eardanythingsoenthralling.ButaboveallBerthawishedtoseethehouseinwhichhelived.
“D’youmindgivingmeaglassofwater?”shesaid,“I’msothirsty.”
“Docomein,”heanswered,openingthedoor.
Heledhertoalittleparlourwithanoil-clothonthefloor.Onthetable,whichtookupmostoftheroom,wasastamped,redcloththechairsandthesofa,coveredwithwornoldleather,werearrangedwiththegreatestpossiblestiffness.Onthechimney-piece,alongwithpipesandtobacco-jars,werebrightchinavaseswithrushesinthem,andinthemiddleamarbleclock.
“Ohhowpretty!”criedBertha,withenthusiasm.“Youmustfeelverylonelyherebyyourself.”
“Ohno—I’malwaysout.ShallIgetyousomemilk?It’llbebetterforyouthanwater.”
ButBerthasawanapkinlaidonthetable,ajugofbeer,andsomebreadandcheese.
“HaveIbeenkeepingyoufromyourlunch?”sheasked.“I’msosorry.”
“Itdoesn’tmatteratall.Ijusthavealittlesnackateleven.”
“Oh,mayIhavesometoo?Ilovebreadandcheese,andI’mperfectlyravenous.”
Theysatoppositeoneanother,seeingagreatjokeintheimpromptumeal.Thebread,whichhecutinagreatchunk,wasdelicious,andthebeer,ofcourse,wasnectar.Butafterwards,BerthafearedthatCraddockmustbethinkinghersomewhatodd.
“D’youthinkit’sveryeccentricofmetocomeandlunchwithyouinthisway?”
“Ithinkit’sawfullygoodofyou.Mr.Leyoftenusedtocomeandhaveasnackwithmyfather.”
“Oh,didhe?”saidBertha.Ofcoursethatmadeherproceedingquitenatural.“ButIreallymustgonow.IshallgetintoawfultroublewithAuntPolly.”
Hebeggedhertotakesomeflowers,andhastilycutabunchofdahlias.Sheacceptedthemwiththemostembarrassinggratitudeandwhentheyshookhandsatparting,herheartwentpit-a-patagainridiculously.
MissLeyinquiredfromwhomshegotherflowers.
“Oh,”saidBerthacoolly,“Ihappenedtomeetoneofthetenantsandhegavethemtome.”
“Hm,”murmuredMissLey,“itwouldbemoretothepurposeiftheypaidtheirrent.”
MissLeypresentlylefttheroom,andBerthalookedattheprimdahliaswithaheartfullofemotion.Shegavealaugh.
“It’snogoodtryingtohideitfrommyself,”shemurmured,“I’mheadoverearsinlove.”
Shekissedtheflowersandfeltveryglad....Sheevidentlywasin