Chapter IV

rmsforyears.Havingplayedducksanddrakeswithhisownmoney,hewantedtoplaythesamesillygamewithmineandasIstronglyobjectedheflewintoaviolentpassion,calledmeanungratefulwretch,andnourishedthegrievancetotheendofhisdays.Well,hishealthbrokedownafterhiswife’sdeath,andhespentseveralyearswithBerthawanderingaboutthecontinent.Shewaseducatedasbestcouldbe,inhalf-a-dozencountries,andit’samarveltomethatsheisnotentirelyignorantorentirelyvicious.She’sabrilliantexampleinfavouroftheopinionthatthehumanraceisinclinedtogoodratherthantoevil.” MissLeysmiled,forshewasherselfconvincedofpreciselytheopposite. “Well,oneday,”sheproceeded,“Igotatelegram,sentthroughmysolicitors:‘Fatherdead,pleasecomeifconvenient.—BerthaLey.’ItwasaddressedfromNaplesandIwasinFlorence.OfcourseIrusheddown,takingnothingbutabag,afewyardsofcrape,andsomesmelling-salts.IwasmetatthestationbyBertha,whomIhadn’tseenfortenyearsIsawatallandhandsomeyoungwoman,veryself-possessed,andadmirablygownedintheverylatestfashion.Ikissedherinasubduedway,propertotheoccasionandaswedroveback,inquiredwhenthefuneralwastobe,holdingthesmelling-saltsinreadinessforanoutburstofweeping.‘Oh,it’sallover,’shesaid.‘Ididn’tsendmywiretilleverythingwassettledIthoughtitwouldonlyupsetyou.I’vegivennoticetothelandlordofthevillaandtotheservants.Therewasreallynoneedforyoutocomeatall,onlythedoctorandtheEnglishparsonseemedtothinkitratherqueerofmetobeherealone.’Iusedthesmelling-saltsmyself!ImaginemyemotionIexpectedtofindahobbledehoyofagirlinhysterics,everythingtopsy-turvyandallsortsofhorridthingstodoinsteadofwhichIfoundeverythingarrangedperfectlywellandthehobbledehoyratherdisposedtomanagemeifIlether.Atluncheonshelookedatmytravellingdress.‘IsupposeyouleftFlorenceinahurry,’sheremarked.‘Ifyouwanttogetanythingblack,you’dbettergotomydressmakershe’snotbad.Imustgotherethisafternoonmyselftotrysomethingson.’” MissLeystoppedandlookedatthedoctortoseetheeffectofherwords.Hesaidnothing. “AndtheimpressionIgainedthen,”sheadded,“hasonlybeenstrengthenedsince.You’llbeaveryclevermanifyoupreventBerthafromdoin