Chapter I

weusedtocalleachotherbyourChristiannames.” HeblushedalittleandhismodestyfilledBerthawithdelight. “Yes,butwhenyoucamebacksixmonthsago,youhadchangedsomuch—Ididn’tdareandbesides,youcalledmeMr.Craddock.” “Well,Iwon’tanymore,”shesaid,laughing“I’dmuchsoonercallyouEdward.” ShedidnotaddthatthewordseemedtoherthemostbeautifulinthewholelistofChristiannames,northatinthepastfewweeksshehadalreadyrepeatedittoherselfathousandtimes. “It’llbelikeolddays,”hesaid.“D’yourememberwhatfunweusedtohavewhenyouwerealittlegirl,beforeyouwentabroadwithMr.Ley?” “IrememberthatyouusedtolookuponmewithgreatcontemptbecauseIwasalittlegirl,”shereplied,laughing. “Well,IwasawfullyfrightenedthefirsttimeIsawyouagain—withyourhairupandlongdresses.” “I’mnotreallyveryterrible.” Forfiveminutestheyhadbeenlookingintooneanother’seyes,andsuddenly,withoutobviousreason,Craddockblushed.Berthanoticedit,andastrangelittlethrillwentthroughhershereddenedtoo,andherdarkeyesflashedevenmorebrightlythanbefore. “IwishIdidn’tseeyousoseldom,MissBertha,”hesaid. “Youhaveonlyyourselftoblame,fairsir.Youperceivetheroadthatleadstomypalace,andattheendyouwillcertainlyfindadoor.” “I’mratherafraidofyouraunt.” ItwasonthetipofBertha’stonguetosaythatfaintheartneverwonfairlady,butformodesty’ssakesherefrained.Herspiritshadsuddenlygoneupandshefeltextraordinarilyhappy. “Doyouwanttoseemeverybadly?”sheasked,herheartbeatingatquiteanabsurdrate. CraddockblushedagainandseemedtohavesomedifficultyinfindingareplyhisconfusionandhisingenuousairwerenewenchantmentstoBertha. “IfheonlyknewhowIadoredhim!”shethoughtbutnaturallyshecouldnottellhiminsomanywords. “You’vechangedsomuchintheseyears,”hesaid,“Idon’tunderstandyou.” “Youhaven’tansweredmyquestion.” “OfcourseIwanttoseeyou,Bertha,”hesaidquickly,seemingtotakehiscourageinbothhands“Iwanttoseeyoualways.” “Well,”shesaid,withacharmingsmile,“Isometimestakeawalkafterdinnertothegateandobservetheshadowsofnight.” “ByJove,IwishI’dknownthatbefore.” “Foolishcreature!”saidBerthatoherselfwithamusement,“hedoesn’tgatherthatthisisthefirstnightuponwhichIshallhavedoneanythingofthekind.”