Літо
VI
Thesignsofhislikingweremanifestenough;butitwashardtoguesshowmuchtheymeant,becausehismannerwassodifferentfromanythingNorthDormerhadevershownher.Hewasatoncesimplerandmoredeferentialthananyoneshehadknown;andsometimesitwasjustwhenhewassimplestthatshemostfeltthedistancebetweenthem.Educationandopportunityhaddividedthembyawidththatnoeffortofherscouldbridge,andevenwhenhisyouthandhisadmirationbroughthimnearest,somechanceword,someunconsciousallusion,seemedtothrustherbackacrossthegulf.
NeverhadityawnedsowideaswhenshefleduptoherroomcarryingwithhertheechoofMr.Royall’stale.HerfirstconfusedthoughtwastheprayerthatshemightneverseeyoungHarneyagain.Itwastoobittertopicturehimasthedetachedimpartiallistenertosuchastory.“Iwishhe’dgoaway:Iwishhe’dgotomorrow,andnevercomeback!”shemoanedtoherpillow;andfarintothenightshelaythere,inthedisordereddressshehadforgottentotakeoff,herwholesoulatossingmiseryonwhichherhopesanddreamsspunaboutlikedrowningstraws.
Ofallthistumultonlyavagueheart-sorenesswasleftwhensheopenedhereyesthenextmorning.Herfirstthoughtwasoftheweather,forHarneyhadaskedhertotakehimtothebrownhouseunderPorcupine,andthenaroundbyHamblin;andasthetripwasalongonetheyweretostartatnine.
