Літо
VII
Hewasabriskaffableman,eagertomakethemostofthefactthatalittlenucleusof“church-people”hadsurvivedinthesectarianwilderness,andresolvedtounderminetheinfluenceoftheginger-bread-colouredBaptistchapelattheotherendofthevillage;buthewaskeptbusybyparochialworkatHepburn,wheretherewerepaper-millsandsaloons,anditwasnotoftenthathecouldsparetimeforNorthDormer.
Charity,whowenttothewhitechurch(likeallthebestpeopleinNorthDormer),admiredMr.Miles,andhadeven,duringthememorabletriptoNettleton,imaginedherselfmarriedtoamanwhohadsuchastraightnoseandsuchabeautifulwayofspeaking,andwholivedinabrown-stonerectorycoveredwithVirginiacreeper.Ithadbeenashocktodiscoverthattheprivilegewasalreadyenjoyedbyaladywithcrimpedhairandalargebaby;butthearrivalofLuciusHarneyhadlongsincebanishedMr.MilesfromCharity’sdreams,andashewalkedupthepathatHarney’ssideshesawhimashereallywas:afatmiddle-agedmanwithabaldnessshowingunderhisclericalhat,andspectaclesonhisGreciannose.ShewonderedwhathadcalledhimtoNorthDormeronaweekday,andfeltalittlehurtthatHarneyshouldhavebroughthimtothelibrary.
ItpresentlyappearedthathispresencetherewasduetoMissHatchard.HehadbeenspendingafewdaysatSpringfield,tofillafriend’spulpit,andhadbeenconsultedbyMissHatchardastoyoungHarney’splanforventilatingthe“Memorial.
