Chapter IV

gathinguponwhichshehassethermind.” “D’youmeantotellmethatyou’regoingtosanctionthemarriage?” MissLeyshruggedhershoulders.“MydearDr.Ramsay,Itellyouitwon’tmaketheleastdifferencewhetherweblessorcurse.Andheseemsanaveragesortofyoungman—letusbethankfulthatshe’sdonenoworse.He’snotuneducated.” “No,he’snotthat.HespenttenyearsatRegisSchool,Tercanburysoheoughttoknowsomething.” “Whatwasexactlyhisfather?” “Hisfatherwasthesameashimself—agentleman-farmer.He’dbeeneducatedatRegisSchool,ashissonwas.Heknewmostofthegentry,buthewasn’tquiteoneofthemheknewallthefarmersandhewasn’tquiteoneofthemeither.Andthat’swhatthey’vebeenforgenerations,neitherflesh,fowl,norgoodredherring.” “It’sthosepeoplethatthenewspaperstellusarethebackboneofthecountry,Dr.Ramsay.” “Let’emremainintheirproperplacethen,intheback,”saidthedoctor.“Youcandoasyouplease,MissLeyI’mgoingtoputastoptothebusiness.Afterall,oldMr.Leymademethegirl’sguardian,andthoughsheistwenty-oneIthinkit’smydutytoseethatshedoesn’tfallintothehandsofthefirstpennilessscampwhoaskshertomarryhim.” “Youcandoasyouplease,”retortedMissLey,whowasalittlebored.“You’lldonogoodwithBertha.” “I’mnotgoingtoBerthaI’mgoingtoCraddockdirect,andImeantogivehimapieceofmymind.” MissLeyshruggedhershoulders.Dr.Ramsayevidentlydidnotseewhowastheactivepartyinthematter,andshedidnotfeelitherdutytoinformhim. “Thequestionis,”shesaidquietly,“canshemarryanyoneworse?ImustsayI’mquiterelievedthatBerthadoesn’twanttomarryacreaturefromBayswater.” Thedoctortookhisleave,andinafewminutesBerthajoinedMissLey.Thelatterobviouslyintendedtomakenoeffortstodisturbthecourseoftruelove. “You’llhavetobethinkingoforderingyourtrousseau,mydear,”shesaid,withadrysmile. “We’regoingtobemarriedquiteprivately,”answeredBertha.“Weneitherofuswanttomakeafuss.” “Ithinkyou’reverywise.Ofcoursemostpeople,whentheygetmarried,fancythey’redoingaveryoriginalthing.ItneveroccurstothemthatquiteanumberofpersonshavecommittedmatrimonysinceAdamandEve.” “I’veaskedEdwardtoluncheonto-morrow,”saidBertha.