Літо
XVII
Theeventsofthelasttwodaysseemedtohavedividedherforeverfromhershortdreamofbliss.EvenHarney’simagehadbeenblurredbythatcrushingexperience:shethoughtofhimassoremotefromherthatheseemedhardlymorethanamemory.Inherfaggedandfloatingmindonlyonesensationhadtheweightofreality;itwasthebodilyburdenofherchild.Butforitshewouldhavefeltasrootlessasthewhiffsofthistledownthewindblewpasther.Herchildwaslikealoadthatheldherdown,andyetlikeahandthatpulledhertoherfeet.Shesaidtoherselfthatshemustgetupandstruggleon....
HereyesturnedbacktothetrailacrossthetopoftheMountain,andinthedistanceshesawabuggyagainstthesky.Sheknewitsantiqueoutline,andthegauntbuildoftheoldhorsepressingforwardwithloweredhead;andafteramomentsherecognizedtheheavybulkofthemanwhoheldthereins.Thebuggywasfollowingthetrailandmakingstraightforthepine-woodthroughwhichshehadclimbed;andsheknewatoncethatthedriverwasinsearchofher.Herfirstimpulsewastocrouchdownundertheledgetillhehadpassed;buttheinstinctofconcealmentwasoverruledbythereliefoffeelingthatsomeonewasnearherintheawfulemptiness.Shestoodupandwalkedtowardthebuggy.
Mr.Royallsawher,andtouchedthehorsewiththewhip.AminuteortwolaterhewasabreastofCharity;theireyesmet,andwithoutspeakingheleanedoverandhelpedherupintothebuggy.
