WITHthesummerEdwardbegantoteachBerthalawn-tennisandinthelongevenings,whenhehadfinishedhisworkandchangedintotheflannelswhichsuitedhimsowell,theyplayedinnumerablesets.Hepridedhimselfuponhisskillinthispursuitandnaturallyfounditdulltoplaywithabeginnerbuthewasverypatient,hopingthateventuallyBerthawouldacquiresufficientskilltogivehimagoodgame.TobedoingsomethingwithherhusbandsufficientlyamusedBertha.Shelikedhimtocorrecthermistakes,toshowherthisstrokeandthatsheadmiredhisgoodnatureandhisinexhaustiblespirits.Buthergreatestdelightwastolieonthelongchairbythelawnwhentheyhadfinished,andenjoythefeelingofexhaustion,gossipingofthelittlenothingswhichlovemadeabsorbinglyinteresting.
MissLeyhadbeenpersuadedtoprolongherstay.ShehadvowedtogoattheendofherweekbutEdward,inhishigh-handedfashion,hadorderedthekeyofthebox-roomtobegivenhim,andrefusedtosurrenderit.
“Ohno,”hesaid,“Ican’tmakepeoplecomehere,butIcanpreventthemfromgoingaway.InthishouseeveryonehastodoasItellthemisn’tthatso,Bertha?”
“Ifyousayit,Edward,”repliedhiswife.
MissLeygracefullyaccededtohernephew’sdesire,whichwasthemoreeasy,sincethehousewascomfortable,shehadreallynopressingengagements,andhermindwassetuponmakingfurtherexaminationintothemarriedlifeofherrelations.Itwouldhavebeenaweakness,unworthyofher,tomaintainherintentionforconsistence’sake.
WhyfordaystogetherwereEdwardandBerthathehappiestlovers,andthensuddenlywhydidBerthabehavealmostbrutallytowardsherhusband,whileheremainedinvariablygood-temperedandamiable?Theobviousreasonwasthatsomelittlequarrelhadarisen,suchas,sinceAdamandEve,hastroubledeverymarriedcoupleintheworldbuttheobviousreasonwasthatwhichMissLeywasleastlikelytocredit.Sheneversawanythinginthewayofadisagreement,Berthaassentedtoallherhusband’sproposalsandwithsuchdocilityontheonehand,suchgood-humourontheother,whatonearthcouldformaboneofcontention?
MissLeyhaddiscoveredthatwhenthegreenleavesoflifeareturningredandgoldenwithapproachingautumn