IV + 

He stopped and lifted his hat with a shy smile. тАЬI beg your pardon,тАЭ he said. тАЬI thought there was no one here.тАЭ + 

Charity stood before him, barring his way. тАЬYou canтАЩt come in. The library ainтАЩt open to the public Wednesdays.тАЭ + 

тАЬI know itтАЩs not; but my cousin gave me her key.тАЭ + 

тАЬMiss HatchardтАЩs got no right to give her key to other folks, any moreтАЩn I have. IтАЩm the librarian and I know the bylaws. This is my library.тАЭ + 

The young man looked profoundly surprised. + 

тАЬWhy, I know it is; IтАЩm so sorry if you mind my coming.тАЭ + 

тАЬI suppose you came to see what more you could say to set her against me? But you neednтАЩt trouble: itтАЩs my library today, but it wonтАЩt be this time tomorrow. IтАЩm on the way now to take her back the key and the register.тАЭ + 

Young HarneyтАЩs face grew grave, but without betraying the consciousness of guilt she had looked for. + 

тАЬI donтАЩt understand,тАЭ he said. тАЬThere must be some mistake. Why should I say things against you to Miss HatchardтБатАФor to anyone?тАЭ + 

The apparent evasiveness of the reply caused CharityтАЩs indignation to overflow. тАЬI donтАЩt know why you should. I could understand Orma FryтАЩs doing it, because sheтАЩs always wanted to get me out of here ever since the first day. I canтАЩt see why, when sheтАЩs got her own home, and her father to work for her; nor Ida Targatt, neither, when she got a legacy from her stepbrother onтАЩy last year. But anyway we all live in the same place, and when itтАЩs a place like North Dormer itтАЩs enough to make people hate each other just to have to walk down the same street every day. But you donтАЩt live here, and you donтАЩt know anything about any of us, so what did you have to meddle for? Do you suppose the other girlsтАЩd have kept the books any betterтАЩn I did? Why, Orma Fry donтАЩt hardly know a book from a flatiron! And what if I donтАЩt always sit round here doing nothing till it strikes five up at the church? Who cares if the libraryтАЩs open or shut? Do you suppose anybody ever comes here for books? What theyтАЩd like to come for is to meet the fellows theyтАЩre going with if IтАЩd let тАЩem. But I wouldnтАЩt let Bill Sollas from over the hill hang round here waiting for the youngest Targatt girl, because I know himтБатАКтБатАж thatтАЩs allтБатАКтБатАж even if I donтАЩt know about books all I ought to.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

She stopped with a choking in her throat. Tremors of rage were running through her, and she steadied herself against the edge of the desk lest he should see her weakness. + 

What he saw seemed to affect him deeply, for he grew red under his sunburn, and stammered out: тАЬBut, Miss Royall, I assure youтБатАКтБатАж I assure you.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

His distress inflamed her anger, and she regained her voice to fling back: тАЬIf I was you IтАЩd have the nerve to stick to what I said!тАЭ + 

The taunt seemed to restore his presence of mind. тАЬI hope I should if I knew; but I donтАЩt. Apparently something disagreeable has happened, for which you think IтАЩm to blame. But I donтАЩt know what it is, because IтАЩve been up on Eagle Ridge ever since the early morning.тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know where youтАЩve been this morning, but I know you were here in this library yesterday; and it was you that went home and told your cousin the books were in bad shape, and brought her round to see how IтАЩd neglected them.тАЭ + 

Young Harney looked sincerely concerned. тАЬWas that what you were told? I donтАЩt wonder youтАЩre angry. The books are in bad shape, and as some are interesting itтАЩs a pity. I told Miss Hatchard they were suffering from dampness and lack of air; and I brought her here to show her how easily the place could be ventilated. I also told her you ought to have someone to help you do the dusting and airing. If you were given a wrong version of what I said IтАЩm sorry; but IтАЩm so fond of old books that IтАЩd rather see them made into a bonfire than left to moulder away like these.тАЭ + 

Charity felt her sobs rising and tried to stifle them in words. тАЬI donтАЩt care what you say you told her. All I know is she thinks itтАЩs all my fault, and IтАЩm going to lose my job, and I wanted it moreтАЩn anyone in the village, because I havenтАЩt got anybody belonging to me, the way other folks have. All I wanted was to put aside money enough to get away from here sometime. DтАЩyou suppose if it hadnтАЩt been for that IтАЩd have kept on sitting day after day in this old vault?тАЭ + 

Of this appeal her hearer took up only the last question. тАЬIt is an old vault; but need it be? ThatтАЩs the point. And itтАЩs my putting the question to my cousin that seems to have been the cause of the trouble.тАЭ His glance explored the melancholy penumbra of the long narrow room, resting on the blotched walls, the discoloured rows of books, and the stern rosewood desk surmounted by the portrait of the young Honorius. тАЬOf course itтАЩs a bad job to do anything with a building jammed against a hill like this ridiculous mausoleum: you couldnтАЩt get a good draught through it without blowing a hole in the mountain. But it can be ventilated after a fashion, and the sun can be let in: IтАЩll show you how if you like.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ The architectтАЩs passion for improvement had 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 no interest in the ventilation of the library, and turning back to her abruptly he held out both hands. тАЬLook hereтБатАФyou donтАЩt mean what you said? You donтАЩt really think IтАЩd do anything to hurt you?тАЭ + 

A new note in his voice disarmed her: no one had ever spoken to her in that tone. + 

тАЬOh, what did you do it for then?тАЭ she wailed. He had her hands in his, and she was feeling the smooth touch that she had imagined the day before on the hillside. + 

He pressed her hands lightly and let them go. тАЬWhy, to make things pleasanter for you here; and better for the books. IтАЩm sorry if my cousin twisted around what I said. SheтАЩs excitable, and she lives on trifles: I ought to have remembered that. DonтАЩt punish me by letting her think you take her seriously.тАЭ + 

It was wonderful to hear him speak of Miss Hatchard as if she were a querulous baby: in spite of his shyness he had the air of power that the experience of cities probably gave. It was the fact of having lived in Nettleton that made lawyer Royall, in spite of his infirmities, the strongest man in North Dormer; and Charity was sure that this young man had lived in bigger places than Nettleton. + 

She felt that if she kept up her denunciatory tone he would secretly class her with Miss Hatchard; and the thought made her suddenly simple. + 

тАЬIt donтАЩt matter to Miss Hatchard how I take her. Mr.┬аRoyall says sheтАЩs going to get a trained librarian; and IтАЩd sooner resign than have the village say she sent me away.тАЭ + 

тАЬNaturally you would. But IтАЩm sure she doesnтАЩt mean to send you away. At any rate, wonтАЩt you give me the chance to find out first and let you know? It will be time enough to resign if IтАЩm mistaken.тАЭ + 

Her pride flamed into her cheeks at the suggestion of his intervening. тАЬI donтАЩt want anybody should coax her to keep me if I donтАЩt suit.тАЭ + 

He coloured too. тАЬI give you my word I wonтАЩt do that. Only wait till tomorrow, will you?тАЭ He looked straight into her eyes with his shy grey glance. тАЬYou can trust me, you knowтБатАФyou really can.тАЭ + 

All the old frozen woes seemed to melt in her, and she murmured awkwardly, looking away from him: тАЬOh, IтАЩll wait.тАЭ + 