Літо
IX
’Shecameasnearasanythingtodying....”
“PoorJulia!”Charitysighedfromtheheightofherpurityandhersecurity.Shehadafriendwhomshetrustedandwhorespectedher.Shewasgoingwithhimtospendthenextday—theFourthofJuly—atNettleton.Whosebusinesswasitbuthers,andwhatwastheharm?ThepityofitwasthatgirlslikeJuliadidnotknowhowtochoose,andtokeepbadfellowsatadistance....Charityslippeddownfromthebed,andstretchedoutherhands.
“Isitsewed?Letmetryitonagain.”Sheputthehaton,andsmiledatherimage.ThethoughtofJuliahadvanished....
Thenextmorningshewasupbeforedawn,andsawtheyellowsunrisebroadenbehindthehills,andthesilverylusterprecedingahotdaytrembleacrossthesleepingfields.
Herplanshadbeenmadewithgreatcare.ShehadannouncedthatshewasgoingdowntotheBandofHopepicnicatHepburn,andasnooneelsefromNorthDormerintendedtoventuresofaritwasnotlikelythatherabsencefromthefestivitywouldbereported.Besides,ifitwereshewouldnotgreatlycare.Shewasdeterminedtoassertherindependence,andifshestoopedtofibabouttheHepburnpicnicitwaschieflyfromthesecretiveinstinctthatmadeherdreadtheprofanationofherhappiness.WhenevershewaswithLuciusHarneyshewouldhavelikedsomeimpenetrablemountainmisttohideher.
ItwasarrangedthatsheshouldwalktoapointoftheCrestonroadwhereHarneywastopickherupanddriveheracrossthehillstoHepburnintimeforthenine-thirtytraintoNettleton.Harneyatfirsthadbeenratherlukewarmaboutthetrip.
