Edith Wharton - Penn State University

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Summerrage were running through her, and she steadied herselfagainst the edge of the desk lest he should see her weakness.What he saw seemed to affect him deeply, for he grewred under his sunburn, and stammered out: “But, MissRoyall, I assure you...I assure you...”His distress inflamed her anger, and she regained hervoice to fling back: “If I was you I’d have the nerve tostick to what I said!”The taunt seemed to restore his presence of mind. “Ihope I should if I knew; but I don’t. Apparently somethingdisagreeable has happened, for which you think I’mto blame. But I don’t know what it is, because I’ve beenup on Eagle Ridge ever since the early morning.”“I don’t know where you’ve been this morning, but Iknow you were here in this library yesterday; and it wasyou that went home and told your cousin the books werein bad shape, and brought her round to see how I’d neglectedthem.”Young Harney looked sincerely concerned. “Was thatwhat you were told? I don’t wonder you’re angry. Thebooks are in bad shape, and as some are interesting it’s apity. I told Miss Hatchard they were suffering from dampnessand lack of air; and I brought her here to show herhow easily the place could be ventilated. I also told heryou ought to have some one to help you do the dustingand airing. If you were given a wrong version of what Isaid I’m sorry; but I’m so fond of old books that I’d rathersee them made into a bonfire than left to moulder awaylike these.”Charity felt her sobs rising and tried to stifle them in words.“I don’t care what you say you told her. All I know is shethinks it’s all my fault, and I’m going to lose my job, and Iwanted it more’n anyone in the village, because I haven’tgot anybody belonging to me, the way other folks have. AllI wanted was to put aside money enough to get away fromhere sometime. D’you suppose if it hadn’t been for that I’dhave kept on sitting day after day in this old vault?”Of this appeal her hearer took up only the last question.“It is an old vault; but need it be? That’s the point. And it’smy putting the question to my cousin that seems to havebeen the cause of the trouble.” His glance explored the24
<strong>Edith</strong> <strong>Wharton</strong>melancholy penumbra of the long narrow room, restingon the blotched walls, the discoloured rows of books, andthe stern rosewood desk surmounted by the portrait of theyoung Honorius. “Of course it’s a bad job to do anythingwith a building jammed against a hill like this ridiculousmausoleum: you couldn’t get a good draught through itwithout blowing a hole in the mountain. But it can be ventilatedafter a fashion, and the sun can be let in: I’ll showyou how if you like....” The architect’s passion for improvementhad already made him lose sight of her grievance,and he lifted his stick instructively toward the cornice.But her silence seemed to tell him that she took nointerest in the ventilation of the library, and turning backto her abruptly he held out both hands. “Look here—youdon’t mean what you said? You don’t really think I’d doanything to hurt you?”A new note in his voice disarmed her: no one had everspoken to her in that tone.“Oh, what DID you do it for then?” she wailed. He hadher hands in his, and she was feeling the smooth touchthat she had imagined the day before on the hillside.He pressed her hands lightly and let them go. “Why, tomake things pleasanter for you here; and better for thebooks. I’m sorry if my cousin twisted around what I said.She’s excitable, and she lives on trifles: I ought to haveremembered that. Don’t punish me by letting her thinkyou take her seriously.”It was wonderful to hear him speak of Miss Hatchard asif she were a querulous baby: in spite of his shyness hehad the air of power that the experience of cities probablygave. It was the fact of having lived in Nettleton that madelawyer Royall, in spite of his infirmities, the strongest manin North Dormer; and Charity was sure that this youngman had lived in bigger places than Nettleton.She felt that if she kept up her denunciatory tone hewould secretly class her with Miss Hatchard; and thethought made her suddenly simple.“It don’t matter to Miss Hatchard how I take her. Mr.Royall says she’s going to get a trained librarian; and I’dsooner resign than have the village say she sent me away.”“Naturally you would. But I’m sure she doesn’t mean tosend you away. At any rate, won’t you give me the chance25
Page 1 and 2: SUMMERbyEdith WhartonANELECTRONIC C
Page 3 and 4: SummerbyEdith Wharton1917IA GIRL CA
Page 5 and 6: Edith WhartonLibrary; then the impr
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Page 9 and 10: Edith Whartonhouses about here. I s
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Page 15 and 16: Edith Whartonkitchen; and she liste
Page 17 and 18: Edith Whartonhe stood up ponderousl
Page 19 and 20: Edith WhartonMr. Royall was too clo
Page 21 and 22: Edith Wharton“Yesterday?” she l
Page 23: Edith WhartonCharity stood before h
Page 27 and 28: Edith Whartonand all were merged in
Page 29 and 30: Edith WhartonI’ve told you, haven
Page 31 and 32: Edith Whartonbut she did not want i
Page 33 and 34: Edith Whartonup on the Mountain. Th
Page 35 and 36: Edith Whartonyond her range; but to
Page 37 and 38: Edith Whartonbegged Mr. Royall to r
Page 39 and 40: Edith Whartonity felt a faint chill
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Page 43 and 44: Edith Whartonfull of whiskey, and C
Page 45 and 46: Edith WhartonThat day, for the firs
Page 47 and 48: Edith WhartonCharity dropped her pe
Page 49 and 50: Edith WhartonThe tone with which Mr
Page 51 and 52: Edith Whartonholding a pencil and t
Page 53 and 54: Edith Whartonthat went on drearily,
Page 55 and 56: Edith Whartonon the stairs when he
Page 57 and 58: Edith WhartonCharity listened in a
Page 59 and 60: Edith Whartonnarrow room. “Well,
Page 61 and 62: Edith WhartonThe answer seemed to b
Page 63 and 64: Edith Whartonyellow sunrise broaden
Page 65 and 66: Edith Whartonalong so briskly that
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Edith Whartonthat the people jostli
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Edith Whartonat Creston River, char
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Edith Whartonher, and face to face
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Edith Whartonrunning up the branch
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Edith WhartonTHE LITTLE OLD HOUSE
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Edith Whartonthose who had been obl
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Edith Whartonfound plenty of reason
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Edith WhartonShe sped up the street
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Edith Whartonwas in the room; but o
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Edith WhartonThey were later than u
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Edith Whartonthat they were to foll
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Edith Whartontion, and turn your ba
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Edith WhartonShe forced herself to
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Edith Whartonthe return, while they
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Edith WhartonThere was an immense a
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Edith Whartonshelf, took down a tin
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Edith Whartonagencies he represente
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Edith Whartonother people’s cloth
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Edith WhartonAs she approached the
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Edith Whartonher that medical advic
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Edith Whartonwas not free: she coul
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Edith WhartonHarney had written tha
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Edith Whartondefend her secret from
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Edith Whartonof his words. But as h
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Edith WhartonAs the buggy drew up t
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Edith WhartonMr. Miles had set the
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Edith Whartonpicking up the coat, c
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Edith Whartonsilence she and Charit
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Edith Whartonand bring it pretty th
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Edith Whartonnear her in the awful
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Edith WhartonAfter a while Mr. Roya
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Edith Whartonthe denuded country. F
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Edith Whartonbefore in the desolate
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Edith WhartonCharity stood among th
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Edith Wharton“I thought you’d b
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Edith Whartonals that had fired her
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Edith Wharton - Penn State University

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