Літо
IX
Inmostofthevillagefriendshipsbetweenyouthsandmaidenslackofconversationwasmadeupforbytentativefondling;butHarney,exceptwhenhehadtriedtocomfortherinhertroubleontheirwaybackfromtheHyatts’,hadneverputhisarmabouther,orsoughttobetrayherintoanysuddencaress.Itseemedtobeenoughforhimtobreathehernearnesslikeaflower’s;andsincehispleasureatbeingwithher,andhissenseofheryouthandhergrace,perpetuallyshoneinhiseyesandsoftenedtheinflectionofhisvoice,hisreservedidnotsuggestcoldness,butthedeferenceduetoagirlofhisownclass.
Thebuggywasdrawnbyanoldtrotterwhowhirledthemalongsobrisklythatthepacecreatedalittlebreeze;butwhentheyreachedHepburnthefullheatoftheairlessmorningdescendedonthem.Attherailwaystationtheplatformwaspackedwithaswelteringthrong,andtheytookrefugeinthewaiting-room,wheretherewasanotherthrong,alreadydejectedbytheheatandthelongwaitingforretardedtrains.Palemotherswerestrugglingwithfretfulbabies,ortryingtokeeptheirolderoffspringfromthefascinationofthetrack;girlsandtheir“fellows”weregigglingandshoving,andpassingaboutcandyinstickybags,andoldermen,collarlessandperspiring,wereshiftingheavychildrenfromonearmtotheother,andkeepingahaggardeyeonthescatteredmembersoftheirfamilies.
Atlastthetrainrumbledin,andengulfedthewaitingmultitude.
