Літо
XIII
TheefforttoseeHarneyaroundthecornerofthescreen,orthroughitsinterstices,madeherunconsciousofeverythingelse;buttheeffortwasunsuccessful,andgraduallyshefoundherattentionarrestedbyherguardian’sdiscourse.
Shehadneverheardhimspeakinpublicbefore,butshewasfamiliarwiththerollingmusicofhisvoicewhenhereadaloud,orheldforthtotheselectmenaboutthestoveatCarrickFry’s.Todayhisinflectionswerericherandgraverthanshehadeverknownthem:hespokeslowly,withpausesthatseemedtoinvitehishearerstosilentparticipationinhisthought;andCharityperceivedalightofresponseintheirfaces.
Hewasnearingtheendofhisaddress...“Mostofyou,”hesaid,“mostofyouwhohavereturnedheretoday,totakecontactwiththislittleplaceforabriefhour,havecomeonlyonapiouspilgrimage,andwillgobackpresentlytobusycitiesandlivesfulloflargerduties.ButthatisnottheonlywayofcomingbacktoNorthDormer.Someofus,whowentoutfromhereinouryouth...wentout,likeyou,tobusycitiesandlargerduties...havecomebackinanotherway—comebackforgood.Iamoneofthose,asmanyofyouknow....”Hepaused,andtherewasasenseofsuspenseinthelisteninghall.“Myhistoryiswithoutinterest,butithasitslesson:notsomuchforthoseofyouwhohavealreadymadeyourlivesinotherplaces,asfortheyoungmenwhoareperhapsplanningevennowtoleavethesequiethillsandgodownintothestruggle.
