adyplansforputtingtheparkinorder,fortakingovertheHomeFarmandworkingithimself.
“Iwishwewerehome,”saidBertha.“I’msickofLondon.”
“Idon’tthinkIshouldmindmuchifwe’dgottotheendofourfortnight,”hereplied.
Craddockhadarrangedwithhimselftostayintownfourteendays,andhecouldnotalterhismind.Itmadehimuncomfortabletochangehisplansandthinkoutsomethingnewhepridedhimself,moreover,onalwaysdoingthethinghehaddetermined.
ButalettercamefromMissLeyannouncingthatshehadpackedhertrunksandwasstartingforthecontinent.
“Oughtn’twetoaskhertostayon?”saidCraddock.“Itseemsabitroughtoturnheroutsoquickly.”
“Youdon’twanttohaveherlivewithus,doyou?”askedBertha,insomedismay.
“No,rathernotbutIdon’tseewhyyoushouldpackherofflikeaservantwithamonth’snotice.”
“Oh,I’llaskhertostay,”saidBertha,anxioustoobeyherhusband’ssmallestwishandobediencewaseasy,forsheknewthatMissLeywouldneverdreamofacceptingtheoffer.
Berthawishedtoseenoonejustthen,leastofallheraunt,feelingconfusedlythatherblisswouldbediminishedbytheintrusionofanactorinheroldlife.Heremotionsalsoweretoointenseforconcealment,andshewouldhavebeenashamedtodisplaythemtoMissLey’scriticalinstinct.Berthasawonlydiscomfortinmeetingtheelderlady,withhercalmironyandpolitecontemptforthethingswhichonherhusband’saccountBerthamostsincerelycherished.
ButMissLey’sreplyshowedperhapsthatsheguessedherniece’sthoughtsbetterthanBerthahadgivenhercreditfor.
MydearestBertha,—IammuchobligedtoyourhusbandforhispolitenessinaskingmetostayatCourtLeysbutIflattermyselfyouhavetoohighanopinionofmetothinkmecapableofaccepting.Newlymarriedpeopleoffermuchmatterforridicule(which,theysay,isthenoblestcharacteristicofman,beingtheonlyonethatdistinguisheshimfromthebrutes)butsinceIamapeculiarlyself-denyingcreature,Idonotavail-myselfoftheopportunity.Perhapsinayearyouwillhavebeguntoseeoneanother’simperfectionsandthen,thoughlessamusing,youwillbemoreinteresting.No,Iamgoingt