Літо
XVIII
Miles,standingthenightbeforeinthedesolatehouseoftheMountain,andreadingoutofthesamebookwordsthathadthesamedreadsoundoffinality:
“Irequireandchargeyouboth,asyewillansweratthedreadfuldayofjudgmentwhenthesecretsofallheartsshallbedisclosed,thatifeitherofyouknowanyimpedimentwherebyyemaynotbelawfullyjoinedtogether...”
CharityraisedhereyesandmetMr.Royall’s.Theywerestilllookingatherkindlyandsteadily.“Iwill!”sheheardhimsayamomentlater,afteranotherintervalofwordsthatshehadfailedtocatch.Shewassobusytryingtounderstandthegesturesthattheclergymanwassignallingtohertomakethatshenolongerheardwhatwasbeingsaid.Afteranotherintervaltheladyonthebenchstoodup,andtakingherhandputitinMr.Royall’s.Itlayenclosedinhisstrongpalmandshefeltaringthatwastoobigforherbeingslippedonherthinfinger.Sheunderstoodthenthatshewasmarried....
LatethatafternoonCharitysataloneinabedroomofthefashionablehotelwheresheandHarneyhadvainlysoughtatableontheFourthofJuly.Shehadneverbeforebeeninsohandsomelyfurnishedaroom.Themirrorabovethedressing-tablereflectedthehighhead-boardandflutedpillow-slipsofthedoublebed,andabedspreadsospotlesslywhitethatshehadhesitatedtolayherhatandjacketonit.Thehummingradiatordiffusedanatmosphereofdrowsywarmth,andthroughahalf-opendoorshesawtheglitterofthenickeltapsabovetwinmarblebasins.
