stheonlyvirtueyouhave,IfeelIoughttoencourageit.Andifyouwantmoneyatanytime,Icanalwaysscrapetogetherafewguineas,youknow.”
Sheputintohishandtwofifty-poundnotesandthen,asifshewereashamedofherself,bundledhimoutofdoors.Shewenttoherroomandhavingratherseriouslyinconveniencedherselfforthenextsixmonths,foranentirelyunworthyobject,shebegantofeelremarkablypleased.InanhourMissLeyreturnedtothedrawing-roomtowaitforBertha,whopresentlycamein,dressed—butghastlypale.
“Oh,AuntPolly,Isimplycan’tcometo-night.I’vegotarackingheadacheIcanscarcelysee.YoumusttellthemthatI’msorry,butI’mtooill.”
Shesankonachairandputherhandtoherforehead,groaningwithpain.MissLeyliftedhereyebrowstheaffairwasevidentlymoreseriousthatshethought.However,thedangernowwasoveritwouldeaseBerthatostayathomeandcryitout.Shethoughtitbraveofhereventohavedressed.
“You’llgetnodinner,”shesaid.“There’snothingintheplace.”
“Oh,Iwantnothingtoeat.”
MissLeyexpressedherconcern,andpromisingtomaketheexcuses,wentaway.Berthastartedupwhensheheardthedoorcloseandwenttothewindow.ShelookedroundforGerald,fearinghemightbealreadytherehewasincautiousandeager:butifMissLeysawhim,itwouldbefatal.ThehansomdroveawayandBerthabreathedmorefreely.Shecouldnothelpitshetoofeltthatshemustseehim.Iftheyhadtopart,itcouldnotbeunderMissLey’scoldeyes.
Shewaitedatthewindow,buthedidnotcome.Whydidhedelay?Hewaswastingtheirfewpreciousminutesitwasalreadypasteight.Shewalkedupanddowntheroomandlookedagain,butstillhewasnotinsight.Shefanciedthatwhileshewatchedhewouldnotcome,andforcedherselftoread.Buthowcouldshe!AgainshelookedoutofwindowandthistimeGeraldwasthere.Hestoodintheporchoftheoppositehouse,lookingupandimmediatelyhesawher,crossedthestreet.Shewenttothedoorandopeneditgently,ashecameupstairs.
Heslipped