SOMEdayslater,aftertheduepreliminarieswhichMrs.Brandertonwouldonnoaccounthaveneglected,theCraddocksreceivedaninvitationtodinner.Berthasilentlypassedittoherhusband.
“Iwonderwhoshe’llasktomeetus,”hesaid.
“D’youwanttogo?”askedBertha.
“Why,don’tyou?We’vegotnoengagement,havewe?”
“Haveyoueverdinedtherebefore?”saidBertha.
“No.I’vebeentotennis-partiesandthatsortofthing,butI’vehardlysetfootinsidetheirhouse.”
“Well,Ithinkit’sanimpertinenceofhertoaskyounow.”
Edwardopenedhismouthwide:“Whatonearthd’youmean?”
“Oh,don’tyousee?”criedhiswife,“they’remerelyaskingyoubecauseyou’remyhusband.It’shumiliating.”
“Nonsense!”repliedEdward,laughing.“Andiftheyare,whatdoIcare?—I’mnotsothin-skinnedasthat.Mrs.BrandertonwasverynicetometheotherSundayitwouldbefunnyifwedidn’taccept.”
“Didyouthinkshewasnice?Didn’tyouseethatshewaspatronisingyouasifyouwereagroom.Itmademeboilwithrage.Icouldhardlyholdmytongue.”
Edwardlaughedagain.“Inevernoticedanything.It’sjustyourfancy,Bertha.”
“I’mnotgoingtoherhorriddinner-party.”
“ThenIshallgobymyself,”hereplied,laughing.
Berthaturnedwhiteitwasasifshehadreceivedasuddenblowbuthewaslaughing,ofcoursehedidnotmeanwhathesaid.Shehurriedlyagreedtoallheasked.
“Ofcourseifyouwanttogo,Eddie,I’llcometoo....ItwasonlyforyoursakethatIdidnotwishto.”
“Wemustbeneighbourly.Iwanttobefriendswitheverybody.”
Shesatonthesideofhischair,puttingherarmroundhisneck.Edwardpattedherhandandshelookedathimwitheyesfullofeagerlove,shebentdownandkissedhishair.Howfoolishhadbeenhersuddenthoughtthathedidnotloveher!
ButBerthahadanotherreasonfornotwishingtogotoMrs.Branderton.SheknewEdwardwouldbebitterlycriticised,andthethoughtmadeherwretchedtheywouldtalkofhisappearanceandmanner,andwonderhowtheygotontogether.BerthaunderstoodwellenoughthepositionEdwardoccupiedinLeanhamtheBrandertonsandtheirlike,knowinghimallhislife,hadtreatedhimasamereacquaintance:forthemhehadbeenapersontowhomyouarecivil,andthati