tered.Washenotunchangingastherocks,andsheknewherselfunstableaswater,mutableasthesummerwinds.Hadhealwaysbeenkindandconsiderateandhadshe,demandingapassionwhichitwasnotinhimtofeel,beenblindtohisdeeptenderness?Expectingnothingfromhimnow,shewasastonishedtofindhehadsomuchtooffer.Butshefeltsorryifhelovedher,forshecouldgivenothinginreturnbutcompleteindifferenceshewasevensurprisedtofindherselfsoutterlycallous.
Atbedtimeshebadehimgood-night,andkissedhischeek.
“I’vehadtheredroomarrangedforme,”shesaid.
TherewasnochangeinBlackstable.Bertha’sfriendsstilllived,forthedeath-rateofthatfortunateplacewastheirpride,andtheycoulddonothingtoincreaseit.ArthurBrandertonhadmarriedapretty,fair-hairedgirl,nicelybred,andproperlyinsignificantbuttheonlyresultofthatwastogivehismotheranewtopicofconversation.Bertha,resumingheroldhabits,haddifficultyinrealisingthatshehadbeenlongaway.ShesetherselftoforgetGerald,andwaspleasedtofindtherecollectionofhimnottooimportunate.Asentimentalistturnedcynichasobservedthatawomanisonlypassionatelydevotedtoherfirstlover,forafterwardsitisloveitselfofwhichsheisenamouredandcertainlythewoundsoflaterattachmentshealeasily.BerthawasdevoutlygratefultoMissLeyforheropportunereturnonGerald’slastnight,andshudderedtothinkofwhatmightotherwisehavehappened.
“Itwouldhavebeentooawful,”shecried.
Shecouldnotunderstandwhatsuddenmadnesshadseizedher,andthethoughtofthedangershehadrun,madeBertha’scheekstingle.Herheartturnedsickatthemereremembrance.ShewasthoroughlyashamedofthatinsaneexcursiontoEuston,intentuponthemostdreadfulcourses.Shefeltlikeapersonwhofromthetopofatowerhasbeensohorriblytemptedtothrowhimselfdown,thatonlytherestraininghandofabystanderhassavedhimandthenafterwardsfrombelowshiversandsweatsattheideaofhisperil.Butworsethantheshamewasthedreadofridiculeforthewholeaffairhadbeenexcessivelyu