Лето

           Itwaspartly,ofcourse,owingtothefactthatlawyerRoyallwas“thebiggestmaninNorthDormer”;somuchtoobigforit,infact,thatoutsiders,whodidn’tknow,alwayswonderedhowitheldhim.Inspiteofeverything—andinspiteevenofMissHatchard—lawyerRoyallruledinNorthDormer;andCharityruledinlawyerRoyall’shouse.Shehadneverputittoherselfinthoseterms;butsheknewherpower,knewwhatitwasmadeof,andhatedit.Confusedly,theyoungmaninthelibraryhadmadeherfeelforthefirsttimewhatmightbethesweetnessofdependence.

           Shesatup,brushedthebitsofgrassfromherhair,andlookeddownonthehousewheresheheldsway.Itstoodjustbelowher,cheerlessanduntended,itsfadedredfrontdividedfromtheroadbya“yard”withapathborderedbygooseberrybushes,astonewellovergrownwithtraveller’sjoy,andasicklyCrimsonRamblertiedtoafan-shapedsupport,whichMr.RoyallhadoncebroughtupfromHepburntopleaseher.Behindthehouseabitofunevengroundwithclothes-linesstrungacrossitstretcheduptoadrywall,andbeyondthewallapatchofcornandafewrowsofpotatoesstrayedvaguelyintotheadjoiningwildernessofrockandfern.

           Charitycouldnotrecallherfirstsightofthehouse.ShehadbeentoldthatshewasillofafeverwhenshewasbroughtdownfromtheMountain;andshecouldonlyrememberwakingonedayinacotatthefootofMrs.Royall’sbed,andopeninghereyesonthecoldneatnessoftheroomthatwasafterwardtobehers.

           Mrs.