BERTHAthrewoffhertroubledlooksandthevexationwhichtheargumenthadcausedher.Sheblushedcharminglyasthedooropened,andwiththeentranceofthefairyprinceherfacewaswreathedinsmiles.Shewenttowardshimandtookhishands.
“AuntPolly,”shesaid,“thisisMr.EdwardCraddock....Dr.Ramsayyouknow.”
HeshookhandswithMissLeyandlookedatthedoctor,whopromptlyturnedhisbackonhim.Craddockflushed,andsatdownbyMissLey.
“Weweretalkingaboutyou,dearest,”saidBertha.Thepauseathisarrivalhadbeendisconcerting,andwhileCraddockwasrathernervouslythinkingofsomethingtosay,MissLeymadenoefforttohelphim.“IhavetoldAuntPollyandDr.Ramsaythatweintendtobemarriedfourweeksfromto-day.”
ThiswasthefirstthatCraddockhadheardofthedate,butheshowednoparticularastonishment.Hewas,infact,tryingtorecallthespeechwhichhehadcomposedfortheoccasion.
“Iwilltrytobeagoodhusbandtoyourniece,MissLey,”hebegan.
Butthatladyinterruptedhim:shehadalreadycometotheconclusionthathewasamanlikelytosayonagivenoccasionthesortofthingwhichmightbeexpectedandthat,inhereyes,wasahideouscrime.
“Ohyes,Ihavenodoubt,”shereplied.“Bertha,asyouknow,isherownmistress,andresponsibleforheractstonoone.”
Craddockwasalittleembarrassedhehadmeanttoexpresshissenseofunworthinessandhisdesiretodohisduty,alsotomakeclearhisownposition,butMissLey’sremarkseemedtoprohibitfurtherexplanation.
“Whichisreallyveryconvenient,”saidBertha,comingtohisrescue,“becauseIhaveamindtomanagemylifeinmyownway,withoutinterferencefromanybody.”
MissLeywonderedwhethertheyoungmanlookeduponBertha’sstatementasauguringcompletetranquillityinthefuture,butCraddockseemedtoseeinitnothingominoushelookedatBerthawithagratefulsmile,andtheglancewhichshereturnedwasfullofthemostpassi