headandonthenapeofherneckinawaythatwouldhavedistractedanyminorpoetunderseventy.MissLeylookedatherniece’sfineprofile,andwonderedagainatthecomplexion,madeupofthesoftestcoloursinthesettingsun.Hereyesnowwereliquidwithlove,languorouswiththeshadeoflonglashesandherfull,sensualmouthwashalfopenwithasmile.
“Ismyhairveryuntidy?”askedBertha,catchingMissLey’slookanditsmeaning.
“No,Ithinkitsuitsyouwhenitisnotdonetooseverely.”
“Edwardhatesithelikesmetobeprim....AndofcourseIdon’tcarehowIlooksolongashe’spleased.Don’tyouthinkhe’sverygood-looking?”Thenwithoutwaitingforananswer,sheaskedasecondquestion.
“Doyouthinkmeagreatfoolforbeingsomuchinlove,AuntPolly?”
“Mydear,it’ssurelytheproperbehaviourwithone’slawfulspouse.”
Bertha’ssmilebecamealittlesadasshereplied—
“Edwardseemstothinkitunusual.”Shefollowedhimwithhereyes,pickinguptheballsonebyone,huntingamongbushes:shewasinthemoodforconfidencesthatafternoon.“Youdon’tknowhowdifferenteverythinghasbeensinceIfellinlove.Theworldisfuller....It’stheonlystateworthlivingin.”Edwardadvancedwiththeeightballsonhisracket.“Comehereandbekissed,Eddie,”shecried.
“NotifIknowit,”hereplied,laughing.“Bertha’saperfectterror.Shewantsmetospendmywholelifeinkissingher....Don’tyouthinkit’sunreasonable,AuntPolly?Mymottois:everythinginitsplaceandseason.”
“Onekissinthemorning,”saidBertha,“onekissatnight,willdotokeepyourwifequietandtherestofthetimeyoucanattendtoyourworkandreadyourpaper.”
AgainBerthasmiledcharmingly,butMissLeysawnoamusementinhereyes.
“Well,onecanhavetoomuchofagoodthing,”saidEdward,balancinghisracketonthetipofhisnose.
“Evenofproverbialphilosophy,”remarkedBertha.
Afewdayslater,hisguesthavingdefinitelyannouncedthatshemustgo,Edwardproposedatennis-partyasapartinghonour.MissLeywouldgladlyhaveescapedanafternoonofsmall-talkwiththenotabilitiesofLeanham,butEdwardwasdeterminedtopayhisaunteveryattention,andhisinnerconsciousnessassuredhimthatatleastasmallpartywasnecessarytothe