foreknowingamanforfiveminutesshemadeuphermindabouthim,andlikednothingbetterthantoimpartherimpressiontoanythataskedher.
“Uponmyword,doctor,”shesaid,assoonasthedoorwasshut,“he’snotsoterribleasIexpected.”
“Ineversaidhewasnotgood-looking,”pointedlyansweredDr.Ramsay,whowasconvincedthatanyandeverywomanwaswillingtomakeherselfafoolwithahandsomeman.
MissLeysmiled.“Goodlooks,mydeardoctor,arethreepartsofthenecessaryequipmentinthebattleoflife.Youcan’timaginethemiserableexistenceofareallyplaingirl.”
“DoyouapproveofBertha’sridiculousidea?”
“Totellyouthetruth,IthinkitmakesverylittledifferenceifyouandIapproveornotthereforewe’dmuchbettertakethematterquietly.”
“Youcandowhatyoulike,MissLey,”repliedthedoctorverybluntly,“butImeantostopthebusiness.”
“Youwon’t,mydeardoctor,”saidMissLey,smilingagain.“IknowBerthasomuchbetterthanyou.I’velivedwithherforthreeyears,andI’vefoundconstantentertainmentinthestudyofhercharacter....LetmetellyouhowIfirstknewher.OfcourseyouknowthatherfatherandIhadn’tbeenonspeakingtermsforyears.Havingplayedducksanddrakeswithhisownmoney,hewantedtoplaythesamesillygamewithmineandasIstronglyobjectedheflewintoaviolentpassion,calledmeanungratefulwretch,andnourishedthegrievancetotheendofhisdays.Well,hishealthbrokedownafterhiswife’sdeath,andhespentseveralyearswithBerthawanderingaboutthecontinent.Shewaseducatedasbestcouldbe,inhalf-a-dozencountries,andit’samarveltomethatsheisnotentirelyignorantorentirelyvicious.She’sabrilliantexampleinfavouroftheopinionthatthehumanraceisinclinedtogoodratherthantoevil.”
MissLeysmiled,forshewasherselfconvincedofpreciselytheopposite.
“Well,oneday,”sheproceeded,“Igotatelegram,sentthroughmysolicitors:‘Fatherdead,pleaseco