MissJaneHancockandArthurBranderton.”
Berthalookedathimwitheyesflashingangrily.Ofcoursehedidnotnoticehervexation.HepreferredtoplaywithMissGlover,shetoldherselftheparson’ssisterplayedwell,andforagoodgamehewouldneverhesitatetosacrificehiswife’sfeelings.BesidesBertha,onlyMissGloverandyoungBrandertonwerewithinearshot,andinhisjovial,pleasantmanner,Edwardlaughinglysaid—
“Bertha’ssuchaduffer.Ofcourseshe’sonlyjustbeginning.Youdon’tmindplayingwiththeGeneral,doyou,dear?”
ArthurBrandertonlaughedandBerthasmiledatthesally,butshereddened.
“I’mnotgoingtoplayatall.ImustseetotheteaandIdaresaymorepeoplewillbecominginpresently.”
“Oh,Iforgotthat,”saidEdward.“Noperhapsyououghtn’ttoplay.”Andthenputtinghiswifeoutofhisthoughts,andlinkinghisarmwithyoungBranderton’s,hesaunteredoff.“Comealong,oldchapwemustfindsomecrocktomakeupthepat-ballset.”Edwardhadsuchacharming,frankmanner,onecouldnothelplikinghim.
Berthawatchedthetwomengoandturnedverywhite.
“Imustjustgointothehouseamoment,”shesaidtoMissGlover.“GoandentertainMrs.Branderton,there’sadear.”Andprecipitatelyshefled.
Sherantoherroom,andflingingherselfonthebed,burstintoafloodoftears.Thehumiliationseemeddreadful.ShewonderedhowEddie,whomshelovedaboveallelseintheworld,couldtreathersocruelly.Whathadshedone?Heknew—ah,yes,heknewwellenoughthehappinesshecouldcauseher—andhewentoutofhiswaytobebrutal.Sheweptbitterly,andjealousyofMissGlover(MissGlover,ofallpeople!)stabbedhertotheheart.
“Hedoesn’tloveme,”shemoaned,hertearsredoubling.
Presentlytherewasaknockatthedoor.
“Whoisit?”shecried.
ThehandlewasturnedandMissGlovercamein,redwithnervousness.
“Forgivemeforcomingin,Bertha.ButIthoughtyouseemedunwell.Can’tIdosomethingforyou?”
“Oh,I’mallright,”saidBertha,dryinghertears,“OnlytheheatupsetmeandI’vegotaheadache.”
“ShallIsendEdwardtoyou?”
“WhatdoIwantwithEdward?”repliedBertha,petulantly.“Ishallbeallrightinfiveminutes.Ioftenhaveattackslikethis.”
“I’msurehedidn’t