emise,inavoicequiveringwithemotion.
“Poorfellow!”saidMissGlover.“Hehassuchagoodheart.”
Berthacouldhardlyrepressthebitterinvectivethatrosetoherlips.Ifpeopleknewthecoldnesswithwhichhehadmetherlove,theindifferencehehadshowntohertearsandtoherdespair!Shedespisedherselfwhensherememberedtheutterself-abasementofthepast.
“Hemademedrinkthecupofhumiliationtotheverydregs.”
Fromtheheightofherdisdainshesummedhimupforthethousandthtime.Itwasinexplicablethatshehadbeensubjecttoamansopaltryinmind,sodespicableincharacter.Itmadeherblushwithshametothinkhowservilehadbeenherlove.
Dr.Ramsay,whowasvisitingBerthaforsometrivialill,happenedtocomeinwhenshewasengagedwithsuchthoughts.
“Well,”hesaid,assoonashehadtakenbreath.“AndhowisEdwardto-day?”
“Goodheavens,howshouldIknow?”shecried,besideherself,thewordsslippingoutunawaresafterthelongconstraint.
“Hulloa,what’sthis?Havetheturtle-doveshadatiffatlast?”
“Oh,I’msickofcontinuallyhearingEdward’spraises.I’msickofbeingtreatedasanappendagetohim.”
“What’sthematterwithyou,Bertha?”saidthedoctor,burstingintoashoutoflaughter.“Ialwaysthoughtnothingpleasedyoumorethantohearhowmuchwealllikedyourhusband.”
“Oh,mygooddoctor,youmustbeblindoranutterfool.IthoughteveryoneknewbynowthatIloathemyhusband.”
“What?”shoutedDr.RamsaythenthinkingBerthawasunwell:“Come,come,Iseeyouwantalittlemedicine,mydear.You’reoutofsorts,andlikeallwomenyouthinktheworldisconsequentlycomingtoanend.”
Berthasprangfromthesofa.“D’youthinkIshouldspeaklikethisifIhadn’tgoodcause?Don’tyouthinkI’dconcealmyhumiliationifIcould?Oh,I’vehiddenitlongenoughnowImustspeak.OhGod,IcanhardlyhelpscreamingwithpainwhenIthinkofallI’vesufferedandhidden.I’veneversaidawordtoanyonebutyou,andnowIcan’thelpit.ItellyouIloatheandabhormyhusbandandIutterlydespisehim.Ican’tlivewithhimanymore,andIwanttogoaway.”