Chapter III

wasthelastpersonuponthisearthtowearmutton-chopwhiskers.Hewasveryredcheeked,andbyhissize,joviality,andfloridcomplexion,gaveanideaofunalterablehealth.Withhisshavenchinandhisloud-voicedburlinesshelookedlikeayeomanoftheoldschool,beforebadtimesandthespreadofeducationhadmadethefarmerasortofcrossbetweenthecityclerkandtheNewmarkettrainer.Dr.Ramsay’sfrockcoatandtophat,notwithstandingthehabitofmanyyears,satuneasilyuponhimwiththeairofSundayclothesuponanagriculturallabourer.MissLey,wholikedtofindabsurddescriptionsofpeople,ortohituponanaptcomparison,hadneverbeenableexactlytosuithimandthatsomewhatirritatedher.Inhereyestheonlylinkthatconnectedthedoctorwithhumanitywasacertainloveofantiquities,whichhadfilledhishousewitholdsnuff-boxes,china,andotherpreciousthings:humanity,MissLeytooktobeasmallcircleofpersons,mostlyfeminine,middle-aged,unattached,andofindependentmeans,whotravelledonthecontinent,readgoodliteratureandabhorredthevastmajorityoftheirfellow-creatures,especiallywhentheseshriekedphilanthropically,thrusttheirreligioninyourface,orcultivatedtheirmusclewithaggressiveardour! Dr.RamsayatehisluncheonwithanappetitethatMissLeythoughtmustbeagreatsourceofsatisfactiontohisbutcher.Sheaskedpolitelyafterhiswife,towhomshesecretlyobjectedforhermeeksubmissiontothedoctor.MissLeymadeapracticeofavoidingthosewomenwhohadturnedthemselvesintomereshadowsoftheirlords,moreespeciallywhentheirconversationwasofhouseholdaffairsandMrs.Ramsay,exceptonSundays,whenhermindwasturnedtotheclothesofthecongregation,thoughtofnothingbeyondherhusband’senormousappetiteandthemethodsofsubduingit. Theyreturnedtothedrawing-roomandDr.RamsaybegantotellBerthaabouttheproperty,whothistenantwasandtheconditionofthatfarm,windingupwiththepitifulstateofthetimesandtheimpossibilityofgettingrents. “Andnow,Bertha,whatareyouthinkingofdoing?”heasked. ThiswastheopportunityforwhichBerthahadbeenlooking. “I?”shesaidquietly—“Oh,Iintendtogetmarried.” Dr.Ramsay,openinghismouth,threwbackhisheadandlaughedimmoderately. “Verygoodindeed,”hecried.“Ha,ha!” MissLeylookedathimwithupliftedeyebrows. “Girlsarecomingonnowadays,”hesaid,withmuchamusement.“Why,inmytime,ayoungwomanwouldhavebeenallblushesanddowncastglances.IfanyonehadtalkedofmarriageshewouldhaveprayedHeaventosendanearthquaketoswallowherup.” “Fiddlesticks!”saidMissLey. BerthawaslookingatDr.Ramsaywithasmilethatshewithdifficultyrepressed,andMissLeycaughttheexpression. “Soyouintendtobemarried,Bertha?”saidthedoctor,againlaughing. “Yes.” “When?”askedMissLey,whodidnottakeBertha’sremarkasmerelyplayful. Berthawaslookingoutthewindow,wonderingwhenEdwardwouldarrive. “When?”sherepeated,turninground.“Thisdayfourweeks!” “What!”criedDr.Ramsay,jumpingup.“Youdon’tmeantosayyou’vefoundsomeone!Areyouengaged?Oh,Isee,Isee.You’vebeenhavingalittlejokewithme.Whydidn’tyoutellmethatBerthawasengagedallthetime,MissLey?” “Mygooddoctor,”answeredMissLey,withgreatcomposure,“untilthismomentIknewnothingwhateveraboutit....Isupposeweoughttoofferourcongratulationsit’sablessingtogetthemalloverononeday.” Dr.Ramsaylookedfromonetotheotherwithperplexity. “Well,uponmyword,”hesaid,“Idon’tunderstand.” “NeitherdoI,”repliedMissLey,“butIkeepcalm.” “It’sverys