Chapter IV

BERTHAthrewoffhertroubledlooksandthevexationwhichtheargumenthadcausedher.Sheblushedcharminglyasthedooropened,andwiththeentranceofthefairyprinceherfacewaswreathedinsmiles.Shewenttowardshimandtookhishands. “AuntPolly,”shesaid,“thisisMr.EdwardCraddock....Dr.Ramsayyouknow.” HeshookhandswithMissLeyandlookedatthedoctor,whopromptlyturnedhisbackonhim.Craddockflushed,andsatdownbyMissLey. “Weweretalkingaboutyou,dearest,”saidBertha.Thepauseathisarrivalhadbeendisconcerting,andwhileCraddockwasrathernervouslythinkingofsomethingtosay,MissLeymadenoefforttohelphim.“IhavetoldAuntPollyandDr.Ramsaythatweintendtobemarriedfourweeksfromto-day.” ThiswasthefirstthatCraddockhadheardofthedate,butheshowednoparticularastonishment.Hewas,infact,tryingtorecallthespeechwhichhehadcomposedfortheoccasion. “Iwilltrytobeagoodhusbandtoyourniece,MissLey,”hebegan. Butthatladyinterruptedhim:shehadalreadycometotheconclusionthathewasamanlikelytosayonagivenoccasionthesortofthingwhichmightbeexpectedandthat,inhereyes,wasahideouscrime. “Ohyes,Ihavenodoubt,”shereplied.“Bertha,asyouknow,isherownmistress,andresponsibleforheractstonoone.” Craddockwasalittleembarrassedhehadmeanttoexpresshissenseofunworthinessandhisdesiretodohisduty,alsotomakeclearhisownposition,butMissLey’sremarkseemedtoprohibitfurtherexplanation. “Whichisreallyveryconvenient,”saidBertha,comingtohisrescue,“becauseIhaveamindtomanagemylifeinmyownway,withoutinterferencefromanybody.” MissLeywonderedwhethertheyoungmanlookeduponBertha’sstatementasauguringcompletetranquillityinthefuture,butCraddockseemedtoseeinitnothingominoushelookedatBerthawithagratefulsmile,andtheglancewhichshereturnedwasfullofthemostpassionatedevotion. SincehisarrivalMissLeyhadbeenobservingCraddockwithgreatminuteness,and,beingawoman,couldnothelpfindingsomepleasureintheknowledgethatBerthawastryingwithanxietytodiscoverherjudgment.Craddock’sappearancewasprepossessing.MissLeylikedyoungmengenerally,andthiswasaverygood-lookingmemberofthespecies.Hiseyesweregood,butotherwise