Chapter III

imple,”saidBertha.“Igotengagedlastnight,andasIsay,Imeantobemarriedexactlyfourweeksfromto-day—toMr.Craddock.” “What!”criedDr.Ramsay,jumpingupinastonishmentandcausingthefloortoquakeinthemostdangerousway.“Craddock!Whatd’youmean?WhichCraddock?” “EdwardCraddock,”repliedBerthacoolly,“ofBewlie’sFarm.” “Brrh!!”Dr.Ramsay’sexclamationcannotbetranscribed,butitsoundedhorrid!“Thescoundrel!It’sabsurd.You’lldonothingofthesort.” Berthalookedathimwithagentlesmile,butdidnottroubletoanswer. “You’reveryemphatic,deardoctor,”saidMissLey.“Whoisthisgentleman?” “Heisn’tagentleman,”saidDr.Ramsay,purplewithvexation. “He’sgoingtobemyhusband,Dr.Ramsay,”saidBertha,compressingherlipsinthemannerwhichwithMissLeyhadbecomehabitualandturnedtothatlady:“I’veknownhimallmylife,andfatherwasagreatfriendofhisfather’s.He’sagentleman-farmer.” “Thedefinitionofwhich,”saidDr.Ramsay,“isamanwho’sneitherafarmernoragentleman.” “Iforgetwhatyourfatherwas?”saidBertha,whorememberedperfectlywell. “Myfatherwasafarmer,”repliedDr.Ramsay,withsomeheat,“and,thankGod!hemadenopretenceofbeingagentleman.HeworkedwithhisownhandsI’veseenhimoftenenoughwithapitchfork,turningoveraheapofmanure,whennooneelsewashandy.” “Isee,”saidBertha. “Butmyfathercanhavenothingtodowithityoucan’tmarryhimbecausehe’sbeendeadthesethirtyyears,andyoucan’tmarrymebecauseI’vegotawifealready.” MissLey,amusedatthedoctor’sbluntness,concealedasmilebutBertha,gettingratherangry,thoughthimsingularlyrude. “Andwhathaveyouagainsthim?”sheasked. “Ifyouwanttomakeafoolofyourself,he’sgotnorighttoencourageyou.Heknowsheisn’tafitmatchforyou.” “Whynot,ifIlovehim?” “Whynot!”shoutedDr.Ramsay.“Becausehe’sthesonofafarmer—likeIam—andyou’reMissLeyofCourtLeys.Becauseamaninthatpositionwithoutfiftypoundstohisbackdoesn’tmakeloveontheslytoagirlwithafortune.” “Fivethousandacreswhichpaynorent,”murmuredMissLey,whowasalwaysinopposition. “Youhavenothingwhateveragainsthim,”retortedBertha“youtoldmeyourselfthathehadtheverybestreputation.” “Ididn’tknowyouwereaskingmewithaviewtomatrimony.” “Iwasn’t.Icarenothingforhisreputation.IfheweredrunkenandidleanddissoluteI’dmarryhim,becauseIlovehim.” “MydearBertha,”saidMissLey,“thedoctorwillhaveanapoplecticfitifyousaysuchthings.” “Youtoldmehewasoneofthebestfellowsyouknew,Dr.Ramsay,”saidBertha. “Idon’tdenyit,”criedthedoctor,andhisredcheeksreallyhadinthemapurpletingethatwasquitealarming.“Heknowshisbusinessandheworkshard,andhe’sstraightandsteady.” “Goodheavens,Doctor,”criedMissLey,“hemustbeamiracleofruralexcellence.Berthawouldsurelyneverhavefalleninlovewithhimifhewerefaultless.” “IfBerthawantedanagent,”Dr.Ramsayproceeded,“Icouldrecommendnoonebetter,butasformarryinghim——“ “Doeshepayhisrent?”askedMissLey. “He’soneofthebesttenantswe’vegot,”growledthedoctor,somewhatannoyedbyMissLey’sfrivolousinterruptions. “Ofcourseinthesebadtimes,”addedMissLey,whowasdeterminednottoallowDr.Ramsaytoplaytheheavyfatherwithtoomuchseriousness,“Isupposeabouttheonlyresourceoftherespectablefarmeristomarryhislandlady.” “Hereheis!”interruptedBertha. “GoodGod,ishecominghere?”criedherguardian. “Isentforhim.Rememberheisgoingtobemyhusband.” “I’mdamnedifheis!”saidDr.Ramsay.