第6章

Itseemedasiftheplaceshehadbeenin，andthepeoplehehadbeenwith，mustceasetoexistwhenheleftthem，justasherownlifewassuspendedinhisabsence。

Hecontinued，now，totalktohervolublyandgaily，deploringhislateness，grumblingatthedemandsonhistime，andgood—humouredlymimickingMissHatchard’sbenevolentagitation。"ShehurriedoffMilestoaskMr。RoyalltospeakattheTownHalltomorrow：Ididn’tknowtillitwasdone。"Charitywassilent，andheadded："Afterall，perhapsit’sjustaswell。Nooneelsecouldhavedoneit。"

Charitymadenoanswer：Shedidnotcarewhatpartherguardianplayedinthemorrow’sceremonies。Likealltheotherfigurespeoplinghermeagreworldhehadgrownnon—existenttoher。Shehadevenputoffhatinghim。

"TomorrowIshallonlyseeyoufromfaroff，"Harneycontinued。"Butintheeveningthere’llbethedanceintheTownHall。Doyouwantmetopromisenottodancewithanyothergirl？"

Anyothergirl？Werethereanyothers？Shehadforgotteneventhatperil，soencloseddidheandsheseemintheirsecretworld。Herheartgaveafrightenedjerk。

"Yes，promise。"

Helaughedandtookherinhisarms。"Yougoose——notevenifthey’rehideous？"

Hepushedthehairfromherforehead，bendingherfaceback，ashiswaywas，andleaningoversothathisheadloomedblackbetweenhereyesandthepalenessofthesky，inwhichthewhitestarfloated……

Sidebysidetheyspedbackalongthedarkwood—roadtothevillage。Alatemoonwasrising，fullorbedandfiery，turningthemountainrangesfromfluidgraytoamassiveblackness，andmakingtheupperskysolightthatthestarslookedasfaintastheirownreflectionsinwater。Attheedgeofthewood，halfamilefromNorthDormer，Harneyjumpedfromhisbicycle，tookCharityinhisarmsforalastkiss，andthenwaitedwhileshewentonalone。

Theywerelaterthanusual，andinsteadoftakingthebicycletothelibrarysheproppeditagainstthebackofthewood—shedandenteredthekitchenoftheredhouse。Verenasattherealone;whenCharitycameinshelookedatherwithmildimpenetrableeyesandthentookaplateandaglassofmilkfromtheshelfandsetthemsilentlyonthetable。Charitynoddedherthanks，andsittingdown，fellhungrilyuponherpieceofpieandemptiedtheglass。Herfaceburnedwithherquickflightthroughthenight，andhereyesweredazzledbythetwinkleofthekitchenlamp。Shefeltlikeanight—birdsuddenlycaughtandcaged。

"Heain’tcomebacksincesupper，"Verenasaid。"He’sdowntotheHall。"

Charitytooknonotice。Hersoulwasstillwingingthroughtheforest。Shewashedherplateandtumbler，andthenfeltherwayupthedarkstairs。Whensheopenedherdoorawonderarrestedher。Beforegoingoutshehadclosedhershuttersagainsttheafternoonheat，buttheyhadswungpartlyopen，andabarofmoonlight，crossingtheroom，restedonherbedandshowedadressofChinasilklaidoutonitinvirginwhiteness。Charityhadspentmorethanshecouldaffordonthedress，whichwastosurpassthoseofalltheothergirls;shehadwantedtoletNorthDormerseethatshewasworthyofHarney’sadmiration。Abovethedress，foldedonthepillow，wasthewhiteveilwhichtheyoungwomenwhotookpartintheexercisesweretowearunderawreathofasters;andbesidetheveilapairofslimwhitesatinshoesthatAllyhadproducedfromanoldtrunkinwhichshestoredmysterioustreasures。

Charitystoodgazingatalltheoutspreadwhiteness。ItrecalledavisionthathadcometoherinthenightafterherfirstmeetingwithHarney。Shenolongerhadsuchvisions……warmersplendourshaddisplacedthem……butitwasstupidofAllytohaveparadedallthosewhitethingsonherbed，exactlyasHattieTargatt’sweddingdressfromSpringfieldhadbeenspreadoutfortheneighbourstoseewhenshemarriedTomFry……

Charitytookupthesatinshoesandlookedatthemcuriously。Byday，nodoubt，theywouldappearalittleworn，butinthemoonlighttheyseemedcarvedofivory。Shesatdownonthefloortotrythemon，andtheyfittedherperfectly，thoughwhenshestoodupshelurchedalittleonthehighheels。Shelookeddownatherfeet，whichthegracefulmouldoftheslippershadmarvellouslyarchedandnarrowed。Shehadneverseensuchshoesbefore，evenintheshop—windowsatNettleton……never，except……yes，once，shehadnoticedapairofthesameshapeonAnnabelBalch。

Ablushofmortificationsweptoverher。AllysometimessewedforMissBalchwhenthatbrilliantbeingdescendedonNorthDormer，andnodoubtshepickeduppresentsofcast—offclothing：thetreasuresinthemysterioustrunkallcamefromthepeoplesheworkedfor;therecouldbenodoubtthatthewhiteslipperswereAnnabelBalch’s……

Asshestoodthere，staringdownmoodilyatherfeet，sheheardthetripleclick—click—clickofabicycle—

bellunderherwindow。ItwasHarney’ssecretsignalashepassedonhiswayhome。Shestumbledtothewindowonherhighheels，flungopentheshuttersandleanedout。Hewavedtoherandspedby，hisblackshadowdancingmerrilyaheadofhimdowntheemptymoonlitroad;andsheleanedtherewatchinghimtillhevanishedundertheHatchardspruces。

XIII

THETownHallwascrowdedandexceedinglyhot。AsCharitymarchedintoitthirdinthewhitemuslinfileheadedbyOrmaFry，shewasconsciousmainlyofthebrillianteffectofthewreathedcolumnsframingthegreen—carpetedstagetowardwhichshewasmoving;andoftheunfamiliarfacesturningfromthefrontrowstowatchtheadvanceoftheprocession。

Butitwasallabewilderingblurofeyesandcolourstillshefoundherselfstandingatthebackofthestage，hergreatbunchofastersandgoldenrodheldwellinfrontofher，andansweringthenervousglanceofLambertSollas，theorganistfromMr。Miles’schurch，whohadcomeupfromNettletontoplaytheharmoniumandsatbehindit，hisconductor’seyerunningovertheflutteredgirls。

AmomentlaterMr。Miles，pinkandtwinkling，emergedfromthebackground，asifbuoyeduponhisbroadwhitegown，andbrisklydominatedthebowedheadsinthefrontrows。Heprayedenergeticallyandbrieflyandthenretired，andafiercenodfromLambertSollaswarnedthegirlsthattheyweretofollowatoncewith"Home，SweetHome。"ItwasajoytoCharitytosing：itseemedasthough，forthefirsttime，hersecretrapturemightburstfromherandflashitsdefianceattheworld。Alltheglowinherblood，thebreathofthesummerearth，therustleoftheforest，thefreshcallofbirdsatsunrise，andthebroodingmiddaylanguors，seemedtopassintoheruntrainedvoice，liftedandledbythesustainingchorus。

Andthensuddenlythesongwasover，andafteranuncertainpause，duringwhichMissHatchard’spearl—

greyglovesstartedafurtivesignallingdownthehall，Mr。Royall，emerginginturn，ascendedthestepsofthestageandappearedbehindtheflower—wreatheddesk。HepassedclosetoCharity，andshenoticedthathisgravelysetfaceworethelookofmajestythatusedtoaweandfascinateherchildhood。Hisfrock—coathadbeencarefullybrushedandironed，andtheendsofhisnarrowblacktieweresonearlyeventhatthetyingmusthavecosthimaprotractedstruggle。HisappearancestruckherallthemorebecauseitwasthefirsttimeshehadlookedhimfullinthefacesincethenightatNettleton，andnothinginhisgraveandimpressivedemeanourrevealedatraceofthelamentablefigureonthewharf。

Hestoodamomentbehindthedesk，restinghisfinger—

tipsagainstit，andbendingslightlytowardhisaudience;thenhestraightenedhimselfandbegan。

Atfirstshepaidnoheedtowhathewassaying：onlyfragmentsofsentences，sonorousquotations，allusionstoillustriousmen，includingtheobligatorytributetoHonoriusHatchard，driftedpastherinattentiveears。

ShewastryingtodiscoverHarneyamongthenotablepeopleinthefrontrow;buthewasnowherenearMissHatchard，who，crownedbyapearl—greyhatthatmatchedhergloves，satjustbelowthedesk，supportedbyMrs。

Milesandanimportant—lookingunknownlady。Charitywasnearoneendofthestage，andfromwhereshesattheotherendofthefirstrowofseatswascutoffbythescreenoffoliagemaskingtheharmonium。TheefforttoseeHarneyaroundthecornerofthescreen，orthroughitsinterstices，madeherunconsciousofeverythingelse;buttheeffortwasunsuccessful，andgraduallyshefoundherattentionarrestedbyherguardian’sdiscourse。

Shehadneverheardhimspeakinpublicbefore，butshewasfamiliarwiththerollingmusicofhisvoicewhenhereadaloud，orheldforthtotheselectmenaboutthestoveatCarrickFry’s。Todayhisinflectionswerericherandgraverthanshehadeverknownthem：hespokeslowly，withpausesthatseemedtoinvitehishearerstosilentparticipationinhisthought;andCharityperceivedalightofresponseintheirfaces。

Hewasnearingtheendofhisaddress……"Mostofyou，"

hesaid，"mostofyouwhohavereturnedheretoday，totakecontactwiththislittleplaceforabriefhour，havecomeonlyonapiouspilgrimage，andwillgobackpresentlytobusycitiesandlivesfulloflargerduties。ButthatisnottheonlywayofcomingbacktoNorthDormer。Someofus，whowentoutfromhereinouryouth……wentout，likeyou，tobusycitiesandlargerduties……havecomebackinanotherway——comebackforgood。Iamoneofthose，asmanyofyouknow……"Hepaused，andtherewasasenseofsuspenseinthelisteninghall。"Myhistoryiswithoutinterest，butithasitslesson：notsomuchforthoseofyouwhohavealreadymadeyourlivesinotherplaces，asfortheyoungmenwhoareperhapsplanningevennowtoleavethesequiethillsandgodownintothestruggle。Thingstheycannotforeseemaysendsomeofthoseyoungmenbacksomedaytothelittletownshipandtheoldhomestead：theymaycomebackforgood……"Helookedabouthim，andrepeatedgravely："ForGOOD。There’sthepointIwanttomake……NorthDormerisapoorlittleplace，almostlostinamightylandscape：perhaps，bythistime，itmighthavebeenabiggerplace，andmoreinscalewiththelandscape，ifthosewhohadtocomebackhadcomewiththatfeelingintheirminds——thattheywantedtocomebackforGOOD……andnotforbad……orjustforindifference……

"Gentlemen，letuslookatthingsastheyare。Someofushavecomebacktoournativetownbecausewe’dfailedtogetonelsewhere。Onewayorother，thingshadgonewrongwithus……whatwe’ddreamedofhadn’tcometrue。Butthefactthatwehadfailedelsewhereisnoreasonwhyweshouldfailhere。Ourveryexperimentsinlargerplaces，eveniftheywereunsuccessful，oughttohavehelpedustomakeNorthDormeralargerplace……andyouyoungmenwhoarepreparingevennowtofollowthecallofambition，andturnyourbackontheoldhomes——well，letmesaythistoyou，thatifeveryoudocomebacktothemit’sworthwhiletocomebacktothemfortheirgood……Andtodothat，youmustkeeponlovingthemwhileyou’reawayfromthem;andevenifyoucomebackagainstyourwill——andthinkingit’sallabittermistakeofFateorProvidence——youmusttrytomakethebestofit，andtomakethebestofyouroldtown;andafterawhile——

well，ladiesandgentlemen，Igiveyoumyrecipeforwhatit’sworth;afterawhile，Ibelieveyou’llbeabletosay，asIcansaytoday：’I’mgladI’mhere。’

Believeme，allofyou，thebestwaytohelptheplacesweliveinistobegladwelivethere。"

Hestopped，andamurmurofemotionandsurpriseranthroughtheaudience。Itwasnotintheleastwhattheyhadexpected，butitmovedthemmorethanwhattheyhadexpectedwouldhavemovedthem。"Hear，hear！"

avoicecriedoutinthemiddleofthehall。Anoutburstofcheerscaughtupthecry，andastheysubsidedCharityheardMr。Milessayingtosomeonenearhim："ThatwasaMANtalking————"Hewipedhisspectacles。

Mr。Royallhadsteppedbackfromthedesk，andtakenhisseatintherowofchairsinfrontoftheharmonium。Adapperwhite—hairedgentleman——adistantHatchard——succeededhimbehindthegoldenrod，andbegantosaybeautifulthingsabouttheoldoakenbucket，patientwhite—hairedmothers，andwheretheboysusedtogonutting……andCharitybeganagaintosearchforHarney……

SuddenlyMr。Royallpushedbackhisseat，andoneofthemaplebranchesinfrontoftheharmoniumcollapsedwithacrash。ItuncoveredtheendofthefirstrowandinoneoftheseatsCharitysawHarney，andinthenextaladywhosefacewasturnedtowardhim，andalmosthiddenbythebrimofherdroopinghat。Charitydidnotneedtoseetheface。Sheknewataglancetheslimfigure，thefairhairheapedupunderthehat—

brim，thelongpalewrinkledgloveswithbraceletsslippingoverthem。AtthefallofthebranchMissBalchturnedherheadtowardthestage，andinherprettythin—lippedsmiletherelingeredthereflectionofsomethingherneighbourhadbeenwhisperingtoher……

Someonecameforwardtoreplacethefallenbranch，andMissBalchandHarneywereoncemorehidden。ButtoCharitythevisionoftheirtwofaceshadblottedouteverything。Inaflashtheyhadshownherthebarerealityofhersituation。Behindthefrailscreenofherlover’scaresseswasthewholeinscrutablemysteryofhislife：hisrelationswithotherpeople——withotherwomen——hisopinions，hisprejudices，hisprinciples，thenetofinfluencesandinterestsandambitionsinwhicheveryman’slifeisentangled。Ofallthesesheknewnothing，exceptwhathehadtoldherofhisarchitecturalaspirations。Shehadalwaysdimlyguessedhimtobeintouchwithimportantpeople，involvedincomplicatedrelations——butshefeltitalltobesofarbeyondherunderstandingthatthewholesubjecthunglikealuminousmistonthefarthestvergeofherthoughts。Intheforeground，hidingallelse，therewastheglowofhispresence，thelightandshadowofhisface，thewayhisshort—sightedeyes，atherapproach，widenedanddeepenedasiftodrawherdownintothem;and，aboveall，theflushofyouthandtendernessinwhichhiswordsenclosedher。

Nowshesawhimdetachedfromher，drawnbackintotheunknown，andwhisperingtoanothergirlthingsthatprovokedthesamesmileofmischievouscomplicityhehadsooftencalledtoherownlips。Thefeelingpossessingherwasnotoneofjealousy：shewastoosureofhislove。Itwasratheraterroroftheunknown，ofallthemysteriousattractionsthatmustevennowbedragginghimawayfromher，andofherownpowerlessnesstocontendwiththem。

Shehadgivenhimallshehad——butwhatwasitcomparedtotheothergiftslifeheldforhim？Sheunderstoodnowthecaseofgirlslikeherselftowhomthiskindofthinghappened。Theygavealltheyhad，buttheirallwasnotenough：itcouldnotbuymorethanafewmoments……

Theheathadgrownsuffocating——shefeltitdescendonherinsmotheringwaves，andthefacesinthecrowdedhallbegantodancelikethepicturesflashedonthescreenatNettleton。ForaninstantMr。Royall’scountenancedetacheditselffromthegeneralblur。Hehadresumedhisplaceinfrontoftheharmonium，andsatclosetoher，hiseyesonherface;andhislookseemedtopiercetotheverycentreofherconfusedsensations……Afeelingofphysicalsicknessrushedoverher——andthendeadlyapprehension。Thelightofthefieryhoursinthelittlehousesweptbackonherinaglareoffear……

Sheforcedherselftolookawayfromherguardian，andbecameawarethattheoratoryoftheHatchardcousinhadceased，andthatMr。Mileswasagainflappinghiswings。Fragmentsofhisperorationfloatedthroughherbewilderedbrain……"Arichharvestofhallowedmemories……Asanctifiedhourtowhich，inmomentsoftrial，yourthoughtswillprayerfullyreturn……Andnow，OLord，letushumblyandferventlygivethanksforthisblesseddayofreunion，hereintheoldhometowhichwehavecomebackfromsofar。

Preserveittous，OLord，intimestocome，inallitshomelysweetness——inthekindlinessandwisdomofitsoldpeople，inthecourageandindustryofitsyoungmen，inthepietyandpurityofthisgroupofinnocentgirls————"Heflappedawhitewingintheirdirection，andatthesamemomentLambertSollas，withhisfiercenod，strucktheopeningbarsof"AuldLangSyne。"……Charitystaredstraightaheadofherandthen，droppingherflowers，fellfacedownwardatMr。

Royall’sfeet。

XIV

NORTHDORMER’Scelebrationnaturallyincludedthevillagesattachedtoitstownship，andthefestivitiesweretoradiateoverthewholegroup，fromDormerandthetwoCrestonstoHamblin，thelonelyhamletonthenorthslopeoftheMountainwherethefirstsnowalwaysfell。OnthethirddaytherewerespeechesandceremoniesatCrestonandCrestonRiver;onthefourththeprincipalperformersweretobedriveninbuck—

boardstoDormerandHamblin。

ItwasonthefourthdaythatCharityreturnedforthefirsttimetothelittlehouse。ShehadnotseenHarneyalonesincetheyhadpartedatthewood’sedgethenightbeforethecelebrationsbegan。Intheintervalshehadpassedthroughmanymoods，butforthemomenttheterrorwhichhadseizedherintheTownHallhadfadedtotheedgeofconsciousness。Shehadfaintedbecausethehallwasstiflinglyhot，andbecausethespeakershadgoneonandon……Severalotherpeoplehadbeenaffectedbytheheat，andhadhadtoleavebeforetheexerciseswereover。Therehadbeenthunderintheairalltheafternoon，andeveryonesaidafterwardthatsomethingoughttohavebeendonetoventilatethehall……

Atthedancethatevening——whereshehadgonereluctantly，andonlybecauseshefearedtostayaway，shehadsprungbackintoinstantreassurance。AssoonassheenteredshehadseenHarneywaitingforher，andhehadcomeupwithkindgayeyes，andsweptheroffinawaltz。Herfeetwerefullofmusic，andthoughheronlytraininghadbeenwiththevillageyouthsshehadnodifficultyintuningherstepstohis。Astheycircledaboutthefloorallhervainfearsdroppedfromher，andsheevenforgotthatshewasprobablydancinginAnnabelBalch’sslippers。

WhenthewaltzwasoverHarney，withalasthand—clasp，lefthertomeetMissHatchardandMissBalch，whowerejustentering。CharityhadamomentofanguishasMissBalchappeared;butitdidnotlast。Thetriumphantfactofherowngreaterbeauty，andofHarney’ssenseofit，sweptherapprehensionsaside。MissBalch，inanunbecomingdress，lookedsallowandpinched，andCharityfanciedtherewasaworriedexpressioninherpale—lashedeyes。ShetookaseatnearMissHatchardanditwaspresentlyapparentthatshedidnotmeantodance。Charitydidnotdanceofteneither。

HarneyexplainedtoherthatMissHatchardhadbeggedhimtogiveeachoftheothergirlsaturn;buthewentthroughtheformofaskingCharity’spermissioneachtimeheledoneout，andthatgaveherasenseofsecrettriumphevencompleterthanwhenshewaswhirlingabouttheroomwithhim。

Shewasthinkingofallthisasshewaitedforhiminthedesertedhouse。Thelateafternoonwassultry，andshehadtossedasideherhatandstretchedherselfatfulllengthontheMexicanblanketbecauseitwascoolerindoorsthanunderthetrees。Shelaywithherarmsfoldedbeneathherhead，gazingoutattheshaggyshoulderoftheMountain。Theskybehinditwasfullofthesplinteredgloriesofthedescendingsun，andbeforelongsheexpectedtohearHarney’sbicycle—bellinthelane。HehadbicycledtoHamblin，insteadofdrivingtherewithhiscousinandherfriends，sothathemightbeabletomakehisescapeearlierandstoponthewaybackatthedesertedhouse，whichwasontheroadtoHamblin。Theyhadsmiledtogetheratthejokeofhearingthecrowdedbuck—boardsrollbyonthereturn，whiletheylaycloseintheirhidingabovetheroad。Suchchildishtriumphsstillgaveherasenseofrecklesssecurity。

NeverthelessshehadnotwhollyforgottenthevisionoffearthathadopenedbeforeherintheTownHall。ThesenseoflastingnesswasgonefromherandeverymomentwithHarneywouldnowberingedwithdoubt。

TheMountainwasturningpurpleagainstafierysunsetfromwhichitseemedtobedividedbyaknife—edgeofquiveringlight;andabovethiswallofflamethewholeskywasapurepalegreen，likesomecoldmountainlakeinshadow。Charitylaygazingupatit，andwatchingforthefirstwhitestar……

Hereyeswerestillfixedontheupperreachesoftheskywhenshebecameawarethatashadowhadflittedacrosstheglory—floodedroom：itmusthavebeenHarneypassingthewindowagainstthesunset……Shehalfraisedherself，andthendroppedbackonherfoldedarms。Thecombshadslippedfromherhair，andittrailedinaroughdarkropeacrossherbreast。Shelayquitestill，asleepysmileonherlips，herindolentlidshalfshut。Therewasafumblingatthepadlockandshecalledout："Haveyouslippedthechain？"Thedooropened，andMr。Royallwalkedintotheroom。

Shestartedup，sittingbackagainstthecushions，andtheylookedateachotherwithoutspeaking。ThenMr。

Royallclosedthedoor—latchandadvancedafewsteps。

Charityjumpedtoherfeet。"Whathaveyoucomefor？"

shestammered。

Thelastglareofthesunsetwasonherguardian’sface，whichlookedash—colouredintheyellowradiance。

"BecauseIknewyouwerehere，"heansweredsimply。

Shehadbecomeconsciousofthehairhanginglooseacrossherbreast，anditseemedasthoughshecouldnotspeaktohimtillshehadsetherselfinorder。Shegropedforhercomb，andtriedtofastenupthecoil。

Mr。Royallsilentlywatchedher。

"Charity，"hesaid，"he’llbehereinaminute。Letmetalktoyoufirst。"

"You’vegotnorighttotalktome。IcandowhatI

please。"

"Yes。Whatisityoumeantodo？"

"Ineedn’tanswerthat，oranythingelse。"

Hehadglancedaway，andstoodlookingcuriouslyabouttheilluminatedroom。Purpleastersandredmaple—

leavesfilledthejaronthetable;onashelfagainstthewallstoodalamp，thekettle，alittlepileofcupsandsaucers。Thecanvaschairsweregroupedaboutthetable。

"Sothisiswhereyoumeet，"hesaid。

Histonewasquietandcontrolled，andthefactdisconcertedher。Shehadbeenreadytogivehimviolenceforviolence，butthiscalmacceptanceofthingsastheywereleftherwithoutaweapon。

"Seehere，Charity——you’realwaystellingmeI’vegotnorightsoveryou。Theremightbetwowaysoflookingatthat——butIain’tgoingtoargueit。AllIknowisIraisedyouasgoodasIcould，andmeantfairlybyyoualwaysexceptonce，forabadhalf—hour。There’snojusticeinweighingthathalf—houragainsttherest，andyouknowit。Ifyouhadn’t，youwouldn’thavegoneonlivingundermyroof。Seemstomethefactofyourdoingthatgivesmesomesortofaright;therighttotryandkeepyououtoftrouble。I’mnotaskingyoutoconsideranyother。"

Shelistenedinsilence，andthengaveaslightlaugh。"BetterwaittillI’mintrouble，"shesaid。Hepausedamoment，asifweighingherwords。

"Isthatallyouranswer？"

"Yes，that’sall。"

"Well——I’llwait。"

Heturnedawayslowly，butashedidsothethingshehadbeenwaitingforhappened;thedooropenedagainandHarneyentered。

Hestoppedshortwithafaceofastonishment，andthen，quicklycontrollinghimself，wentuptoMr。Royallwithafranklook。

"Haveyoucometoseeme，sir？"hesaidcoolly，throwinghiscaponthetablewithanairofproprietorship。

Mr。Royallagainlookedslowlyabouttheroom;thenhiseyesturnedtotheyoungman。

"Isthisyourhouse？"heinquired。

Harneylaughed："Well——asmuchasit’sanybody’s。I

comeheretosketchoccasionally。"

"AndtoreceiveMissRoyall’svisits？"

"Whenshedoesmethehonour————"

"Isthisthehomeyouproposetobringhertowhenyougetmarried？"

Therewasanimmenseandoppressivesilence。Charity，quiveringwithanger，startedforward，andthenstoodsilent，toohumbledforspeech。Harney’seyeshaddroppedundertheoldman’sgaze;butheraisedthempresently，andlookingsteadilyatMr。Royall，said："MissRoyallisnotachild。Isn’titratherabsurdtotalkofherasifshewere？Ibelievesheconsidersherselffreetocomeandgoasshepleases，withoutanyquestionsfromanyone。"Hepausedandadded："I’mreadytoansweranyshewishestoaskme。"

Mr。Royallturnedtoher。"Askhimwhenhe’sgoingtomarryyou，then————"Therewasanothersilence，andhelaughedinhisturn——abrokenlaugh，withascrapingsoundinit。"Youdarsn’t！"heshoutedoutwithsuddenpassion。HewentcloseuptoCharity，hisrightarmlifted，notinmenacebutintragicexhortation。

"Youdarsn’t，andyouknowit——andyouknowwhy！"Heswungbackagainupontheyoungman。"Andyouknowwhyyouain’taskedhertomarryyou，andwhyyoudon’tmeanto。It’sbecauseyouhadn’tneedto;noranyothermaneither。I’mtheonlyonethatwasfoolenoughnottoknowthat;andIguessnobody’llrepeatmymistake——notinEagleCounty，anyhow。Theyallknowwhatsheis，andwhatshecamefrom。TheyallknowhermotherwasawomanofthetownfromNettleton，thatfollowedoneofthoseMountainfellowsuptohisplaceandlivedtherewithhimlikeaheathen。Isawhertheresixteenyearsago，whenIwenttobringthischilddown。Iwenttosaveherfromthekindoflifehermotherwasleading——butI’dbetterhaveleftherinthekennelshecamefrom……"Hepausedandstareddarklyatthetwoyoungpeople，andoutbeyondthem，atthemenacingMountainwithitsrimoffire;thenhesatdownbesidethetableonwhichtheyhadsooftenspreadtheirrusticsupper，andcoveredhisfacewithhishands。Harneyleanedinthewindow，afrownonhisface：hewastwirlingbetweenhisfingersasmallpackagethatdangledfromaloopofstring……CharityheardMr。Royalldrawahardbreathortwo，andhisshouldersshookalittle。Presentlyhestoodupandwalkedacrosstheroom。Hedidnotlookagainattheyoungpeople：theysawhimfeelhiswaytothedoorandfumbleforthelatch;andthenhewentoutintothedarkness。

Afterhehadgonetherewasalongsilence。CharitywaitedforHarneytospeak;butheseemedatfirstnottofindanythingtosay。Atlengthhebrokeoutirrelevantly："Iwonderhowhefoundout？"

Shemadenoanswerandhetosseddownthepackagehehadbeenholding，andwentuptoher。

"I’msosorry，dear……thatthisshouldhavehappened……"

Shethrewherheadbackproudly。"Iain’teverbeensorry——notaminute！"

"No。"

Shewaitedtobecaughtintohisarms，butheturnedawayfromherirresolutely。ThelastglowwasgonefrombehindtheMountain。Everythingintheroomhadturnedgreyandindistinct，andanautumnaldampnesscreptupfromthehollowbelowtheorchard，layingitscoldtouchontheirflushedfaces。Harneywalkedthelengthoftheroom，andthenturnedbackandsatdownatthetable。

"Come，"hesaidimperiously。

Shesatdownbesidehim，andheuntiedthestringaboutthepackageandspreadoutapileofsandwiches。

"Istolethemfromthelove—feastatHamblin，"hesaidwithalaugh，pushingthemovertoher。Shelaughedtoo，andtookone，andbegantoeat"Didn’tyoumakethetea？"

"No，"shesaid。"Iforgot————"

"Oh，well——it’stoolatetoboilthewaternow。"Hesaidnothingmore，andsittingoppositetoeachothertheywentonsilentlyeatingthesandwiches。Darknesshaddescendedinthelittleroom，andHarney’sfacewasadimblurtoCharity。Suddenlyheleanedacrossthetableandlaidhishandonhers。

"Ishallhavetogooffforawhile——amonthortwo，perhaps——toarrangesomethings;andthenI’llcomeback……andwe’llgetmarried。"

Hisvoiceseemedlikeastranger’s：nothingwasleftinitofthevibrationssheknew。Herhandlayinertlyunderhis，andsheleftitthere，andraisedherhead，tryingtoanswerhim。Butthewordsdiedinherthroat。Theysatmotionless，intheirattitudeofconfidentendearment，asifsomestrangedeathhadsurprisedthem。AtlengthHarneysprangtohisfeetwithaslightshiver。"God！it’sdamp——wecouldn’thavecomeheremuchlonger。"Hewenttotheshelf，tookdownatincandle—stickandlitthecandle;thenheproppedanunhingedshutteragainsttheemptywindow—

frameandputthecandleonthetable。Itthrewaqueershadowonhisfrowningforehead，andmadethesmileonhislipsagrimace。

"Butit’sbeengood，though，hasn’tit，Charity？……What’sthematter——whydoyoustandtherestaringatme？Haven’tthedaysherebeengood？"Hewentuptoherandcaughthertohisbreast。"Andthere’llbeothers——lotsofothers……jollier……evenjollier……won’tthere，darling？"

Heturnedherheadback，feelingforthecurveofherthroatbelowtheear，andkissingherethere，andonthehairandeyesandlips。Sheclungtohimdesperately，andashedrewhertohiskneesonthecouchshefeltasiftheywerebeingsuckeddowntogetherintosomebottomlessabyss。

XV

Thatnight，asusual，theysaidgood—byeatthewood’sedge。

Harneywastoleavethenextmorningearly。HeaskedCharitytosaynothingoftheirplanstillhisreturn，and，strangelyeventoherself，shewasgladofthepostponement。Aleadenweightofshamehungonher，benumbingeveryothersensation，andshebadehimgood—

byewithhardlyasignofemotion。Hisreiteratedpromisestoreturnseemedalmostwounding。Shehadnodoubtthatheintendedtocomeback;herdoubtswerefardeeperandlessdefinable。

Sincethefancifulvisionofthefuturethathadflittedthroughherimaginationattheirfirstmeetingshehadhardlyeverthoughtofhismarryingher。Shehadnothadtoputthethoughtfromhermind;ithadnotbeenthere。Ifevershelookedaheadshefeltinstinctivelythatthegulfbetweenthemwastoodeep，andthatthebridgetheirpassionhadflungacrossitwasasinsubstantialasarainbow。Butsheseldomlookedahead;eachdaywassorichthatitabsorbedher……Nowherfirstfeelingwasthateverythingwouldbedifferent，andthatsheherselfwouldbeadifferentbeingtoHarney。Insteadofremainingseparateandabsolute，shewouldbecomparedwithotherpeople，andunknownthingswouldbeexpectedofher。Shewastooproudtobeafraid，butthefreedomofherspiritdrooped……

Harneyhadnotfixedanydateforhisreturn;hehadsaidhewouldhavetolookaboutfirst，andsettlethings。Hehadpromisedtowriteassoonastherewasanythingdefinitetosay，andhadleftherhisaddress，andaskedhertowritealso。Buttheaddressfrightenedher。ItwasinNewYork，ataclubwithalongnameinFifthAvenue：itseemedtoraiseaninsurmountablebarrierbetweenthem。Onceortwice，inthefirstdays，shegotoutasheetofpaper，andsatlookingatit，andtryingtothinkwhattosay;butshehadthefeelingthatherletterwouldneverreachitsdestination。ShehadneverwrittentoanyonefartherawaythanHepburn。

Harney’sfirstlettercameafterhehadbeengoneabouttendays。Itwastenderbutgrave，andborenoresemblancetothegaylittlenoteshehadsentherbythefreckledboyfromCrestonRiver。Hespokepositivelyofhisintentionofcomingback，butnamednodate，andremindedCharityoftheiragreementthattheirplansshouldnotbedivulgedtillhehadhadtimeto"settlethings。"Whenthatwouldbehecouldnotyetforesee;butshecouldcountonhisreturningassoonasthewaywasclear。

Shereadtheletterwithastrangesenseofitscomingfromimmeasurabledistancesandhavinglostmostofitsmeaningontheway;andinreplyshesenthimacolouredpostcardofCrestonFalls，onwhichshewrote：

"WithlovefromCharity。"Shefeltthepitifulinadequacyofthis，andunderstood，withasenseofdespair，thatinherinabilitytoexpressherselfshemustgivehimanimpressionofcoldnessandreluctance;

butshecouldnothelpit。ShecouldnotforgetthathehadneverspokentoherofmarriagetillMr。Royallhadforcedthewordfromhislips;thoughshehadnothadthestrengthtoshakeoffthespellthatboundhertohimshehadlostallspontaneityoffeeling，andseemedtoherselftobepassivelyawaitingafateshecouldnotavert。

ShehadnotseenMr。Royallonherreturntotheredhouse。ThemorningafterherpartingfromHarney，whenshecamedownfromherroom，VerenatoldherthatherguardianhadgoneofftoWorcesterandPortland。

Itwasthetimeofyearwhenheusuallyreportedtotheinsuranceagenciesherepresented，andtherewasnothingunusualinhisdepartureexceptitssuddenness。

Shethoughtlittleabouthim，excepttobegladhewasnotthere……

Shekepttoherselfforthefirstdays，whileNorthDormerwasrecoveringfromitsbriefplungeintopublicity，andthesubsidingagitationleftherunnoticed。ButthefaithfulAllycouldnotbelongavoided。ForthefirstfewdaysafterthecloseoftheOldHomeWeekfestivitiesCharityescapedherbyroamingthehillsalldaywhenshewasnotatherpostinthelibrary;butafterthataperiodofrainsetin，andonepouringafternoon，Ally，surethatshewouldfindherfriendindoors，camearoundtotheredhousewithhersewing。

ThetwogirlssatupstairsinCharity’sroom。Charity，heridlehandsinherlap，wassunkinakindofleadendream，throughwhichshewasonlyhalf—consciousofAlly，whosatoppositeherinalowrush—bottomedchair，herworkpinnedtoherknee，andherthinlipspursedupasshebentaboveit。

"Itwasmyidearunningaribbonthroughthegauging，"

shesaidproudly，drawingbacktocontemplatetheblouseshewastrimming。"It’sforMissBalch：shewasawfullypleased。"Shepausedandthenadded，withaqueertremorinherpipingvoice："Idarsn’thavetoldherIgottheideafromoneIsawonJulia。"

Charityraisedhereyeslistlessly。"DoyoustillseeJuliasometimes？"

Allyreddened，asiftheallusionhadescapedherunintentionally。"Oh，itwasalongtimeagoIseenherwiththosegaugings……"

Silencefellagain，andAllypresentlycontinued："MissBalchleftmeawholelotofthingstodooverthistime。"

"Why——hasshegone？"Charityinquiredwithaninnerstartofapprehension。

"Didn’tyouknow？ShewentoffthemorningaftertheyhadthecelebrationatHamblin。IseenherdrivebyearlywithMr。Harney。"

Therewasanothersilence，measuredbythesteadytickoftherainagainstthewindow，and，atintervals，bythesnippingsoundofAlly’sscissors。

Allygaveameditativelaugh。"Doyouknowwhatshetoldmebeforeshewentaway？ShetoldmeshewasgoingtosendformetocomeovertoSpringfieldandmakesomethingsforherwedding。"

CharityagainliftedherheavylidsandstaredatAlly’spalepointedface，whichmovedtoandfroabovehermovingfingers。

"Isshegoingtogetmarried？"

Allylettheblousesinktoherknee，andsatgazingatit。Herlipsseemedsuddenlydry，andshemoistenedthemalittlewithhertongue。

"Why，Ipresumeso……fromwhatshesaid……Didn’tyouknow？"

"WhyshouldIknow？"

Allydidnotanswer。Shebentabovetheblouse，andbeganpickingoutabastingthreadwiththepointofthescissors。

"WhyshouldIknow？"Charityrepeatedharshly。

"Ididn’tknowbutwhat……folksheresayshe’sengagedtoMr。Harney。"

Charitystoodupwithalaugh，andstretchedherarmslazilyaboveherhead。

"Ifallthepeoplegotmarriedthatfolkssayaregoingtoyou’dhaveyourtimefullmakingwedding—

dresses，"shesaidironically。

"Why——don’tyoubelieveit？"Allyventured。

"ItwouldnotmakeittrueifIdid——norpreventitifIdidn’t。"

"That’sso……IonlyknowIseenhercryingthenightofthepartybecauseherdressdidn’tsetright。Thatwaswhyshewouldn’tdanceany……"

CharitystoodabsentlygazingdownatthelacygarmentonAlly’sknee。Abruptlyshestoopedandsnatcheditup。

"Well，Iguessshewon’tdanceinthiseither，"shesaidwithsuddenviolence;andgraspingtheblouseinherstrongyounghandsshetoreitintwoandflungthetatteredbitstothefloor。

"Oh，Charity————"Allycried，springingup。Foralongintervalthetwogirlsfacedeachotheracrosstheruinedgarment。Allyburstintotears。

"Oh，what’llIsaytoher？What’llIdo？Itwasreallace！"shewailedbetweenherpipingsobs。

Charityglaredatherunrelentingly。"You’doughtn’ttohavebroughtithere，"shesaid，breathingquickly。

"Ihateotherpeople’sclothes——it’sjustasiftheywastherethemselves。"Thetwostaredateachotheragainoverthisavowal，tillCharitybroughtout，inagaspofanguish："Oh，go——go——go——orI’llhateyoutoo……"

WhenAllylefther，shefellsobbingacrossherbed。

Thelongstormwasfollowedbyanorth—westgale，andwhenitwasover，thehillstookontheirfirstumbertints，theskygrewmoredenselyblue，andthebigwhitecloudslayagainstthehillslikesnow—banks。Thefirstcrispmaple—leavesbegantospinacrossMissHatchard’slawn，andtheVirginiacreeperontheMemorialsplashedthewhiteporchwithscarlet。ItwasagoldentriumphantSeptember。DaybydaytheflameoftheVirginiacreeperspreadtothehillsidesinwiderwavesofcarmineandcrimson，thelarchesglowedlikethethinyellowhaloaboutafire，themaplesblazedandsmouldered，andtheblackhemlocksturnedtoindigoagainsttheincandescenceoftheforest。

Thenightswerecold，withadryglitterofstarssohighupthattheyseemedsmallerandmorevivid。

Sometimes，asCharitylaysleeplessonherbedthroughthelonghours，shefeltasthoughshewereboundtothosewheelingfiresandswingingwiththemaroundthegreatblackvault。Atnightsheplannedmanythings……itwasthenshewrotetoHarney。Buttheletterswereneverputonpaper，forshedidnotknowhowtoexpresswhatshewantedtotellhim。Soshewaited。SincehertalkwithAllyshehadfeltsurethatHarneywasengagedtoAnnabelBalch，andthattheprocessof"settlingthings"wouldinvolvethebreakingofthistie。Herfirstrageofjealousyover，shefeltnofearonthisscore。ShewasstillsurethatHarneywouldcomeback，andshewasequallysurethat，forthemomentatleast，itwasshewhomhelovedandnotMissBalch。Yetthegirl，noless，remainedarival，sincesherepresentedallthethingsthatCharityfeltherselfmostincapableofunderstandingorachieving。