tuallyimmoraltoeatit,butitwillverylikelygiveyouindigestion....Onehastobeverysureofoneselftogoagainsttheordinaryviewofthingsandifoneisn’t,perhapsit’sbetternottorunanyrisks,butjusttowalkalongthesamesecureoldroadasthecommonherd.It’snotexhilarating,it’snotbrave,andit’sratherdullbutit’seminentlysafe.”
Berthasighed,butdidnotanswer.
“You’dbettertellJanetopackyourboxes,”saidMissLey.“ShallIwiretoEdward?”
WhenBerthahadatlaststarted,MissLeybegantothink.
“IwonderifI’vedoneright,”shemurmured,uncertainasever.
Shewassittingonthepiano-stool,andasshemeditated,herfingerspassedidlyoverthekeys.Presentlyhereardetectedthebeginningofawell-knownmelody,andalmostunconsciouslyshebegantoplaytheairofRigoletto.
LaDonnaèmobile
Qualpiumaalvento.
MissLeysmiled.“Thefactisthatfewwomencanbehappywithonlyonehusband.Ibelievethattheonlysolutionofthemarriagequestionislegalisedpolyandry.”
InthetrainatVictoria,Bertharememberedwithreliefthatthecattle-marketwasheldatTercanburythatday,andEdwardwouldnotcomehometilltheevening.ShewouldhaveopportunitytosettleherselfinCourtLeyswithoutfussorbother.Fullofherpainfulthoughts,thejourneypassedquickly,andBerthawassurprisedtofindherselfatBlackstable.Shegotout,wonderingwhetherEdwardwouldhavesentatraptomeether—buttoherextremesurpriseEdwardhimselfwasontheplatform,andrunningup,helpedheroutofthecarriage.
“Hereyouareatlast!”hecried.
“Ididn’texpectyou,”saidBertha.“Ithoughtyou’dbeatTercanbury.”
“IgotyourwirefortunatelyjustasIwasstarting,soofcourseIdidn’tgo.”
“I’msorryIpreventedyou.”
“Why?I’mjollyglad.Youdidn’tthinkIwasgoingtothecattle-marketwhenmymissuswascominghome?”
Shelookedathimwithastonishmenthishonest,redfaceglowedwiththesatisfactionhefeltatseeingher.
“ByJove,thisisripping,”hesaid,astheydroveaway.“I’mtiredofbeingagrass-widower,Icantellyou.”