NEXTday,afterluncheon,MissLeyretiredtothedrawing-roomandunpackedthebookswhichhadjustarrivedfromMudie.Shelookedthroughthem,andreadapagehereandtheretoseewhattheywerelike,thinkingmeanwhileofthemealtheyhadjustfinished.EdwardCraddockhadbeensomewhatnervous,sittinguncomfortablyonhischair,tooofficious,perhaps,inhandingthingstoMissLey,saltandpepperandthelike,ashesawshewantedthem.Heevidentlywishedtomakehimselfamiable.Atthesametimehewassubdued,andnotgailyenthusiasticasmightbeexpectedfromahappylover.MissLeycouldnothelpaskingherselfifhereallylovedherniece.Berthawasobviouslywithoutadoubtonthesubject.Shehadbeenradiant,keepinghereyesallthewhilefixedupontheyoungmanasifhewerethemostdelightfulandwonderfulobjectshehadeverseen.MissLeywassurprisedatthegirl’sexpansiveness,contrastingwithheroldreserve.Sheseemednownottocareastrawifalltheworldsawheremotions.Shewasnotonlyhappytobeinlove,shewasproudalso.MissLeylaughedaloudatthedoctor’sideathathecoulddisturbthecourseofsuchpassion....ButifMissLey,wellawarethatthewatering-potsofreasoncouldnotputoutthoseragingfires,hadnointentionofhinderingthematch,neitherhadsheadesiretowitnessthepreliminariesthereofandafterluncheon,remarkingthatshefelttiredandmeanttoliedown,wentintothedrawing-roomalone.Itpleasedhertothinkshecouldatthesametimesuitthelovers’pleasureandherownconvenience.
Shechosethatbookfromthebundlewhichseemedmostpromising,andbegantoread.Presentlythedoorwasopenedbyaservant,andMissGloverwasannounced.AnexpressionofannoyancepassedoverMissLey’sface,butwasimmediatelysucceededbyoneofmellifluousamiability.
“Oh,don’tgetup,dearMissLey,”saidthevisitor,asherhostessslowlyrosefromthesofa.
MissLeyshookhandsandbegantotalk.ShesaidshewasdelightedtoseeMissGlover,thinkingmeanwhilethatthisestimableperson’ssenseofetiquettewasverytedious.TheGlovershaddinedatCourtLeysduringthepreviousweek,andpunctuallysevendaysafterwardsMissGloverwaspayingaceremoniouscall.
MissGloverwasaworthype