I

AgirlcameoutoflawyerRoyall’shouse，attheendoftheonestreetofNorthDormer，andstoodonthedoorstep。

ItwasthebeginningofaJuneafternoon。Thespringliketransparentskyshedarainofsilversunshineontheroofsofthevillage，andonthepasturesandlarchwoodssurroundingit。Alittlewindmovedamongtheroundwhitecloudsontheshouldersofthehills，drivingtheirshadowsacrossthefieldsanddownthegrassyroadthattakesthenameofstreetwhenitpassesthroughNorthDormer。Theplacelieshighandintheopen，andlacksthelavishshadeofthemoreprotectedNewEnglandvillages。Theclumpofweeping—

willowsabouttheduckpond，andtheNorwaysprucesinfrontoftheHatchardgate，castalmosttheonlyroadsideshadowbetweenlawyerRoyall’shouseandthepointwhere，attheotherendofthevillage，theroadrisesabovethechurchandskirtstheblackhemlockwallenclosingthecemetery。

ThelittleJunewind，friskingdownthestreet，shookthedolefulfringesoftheHatchardspruces，caughtthestrawhatofayoungmanjustpassingunderthem，andspunitcleanacrosstheroadintotheduck—pond。

AsherantofishitoutthegirlonlawyerRoyall’sdoorstepnoticedthathewasastranger，thatheworecityclothes，andthathewaslaughingwithallhisteeth，astheyoungandcarelesslaughatsuchmishaps。

Herheartcontractedalittle，andtheshrinkingthatsometimescameoverherwhenshesawpeoplewithholidayfacesmadeherdrawbackintothehouseandpretendtolookforthekeythatsheknewshehadalreadyputintoherpocket。Anarrowgreenishmirrorwithagilteagleoverithungonthepassagewall，andshelookedcriticallyatherreflection，wishedforthethousandthtimethatshehadblueeyeslikeAnnabelBalch，thegirlwhosometimescamefromSpringfieldtospendaweekwitholdMissHatchard，straightenedthesunburnthatoverhersmallswarthyface，andturnedoutagainintothesunshine。

"HowIhateeverything！"shemurmured。

TheyoungmanhadpassedthroughtheHatchardgate，andshehadthestreettoherself。NorthDormerisatalltimesanemptyplace，andatthreeo’clockonaJuneafternoonitsfewable—bodiedmenareoffinthefieldsorwoods，andthewomenindoors，engagedinlanguidhouseholddrudgery。

Thegirlwalkedalong，swingingherkeyonafinger，andlookingaboutherwiththeheightenedattentionproducedbythepresenceofastrangerinafamiliarplace。What，shewondered，didNorthDormerlookliketopeoplefromotherpartsoftheworld？Sheherselfhadlivedtheresincetheageoffive，andhadlongsupposedittobeaplaceofsomeimportance。Butaboutayearbefore，Mr。Miles，thenewEpiscopalclergymanatHepburn，whodroveovereveryotherSunday——whentheroadswerenotploughedupbyhauling——

toholdaserviceintheNorthDormerchurch，hadproposed，inafitofmissionaryzeal，totaketheyoungpeopledowntoNettletontohearanillustratedlectureontheHolyLand;andthedozengirlsandboyswhorepresentedthefutureofNorthDormerhadbeenpiledintoafarm—waggon，drivenoverthehillstoHepburn，putintoaway—trainandcarriedtoNettleton。

InthecourseofthatincredibledayCharityRoyallhad，forthefirstandonlytime，experiencedrailway—

travel，lookedintoshopswithplate—glassfronts，tastedcocoanutpie，satinatheatre，andlistenedtoagentlemansayingunintelligiblethingsbeforepicturesthatshewouldhaveenjoyedlookingatifhisexplanationshadnotpreventedherfromunderstandingthem。ThisinitiationhadshownherthatNorthDormerwasasmallplace，anddevelopedinherathirstforinformationthatherpositionascustodianofthevillagelibraryhadpreviouslyfailedtoexcite。ForamonthortwoshedippedfeverishlyanddisconnectedlyintothedustyvolumesoftheHatchardMemorialLibrary;thentheimpressionofNettletonbegantofade，andshefounditeasiertotakeNorthDormerasthenormoftheuniversethantogoonreading。

ThesightofthestrangeroncemorerevivedmemoriesofNettleton，andNorthDormershranktoitsrealsize。Asshelookedupanddownit，fromlawyerRoyall’sfadedredhouseatoneendtothewhitechurchattheother，shepitilesslytookitsmeasure。Thereitlay，aweather—beatensunburntvillageofthehills，abandonedofmen，leftapartbyrailway，trolley，telegraph，andalltheforcesthatlinklifetolifeinmoderncommunities。Ithadnoshops，notheatres，nolectures，no"businessblock";onlyachurchthatwasopenedeveryotherSundayifthestateoftheroadspermitted，andalibraryforwhichnonewbookshadbeenboughtfortwentyyears，andwheretheoldonesmoulderedundisturbedonthedampshelves。YetCharityRoyallhadalwaysbeentoldthatsheoughttoconsideritaprivilegethatherlothadbeencastinNorthDormer。Sheknewthat，comparedtotheplaceshehadcomefrom，NorthDormerrepresentedalltheblessingsofthemostrefinedcivilization。Everyoneinthevillagehadtoldhersoeversinceshehadbeenbroughtthereasachild。EvenoldMissHatchardhadsaidtoher，onaterribleoccasioninherlife："Mychild，youmustneverceasetorememberthatitwasMr。RoyallwhobroughtyoudownfromtheMountain。"

Shehadbeen"broughtdownfromtheMountain";fromthescarredcliffthatlifteditssullenwallabovethelesserslopesofEagleRange，makingaperpetualbackgroundofgloomtothelonelyvalley。TheMountainwasagoodfifteenmilesaway，butitrosesoabruptlyfromthelowerhillsthatitseemedalmosttocastitsshadowoverNorthDormer。Anditwaslikeagreatmagnetdrawingthecloudsandscatteringtheminstormacrossthevalley。Ifever，inthepurestsummersky，theretrailedathreadofvapouroverNorthDormer，itdriftedtotheMountainasashipdriftstoawhirlpool，andwascaughtamongtherocks，tornupandmultiplied，tosweepbackoverthevillageinrainanddarkness。

CharitywasnotveryclearabouttheMountain;butsheknewitwasabadplace，andashametohavecomefrom，andthat，whateverbefellherinNorthDormer，sheought，asMissHatchardhadonceremindedher，torememberthatshehadbeenbroughtdownfromthere，andholdhertongueandbethankful。ShelookedupattheMountain，thinkingofthesethings，andtriedasusualtobethankful。ButthesightoftheyoungmanturninginatMissHatchard’sgatehadbroughtbackthevisionoftheglitteringstreetsofNettleton，andshefeltashamedofheroldsun—hat，andsickofNorthDormer，andjealouslyawareofAnnabelBalchofSpringfield，openingherblueeyessomewherefaroffongloriesgreaterthanthegloriesofNettleton。

"HowIhateeverything！"shesaidagain。

Halfwaydownthestreetshestoppedataweak—hingedgate。Passingthroughit，shewalkeddownabrickpathtoaqueerlittlebricktemplewithwhitewoodencolumnssupportingapedimentonwhichwasinscribedintarnishedgoldletters："TheHonoriusHatchardMemorialLibrary，1832。"

HonoriusHatchardhadbeenoldMissHatchard’sgreat—

uncle;thoughshewouldundoubtedlyhavereversedthephrase，andputforward，asheronlyclaimtodistinction，thefactthatshewashisgreat—niece。

ForHonoriusHatchard，intheearlyyearsofthenineteenthcentury，hadenjoyedamodestcelebrity。Asthemarbletabletintheinteriorofthelibraryinformeditsinfrequentvisitors，hehadpossessedmarkedliterarygifts，writtenaseriesofpaperscalled"TheRecluseofEagleRange，"enjoyedtheacquaintanceofWashingtonIrvingandFitz—GreeneHalleck，andbeencutoffinhisflowerbyafevercontractedinItaly。SuchhadbeenthesolelinkbetweenNorthDormerandliterature，alinkpiouslycommemoratedbytheerectionofthemonumentwhereCharityRoyall，everyTuesdayandThursdayafternoon，satatherdeskunderafreckledsteelengravingofthedeceasedauthor，andwonderedifhefeltanydeaderinhisgravethanshedidinhislibrary。

Enteringherprison—housewithalistlessstepshetookoffherhat，hungitonaplasterbustofMinerva，openedtheshutters，leanedouttoseeiftherewereanyeggsintheswallow’snestaboveoneofthewindows，andfinally，seatingherselfbehindthedesk，drewoutarollofcottonlaceandasteelcrochethook。Shewasnotanexpertworkwoman，andithadtakenhermanyweekstomakethehalf—yardofnarrowlacewhichshekeptwoundaboutthebuckrambackofadisintegratedcopyof"TheLamplighter。"Buttherewasnootherwayofgettinganylacetotrimhersummerblouse，andsinceAllyHawes，thepoorestgirlinthevillage，hadshownherselfinchurchwithenviabletransparenciesabouttheshoulders，Charity’shookhadtravelledfaster。Sheunrolledthelace，dugthehookintoaloop，andbenttothetaskwithfurrowedbrows。

Suddenlythedooropened，andbeforeshehadraisedhereyessheknewthattheyoungmanshehadseengoinginattheHatchardgatehadenteredthelibrary。

Withouttakinganynoticeofherhebegantomoveslowlyaboutthelongvault—likeroom，hishandsbehindhisback，hisshort—sightedeyespeeringupanddowntherowsofrustybindings。Atlengthhereachedthedeskandstoodbeforeher。

"Haveyouacard—catalogue？"heaskedinapleasantabruptvoice;andtheoddnessofthequestioncausedhertodropherwork。

"AWHAT？"

"Why，youknow————"Hebrokeoff，andshebecameconsciousthathewaslookingatherforthefirsttime，havingapparently，onhisentrance，includedherinhisgeneralshort—sightedsurveyaspartofthefurnitureofthelibrary。

Thefactthat，indiscoveringher，helostthethreadofhisremark，didnotescapeherattention，andshelookeddownandsmiled。Hesmiledalso。

"No，Idon’tsupposeyoudoknow，"hecorrectedhimself。"Infact，itwouldbealmostapity————"

Shethoughtshedetectedaslightcondescensioninhistone，andaskedsharply："Why？"

"Becauseit’ssomuchpleasanter，inasmalllibrarylikethis，topokeaboutbyone’sself——withthehelpofthelibrarian。"

Headdedthelastphrasesorespectfullythatshewasmollified，andrejoinedwithasigh："I’mafraidI

can’thelpyoumuch。"

"Why？"hequestionedinhisturn;andsherepliedthatthereweren’tmanybooksanyhow，andthatshe’dhardlyreadanyofthem。"Thewormsaregettingatthem，"sheaddedgloomily。

"Arethey？That’sapity，forIseetherearesomegoodones。"Heseemedtohavelostinterestintheirconversation，andstrolledawayagain，apparentlyforgettingher。Hisindifferencenettledher，andshepickedupherwork，resolvednottoofferhimtheleastassistance。Apparentlyhedidnotneedit，forhespentalongtimewithhisbacktoher，liftingdown，oneafteranother，thetallcob—webbyvolumesfromadistantshelf。

"Oh，Isay！"heexclaimed;andlookingupshesawthathehaddrawnouthishandkerchiefandwascarefullywipingtheedgesofthebookinhishand。Theactionstruckherasanunwarrantedcriticismonhercareofthebooks，andshesaidirritably："It’snotmyfaultifthey’redirty。"

Heturnedaroundandlookedatherwithrevivinginterest。"Ah——thenyou’renotthelibrarian？"

"OfcourseIam;butIcan’tdustallthesebooks。

Besides，nobodyeverlooksatthem，nowMissHatchard’stoolametocomeround。"

"No，Isupposenot。"Helaiddownthebookhehadbeenwiping，andstoodconsideringherinsilence。ShewonderedifMissHatchardhadsenthimroundtopryintothewaythelibrarywaslookedafter，andthesuspicionincreasedherresentment。"Isawyougoingintoherhousejustnow，didn’tI？"sheasked，withtheNewEnglandavoidanceofthepropername。Shewasdeterminedtofindoutwhyhewaspokingaboutamongherbooks。

"MissHatchard’shouse？Yes——she’smycousinandI’mstayingthere，"theyoungmananswered;adding，asiftodisarmavisibledistrust："MynameisHarney——

LuciusHarney。Shemayhavespokenofme。"

"No，shehasn’t，"saidCharity，wishingshecouldhavesaid："Yes，shehas。"

"Oh，well————"saidMissHatchard’scousinwithalaugh;andafteranotherpause，duringwhichitoccurredtoCharitythatheranswerhadnotbeenencouraging，heremarked："Youdon’tseemstrongonarchitecture。"

Herbewildermentwascomplete：themoreshewishedtoappeartounderstandhimthemoreunintelligiblehisremarksbecame。Heremindedherofthegentlemanwhohad"explained"thepicturesatNettleton，andtheweightofherignorancesettleddownonheragainlikeapall。

"Imean，Ican’tseethatyouhaveanybooksontheoldhousesabouthere。Isuppose，forthatmatter，thispartofthecountryhasn’tbeenmuchexplored。TheyallgoondoingPlymouthandSalem。Sostupid。Mycousin’shouse，now，isremarkable。Thisplacemusthavehadapast——itmusthavebeenmoreofaplaceonce。"Hestoppedshort，withtheblushofashymanwhooverhearshimself，andfearshehasbeenvoluble。

"I’manarchitect，yousee，andI’mhuntingupoldhousesintheseparts。"

Shestared。"Oldhouses？Everything’soldinNorthDormer，isn’tit？Thefolksare，anyhow。"

Helaughed，andwanderedawayagain。

"Haven’tyouanykindofahistoryoftheplace？

Ithinktherewasonewrittenabout1840：abookorpamphletaboutitsfirstsettlement，"hepresentlysaidfromthefartherendoftheroom。

Shepressedhercrochethookagainstherlipandpondered。Therewassuchawork，sheknew："NorthDormerandtheEarlyTownshipsofEagleCounty。"Shehadaspecialgrudgeagainstitbecauseitwasalimpweaklybookthatwasalwayseitherfallingofftheshelforslippingbackanddisappearingifonesqueezeditinbetweensustainingvolumes。Sheremembered，thelasttimeshehadpickeditup，wonderinghowanyonecouldhavetakenthetroubletowriteabookaboutNorthDormeranditsneighbours：Dormer，Hamblin，CrestonandCrestonRiver。Sheknewthemall，merelostclustersofhousesinthefoldsofthedesolateridges：

Dormer，whereNorthDormerwentforitsapples;CrestonRiver，wherethereusedtobeapaper—mill，anditsgreywallsstooddecayingbythestream;andHamblin，wherethefirstsnowalwaysfell。Suchweretheirtitlestofame。

Shegotupandbegantomoveaboutvaguelybeforetheshelves。Butshehadnoideawhereshehadlastputthebook，andsomethingtoldherthatitwasgoingtoplayheritsusualtrickandremaininvisible。Itwasnotoneofherluckydays。

"Iguessit’ssomewhere，"shesaid，toproveherzeal;

butshespokewithoutconviction，andfeltthatherwordsconveyednone。

"Oh，well————"hesaidagain。Sheknewhewasgoing，andwishedmorethanevertofindthebook。

"Itwillbefornexttime，"headded;andpickingupthevolumehehadlaidonthedeskhehandedittoher。

"Bytheway，alittleairandsunwoulddothisgood;

it’srathervaluable。"

Hegaveheranodandsmile，andpassedout。

II

ThehoursoftheHatchardMemoriallibrarianwerefromthreetofive;andCharityRoyall’ssenseofdutyusuallykeptheratherdeskuntilnearlyhalf—pastfour。

ButshehadneverperceivedthatanypracticaladvantagetherebyaccruedeithertoNorthDormerortoherself;andshehadnoscrupleindecreeing，whenitsuitedher，thatthelibraryshouldcloseanhourearlier。AfewminutesafterMr。Harney’sdeparturesheformedthisdecision，putawayherlace，fastenedtheshutters，andturnedthekeyinthedoorofthetempleofknowledge。

Thestreetuponwhichsheemergedwasstillempty：andafterglancingupanddownitshebegantowalktowardherhouse。Butinsteadofenteringshepassedon，turnedintoafield—pathandmountedtoapastureonthehillside。Sheletdownthebarsofthegate，followedatrailalongthecrumblingwallofthepasture，andwalkedontillshereachedaknollwhereaclumpoflarchesshookouttheirfreshtasselstothewind。Thereshelaydownontheslope，tossedoffherhatandhidherfaceinthegrass。

Shewasblindandinsensibletomanythings，anddimlyknewit;buttoallthatwaslightandair，perfumeandcolour，everydropofbloodinherresponded。Shelovedtheroughnessofthedrymountaingrassunderherpalms，thesmellofthethymeintowhichshecrushedherface，thefingeringofthewindinherhairandthroughhercottonblouse，andthecreakofthelarchesastheyswayedtoit。

Sheoftenclimbedupthehillandlaytherealoneforthemerepleasureoffeelingthewindandofrubbinghercheeksinthegrass。Generallyatsuchtimesshedidnotthinkofanything，butlayimmersedinaninarticulatewell—being。Todaythesenseofwell—beingwasintensifiedbyherjoyatescapingfromthelibrary。Shelikedwellenoughtohaveafrienddropinandtalktoherwhenshewasonduty，butshehatedtobebotheredaboutbooks。Howcouldsherememberwheretheywere，whentheyweresoseldomaskedfor？OrmaFryoccasionallytookoutanovel，andherbrotherBenwasfondofwhathecalled"jography，"andofbooksrelatingtotradeandbookkeeping;butnooneelseaskedforanythingexcept，atintervals，"UncleTom’sCabin，"or"OpeningofaChestnutBurr，"orLongfellow。

Shehadtheseunderherhand，andcouldhavefoundtheminthedark;butunexpecteddemandscamesorarelythattheyexasperatedherlikeaninjustice……

Shehadlikedtheyoungman’slooks，andhisshort—

sightedeyes，andhisoddwayofspeaking，thatwasabruptyetsoft，justashishandsweresun—burntandsinewy，yetwithsmoothnailslikeawoman’s。Hishairwassunburnt—lookingtoo，orratherthecolourofbrackenafterfrost;hiseyesgrey，withtheappealinglookoftheshortsighted，hissmileshyyetconfident，asifheknewlotsofthingsshehadneverdreamedof，andyetwouldn’tfortheworldhavehadherfeelhissuperiority。Butshedidfeelit，andlikedthefeeling;foritwasnewtoher。Poorandignorantasshewas，andknewherselftobe——humblestofthehumbleeveninNorthDormer，wheretocomefromtheMountainwastheworstdisgrace——yetinhernarrowworldshehadalwaysruled。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。Royalldiedsevenoreightyearslater;andbythattimeCharityhadtakenthemeasureofmostthingsabouther。SheknewthatMrs。Royallwassadandtimidandweak;sheknewthatlawyerRoyallwasharshandviolent，andstillweaker。SheknewthatshehadbeenchristenedCharity（inthewhitechurchattheotherendofthevillage）tocommemorateMr。Royall’sdisinterestednessin"bringingherdown，"andtokeepaliveinherabecomingsenseofherdependence;sheknewthatMr。Royallwasherguardian，butthathehadnotlegallyadoptedher，thougheverybodyspokeofherasCharityRoyall;andsheknewwhyhehadcomebacktoliveatNorthDormer，insteadofpractisingatNettleton，wherehehadbegunhislegalcareer。

AfterMrs。Royall’sdeaththerewassometalkofsendinghertoaboarding—school。MissHatchardsuggestedit，andhadalongconferencewithMr。

Royall，who，inpursuanceofherplan，departedonedayforStarkfieldtovisittheinstitutionsherecommended。Hecamebackthenextnightwithablackface;worse，Charityobserved，thanshehadeverseenhim;andbythattimeshehadhadsomeexperience。

Whensheaskedhimhowsoonshewastostartheansweredshortly，"Youain’tgoing，"andshuthimselfupintheroomhecalledhisoffice;andthenextdaytheladywhokepttheschoolatStarkfieldwrotethat"underthecircumstances"shewasafraidshecouldnotmakeroomjustthenforanotherpupil。

Charitywasdisappointed;butsheunderstood。Itwasn’tthetemptationsofStarkfieldthathadbeenMr。

Royall’sundoing;itwasthethoughtoflosingher。Hewasadreadfully"lonesome"man;shehadmadethatoutbecauseshewasso"lonesome"herself。Heandshe，facetofaceinthatsadhouse，hadsoundedthedepthsofisolation;andthoughshefeltnoparticularaffectionforhim，andnottheslightestgratitude，shepitiedhimbecauseshewasconsciousthathewassuperiortothepeopleabouthim，andthatshewastheonlybeingbetweenhimandsolitude。Therefore，whenMissHatchardsentforheradayortwolater，totalkofaschoolatNettleton，andtosaythatthistimeafriendofherswould"makethenecessaryarrangements，"

CharitycuthershortwiththeannouncementthatshehaddecidednottoleaveNorthDormer。

MissHatchardreasonedwithherkindly，buttonopurpose;shesimplyrepeated："IguessMr。Royall’stoolonesome。"

MissHatchardblinkedperplexedlybehindhereye—

glasses。Herlongfrailfacewasfullofpuzzledwrinkles，andsheleantforward，restingherhandsonthearmsofhermahoganyarmchair，withtheevidentdesiretosaysomethingthatoughttobesaid。

"Thefeelingdoesyoucredit，mydear。"

Shelookedaboutthepalewallsofhersitting—room，seekingcounselofancestraldaguerreotypesanddidacticsamplers;buttheyseemedtomakeutterancemoredifficult。

"Thefactis，it’snotonly——notonlybecauseoftheadvantages。Thereareotherreasons。You’retooyoungtounderstand————"

"Oh，no，Iain’t，"saidCharityharshly;andMissHatchardblushedtotherootsofherblondecap。Butshemusthavefeltavaguereliefathavingherexplanationcutshort，forsheconcluded，againinvokingthedaguerreotypes："OfcourseIshallalwaysdowhatIcanforyou;andincase……incase……youknowyoucanalwayscometome……"

LawyerRoyallwaswaitingforCharityintheporchwhenshereturnedfromthisvisit。Hehadshaved，andbrushedhisblackcoat，andlookedamagnificentmonumentofaman;atsuchmomentsshereallyadmiredhim。

"Well，"hesaid，"isitsettled？"

"Yes，it’ssettled。Iain’tgoing。"

"NottotheNettletonschool？"

"Notanywhere。"

Heclearedhisthroatandaskedsternly："Why？"

"I’drathernot，"shesaid，swingingpasthimonherwaytoherroom。ItwasthefollowingweekthathebroughtheruptheCrimsonRambleranditsfanfromHepburn。Hehadnevergivenheranythingbefore。

Thenextoutstandingincidentofherlifehadhappenedtwoyearslater，whenshewasseventeen。LawyerRoyall，whohatedtogotoNettleton，hadbeencalledthereinconnectionwithacase。Hestillexercisedhisprofession，thoughlitigationlanguishedinNorthDormeranditsoutlyinghamlets;andforoncehehadhadanopportunitythathecouldnotaffordtorefuse。

HespentthreedaysinNettleton，wonhiscase，andcamebackinhighgood—humour。Itwasararemoodwithhim，andmanifesteditselfonthisoccasionbyhistalkingimpressivelyatthesupper—tableofthe"rousingwelcome"hisoldfriendshadgivenhim。Hewoundupconfidentially："IwasadamnfoolevertoleaveNettleton。ItwasMrs。Royallthatmademedoit。"

Charityimmediatelyperceivedthatsomethingbitterhadhappenedtohim，andthathewastryingtotalkdowntherecollection。Shewentuptobedearly，leavinghimseatedinmoodythought，hiselbowsproppedonthewornoilclothofthesuppertable。Onthewayupshehadextractedfromhisovercoatpocketthekeyofthecupboardwherethebottleofwhiskeywaskept。

Shewasawakenedbyarattlingatherdoorandjumpedoutofbed。SheheardMr。Royall’svoice，lowandperemptory，andopenedthedoor，fearinganaccident。

Nootherthoughthadoccurredtoher;butwhenshesawhiminthedoorway，arayfromtheautumnmoonfallingonhisdiscomposedface，sheunderstood。

Foramomenttheylookedateachotherinsilence;

then，asheputhisfootacrossthethreshold，shestretchedoutherarmandstoppedhim。

"Yougorightbackfromhere，"shesaid，inashrillvoicethatstartledher;"youain’tgoingtohavethatkeytonight。"

"Charity，letmein。Idon’twantthekey。I’malonesomeman，"hebegan，inthedeepvoicethatsometimesmovedher。

Herheartgaveastartledplunge，butshecontinuedtoholdhimbackcontemptuously。"Well，Iguessyoumadeamistake，then。Thisain’tyourwife’sroomanylonger。"

Shewasnotfrightened，shesimplyfeltadeepdisgust;

andperhapshedivineditorreaditinherface，forafterstaringatheramomenthedrewbackandturnedslowlyawayfromthedoor。Withhereartoherkeyholesheheardhimfeelhiswaydownthedarkstairs，andtowardthekitchen;andshelistenedforthecrashofthecupboardpanel，butinsteadsheheardhim，afteraninterval，unlockthedoorofthehouse，andhisheavystepscametoherthroughthesilenceashewalkeddownthepath。Shecrepttothewindowandsawhisbentfigurestridinguptheroadinthemoonlight。Thenabelatedsenseoffearcametoherwiththeconsciousnessofvictory，andsheslippedintobed，coldtothebone。

AdayortwolaterpoorEudoraSkeff，whofortwentyyearshadbeenthecustodianoftheHatchardlibrary，diedsuddenlyofpneumonia;andthedayafterthefuneralCharitywenttoseeMissHatchard，andaskedtobeappointedlibrarian。TherequestseemedtosurpriseMissHatchard：sheevidentlyquestionedthenewcandidate’squalifications。

"Why，Idon’tknow，mydear。Aren’tyourathertooyoung？"shehesitated。

"Iwanttoearnsomemoney，"Charitymerelyanswered。

"Doesn’tMr。Royallgiveyouallyourequire？NooneisrichinNorthDormer。"

"Iwanttoearnmoneyenoughtogetaway。"

"Togetaway？"MissHatchard’spuzzledwrinklesdeepened，andtherewasadistressfulpause。"YouwanttoleaveMr。Royall？"

"Yes：orIwantanotherwomaninthehousewithme，"

saidCharityresolutely。

MissHatchardclaspedhernervoushandsaboutthearmsofherchair。Hereyesinvokedthefadedcountenancesonthewall，andafterafaintcoughofindecisionshebroughtout："The……thehousework’stoohardforyou，I

suppose？"

Charity’sheartgrewcold。SheunderstoodthatMissHatchardhadnohelptogiveherandthatshewouldhavetofightherwayoutofherdifficultyalone。A

deepersenseofisolationovercameher;shefeltincalculablyold。"She’sgottobetalkedtolikeababy，"shethought，withafeelingofcompassionforMissHatchard’slongimmaturity。"Yes，that’sit，"shesaidaloud。"Thehousework’stoohardforme：I’vebeencoughingagooddealthisfall。"

Shenotedtheimmediateeffectofthissuggestion。MissHatchardpaledatthememoryofpoorEudora’staking—

off，andpromisedtodowhatshecould。Butofcoursetherewerepeopleshemustconsult：theclergyman，theselectmenofNorthDormer，andadistantHatchardrelativeatSpringfield。"Ifyou’donlygonetoschool！"shesighed。ShefollowedCharitytothedoor，andthere，inthesecurityofthethreshold，saidwithaglanceofevasiveappeal："IknowMr。Royallis……tryingattimes;buthiswifeborewithhim;andyoumustalwaysremember，Charity，thatitwasMr。

RoyallwhobroughtyoudownfromtheMountain。"CharitywenthomeandopenedthedoorofMr。Royall’s"office。"

HewassittingtherebythestovereadingDanielWebster’sspeeches。Theyhadmetatmealsduringthefivedaysthathadelapsedsincehehadcometoherdoor，andshehadwalkedathissideatEudora’sfuneral;buttheyhadnotspokenawordtoeachother。

Heglancedupinsurpriseassheentered，andshenoticedthathewasunshaved，andthathelookedunusuallyold;butasshehadalwaysthoughtofhimasanoldmanthechangeinhisappearancedidnotmoveher。ShetoldhimshehadbeentoseeMissHatchard，andwithwhatobject。Shesawthathewasastonished;

buthemadenocomment。

"Itoldherthehouseworkwastoohardforme，andI

wantedtoearnthemoneytopayforahiredgirl。ButIain’tgoingtopayforher：you’vegotto。Iwanttohavesomemoneyofmyown。"

Mr。Royall’sbushyblackeyebrowsweredrawntogetherinafrown，andhesatdrummingwithink—stainednailsontheedgeofhisdesk。

"Whatdoyouwanttoearnmoneyfor？"heasked。

"So’stogetawaywhenIwantto。"

"Whydoyouwanttogetaway？"

Hercontemptflashedout。"Doyousupposeanybody’dstayatNorthDormeriftheycouldhelpit？Youwouldn’t，folkssay！"

Withloweredheadheasked："Where’dyougoto？"

"AnywherewhereIcanearnmyliving。I’lltryherefirst，andifIcan’tdoithereI’llgosomewhereelse。I’llgouptheMountainifIhaveto。"Shepausedonthisthreat，andsawthatithadtakeneffect。"IwantyoushouldgetMissHatchardandtheselectmentotakemeatthelibrary：andIwantawomanhereinthehousewithme，"sherepeated。

Mr。Royallhadgrownexceedinglypale。Whensheendedhestoodupponderously，leaningagainstthedesk;andforasecondortwotheylookedateachother。

"Seehere，"hesaidatlengthasthoughutteranceweredifficult，"there’ssomethingI’vebeenwantingtosaytoyou;I’doughttohavesaiditbefore。Iwantyoutomarryme。"

Thegirlstillstaredathimwithoutmoving。"Iwantyoutomarryme，"herepeated，clearinghisthroat。

"Theminister’llbeupherenextSundayandwecanfixitupthen。OrI’lldriveyoudowntoHepburntotheJustice，andgetitdonethere。I’lldowhateveryousay。"Hiseyesfellunderthemercilessstareshecontinuedtofixonhim，andheshiftedhisweightuneasilyfromonefoottotheother。Ashestoodtherebeforeher，unwieldy，shabby，disordered，thepurpleveinsdistortingthehandshepressedagainstthedesk，andhislongorator’sjawtremblingwiththeeffortofhisavowal，heseemedlikeahideousparodyofthefatherlyoldmanshehadalwaysknown。

"Marryyou？Me？"sheburstoutwithascornfullaugh。

"Wasthatwhatyoucametoaskmetheothernight？

What’scomeoveryou，Iwonder？Howlongisitsinceyou’velookedatyourselfintheglass？"Shestraightenedherself，insolentlyconsciousofheryouthandstrength。"Isupposeyouthinkitwouldbecheapertomarrymethantokeepahiredgirl。Everybodyknowsyou’retheclosestmaninEagleCounty;butIguessyou’renotgoingtogetyourmendingdoneforyouthatwaytwice。"

Mr。Royalldidnotmovewhileshespoke。Hisfacewasash—colouredandhisblackeyebrowsquiveredasthoughtheblazeofherscornhadblindedhim。Whensheceasedhehelduphishand。

"That’lldo——that’llaboutdo，"hesaid。Heturnedtothedoorandtookhishatfromthehat—peg。Onthethresholdhepaused。"Peopleain’tbeenfairtome——

fromthefirsttheyain’tbeenfairtome，"hesaid。

Thenhewentout。

AfewdayslaterNorthDormerlearnedwithsurprisethatCharityhadbeenappointedlibrarianoftheHatchardMemorialatasalaryofeightdollarsamonth，andthatoldVerenaMarsh，fromtheCrestonAlmshouse，wascomingtoliveatlawyerRoyall’sanddothecooking。

III

ItwasnotintheroomknownattheredhouseasMr。

Royall’s"office"thathereceivedhisinfrequentclients。Professionaldignityandmasculineindependencemadeitnecessarythatheshouldhavearealoffice，underadifferentroof;andhisstandingastheonlylawyerofNorthDormerrequiredthattheroofshouldbethesameasthatwhichshelteredtheTownHallandthepost—office。

Itwashishabittowalktothisofficetwiceaday，morningandafternoon。Itwasonthegroundfloorofthebuilding，withaseparateentrance，andaweatheredname—plateonthedoor。Beforegoinginhesteppedintothepost—officeforhismail——usuallyanemptyceremony——saidawordortwotothetown—clerk，whosatacrossthepassageinidlestate，andthenwentovertothestoreontheoppositecorner，whereCarrickFry，thestorekeeper，alwayskeptachairforhim，andwherehewassuretofindoneortwoselectmenleaningonthelongcounter，inanatmosphereofrope，leather，tarandcoffee—beans。Mr。Royall，thoughmonosyllabicathome，wasnotaverse，incertainmoods，toimpartinghisviewstohisfellow—townsmen;perhaps，also，hewasunwillingthathisrareclientsshouldsurprisehimsitting，clerklessandunoccupied，inhisdustyoffice。

Atanyrate，hishourstherewerenotmuchlongerormoreregularthanCharity’satthelibrary;therestofthetimehespenteitheratthestoreorindrivingaboutthecountryonbusinessconnectedwiththeinsurancecompaniesthatherepresented，orinsittingathomereadingBancroft’sHistoryoftheUnitedStatesandthespeechesofDanielWebster。

SincethedaywhenCharityhadtoldhimthatshewishedtosucceedtoEudoraSkeff’sposttheirrelationshadundefinablybutdefinitelychanged。LawyerRoyallhadkepthisword。Hehadobtainedtheplaceforheratthecostofconsiderablemaneuvering，assheguessedfromthenumberofrivalcandidates，andfromtheacerbitywithwhichtwoofthem，OrmaFryandtheeldestTargattgirl，treatedherfornearlyayearafterward。AndhehadengagedVerenaMarshtocomeupfromCrestonanddothecooking。Verenawasapooroldwidow，dodderingandshiftless：Charitysuspectedthatshecameforherkeep。Mr。Royallwastoocloseamantogiveadollaradaytoasmartgirlwhenhecouldgetadeafpauperfornothing。Butatanyrate，Verenawasthere，intheatticjustoverCharity，andthefactthatshewasdeafdidnotgreatlytroubletheyounggirl。

Charityknewthatwhathadhappenedonthathatefulnightwouldnothappenagain。Sheunderstoodthat，profoundlyasshehaddespisedMr。Royalleversince，hedespisedhimselfstillmoreprofoundly。Ifshehadaskedforawomaninthehouseitwasfarlessforherowndefensethanforhishumiliation。Sheneedednoonetodefendher：hishumbledpridewashersurestprotection。Hehadneverspokenawordofexcuseorextenuation;theincidentwasasifithadneverbeen。

Yetitsconsequenceswerelatentineverywordthatheandsheexchanged，ineveryglancetheyinstinctivelyturnedfromeachother。Nothingnowwouldevershakeherruleintheredhouse。

OnthenightofhermeetingwithMissHatchard’scousinCharitylayinbed，herbarearmsclaspedunderherroughhead，andcontinuedtothinkofhim。ShesupposedthathemeanttospendsometimeinNorthDormer。Hehadsaidhewaslookinguptheoldhousesintheneighbourhood;andthoughshewasnotveryclearastohispurpose，orastowhyanyoneshouldlookforoldhouses，whentheylayinwaitforoneoneveryroadside，sheunderstoodthatheneededthehelpofbooks，andresolvedtohuntupthenextdaythevolumeshehadfailedtofind，andanyothersthatseemedrelatedtothesubject。

Neverhadherignoranceoflifeandliteraturesoweighedonherasinrelivingtheshortsceneofherdiscomfiture。"It’snousetryingtobeanythinginthisplace，"shemutteredtoherpillow;andsheshrivelledatthevisionofvaguemetropolises，shiningsuper—Nettletons，wheregirlsinbetterclothesthanBelleBalch’stalkedfluentlyofarchitecturetoyoungmenwithhandslikeLuciusHarney’s。Thensherememberedhissuddenpausewhenhehadcomeclosetothedeskandhadhisfirstlookather。Thesighthadmadehimforgetwhathewasgoingtosay;sherecalledthechangeinhisface，andjumpingupsheranoverthebareboardstoherwashstand，foundthematches，litacandle，andliftedittothesquareoflooking—glassonthewhite—washedwall。Hersmallface，usuallysodarklypale，glowedlikearoseinthefaintorboflight，andunderherrumpledhairhereyesseemeddeeperandlargerthanbyday。Perhapsafterallitwasamistaketowishtheywereblue。Aclumsybandandbuttonfastenedherunbleachednight—gownaboutthethroat。Sheundidit，freedherthinshoulders，andsawherselfabrideinlow—neckedsatin，walkingdownanaislewithLuciusHarney。Hewouldkissherastheyleftthechurch……Sheputdownthecandleandcoveredherfacewithherhandsasiftoimprisonthekiss。AtthatmomentsheheardMr。Royall’sstepashecameupthestairstobed，andafiercerevulsionoffeelingsweptoverher。Untilthenshehadmerelydespisedhim;nowdeephatredofhimfilledherheart。Hebecametoherahorribleoldman……

Thenextday，whenMr。Royallcamebacktodinner，theyfacedeachotherinsilenceasusual。Verena’spresenceatthetablewasanexcusefortheirnottalking，thoughherdeafnesswouldhavepermittedthefreestinterchangeofconfidences。Butwhenthemealwasover，andMr。Royallrosefromthetable，helookedbackatCharity，whohadstayedtohelptheoldwomanclearawaythedishes。

"Iwanttospeaktoyouaminute，"hesaid;andshefollowedhimacrossthepassage，wondering。

Heseatedhimselfinhisblackhorse—hairarmchair，andsheleanedagainstthewindow，indifferently。Shewasimpatienttobegonetothelibrary，tohuntforthebookonNorthDormer。

"Seehere，"hesaid，"whyain’tyouatthelibrarythedaysyou’resupposedtobethere？"

Thequestion，breakinginonhermoodofblissfulabstraction，deprivedherofspeech，andshestaredathimforamomentwithoutanswering。

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