onatedevotion.
SincehisarrivalMissLeyhadbeenobservingCraddockwithgreatminuteness,and,beingawoman,couldnothelpfindingsomepleasureintheknowledgethatBerthawastryingwithanxietytodiscoverherjudgment.Craddock’sappearancewasprepossessing.MissLeylikedyoungmengenerally,andthiswasaverygood-lookingmemberofthespecies.Hiseyesweregood,butotherwisetherewasnothingremarkableinthephysiognomy—helookedhealthyandgood-tempered.MissLeynoticedeventhathedidnotbitehisnails,andthathishandswerestrongandfirm.TherewasreallynothingtodistinguishhimfromthecommonrunofhealthyyoungEnglishmen,withgoodmoralsandfinephysiquebuttheclassispleasant.MissLey’sonlywonderwasthatBerthahadchosenhimratherthantenthousandothersofthesamevariety,forthatBerthahadchosenhimsomewhatactivelytherewasinMissLey’smindnottheshadowofadoubt.
MissLeyturnedtohim.
“HasBerthashownyouourchickens?”sheasked,calmly.
“No,”hesaid,surprisedatthequestion“Ihopeshewill.”
“Oh,nodoubt.YouknowIamquiteignorantofagriculture.Haveyoueverbeenabroad?”
“No,Isticktomyowncountry,”hereplied“it’sgoodenoughforme.”
“Idaresayitis,”saidMissLey,lookingtotheground.“Berthamustcertainlyshowyouourchickens.Theyinterestmebecausethey’reverylikehumanbeings—they’resostupid.”
“Ican’tgetminetolayatallatthistimeofyear,”saidCraddock.
“OfcourseI’mnotanagriculturist,”repeatedMissLey,“butchickensamuseme.”
Dr.Ramsaybegantosmile,andBerthaflushedangrily.
“Youhavenevershownanyinterestinthechickensbefore,AuntPolly.”
“Haven’tI,mydear?Don’tyourememberlastnightIremarkedhowtoughwasthatonewehadfordinner?...HowlonghaveyouknownBertha,Mr.Craddock?”
“Itseemsallmylife,”hereplied.“AndIwanttoknowhermore.”
ThistimeBerthasmiled,andMissLey,thoughshefel