t.Todosowashispride.Shedidnotspeakfortherestoftheday,butnextmorningwhenhewasgoingout,askedwhatwashisintentionwithregardtothetrees.
“Oh,Ithoughtyou’dforgottenallaboutthem,”hereplied.“ImeantodoasIsaid.”
“Ifyouhavethetreescutdown,IshallleaveyouIshallgotoAuntPolly’s.”
“Andtellherthatyouwantedthemoon,andIwassounkindasnottogiveityou?”hereplied,smiling.“She’lllaughatyou.”
“Youwillfindmeascarefultokeepmywordasyou.”
BeforeluncheonshewentoutandwalkedtoCarter’sfield.Themenwerestillatwork,butasecondtreehadgone,thethirdwoulddoubtlessfallintheafternoon.ThemenglancedatBertha,andshethoughttheylaughedshestoodlookingatthemforsomewhilesothatshemightthoroughlydigestthehumiliation.Thenshewenthome,andwrotetoherauntthefollowingveraciousletter:—
MydearAuntPolly,—IhavebeensoseedytheselastfewweeksthatEdward,poordear,hasbeenquitealarmedandhasbeenbotheringmetocomeuptotowntoseeaspecialist.He’sasurgentasifhewantedtogetmeoutoftheway,andI’malreadyhalf-jealousofmynewparlour-maid,whohaspinkcheeksandgoldenhair—whichisjustthetypethatEdwardreallyadmires.IalsothinkthatDr.Ramsayhasn’ttheghostofanideawhatisthematterwithme,andnotbeingparticularlydesiroustodepartthislifejustyet,Ithinkitwillbediscreettoseesomebodywhowillatleastchangemymedicine.Ihavetakengallonsofironandquinine,andI’mfrightfullyafraidthatmyteethwillgoblack.Myownopinion,coincidingsoexactlywithEdward’s(thathorridMrs.Rylecallsusthehumming-birds,meaningtheturtledoves,herknowledgeofnaturalhistoryarousesdearEdward’scontempt)Ihavegracefullyaccededtohisdesire,andifyoucanputmeup,willcomeatyourearliestconvenience.—Yoursaffectionately,B.C.
P.S.—Ishalltaketheopportunityofgettingclothes(Iampositivelyinrags),soyouwillhavetokeepmesomelittletime.
Edwardcameinshortlyafterwards,lookingverymuchpleased.HeglancedslilyatBertha,thinkinghimselfsocleverthathecouldscarcelyhelplaughing:itwa