theBritishMuseum,cool,silent,androomy,withharmlessstatueswhichtellnotales,andaffordmatterforconversationtobreakanawkwardpause?
TheparksalsoareeminentlysuitedforthosewhosefancyturnstothoughtsofPlatoniclove.HydeParkisthefittingsceneforanidyllinwhichCorydonwearspatent-leatherbootsandatop-hat,whilePhyllishasanexquisitefrockwhichsuitsherperfectly.Thewell-keptlawns,theartificialwaterandthetrimpaths,giveamockruralitywhichisinfinitelyamusingtopersonswhodonotwishtotakethingstooseriously.Here,inthesummermornings,GeraldandBerthaspentmuchtime.Itpleasedhertolistentohischatter,andtolookintohisgreeneyeshewassuchaveryniceboy,andseemedsomuchattachedtoher!Besides,hewasonlyinLondonforamonth,and,quitesecureinhisdeparture,shecouldaffordtolethimfallalittleinlove.
“Areyousorryyou’regoingawaysosoon?”sheasked.
“Ishallbemiserableatleavingyou.”
“It’sniceofyoutosayso.”
Bitbybitsheextractedfromhimhisdiscreditablehistory.Berthawaspossessedbyacuriositytoknowdetails,whichsheelicitedartfully,makinghimconfesshisiniquitiesthatshemightpretendtobeangry.Itgaveheracuriousthrill,partlyofadmiration,tothinkthathewassuchadepravedyoungperson,andshelookedathimwithasortofamusedwonder.HewasverydifferentfromthevirtuousEdward.Achildlikeinnocenceshoneoutofhishandsomeeyes,andyethehadalreadytastedthewineofmanyemotions.Berthafeltsomewhatenviousofthesexwhichgaveopportunity,andthespiritwhichgavepower,toseizelifeboldly,andwringfromitallithadtooffer.
“Ioughttorefusetospeaktoyouanymore,”shesaid.“Ioughttobeashamedofyou.”
“Butyou’renot.That’swhyyou’resucharipper.”
Howcouldshebeangrywithaboywhoadoredher?Hisveryperversityfascinatedher.Herewasamanwhowouldneverhesitatetogotothedevilforawoman,andBerthawaspleasedatthecomp