on.
“Oh,butit’llbegreatfun.We’llreformhimtogether.We’llleadhimonapathwhereFrenchmaidsarenottobemetateveryturnandcorner.”
“Mydear,youdon’tknowwhatheis.He’sanutteryoungscamp.HewasexpelledfromRugby.He’sbeentohalf-a-dozencrammers,becausetheywantedhimtogotoSandhurst,butheutterlyrefusedtoworkandhe’sbeenploughedineveryexamhe’sgoneinfor—evenforthemilitia.Sonowhisfatherhasgivenhimfivehundredpoundsandtoldhimtogotothedevil.”
“Howrude!ButwhyshouldthepoorboygotoFlorida?”
“Isuggestedthat.Iknowsomepeoplewho’vegotanorangeplantationthere.AndIdaresaythattheviewofseveralmilesoforangeblossomwillsuggesttohimthatpromiscuousflirtationmayhaveunpleasantresults.”
“IthinkIshalllikehim,”saidBertha.
“Ihavenodoubtyouwillhe’sanutterscampandratherpretty.”
Nextday,whenBerthawasinthedrawing-room,reading,GeraldVaudreywasshownin.ShesmiledtoreassurehimandputoutherhandinthefriendliestmannershethoughthemustbealittleconfusedatmeetingastrangerinsteadofMissLey,andunhappyinhisdisgrace.
“Youdon’tknowwhoIam?”shesaid.
“Ohyes,Ido,”hereplied,withaverypleasantsmile.“TheslaveytoldmeAuntPollywasout,butthatyouwerehere.”
“I’mgladyoudidn’tgoaway.”
“IthoughtIshouldn’tfrightenyou,youknow.”
Berthaopenedhereyes.Hewascertainlynotatallshy,thoughhelookedevenyoungerthannineteen.Hewasaniceboy,veryslightandnotsotallasBertha,withasmall,quitegirlishface.Hehadatiny,prettynose,andapinkandwhitefreckledcomplexion.Hishairwasdarkandcurly,heworeitsomewhatlong,evidentlyawarethatitwasbeautifulandhishandsomegreeneyeshadacharmingexpression.Hissensualmouthwasalwayssmiling.
“Whataniceboy!”thoughtBertha.“I’msureIshalllikehim.”
Hebegantotalkasifhehadknownherallhislife,andshewasentertainedbythecontrastbetweenhisinnocentappearanceandhisdisreputablepast.Helookedabouttheroomwithboyisheaseandstretchedhimselfcomfortablyinabigarm-chair.
“Hulloa,that’snewsinceIwasherelast!”hesaid,pointingtoanItalianbronze.
“Haveyoubeenhereoft