dher,waswonderfullyexhilarating.Shewantedtosingaloudinthejoyofherheart.Divingbelowthesurface,shecameupwithashakeoftheheadandalittlecryofdelightthenherhairwasloosenedandwithamotionitallcametumblingabouthershouldersandtrailedoutinitsringletsoverthewater.
Sheswamout,afearlessswimmeranditgaveherafeelingofstrengthandindependencetohavethedeepwatersallabouther,thedeepcalmseaofsummersheturnedonherbackandfloated,tryingtolookthesunintheface.Theseaglimmeredwiththesunbeamsandtheskywasdazzling.Then,returning,Berthafloatedagain,quiteneartheshoreitamusedhertolieonherback,rockedbythetinywaves,andtosinkherearssothatshecouldheartheshinglerubtogethercuriouslywiththeebbandflowofthetide.Sheshookoutherlonghairanditstretchedaboutherlikeanaureole.
Sheexultedinheryouth—inheryouth?Berthafeltnoolderthanwhenshewaseighteen,andyet—shewasthirty.Thethoughtmadeherwinceforshehadneverrealisedthepassageoftheyears,shehadneverimaginedthatheryouthwaswaning.Didpeoplethinkheralreadyold?ThesickeningfearcametoherthatsheresembledMissHancock,attemptingbyarchnessandbyanassumptionoffrivolity,topersuadeherneighboursthatshewasjuvenile.Berthaaskedherselfwhethershewasridiculouswhensherolledinthewaterlikeayounggirl:youcannotactthemermaidwithcrow’sfeetaboutyoureyes,withwrinklesroundyourmouth.Inapanicshedressedherself,andgoinghome,flewtoalooking-glass.Shescrutinisedherfeaturesasshehadneverdonebefore,searchinganxiouslyforthesignsshefearedtoseeshelookedatherneckandathereyes:herskinwasassmoothasever,herteethasperfect.Shegaveasighofrelief.
“Iseenodifference.”
Then,doublytoreassureherself,afantasticideaseizedBerthatodressasthoughsheweregoingtoagreatballshewishedtoseeherselftoalladvantage.Shechosethemostsplendidgownshehad,andtookoutherjewels.TheLeyshadsoldeveryvestigeoftheiroldmagnificence,buttheirdiamonds,withcharacteristicobstinacy,theyhadinvariablydeclinedtopartwithandtheylayaside,yearafteryearunused,thestonesintheiroldsettings,dulledwithdustandneglect.ThemoisturestillinBertha’shairwas