THEpassiontoanalysethecasualfellow-creaturewasthemostabsorbingvicethatMissLeypossessedandnotiesofrelationshiporaffection(thetwogonotinvariablytogether)preventedherfromexercisinghertalentsinthatdirection.SheobservedBerthaandEdwardduringluncheon:Berthawastalkative,chatteringwithavivacitythatseemedsuspicious,abouttheneighbours—Mrs.Branderton’snewbonnetsandnewhair,MissGlover’sgoodworksandMr.Glover’svisitstoLondonEdwardwassilent,exceptwhenhepressedMissLeytotakeasecondhelping.Heatelargely,andthemaidenladynoticedtheenormousmouthfulshetookandtheheartinesswithwhichhedrankhisbeer.Ofcourseshedrewconclusionsandshedrewfurtherconclusions,when,havingdevouredhalfapoundofcheeseandtakenalastdrinkofale,hepushedbackhischairandwithasortoflowroar,remindingoneofabeastofpreygorgedwithfood,said—
“Ah,well,IsupposeImustsetaboutmywork.There’snorestfortheweary.”
Hepulledanewbriar-woodpipefromhispocket,filledandlitit.
“Ifeelbetternow....Well,so-longIshallbeintotea.”
ConclusionsbuzzedaboutMissLey,likemidgesonasummer’sday.Shedrewthemalltheafternoonshedrewthemallthroughdinner.Berthawaseffusivetoo,unusuallysoandMissLeyaskedherselfadozentimesifthisstreamofchatter,thesepealsoflaughter,proceededfromalightheartorfromabasedesiretodeceiveamiddle-agedandinquiringaunt.Afterdinner,Edward,tellingherthatofcourseshewasoneofthefamilysohehopedshedidnotwishhimtostandonceremony,begantoreadthepaper.WhenBertha,atMissLey’srequest,playedthepiano,goodmannersmadehimputitaside,andheyawnedadozentimesinaquarterofanhour.
“Imustn’tplayanymore,”saidBertha,“orEddiewillgotosleep—won’tyou,darling?”
“Ishouldn’twonder,”hereplied,laughing.“ThefactisthatthethingsBerthaplayswhenwe’vegotcompanygivemethefairhump!”
“EdwardonlyconsentstolistenwhenIplayTheBlueBellsofScotlandorYankeeDoodle.”
Berthamadetheremark,smilinggood-naturedlyatherhusband,butMissLeydrewconclusions.
“Idon’tmindconfessingthatIcan’tstandallthisforeignmusic.WhatIsaytoBerthais—whycan’tyouplayEn