shishabittobemostparticularinhisbehaviour,orhewouldundoubtedlyhaveputhistongueinhischeek.
“Withwomen,mydearsir,youmustbefirm.Whenyou’reputtingthemtoafence,closeyourlegsanddon’tcheckthembutmindyoukeep’emundercontrolorthey’lllosetheirlittleheads.Amanshouldalwaysletawomanseethathe’sgotherwellinhand.”
Berthawassilent,abletoeatnothingforluncheonshesatoppositeherhusband,wonderinghowhecouldgorgesodisgracefullywhenshewasangryandmiserable.Butintheafternoonherappetitereturned,and,goingtothekitchen,sheatesomanysandwichesthatatdinnershecouldagaintouchnothing.ShehopedEdwardwouldnoticethatsherefusedallfood,andbeproperlyalarmedandsorry.Buthedemolishedenoughfortwo,andneversawthathiswifefasted.
AtnightBerthawenttobedandboltedherselfintheroom.PresentlyEdwardcameupandtriedthedoor.Findingitclosed,heknockedandcriedtohertoopen.Shedidnotanswer.Heknockedagainmoreloudlyandshookthehandle.
“Iwanttohavemyroomtomyself,”shecriedout“I’mill.Pleasedon’ttrytocomein.”
“What?WhereamItosleep?”
“Oh,youcansleepinoneofthesparerooms.”
“Nonsense!”hecriedandwithoutfurtheradoputhisshouldertothedoor:hewasastrongmanoneheaveandtheoldhingescracked.Heentered,laughing.
“Ifyouwantedtokeepmeout,yououghttohavebarricadedyourselfupwiththefurniture.”
Berthawasdisinclinedtotreatthematterlightly.“Ifyoucomein,”shesaid,“Ishallgoout.”
“Ohno,youwon’t!”hesaid,draggingabigchestofdrawersinfrontofthedoor.
Berthagotupandputonayellowsilkdressing-gown,whichwasreallymostbecoming.
“I’llspendthenightonthesofathen,”shesaid.“Idon’twanttoquarrelwithyouanymoreortomakeascene.IhavewrittentoAuntPolly,andthedayafterto-morrowIshallgotoLondon.”
“Iwasgoingtosuggestthatachangeofairwoulddoyougood.Ithinkyournervesareabitgroggy.”
“It’sverygoodofyoutotakeaninterestinmynerves,”shereplied,withascornfulglance,settlingherselfonthesofa.
“Areyoureallygoingtosleepthere?”hes