almostintoagroan,asinexhaustionshesankdownandfeltitimpossibletogofarther.ThenthethoughtofEdwardurgedheron.Shestruggledtoherfeet,andperseveredtillshereachedthebottom.Nowshewasoutsidethedrawing-room,sheheardEdwardwhistlingwithin.Shecreptalong,eagertomakenosoundnoiselesslysheturnedthehandleandflungthedooropen.
“Eddie!”
Heturnedroundwithacry.“Hulloa,whatareyoudoinghere?”
Hecametowardsher,butshowednotthegreatjoywhichshehadexpected.
“Iwantedtosurpriseyou.Aren’tyougladtoseeme?”
“Yes,ofcourseIam.Butyououghtn’ttohavecomewithoutDr.Ramsay’sleave.AndIdidn’texpectyouto-day.”
Heledhertothesofa,andshelaydown.
“Ithoughtyou’dbesopleased.”
“OfcourseIam!”
Heplacedpillowsunderher,andcoveredherwitharug—littleattentionswhichwereexquisitelytouching.
“Youdon’tknowhowIstruggled,”shesaid.“IthoughtIshouldnevergetmythingson,andthenIalmosttumbleddownthestairs,Iwassoweak....ButIknewyoumustbelonelyhere,andyouhatesittinginthebedroom.”
“Yououghtn’ttohaveriskedit.Itmaythrowyouback,”hereplied,gently.Helookedathiswatch.“Youmustonlystayhalf-an-hour,andthenIshallcarryyouuptobed.”
Berthagavealaugh,intendingtopermitnothingofthesort.Itwassocomfortabletolieonthesofa,withEdwardbyherside.Sheheldhishands.
“Isimplycouldn’tstayintheroomanylonger.Itwassogloomy,withtherainpatteringalldayonthewindows.”
Itwasoneofthosedaysoflatesummerwhentherainseemsneverceasing,andtheairisfilledwiththemelancholyofnature,alreadyconsciousoftheneardecay.
“IwasmeaningtocomeuptoyouassoonasI’dfinishedmypipe.”
Berthawasexhausted,and,keepingsilence,pressedEdward’shandinacknowledgmentofhiskindintention.Presentlyhelookedathiswatchagain.
“Yourhalf-hour’snearlyup.InfiveminutesI’mgoingtocarryyoutoyourroom.”
“Ohno,you’renot,”sherepliedplayfully,takinghisremarkashumorous.“I’mgoingtostaytilldinner.”
“No,youcan’tpossibly.Itwillbeverybadforyou....Topleasemegobacktobednow.”
“We