Chapter IV
關燈
小
中
大
Iwanttoshowyouthehouse.”
Herosewithalacrity,evidentlymuchrelievedattheendoftheordeal.HeshookMissLey’shand,andthistimecouldnotberestrainedfrommakingalittlespeech.
“Ihopeyou’renotangrywithmefortakingBerthaawayfromyou.IhopeIshallsoongettoknowyoubetter,andthatweshallbecomegreatfriends.”
MissLeywastakenaback,butreallythoughthiseffortnotbad.Itmighthavebeenworse,andatalleventshehadkeptoutofitreferencestotheAlmightyandtohisduty!ThenCraddockturnedtoDr.Ramsay,andwentuptohimwithanoutstretchedhandthatcouldnotberefused.
“Ishouldliketoseeyousometime,Dr.Ramsay,”hesaid,lookingathimsteadily.“Ifancyyouwanttohaveatalkwithme,andIshouldlikeittoo.Whencanyougivemeanappointment?”
Berthaflushedwithpleasureathisfrankwords,andMissLeywaspleasedatthecouragewithwhichhehadattackedtheoldcurmudgeon.
“Ithinkitwouldbeaverygoodidea,”saidthedoctor.“Icanseeyouto-nightateight.”
“Good!Good-bye,MissLey.”
HewentoutwithBertha.
MissLeywasnotoneofthosepersonswhoconsideritindiscreettoformanopinionuponsmallevidence.Beforeknowingamanforfiveminutesshemadeuphermindabouthim,andlikednothingbetterthantoimpartherimpressiontoanythataskedher.
“Uponmyword,doctor,”shesaid,assoonasthedoorwasshut,“he’snotsoterribleasIexpected.”
“Ineversaidhewasnotgood-looking,”pointedlyansweredDr.Ramsay,whowasconvincedthatanyandeverywomanwaswillingtomakeherselfafoolwithahandsomeman.
MissLeysmiled.“Goodlooks,mydeardoctor,arethreepartsofthenecessaryequipmentinthebattleoflife.Youcan’timaginethemiserableexistenceofareallyplaingirl.”
“DoyouapproveofBertha’sridiculousidea?”
“Totellyouthetruth,IthinkitmakesverylittledifferenceifyouandIapproveornotthereforewe’dmuchbettertakethematterquietly.”
“Youcandowhatyoulike,MissLey,”repliedthedoctorverybluntly,“butImeantostopthebusiness.”
“Youwon’t,mydeardoctor,”saidMissLey,smilingagain.“IknowBerthasomuchbetterthanyou.I’velivedwithherforthreeyears,andI’vefoundconstantentertainmentinthestudyofhercharacter....LetmetellyouhowIfirstknewher.OfcourseyouknowthatherfatherandIhadn’tbeenonspeakingte