.
ThoughBerthaabhorredallinnovations,shehadmeeklyacceptedEdward’simprovements:theyformedaninexhaustibletopicofconversation,andhisenthusiasmalwayspleasedher.
“ByJove,”hesaid,rubbinghishands,“thechangeswillmakeyourauntsimplyjump,won’tthey?”
“Theywillindeed,”saidBertha,smiling.
SheshudderedalittleattheprospectofMissLey’ssarcasticpraise.
“She’llhardlyrecognisetheplacethehouselooksasgoodasnew,andthegroundsmighthavebeenlaidoutonlyhalf-a-dozenyearsago....Givemefiveyearsmoreandevenyouwon’tknowyouroldhome.”
MissLeyhadatlastacceptedoneoftheinvitationswhichEdwardinsistedshouldbeshowereduponher,andwrotetosayshewascomingdownforaweek.Edwardwasofcoursemuchpleasedashesaid,hewantedtobefriendswitheverybody,anditdidn’tseemnaturalthatBertha’sonlyrelativeshouldmakeapointofavoidingthem.
“Itlooksasifshedidn’tapproveofourmarriage,anditmakesthepeopletalk.”
Hemetthegoodladyatthestation,andsomewhattoherdisgustgreetedherwitheffusion.
“Ah,hereyouareatlast!”hebellowed,inhisjovialway.“Wethoughtyouwerenevercoming.Here,porter!”Heraisedhisvoicesothattheplatformshookandrumbled.
HeseizedbothMissLey’shands,andtheterrifyingthoughtflashedthroughherheadthathewouldkissherbeforetheassembledmultitude.
“He’scultivatingtheairsofthecountrysquire,”shethought.“Iwishhewouldn’t.”
Hetooktheinnumerablebagswithwhichshetravelledandscatteredthemamongtheattendants.Heeventriedtoinducehertotakehisarmtothedog-cart,butthishonourshestoutlyrefused.
“Now,willyoucomeroundtothissideandI’llhelpyouup.Yourluggagewillcomeonafterwardswiththepony.”
Hewasmanagingeverythinginaself-confidentandmasterfulfashionMissLeynoticedthatmarriagehaddispelledtheshynesswhichhadbeeninhimratheranattractivefeature.Hewasbecomingbluffandhearty.Alsohewasfillingout.Prosperityandaknowledgeofgreate