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。