Літо
VI
Theyoungmanunderstoodandgottohisfeet.“Thankyou,”hesaid,holdingouthishand.Sheseemednottonoticethegesture,andturnedawayastheyopenedthedoor.
Therainwasstillcomingdown,buttheyhardlynoticedit:thepureairwaslikebalmintheirfaces.Thecloudswererisingandbreaking,andbetweentheiredgesthelightstreameddownfromremotebluehollows.Harneyuntiedthehorse,andtheydroveoffthroughthediminishingrain,whichwasalreadybeadedwithsunlight.
ForawhileCharitywassilent,andhercompaniondidnotspeak.Shelookedtimidlyathisprofile:itwasgraverthanusual,asthoughhetoowereoppressedbywhattheyhadseen.Thenshebrokeoutabruptly:“ThosepeoplebacktherearethekindoffolksIcomefrom.Theymaybemyrelations,forallIknow.”Shedidnotwanthimtothinkthatsheregrettedhavingtoldhimherstory.
“Poorcreatures,”herejoined.“Iwonderwhytheycamedowntothatfever-hole.”
Shelaughedironically.“Tobetterthemselves!It’sworseupontheMountain.BashHyattmarriedthedaughterofthefarmerthatusedtoownthebrownhouse.Thatwashimbythestove,Isuppose.”
Harneyseemedtofindnothingtosayandshewenton:“Isawyoutakeoutadollartogivetothatpoorwoman.Whydidyouputitback?”
Hereddened,andleanedforwardtoflickaswamp-flyfromthehorse’sneck.“Iwasn’tsure——”
“Wasitbecauseyouknewtheyweremyfolks,andthoughtI’dbeashamedtoseeyougivethemmoney?”
Heturnedtoherwitheyesfullofreproach
