youIcan’tstanditanymore.”
Berthaagainwalkedupanddowntheroomexcitedly.
“Uponmyword,”criedDr.Ramsay,“Ican’tmakeheadortailofit.”
“Ididn’texpectyouwould.Iknewyou’donlymoralise.”
“Whatd’youwantmetodo?ShallIspeaktohim?”
“No!No!I’vespokentohimendlessly.It’snogood.D’yousupposeyourspeakingtohimwillmakehimloveme?He’sincapableofitallhecangivemeisesteemandaffection—goodGod,whatdoIwantwithesteem!Itrequiresacertainintelligencetolove,andhehasn’tgotit.Itellyouhe’safool.Oh,whenIthinkthatI’mshackledtohimfortherestofmylife,IfeelIcouldkillmyself.”
“Comenow,he’snotsuchafoolasallthat.Everyoneagreesthathe’saverysmartmanofbusiness.AndIcan’thelpsayingthatI’vealwaysthoughtyoudiduncommonlywellwhenyouinsistedonmarryinghim.”
“Itwasallyourfault,”criedBertha.“Ifyouhadn’topposedme,Imightnothavemarriedsoquickly.Oh,youdon’tknowhowI’veregrettedit....IwishIcouldseehimdeadatmyfeet.”
Dr.Ramsaywhistled.Hismindworkedsomewhatslowly,andhewasbecomingconfusedwiththeoverthrowofhischerishedopinions,andthevehemencewithwhichtheunpleasantoperationwasconducted.
“Ididn’tknowthingswerelikethis.”
“Ofcourseyoudidn’t!”saidBertha,scornfully.“BecauseIsmiledandhidmysorrow,youthoughtIwashappy.WhenIlookbackonthewretchednessI’vegonethrough,IwonderthatIcaneverhaveborneit.”
“Ican’tbelievethatthisisveryserious.You’llbeofadifferentmindto-morrow,andwonderthatsuchthingseverenteredyourhead.Youmustn’tmindanoldchaplikemetellingyouthatyou’reveryheadstrongandimpulsive.Afterall,Edwardisafinefellow,andIcan’tbelievethathewouldwillinglyhurtyourfeelings.”
“Oh,forheaven’ssakedon’tgivememoreofEdward’spraises.”
“Iwonderifyou’realittlejealousofthewayhe’sgoton?”askedthedoctor,lookingathersharply.
Berthablushed,forshehadaskedherselfthesamequestion,andmuchscornwasneededtorefuteit.
“I?Mydeardoctor,youforget!Oh,don’tyouu