ttoknowmebetterthanthatbynow.”
“Whydidyousaynothingaboutthemtillyoufounditimpossibletoavoid.”
Edwardshruggedhisshouldersgood-humouredly.“BecauseIknowhowtouchyyouare.”
“Andyetyoumadethemtheoffer.”
“Itcameoutalmostunawares.Theyweregrumblingabouttheweather,andwithoutthinking,Isaid,‘I’lldriveyouoverifyoulike.’Andtheyjumpedatit.”
“You’resogood-naturedifanyonebutyourwifeisconcerned.”
“Well,dear,Ican’tstayarguing.Ishallbelatealready.”
“You’renotreallygoing?”IthadbeenimpossibleforBerthatorealisethatEdwardwouldcarryouthisintention.
“Imust,mydearit’smyduty.”
“Youhavemoredutytomethantoanyoneelse....Oh,Eddie,don’tgo.Youcan’trealiseallitmeanstome.”
“Imust.I’mnotgoingbecauseIwantto.Ishallbebackinanhour.”
Hebentdowntokissher,andsheflungherarmsroundhisneck,burstingintotears.
“Oh,pleasedon’tgo—ifyoulovemeatall,ifyou’veeverlovedme....Don’tyouseethatyou’redestroyingmyloveforyou?”
“Now,don’tbesilly,there’sagoodgirl.”
Heloosenedherarmsandwalkedawaybutrisingfromthesofashefollowedhimandtookhisarm,beseechinghimtostay.
“YouseehowunhappyIamandyouareallIhaveintheworldnow.ForGod’ssake,stay,Eddie.Itmeansmoretomethanyouknow.”
Shesanktothefloorshewaskneelingbeforehim.
“Come,getontothesofa.Allthisisverybadforyou.”
Hecarriedhertothecouch,andthen,tofinishthescene,hurriedlylefttheroom.
Berthaspranguptofollowhim,butsankbackasthedoorslammed,andburyingherfaceinherhands,surrenderedherselftoapassionoftears.Buthumiliationandragealmostdroveawayhergrief.Shehadkneltbeforeherhusbandforafavour,andhehadnotgrantedit.Suddenlysheabhorredhim.Thelove,whichhadbeenatowerofbrass,felllikeahouseofcards.Shewouldnottrynowtoconcealfromherselfthefaultsthatstaredherintheface.Hecaredonlyforhimself:withhimitwasonlyself,self,self.Berthafoundabitterfascinationinstrippingheridolofthefinerywithwhichhermadnesshadbedizenedhimshesawhimmoreaccuratelynow,andhewasutter