Літо
V
Shehadnotbeendispleased,atfirst,tohaveitknowntoNorthDormerandtheneighborhoodthatshewasdrivingMissHatchard’scousinaboutthecountryinthebuggyhehadhiredoflawyerRoyall.Shehadalwayskepttoherself,contemptuouslyalooffromvillagelove-making,withoutexactlyknowingwhetherherfiercepridewasduetothesenseofhertaintedorigin,orwhethershewasreservingherselfforamorebrilliantfate.Sometimessheenviedtheothergirlstheirsentimentalpreoccupations,theirlonghoursofinarticulatephilanderingwithoneofthefewyouthswhostilllingeredinthevillage;butwhenshepicturedherselfcurlingherhairorputtinganewribbononherhatforBenFryoroneoftheSollasboysthefeverdroppedandsherelapsedintoindifference.
Nowsheknewthemeaningofherdisdainsandreluctances.ShehadlearnedwhatshewasworthwhenLuciusHarney,lookingatherforthefirsttime,hadlostthethreadofhisspeech,andleanedreddeningontheedgeofherdesk.Butanotherkindofshynesshadbeenborninher:aterrorofexposingtovulgarperilsthesacredtreasureofherhappiness.Shewasnotsorrytohavetheneighborssuspectherof“goingwith”ayoungmanfromthecity;butshedidnotwantitknowntoallthecountrysidehowmanyhoursofthelongJunedaysshespentwithhim.WhatshemostfearedwasthattheinevitablecommentsshouldreachMr.Royall.
