meifconvenient.—BerthaLey.’ItwasaddressedfromNaplesandIwasinFlorence.OfcourseIrusheddown,takingnothingbutabag,afewyardsofcrape,andsomesmelling-salts.IwasmetatthestationbyBertha,whomIhadn’tseenfortenyearsIsawatallandhandsomeyoungwoman,veryself-possessed,andadmirablygownedintheverylatestfashion.Ikissedherinasubduedway,propertotheoccasionandaswedroveback,inquiredwhenthefuneralwastobe,holdingthesmelling-saltsinreadinessforanoutburstofweeping.‘Oh,it’sallover,’shesaid.‘Ididn’tsendmywiretilleverythingwassettledIthoughtitwouldonlyupsetyou.I’vegivennoticetothelandlordofthevillaandtotheservants.Therewasreallynoneedforyoutocomeatall,onlythedoctorandtheEnglishparsonseemedtothinkitratherqueerofmetobeherealone.’Iusedthesmelling-saltsmyself!ImaginemyemotionIexpectedtofindahobbledehoyofagirlinhysterics,everythingtopsy-turvyandallsortsofhorridthingstodoinsteadofwhichIfoundeverythingarrangedperfectlywellandthehobbledehoyratherdisposedtomanagemeifIlether.Atluncheonshelookedatmytravellingdress.‘IsupposeyouleftFlorenceinahurry,’sheremarked.‘Ifyouwanttogetanythingblack,you’dbettergotomydressmakershe’snotbad.Imustgotherethisafternoonmyselftotrysomethingson.’”
MissLeystoppedandlookedatthedoctortoseetheeffectofherwords.Hesaidnothing.
“AndtheimpressionIgainedthen,”sheadded,“hasonlybeenstrengthenedsince.You’llbeaveryclevermanifyoupreventBerthafromdoingathinguponwhichshehassethermind.”
“D’youmeantotellmethatyou’regoingtosanctionthemarriage?”
MissLeyshruggedhershoulders.“MydearDr.Ramsay,Itellyouitwon’tmaketheleastdifferencewhetherweblessorcurse.Andheseemsanaveragesortofyoungman—letusbethankfulthatshe’sdonenoworse.He’snotuneducated.”
“No,he’snotthat.HespenttenyearsatRegisScho