MISSLeywasmuchalarmedwhenshegotupandfoundthatBerthahadflown.
“Uponmyword,IthinkthatProvidenceisbehavingscandalously.AmInotaharmlessmiddle-agedwomanwhomindmyownbusinesswhathaveIdonetodeservetheseshocks?”
Shesuspectedthatherniecehadgonetothestationbutthetrainstartedatseven,anditwasteno’clock.ShepositivelyjumpedwhenitoccurredtoherthatBerthamighthave—eloped:andlikeaswarmofabominablelittledemonscamethoughtsofthescenesshemustundergoifsuchwerethecase,thewritingofthenewstoEdward,hisconsternation,thecomfortwhichshemustadminister,thefuryofGerald’sfather,thehystericsofhismother.
“Shecan’thavedoneanythingsostupid,”shecriedindistraction.“Butifwomencanmakefoolsofthemselves,theyalwaysdo!”
MissLeywasextraordinarilyrelievedwhenatlastsheheardBerthacomeinandgotoherroom.
Berthaforalongtimehadstoodmotionlessontheplatform,staringhaggardlybeforeher,stupefied.TheexcitementoftheprevioushourswasfollowedbyutterblanknessGeraldwasspeedingtoLiverpool,andshewasstillinLondon.Shewalkedoutofthestation,andturnedtowardsChelsea.Thestreetswereendless,andshewasalreadytiredalmostfainting,shedraggedherselfalong.Shedidnotknowtheway,andwanderedhopelessly,barelyconscious.InHydeParkshesatdowntorest,feelingutterlyexhaustedbutthewearinessofherbodyrelievedtheterribleachingofherheart.Shewalkedonafterawhileitneveroccurredtohertotakeacab,andeventuallyshecametoEliotMansions.Thesunhadgrownhot,andburnedthecrownofherheadwithghastlytorture.Berthacrawledupstairstoherroom,andthrowingherselfonthebed,burstintotearsofbitteranguish.Sheweptdesperately,andclenchedherhands.
“Oh,”shecriedatlast,“Idaresayhewasasworthlessastheother.”
MissLeysenttoinquireifshewouldeat,butBerthanowreallyhadabadheadache,andcouldtouchnothing.Alldayshespentinagony,hardlyabletothink—despairing.SometimesshereproachedherselffordenyingGerald