ou’vebeencrying,Bertha.”
“I’vebeenveryunhappy,”shesaid.“Oh,please,Gerald,forgetouridiocyofyesterday.Don’tsayanythingtomethatImustn’thear.”
“Ican’thelplovingyou.”
“Don’tyouseethatit’salluttermadness!”
Shewasangrywithherselfforlovinghim,angrywithGeraldbecausehehadarousedinherapassionthatmadeherdespiseherself.Itseemedhorribleandunnaturalthatsheshouldbewillingtothrowherselfintothearmsofadissoluteboy,anditloweredherinherownestimation.Hecaughttheexpressionofhereyes,andsomethingofitsmeaning.
“Oh,don’tlookatmelikethat,Bertha.Youlookasifyoualmosthatedme.”
Sheansweredgravely,“Iloveyouwithallmyheart,GeraldandI’mashamed.”
“Howcanyou!”hecried,withsuchpaininhisvoicethatBerthacouldnotbearit.
“Thewholethingisawful,”shegroaned.“ForGod’ssakeletustrytoforgetit.I’veonlysucceededinmakingyouentirelywretched.Theonlyremedyistopartquickly.”
“Ican’tleaveyou,Bertha.Letmestay.”
“It’simpossible.Youmustgo,nowmorethanever.”
TheywereinterruptedbytheappearanceofMissLey,whobegantotalkbuttohersurpriseneitherBerthanorGeraldshowedtheirusualvivacity.
“Whatisthematterwithyoubothto-day?”sheasked.“You’reunusuallyattentivetomyobservations.”
“I’mrathertired,”saidBertha,“andIhaveaheadache.”
MissLeylookedatBerthamoreclosely,andfanciedthatshehadbeencryingGeraldalsoseemedprofoundlymiserable.Surely....Thenthetruthdawneduponher,andshecouldhardlyrepressherastonishment.
“GoodHeavens!”shethought,“Imusthavebeenblind.Howluckyhe’sgoinginaweek!”
MissLeynowrememberedadozenoccurrenceswhichhadescapedhernotice,andwasabsolutelyconfounded.
“Uponmyword,”shethought,“Idon’tbelieveyoucanputawomanofseventyforfiveminutesincompanyofaboyoffourteenwithouttheirgettingintomischief.”
TheweektoGeraldandtoBerthapassedwithterriblequickness.Theyscarcelyhadamomentalone,forMissLey,underpretenceofmakingmuchofhernephew,arrangedlittlepleasureparties,sothatallthreemightbecontinuallytogether.
“Wemustspoilyoualittlebeforeyougoandtheharmitdoesyouwillbeputrightbytherocki