kleaveofherastonishedhostessandgavethecabmanorderstodrivefuriously.Shearrived,inveighingagainstthedeceitfulnessofthehumanrace.Shehadneverrunupthestairssoquickly.
“Howisyourheadache,Bertha?”
“Thanks,it’smuchbetter.Geraldhasdrivenitaway.”
ThistimeMissLey’sgood-byetotheprecociousyouthwasratherchillyshewasdevoutlythankfulthathisboatsailednextmorning.
“I’llshowyouout,Gerald,”saidBertha.“Don’ttrouble,AuntPolly—youmustbedreadfullytired.”
TheywentintothehallandGeraldputonhiscoat.HestretchedouthishandtoBerthawithoutspeaking,butshe,withaglanceatthedrawing-room,beckonedtohimtofollowher,andslidoutofthefront-door.Therewasnooneonthestairs.Sheflungherarmsroundhisneckandpressedherlipstohis.Shedidnottrytohideherpassionnowsheclaspedhimtoherheart,andtheirverysoulsflewtotheirlipsandmingled.Theirkisswasrapture,madnessitwasanecstasybeyonddescription,theirsenseswerepowerlesstocontaintheirpleasure.Berthafeltherselfabouttodie.Inthebliss,intheagony,herspiritfailedandshetotteredGeraldpressedhermorecloselytohim.
Buttherewasasoundofsomeoneclimbingthestairs.Shetoreherselfaway.
“Good-bye,forever,”shewhispered,andslippingin,closedthedoorbetweenthem.
Shesankdownhalffainting,but,infear,struggledtoherfeetanddraggedherselftoherroom.Hercheekswereglowingandherlimbstrembled,thekissstillthrilledherwholebeing.Oh,nowitwastoolateforprudence!WhatdidshecareforhermarriagewhatdidshecarethatGeraldwasyoungerthatshe!Shelovedhim,shelovedhiminsanelythepresentwastherewithitsinfinitejoy,andifthefuturebroughtmisery,itwasworthsuffering.Shecouldnotlethimgohewashers—shestretchedoutherarmstotakehiminherembrace.Shewouldsurrendereverything.Shewouldbidhimstayshewouldfollowhimtotheendoftheearth.Itwastoolatenowforreason.
Shewalkedupanddownherroomexcit