Лето
XII
Shehardlyheardhisexcusesforbeinglate:inhisabsenceathousanddoubtstormentedher,butassoonasheappearedsheceasedtowonderwherehehadcomefrom,whathaddelayedhim,whohadkepthimfromher.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.
