ol,Tercanburysoheoughttoknowsomething.”
“Whatwasexactlyhisfather?”
“Hisfatherwasthesameashimself—agentleman-farmer.He’dbeeneducatedatRegisSchool,ashissonwas.Heknewmostofthegentry,buthewasn’tquiteoneofthemheknewallthefarmersandhewasn’tquiteoneofthemeither.Andthat’swhatthey’vebeenforgenerations,neitherflesh,fowl,norgoodredherring.”
“It’sthosepeoplethatthenewspaperstellusarethebackboneofthecountry,Dr.Ramsay.”
“Let’emremainintheirproperplacethen,intheback,”saidthedoctor.“Youcandoasyouplease,MissLeyI’mgoingtoputastoptothebusiness.Afterall,oldMr.Leymademethegirl’sguardian,andthoughsheistwenty-oneIthinkit’smydutytoseethatshedoesn’tfallintothehandsofthefirstpennilessscampwhoaskshertomarryhim.”
“Youcandoasyouplease,”retortedMissLey,whowasalittlebored.“You’lldonogoodwithBertha.”
“I’mnotgoingtoBerthaI’mgoingtoCraddockdirect,andImeantogivehimapieceofmymind.”
MissLeyshruggedhershoulders.Dr.Ramsayevidentlydidnotseewhowastheactivepartyinthematter,andshedidnotfeelitherdutytoinformhim.
“Thequestionis,”shesaidquietly,“canshemarryanyoneworse?ImustsayI’mquiterelievedthatBerthadoesn’twanttomarryacreaturefromBayswater.”
Thedoctortookhisleave,andinafewminutesBerthajoinedMissLey.Thelatterobviouslyintendedtomakenoeffortstodisturbthecourseoftruelove.
“You’llhavetobethinkingoforderingyourtrousseau,mydear,”shesaid,withadrysmile.
“We’regoingtobemarriedquiteprivately,”answeredBertha.“Weneitherofuswanttomakeafuss.”
“Ithinkyou’reverywise.Ofcoursemostpeople,whentheygetmarried,fancythey’redoingaveryoriginalthing.ItneveroccurstothemthatquiteanumberofpersonshavecommittedmatrimonysinceAdamandEve.”
“I’veaskedEdwardtoluncheonto-morrow,”saidBertha.