Літо
VI
“Youkinstay,”shemerelysaid;thensheturnedawayandstoopedoveradishinwhichshewasstirringsomething.
HarneyandCharitysatdownonabenchmadeofaboardrestingontwostarchboxes.Theyfacedadoorhangingonabrokenhinge,andthroughthecracktheysawtheeyesofthetow-headedboyandofapalelittlegirlwithascaracrosshercheek.Charitysmiled,andsignedtothechildrentocomein;butassoonastheysawtheywerediscoveredtheyslippedawayonbarefeet.Itoccurredtoherthattheywereafraidofrousingthesleepingman;andprobablythewomansharedtheirfear,forshemovedaboutasnoiselesslyandavoidedgoingnearthestove.
Theraincontinuedtobeatagainstthehouse,andinoneortwoplacesitsentastreamthroughthepatchedpanesandranintopoolsonthefloor.Everynowandthenthekittenmewedandstruggleddown,andtheoldwomanstoopedandcaughtit,holdingittightinherbonyhands;andonceortwicethemanonthebarrelhalfwoke,changedhispositionanddozedagain,hisheadfallingforwardonhishairybreast.Astheminutespassed,andtherainstillstreamedagainstthewindows,aloathingoftheplaceandthepeoplecameoverCharity.Thesightoftheweak-mindedoldwoman,ofthecowedchildren,andtheraggedmansleepingoffhisliquor,madethesettingofherownlifeseemavisionofpeaceandplenty.ShethoughtofthekitchenatMr.Royall’s,withitsscrubbedflooranddresserfullofchina,andthepeculiarsmellofyeastandcoffeeandsoft-soapthatshehadalwayshated,butthatnowseemedtheverysymbolofhouseholdorder.ShesawMr.
