Chapter I

oldandoftooindependentcharactertoacceptastranger’sauthoritynorhadMissLeythesmallestdesiretoexertauthorityoveranyone.Shewasaveryindolentwoman,whowishednothingmorethantoleavepeoplealoneandbeleftalonebythem.Butifitwasobviouslyherdutytotakechargeofanorphanniece,itwasalsoanadvantagethatBerthawaseighteen,and,butfortheconventionsofdecentsociety,couldverywelltakechargeofherself.MissLeywasnotunthankfultoamercifulProvidenceonthediscoverythatherwardhadeveryintentionofgoingherownway,andnonewhateverofhangingabouttheskirtsofamaidenauntwhowaspassionatelydevotedtoherliberty. TheytravelledontheContinent,seeingmanychurches,pictures,andcities,intheexaminationofwhichtheirchiefaimappearedtobetoconcealfromoneanothertheemotionstheyfelt.LiketheRedIndianwhowillsufferthemosthorridtortureswithoutwincing,MissLeywouldhavethoughtithighlydisgracefultodisplayfeelingatsometouchingscene.Sheusedpolitecynicismasacloakforsentimentality,laughingthatshemightnotcry—andherwantoforiginalityherein,theoldrepetitionofGrimaldi’sdoubleness,madehersniggeratherself.Shefeltthattearswereunbecomingandfoolish. “Weepingmakesafrightevenofagood-lookingwoman,”shesaid,“butifsheisuglytheymakehersimplyrepulsive.” Finally,lettingherownflatinLondon,MissLeysettleddownwithBerthatocultivateruraldelightsatCourtLeys,nearBlackstable,inthecountyofKent.Thetwoladieslivedtogetherwithmuchharmony,althoughthedemonstrationsoftheiraffectiondidnotexceedasinglekissmorningandnight,givenandreceivedwithalmostequalindifference.Eachhadconsiderablerespectfortheother’sabilities,andparticularlyforthewitwhichoccasionallyexhibiteditselfinlittlefriendlysarcasms.Buttheyweretooclevertogetonbadly,andsincetheyneitherhatednorlovedoneanotherexcessively,therewasreallynoreasonwhytheyshouldnotcontinueonthebestofterms.ThegeneralresultoftheirrelationswasthatBertha’srestlessnessonthisparticulardayarousedinMissLeynomorequestionthanwaseasilyansweredbythewarmthofheryoungbloodandhereccentriccuriosityinrespectofthegateonaverycoldandunpleasantwinterafternoondidnotevencauseashrugofdisapprovaloranupraisingoftheeyelidsinwonder. Berthaputonahatandwalkedout.Theavenueofelm-trees,reachingfromthe