下载辰思小说免费APP
Jeremy，whohadfromthefirsthatedMrs。LePage，forgothisshynessandbroughtoutfiercely：
“Ofcoursehe’scoming。Hamletalwaysgoeseverywherewithus。“
“Hamlet！“saidMr。LePageinhisdeepbassvoice。
“Whatastrangenameforadog！“saidMrs。LePageintonesofvaguedistrust。
AtlastitwassettledthatonememberoftheColepartyshouldridewiththeLePages，andMarywasselected。PoorMary！inevitablychosenwhensomethingunpleasantmustbedone。To-dayitwasespeciallyhardforher，becausesheentertainedsoimplacableahatredforthelovelyCharlotteandlooked，itmustbeconfessed，soplainandshabbybythesideofher。Indeed，toanyobserverwithaheartitmusthavebeentouchingtoseeMarydrivenawayinthatmagnificentblackcarriage，staringwithagonisedhostilityinfrontofherthroughherlargespectacles，compelledtobalanceherselfexactlybetweenthemagnificentsunshadeofMrs。LePageandthesmallerbutalsomagnificentsunshadeofthelovelyCharlotte。Mrs。
Cole，glancinginthatdirection，mayhavefeltwithapangthatshewouldneverbeabletomakeherchildrenhandsomeandgayasshewouldliketodo——butitwascertainlyapangofonlyamoment’sduration。
ShewouldnothaveexchangedherMaryforawagon-loadofCharlottes。
AndJeremy，bumpingalonginthejingle，alsofeltthecontrast。WhycouldnotMarywearherstrawhatstraight，andwhymustshehaveelasticunderherchin？Whydidshelooksocrossandsostupid？Whydidshebotherhimsowithherworries？Charlottewouldneverworryhim。Shewouldjustsitthere，lookingbeautiful，withhergoldenhair，andblueeyesandpinkcheeks。NextweekwastobeMissJones’sbirthday，andinpreparationforthishehadboughtforherinPolchesterasilverthimble。HewonderedwhetherhewouldnotgiveCharlottethisthimbleinsteadofMissJones。HecouldgiveMissJonessomeoldthinghewouldfindsomewhere，orhewouldgooutandpickforhersomeflowers。Shewouldbepleasedwithanything。HewonderedwhatCharlottewouldsaywhenhegaveherthethimble。Shewouldlikeit，ofcourse。Shewouldsmile。Shewouldopenhereyesandlookathim。Fortunatelyhehadthethimbleevennowinhispocket。Hehadboughtitwhenhewaswearingthissamesuit。Yes，hewouldgiveittoher。AshedecidedthishelookedatMissJonesguiltily，butshewasmakingsuchoddfacesasshesquintedtoescapefromthesunthathedidnotfeelashamed。
TheycametothatsteephilljustbeyondGarthwoods，andBob，ofcourse，refusedtomove。ThesuperbLePageaffairdashedpastthem，shoutedsomethingatthem，anddisappearedoverthebrowofthehill。ThelastthingtobeseenofthemwerethefiercedespairingeyesoftheimprisonedMary。AstrangesensationofreliefinstantlysettledupontheColes。Foramomenttheywerealone；theybeganslowlytowalkupthehill，draggingwiththemthereluctantBob。
Aboutthemwaspeace，absoluteandunstained。Thehardglitterofthedayshoneuponthewhiteroad，butbehindthemthewoodwasdarkandcool，agreencloudagainstthesky。Behindthesteephedgestheharvestersweremoving。Intheairalarkwassinging，andalongtheditchattheroadsideatinystreamtumbled。Andbeyondthesesoundstherewasavasttranquilsilence。
TheColesmovedupthehillveryslowly，onlyHamletracingaheadtofindspotsofshadowwherehemightliedownandpant。Theywould
