ll,we’llsplitthedifferenceandI’llgoaftertea.”
“No,youmustgonow.”
“Why,onewouldthinkyouwantedtogetridofme!”
“Ihavetogoout,”saidEdward.
“Ohno,youhaven’t—you’remerelysayingthattoinducemetogoupstairs.Youfibber!”
“Letmecarryyouupnow,there’sagoodgirl.”
“Iwon’t,Iwon’t,Iwon’t.”
“Ishallhavetoleaveyoualone,Bertha.Ididn’tknowyoumeanttogetupto-day,andIhaveanengagement.”
“Oh,butyoucan’tleavemethefirsttimeIgetup.Whatisit?Youcanwriteanoteandbreakit.”
“I’mawfullysorry,”hereplied.“ButI’mafraidIcan’tdothat.Thefactis,IsawtheMissHancocksafterchurch,andtheysaidtheyhadtowalkintoTercanburythisafternoon,andasitwassowetIofferedtodrivethemin.I’vepromisedtofetchthematthree.”
“You’rejoking,”saidBerthahereyeshadsuddenlybecomehard,andshewasbreathingfast.
Edwardlookedatheruneasily.“Ididn’tknowyouweregoingtogetup,orIshouldn’thavearrangedtogoout.”
“Ohwell,itdoesn’tmatter,”saidBertha,throwingoffthemomentaryanger.“Youcanjustwriteandsayyoucan’tcome.”
“I’mafraidIcan’tdothat,”heanswered,gravely.“I’vegivenmywordandIcan’tbreakit.”
“Oh,butit’sinfamous.”Herwrathblazedoutagain.“Evenyoucan’tbesocruelastoleavemeatsuchatime.Ideservesomeconsideration—afterallI’vesuffered.ForweeksIlayatdeath’sdoor,andatlastwhenI’malittlebetterandcomedown—thinkingtogiveyoupleasure,you’reengagedtodrivetheMissesHancockintoTercanbury.”
“Come,Bertha,bereasonable.”Edwardcondescendedtoexpostulatewithhiswife,thoughitwasnothishabittohumourherextravagances.“Youseeit’snotmyfault.Isn’titenoughforyouthatI’mverysorry?Ishallbebackinanhour.Stayhere,andthenwe’llspendtheeveningtogether.”
“Whydidyoulietome?”
“Ihaven’tlied:I’mnotgiventothat,”saidEdward,withnaturalsatisfaction.
“Youpretendeditwasformyhealth’ssakethatImustgoupstairs.Isn’tthatalie?”
“Itwasforyourhealth’ssake.”
“Youlieagain.Youwantedtogetmeoutoftheway,sothatyoumightgototheMissHancockswithouttellingme.”
“Youough