totheShipfordinner.Itamusedthemimmenselytositintheoldcoffee-roomandbewaitedonbyablackwaiter,whoextolledabsurdlythevariousdishes.
“Wewon’tbeeconomicalto-day,”criedBertha.“Ifeelutterlyreckless.”
“Ittakesallthefunawayifonecountsthecost.”
“Well,foronceletusbefoolishandforgetthemorrow.”
Andtheydrankchampagne,whichtowomenandboysistheacmeofdissipationandmagnificence.PresentlyGerald’sgreeneyesflashedmorebrightly,andBerthareddenedbeforetheirardentgaze.
“Ishallneverforgetto-day,Bertha,”saidGerald.“AslongasIliveIshalllookbackuponitwithregret.”
“Oh,don’tthinkthatitmustcometoanend,orweshallbothbemiserable.”
“YouarethemostbeautifulwomanI’veeverseen.”
Berthalaughed,showingherexquisiteteeth,andwasgladthatherownknowledgetoldhershelookedherbest.
“Butcomeontheterraceagainandsmokethere.We’llwatchthesunset.”
Theysatalone,andthesunwasalreadysinking.Theheavywesterncloudswerearichandvividred,andovertheriverthebricksandmortarstoodoutinink-blackmasses.Itwasasunsetthatsingularlyfittedthescene,combininginaudaciouscolourwiththeriver’sstrength.Themurkywaveletsdancedlikelittleflamesoffire.
Berthaandtheyouthsatsilently,veryhappy,butwiththeregretgnawingattheirheartsthattheirhourofjoywouldhavenomorrow.Thenightfell,andonebyonethestarsshoneout.Theriverflowednoiselessly,restfullyandaroundthemtwinkledthelightsoftheriversidetowns.Theydidnotspeak,butBerthaknewtheboythoughtofher,anddesiredtohearhimsayso.
“Whatareyouthinkingof,Gerald?”
“WhatshouldIbethinkingof,butyou—andthatImustleaveyou.”
Berthacouldnothelptheexquisitepleasurethathiswordsgave:itwassodelicioustobereallyloved,andsheknewhislovewasreal.Sheturnedherface,sothathesawherdarkeyes,darkerinthenight.
“IwishIhadn’tmadeafoolofmyselfbefore,”hewhispered.“Ifeelitwasallhorribleyou’vemademesoashamed.”
“Oh,Gerald,you’renotrememberingwhatIsaidtheotherday?Ididn’tmeantohurtyou.I’vebeensosorryeversince.”
“Iwishyoulovedme.Oh,Bertha,don’tstopmenow.I’vekeptitinsolong,andIcan’tanymore