Chapter II

WITHswingingstepBerthareturnedtothehouse,andlikeaswarmofbirdsahundredamoretsflewaboutherheadCupidleaptfromtreetotreeandshothisarrowsintoherwillingheartherimaginationclothedthenakedbrancheswithtendergreen,andinherhappinessthegrayskyturnedtoazure....ItwasthefirsttimethatEdwardCraddockhadshownhisloveinamannerwhichwasunmistakableifbefore,muchhadsuggestedthathewasnotindifferent,nothinghadbeenabsolutelyconvincing,andthedoubthadcausedhereveryimaginablewoe.Asforher,shemadenoefforttoconcealitfromherselfshewasnotashamed,shelovedhimpassionately,sheworshippedthegroundhetrodonsheconfessedboldlythatheofallmenwastheonetomakeherhappyherlifeshewouldgiveintohisstrongandmanlyhands.ShehadmadeuphermindfirmlythatCraddockshouldleadhertothealtar. Timeswithoutnumberalreadyhadshefanciedherselfrestinginhisarms—inhisstrongarms—theverythoughtofwhichwasaprotectionagainstalltheillsoftheworld.Ohyes,shewantedhimtotakeherinhisarmsandkissherinimaginationshefelthislipsuponhers,andthewarmthofhisbreathmadeherfaintwiththeanguishoflove. Sheaskedherselfhowshecouldwaittilltheeveninghowonearthwasshetoenduretheslowpassingofthehours?Andshemustsitoppositeherauntandpretendtoread,ortalkonthissubjectandonthat.Itwasinsufferable.Then,inconsequently,sheaskedherselfifEdwardknewthatshelovedhimhecouldnotdreamhowintensewasherdesire. “I’msorryI’mlatefortea,”shesaid,onenteringthedrawing-room. “Mydear,”saidMissLey,“thebutteredtoastisprobablyhorrid,butIdon’tseewhyyoushouldnoteatcake.” “Idon’twantanythingtoeat,”criedBertha,flingingherselfonachair. “Butyou’redyingwiththirst,”addedMissLey,lookingatherniecewithsharpeyes.“Wouldn’tyoulikeyourteaoutofabreakfastcup?” MissLeyhadcometotheconclusionthattherestlessnessandthelongabsencecouldonlybeduetosomemasculinecause.Mentallysheshruggedhershoulders,hardlywonderingwhothecreaturewas. “Ofcourse,”shethought,“it’scertaintobesomeonequiteineligible.Ihopetheywon’thavealongengagement.” MissLeycouldnothavesupportedforseveralmonthsthepresenceofabashfulandlove-sickswain.Shefoundloversinvariablyridiculous.ShewatchedBertha