Літо
VII
Thatday,forthefirsttimesincehehadbeenboardingwiththem,hehadfailedtoappearasusualatthemiddaymeal.Nomessagehadcometoexplainhisabsence,andMr.Royall,whowasmorethanusuallytaciturn,hadbetrayednosurprise,andmadenocomment.Initselfthisindifferencewasnotparticularlysignificant,forMr.Royall,incommonwithmostofhisfellow-citizens,hadawayofacceptingeventspassively,asifhehadlongsincecometotheconclusionthatnoonewholivedinNorthDormercouldhopetomodifythem.ButtoCharity,inthereactionfromhermoodofpassionateexaltation,therewassomethingdisquietinginhissilence.ItwasalmostasifLuciusHarneyhadneverhadapartintheirlives:Mr.Royall’simperturbableindifferenceseemedtorelegatehimtothedomainofunreality.
Asshesatatwork,shetriedtoshakeoffherdisappointmentatHarney’snon-appearing.Sometriflingincidenthadprobablykepthimfromjoiningthematmidday;butshewassurehemustbeeagertoseeheragain,andthathewouldnotwanttowaittilltheymetatsupper,betweenMr.RoyallandVerena.Shewaswonderingwhathisfirstwordswouldbe,andtryingtodeviseawayofgettingridoftheTargattgirlbeforehecame,whensheheardstepsoutside,andhewalkedupthepathwithMr.Miles.
TheclergymanfromHepburnseldomcametoNorthDormerexceptwhenhedroveovertoofficiateattheoldwhitechurchwhich,byanunusualchance,happenedtobelongtotheEpiscopalcommunion.
