Dr.RamsayopenedhismouthandfellbackinhischairhelookedatBerthaasifheexpectedhertohaveafit.“You’renotserious?”
Berthastampedherfootimpatiently.“OfcourseI’mserious.DoyouthinkI’mafooltoo?We’vebeenmiserableforyears,anditcan’tgoon.IfyouknewwhatI’vehadtosufferwheneveryonehascongratulatedme,andsaidhowpleasedtheyweretoseemesohappy.SometimesI’vehadtodigmynailsinmyhandstopreventmyselffromcryingoutthetruth.”
Berthawalkedupanddowntheroom,lettingherselfgoatlast.Thetearswerestreamingdownhercheeks,butshetooknonoticeofthem.Shewasgivingfullventtoherpassionatehatred.
“Oh,I’vetriedtolovehim.YouknowhowIlovedhimonce—howIadoredhim.Iwouldhavelaiddownmylifeforhimwithpleasure.IwouldhavedoneanythingheaskedmeIusedtosearchforthesmallestindicationofhiswishessothatImightcarrythemout.ItoverjoyedmetothinkthatIwashisabjectslave.Buthe’sdestroyedeveryvestigeofmylove,andnowIonlydespisehim,Iutterlydespisehim.Oh,I’vetriedtolovehim,buthe’stoogreatafool.”
ThelastwordsBerthasaidwithsuchforcethatDr.Ramsaywasstartled.
“MydearBertha!”
“Oh,Iknowyouallthinkhimwonderful.I’vehadhispraisesthrownatmeforyears.Butyoudon’tknowwhatamanreallyistillyou’velivedwithhim,tillyou’veseenhimineverymoodandineverycircumstance.Iknowhimthroughandthrough,andhe’safool.Youcan’tconceivehowstupid,howutterlybrainlessheis....Heboresmetodeath!”
“Comenow,youdon’tmeanwhatyousay.You’reexaggeratingasusual.Youmustexpecttohavelittlequarrelsnowandthenuponmyword,Ithinkittookmetwentyyearstogetusedtomywife.”
“Oh,forGod’ssake,don’tbesententious,”Berthainterrupted,fiercely.“I’vehadenoughmoralisinginthesefiveyears.ImighthavelovedEdwardbetterifhehadn’tbeensomoral.He’sthrownhisvirtuesinmyfacetillI’msickofthem.He’smadeeverygoodnessuglytome,tillIsighforvicejustforachange.Oh,youcan’timaginehowfrightfullydullisareallygoodman.NowIwanttobefree,Itell