Літо
IV
Butyoudon’tlivehere,andyoudon’tknowanythingaboutanyofus,sowhatdidyouhavetomeddlefor?Doyousupposetheothergirls’dhavekeptthebooksanybetter’nIdid?Why,OrmaFrydon’thardlyknowabookfromaflat-iron!AndwhatifIdon’talwayssitroundheredoingnothingtillitstrikesfiveupatthechurch?Whocaresifthelibrary’sopenorshut?Doyousupposeanybodyevercomeshereforbooks?Whatthey’dliketocomeforistomeetthefellowsthey’regoingwithifI’dlet’em.ButIwouldn’tletBillSollasfromoverthehillhangroundherewaitingfortheyoungestTargattgirl,becauseIknowhim...that’sall...evenifIdon’tknowaboutbooksallIoughtto....”
Shestoppedwithachokinginherthroat.Tremorsofragewererunningthroughher,andshesteadiedherselfagainsttheedgeofthedesklestheshouldseeherweakness.
Whathesawseemedtoaffecthimdeeply,forhegrewredunderhissunburn,andstammeredout:“But,MissRoyall,Iassureyou...Iassureyou....”
Hisdistressinflamedheranger,andsheregainedhervoicetoflingback:“IfIwasyouI’dhavethenervetosticktowhatIsaid!”
Thetauntseemedtorestorehispresenceofmind.“IhopeIshouldifIknew;butIdon’t.Apparentlysomethingdisagreeablehashappened,forwhichyouthinkI’mtoblame.ButIdon’tknowwhatitis,becauseI’vebeenuponEagleRidgeeversincetheearlymorning.
