tcertainthereparteewasunintentional,wasnotdispleasedwithit.
AllthistimeDr.Ramsaywasnotsayingaword,andhisbehaviourarousedBertha’sanger.
“Ihaveneverseenyousitforfiveminutesinsilencebefore,Dr.Ramsay,”shesaid.
“IthinkwhatIhavetosaywouldscarcelypleaseyou,MissBertha.”
MissLeywasanxiousthatnoaltercationshoulddisturbthepolitediscomfortofthemeeting.
“You’rethinkingaboutthoserentsagain,doctor,”shesaid,andturningtoCraddock:“Thepoordoctorisunhappybecausehalfofourtenantssaytheycannotpay.”
Thepoordoctorgruntedandsniffed,andMissLeythoughtitwashightimefortheyoungmantotakehisleave.ShelookedatBertha,whoquicklyunderstood,andgettingup,said—
“Letusleavethemalone,EddieIwanttoshowyouthehouse.”
Herosewithalacrity,evidentlymuchrelievedattheendoftheordeal.HeshookMissLey’shand,andthistimecouldnotberestrainedfrommakingalittlespeech.
“Ihopeyou’renotangrywithmefortakingBerthaawayfromyou.IhopeIshallsoongettoknowyoubetter,andthatweshallbecomegreatfriends.”
MissLeywastakenaback,butreallythoughthiseffortnotbad.Itmighthavebeenworse,andatalleventshehadkeptoutofitreferencestotheAlmightyandtohisduty!ThenCraddockturnedtoDr.Ramsay,andwentuptohimwithanoutstretchedhandthatcouldnotberefused.
“Ishouldliketoseeyousometime,Dr.Ramsay,”hesaid,lookingathimsteadily.“Ifancyyouwanttohaveatalkwithme,andIshouldlikeittoo.Whencanyougivemeanappointment?”
Berthaflushedwithpleasureathisfrankwords,andMissLeywaspleasedatthecouragewithwhichhehadattackedtheoldcurmudgeon.
“Ithinkitwouldbeaverygoodidea,”saidthedoctor.“Icanseeyouto-nightateight.”
“Good!Good-bye,MissLey.”
HewentoutwithBertha.
MissLeywasnotoneofthosepersonswhoconsideritindiscreettoformanopinionuponsmallevidence.Be