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。