Лето

           Shehadnoclearplanofaction,exceptthat,onceinthesettlement,shemeanttolookforLiffHyatt,andgethimtotakehertohermother.Sheherselfhadbeenbornasherownbabywasgoingtobeborn;andwhateverhermother’ssubsequentlifehadbeen,shecouldhardlyhelprememberingthepast,andreceivingadaughterwhowasfacingthetroubleshehadknown.

           Suddenlythedeadlyfaintnesscameoverheroncemoreandshesatdownonthebankandleanedherheadagainstatree-trunk.Thelongroadandthecloudylandscapevanishedfromhereyes,andforatimesheseemedtobecirclingaboutinsometerriblewheelingdarkness.Thenthattoofaded.

           Sheopenedhereyes,andsawabuggydrawnupbesideher,andamanwhohadjumpeddownfromitandwasgazingatherwithapuzzledface.Slowlyconsciousnesscameback,andshesawthatthemanwasLiffHyatt.

           Shewasdimlyawarethathewasaskinghersomething,andshelookedathiminsilence,tryingtofindstrengthtospeak.Atlengthhervoicestirredinherthroat,andshesaidinawhisper:“I’mgoinguptheMountain.”

           “UptheMountain?”herepeated,drawingasidealittle;andashemovedshesawbehindhim,inthebuggy,aheavilycoatedfigurewithafamiliarpinkfaceandgoldspectaclesonthebridgeofaGreciannose.

           “Charity!Whatonearthareyoudoinghere?”Mr.Milesexclaimed,throwingthereinsonthehorse’sbackandscramblingdownfromthebuggy.

           Sheliftedherheavyeyestohis.“I’mgoingtoseemymother.”

           Thetwomenglancedateachother,andforamomentneitherofthemspoke.

           ThenMr.