re.Howemptywouldexistencebewithoutthatjoyoussmileaboveall,withoutthatardentpassion!Thislovewaswonderfulitsurroundedherlikeamysticfireandliftedherupsothatsheseemedtowalkonair.Butthingsalwayscometoolateorcomebyhalves.Whyshouldallherpassionhavebeensquanderedandflungtothewinds,sothatnowwhenabeautifulyouthofferedherhisvirginheart,shehadnothingtogiveinexchange?BerthatoldherselfthatthoughshewasextremelyfondofGerald,ofcourseshedidnotlovehimhewasamereboy!
ShewasalittlenervousatthemeetingbetweenhimandEdwardshewonderedwhattheywouldthinkofoneanother,andshewatched—Gerald!Edwardcameinlikeacountrybreeze,obstreperouslyhealthy,jovial,large,andsomewhatbald.MissLeytrembledlestheshouldknockherchinaoverashewentroundtheroom.Hekissedherononecheek,andBerthaontheother.
“Well,howareyouall?—Andthisismyyoungcousin,eh?Howareyou?Pleasedtomeetyou.”
HewrungGerald’shand,toweringoverhim,beaminggood-naturedlythensatinachairmuchtoosmallforhim,whichcreakedandgrumbledathisweight.Therearefewsensationsmoreamusingforawomanthantolookatthehusbandshehasonceadoredandthinkhowveryunnecessaryheisbutitisapttomakeconversationalittledifficult.MissLeysooncarriedGeraldoff,thinkingthathusbandandwifeshouldenjoyalittleofthatisolationtowhichmarriagehadindissolublydoomedthem.Berthahadbeenawaiting,withgreatdiscomfort,thenecessaryordeal.ShehadnothingtotellEdward,andwasmuchafraidthathewouldbesentimental.
“Whereareyoustaying?”sheasked.
“Oh,I’mputtingupattheInnsofCourt—Ialwaysgothere.”
“Ithoughtyoumightcaretogotothetheatreto-night.I’vegotabox,sothatAuntPollyandGeraldcancometoo.”
“I’mgameforanythingyoulike.”
“Youalwayswerethebest-temperedman,”saidBertha,smilinggently.
“Youdon’tseemtocareverymuchformysociety,allthesame.”
Berthalookedupquickly.“Whatmakesyouth