledbythetwinkleofthekitchenlamp.Shefeltlikeanight-birdsuddenlycaughtandcaged.
“Heain’tcomebacksincesupper,”Verenasaid.“He’sdowntotheHall.”
Charitytooknonotice.Hersoulwasstillwingingthroughtheforest.Shewashedherplateandtumbler,andthenfeltherwayupthedarkstairs.Whensheopenedherdoorawonderarrestedher.
