Літо
XIII
Royall,emerginginturn,ascendedthestepsofthestageandappearedbehindtheflower-wreatheddesk.HepassedclosetoCharity,andshenoticedthathisgravelysetfaceworethelookofmajestythatusedtoaweandfascinateherchildhood.Hisfrock-coathadbeencarefullybrushedandironed,andtheendsofhisnarrowblacktieweresonearlyeventhatthetyingmusthavecosthimaprotractedstruggle.HisappearancestruckherallthemorebecauseitwasthefirsttimeshehadlookedhimfullinthefacesincethenightatNettleton,andnothinginhisgraveandimpressivedemeanourrevealedatraceofthelamentablefigureonthewharf.
Hestoodamomentbehindthedesk,restinghisfinger-tipsagainstit,andbendingslightlytowardhisaudience;thenhestraightenedhimselfandbegan.
Atfirstshepaidnoheedtowhathewassaying:onlyfragmentsofsentences,sonorousquotations,allusionstoillustriousmen,includingtheobligatorytributetoHonoriusHatchard,driftedpastherinattentiveears.ShewastryingtodiscoverHarneyamongthenotablepeopleinthefrontrow;buthewasnowherenearMissHatchard,who,crownedbyapearl-greyhatthatmatchedhergloves,satjustbelowthedesk,supportedbyMrs.Milesandanimportant-lookingunknownlady.Charitywasnearoneendofthestage,andfromwhereshesattheotherendofthefirstrowofseatswascutoffbythescreenoffoliagemaskingtheharmonium.
