Chapter III

ting,sheturnedredandthenwhiteinthemostcompromisingfashion.Buthewasveryhandsomeas,witheasygait,hesaunteredtothehedgeaboveallhewasmanly,andthepleasingthoughtpassedthroughBerthathathisstrengthmustbequiteherculean.Shebarelyconcealedheradmiration. “Oh,Ididn’tknowthiswasyourfarm,”shesaid,shakinghands.“Iwasjustwalkingatrandom.” “Ishouldliketoshowyouround,MissBertha.” Craddockopenedthegateandtookhertotheshedswherehekepthiscarts,pointingoutacoupleofsturdyhorsesploughinganadjacentfieldheshowedherhiscattle,andpokedthepigstoletheradmiretheirexcellentconditionhegavehersugarforhishunter,andtookhertothesheep—explainingeverythingwhileshelistenedspell-bound.When,withgreatpride,Craddockshowedherhismachinesandexplainedtheuseofthehorse-tosserandtheexpenseofthereaper,shethoughtthatneverinherlifehadsheheardanythingsoenthralling.ButaboveallBerthawishedtoseethehouseinwhichhelived. “D’youmindgivingmeaglassofwater?”shesaid,“I’msothirsty.” “Docomein,”heanswered,openingthedoor. Heledhertoalittleparlourwithanoil-clothonthefloor.Onthetable,whichtookupmostoftheroom,wasastamped,redcloththechairsandthesofa,coveredwithwornoldleather,werearrangedwiththegreatestpossiblestiffness.Onthechimney-piece,alongwithpipesandtobacco-jars,werebrightchinavaseswithrushesinthem,andinthemiddleamarbleclock. “Ohhowpretty!”criedBertha,withenthusiasm.“Youmustfeelverylonelyherebyyourself.” “Ohno—I’malwaysout.ShallIgetyousomemilk?It’llbebetterforyouthanwater.” ButBerthasawanapkinlaidonthetable,ajugofbeer,andsomebreadandcheese. “HaveIbeenkeepingyoufromyourlunch?”sheasked.“I’msosorry.” “Itdoesn’tmatteratall.Ijusthavealittlesnackateleven.” “Oh,mayIhavesometoo?Ilovebreadandcheese,andI’mperfectlyravenous.” Theysatoppositeoneanother,seeingagreatjokeintheimpromptumeal.Thebread,whichhecutinagreatchunk,wasdelicious,andthebeer,ofcourse,wasnectar.Butafterwards,BerthafearedthatCraddockmustbethinkinghersomewhatodd. “D’youthinkit’sveryeccentricofmetocomeandlunchwithyouinthisway?” “Ithinkit’sawfullygoodofyou.Mr.Leyoftenusedtocomeandhaveasnackwithmyfather.” “Oh,didhe?”saidBertha.Ofcoursethatmadeherproceedingquitenatural.“ButIreallymustgonow.IshallgetintoawfultroublewithAuntPolly.” Hebeggedhertotakesomeflowers,andhastilycutabunchofdahlias.Sheacceptedthemwiththemostembarrassinggratitudeandwhentheyshookhandsatparting,herheartwentpit-a-patagainridiculously. MissLeyinquiredfromwhomshegotherflowers. “Oh,”saidBerthacoolly,“Ihappenedtomeetoneofthetenantsandhegavethemtome.” “Hm,”murmuredMissLey,“itwouldbemoretothepurposeiftheypaidtheirrent.” MissLeypresentlylefttheroom,andBerthalookedattheprimdahliaswithaheartfullofemotion.Shegavealaugh. “It’snogoodtryingtohideitfrommyself,”shemurmured,“I’mheadoverearsinlove.” Shekissedtheflowersandfeltveryglad....Sheevidentlywasinthatcondition,sincebythenightBerthahadmadeuphermindtomarryEdwardCraddockordie.Shelostnotime,forlessthanamonthhadpassedandtheirwedding-daywascertainlyinsight. MissLeyloathedallmanifestationsoffeeling.Christmas,wheneverybodyissupposedtotakehisneighbourtohisbosomandharbourtowardshimanumberofsentimentalemotions,causedhersuchdiscomfortthatshehabituallyburiedherselfforthetimeinsomecontinentalcitywh