LeydrovewithEdwardtothestation,Berthafeltsuddenlyanextremeloneliness.Heraunthadbeenabarrierbetweenherselfandherhusband,comingopportunelywhen,afterthefirstmonthsofmadpassion,shewasbeginningtoseeherselflinkedtoamanshedidnotknow.Athirdpersoninthehousehadbeenarestraint.ShelookedforwardalreadytothefuturewithsomethingliketerrorherloveforEdwardwasabitterheartache.Ohyes,shelovedhimwell,shelovedhimpassionatelybuthe—hewasfondofher,inhisplacid,calmwayitmadeherfurioustothinkofit.
Theweatherwasrainy,andfortwodaystherewasnoquestionoftennis.Onthethird,however,thesuncameoutagain,andthelawnwassoondry.EdwardhaddrivenovertoTercanbury,butreturnedtowardsevening.
“Hulloa!”hesaid,“youhaven’tgotyourtennisthingson.You’dbetterhurryup.”
ThiswastheopportunityforwhichBerthahadbeenlooking.Shewastiredofalwaysgivingway,ofhumblingherselfshewantedanexplanation.
“You’reverygood,”shesaid,“butIdon’twanttoplaytenniswithyouanymore.”
“Whyonearthnot?”
Sheburstoutfuriously—“BecauseI’msickandtiredofbeingmadeaconveniencebyyou.I’mtooproudtobetreatedlikethat.Oh,don’tlookasifyoudidn’tunderstand.Youplaywithmebecauseyou’vegotnooneelsetoplaywith.Isn’tthatso?Thatishowyouarealwayswithme.Youpreferthecompanyoftheveriestfoolintheworldtomine.Youseemtodoeverythingyoucantoshowyourcontemptforme.”
“Why,whathaveIdonenow?”
“Oh,ofcourse,youforget.Youneverdreamthatyouaremakingmefrightfullyunhappy.DoyouthinkIliketobetreatedbeforepeopleasasortofpooridiotthatyoucanlaughandsneerat?”
Edwardhadneverseenhiswifesoangry,andthistimehewasforcedtopayherattention.Shestoodbeforehim,attheendofherspeech,withteethclenched,hercheeksflaming.
“It’sabouttheotherday,Isuppose.Isawatthetimeyouwereinapassion.”
“Anddidn’tcaretwostraws.”
“You’retoosilly,”hesaid,withalaugh.“Wecoul