BERTHAandMissLeypassedatroublednight,whileEdward,ofcourse,aftermuchexerciseandaheartydinner,sleptthesleepofthejustandofthepureatheart.Berthawasnursingherwrathshehadwithdifficultybroughtherselftokissherhusbandbefore,accordingtohishabit,heturnedhisbackuponherandbegantosnore.MissLey,withherknowledgeofthedifficultiesinstoreforthecouple,askedherselfifshecoulddoanything.Butwhatcouldshedo?Theywerereadingthebookoflifeintheirseparateways,oneinitalics,theotherinthebigroundlettersofthecopy-bookandhowcouldshehelpthemtofindacommoncharacter?Ofcoursethefirstyearofmarriedlifeisdifficult,andthewearinessofthefleshaddstotheinevitabledisillusionment.Everymarriagehasitsmomentsofutterdespair.Thegreatdangerisintheonlooker,whomaypaytothemtoomuchattentionand,bysteppingin,renderthedifficultypermanent—cuttingtheknotinsteadoflettingtimeundoit.MissLey’scogitationsbroughthernotunnaturallytothecoursewhichmostsuitedhertemperamentsheconcludedthatfarandawaythebestplanwastoattemptnothing,andletthingsrightthemselvesasbesttheycould.Shedidnotpostponeherdeparture,but,accordingtoarrangement,wentonthefollowingday.
“Well,yousee,”saidEdward,biddinghergood-bye,“ItoldyouthatIshouldmakeyoustaylongerthanaweek.”
“You’reawonderfulperson,Edward,”saidMissLey,drily.“Ihaveneverdoubteditforaninstant.”
Hewaspleasedseeingnoironyinthecompliment.MissLeytookleaveofBerthawithasuspicionofawkwardtendernessthatwasquiteunusualshehatedtoshowherfeelings,andfounditdifficult,yetwantedtotellBerthathatifshewaseverindifficultiesshewouldalwaysfindinheranoldfriendandatrueone.Allshesaidwas—
“IfyouwanttodoanyshoppinginLondon,Icanalwaysputyouup,youknow.Andforthematterofthat,Idon’tseewhyyoushouldn’tcomeandstayamonthorsowithme—ifEdwardcanspareyou.Itwillbeachange.”
WhenMiss