Chapter V

dedthatherniecewasinaveryprettypassion.However,shedroveawaytheappearanceofanger,andherfacewasfullofsmilesasshegreetedhervisitors. “MissGlover,howkindofyoutocome.Howd’youdo,Dr.Ramsay?...Oh,bytheway,IthinkImustaskyou—er—nottointerfereinfuturewithmyprivateconcerns.” “Dearest,”brokeinMissGlover,“it’sallforthebest.” Berthaturnedtoherandtheflushonherfacedeepened:“Ah,Iseeyou’vebeendiscussingthematter.Howgoodofyou!Edwardhasbeenaskingmetoreleasehim.” Dr.Ramsaynoddedwithsatisfaction. “ButIrefused!” Dr.Ramsaysprangup,andMissGlover,liftingherhands,cried:“Oh,dear!Oh,dear!”ThiswasoneoftherareoccasionsinherlifeuponwhichMissLeywasknowntolaughoutright. Berthanowwassimplybeamingwithhappiness.“Hepretendedthathewantedtobreaktheengagement—butIutterlydeclined.” “D’youmeantosayyouwouldn’tlethimgowhenheaskedyou?”saidthedoctor. “DidyouthinkIwasgoingtoletmyhappinessbedestroyedbyyou?”sheasked,contemptuously.“Ifoundoutthatyouhadbeenmeddling,Dr.Ramsay.Poorboy,hethoughthishonourrequiredhimnottotakeadvantageofmyinexperienceItoldhim,whatI’vetoldhimathousandtimes,thatIlovehim,andthatIcan’tlivewithouthim....Oh,Ithinkyououghttobeashamedofyourself,Dr.Ramsay.Whatd’youmeanbycomingbetweenmeandEdward?” Berthasaidthelastwordspassionately,breathinghard.Dr.Ramsaywastakenaback,andMissGlover,thinkingsuchamannerofspeechalmostunladylike,lookeddown.MissLey’ssharpeyesplayedfromonetotheother. “Doyouthinkhereallylovesyou?”saidMissGlover,atlast.“Itseemstomethatifhehad,hewouldnothavebeensoreadytogiveyouup.” MissLeysmileditwascertainlycuriousthatacreatureofquiteangelicgoodnessshouldmakesoMachiavellianasuggestion. “Heofferedtogivemeupbecausehelovedme,”saidBertha,proudly.“Iadorehimtenthousandtimesmoreforthesuggestion.” “Ihavenopatiencewithyou,”criedthedoctor,unabletocontainhimself.“He’smarryingyouforyourmoney.” Berthagavealittlelaugh.Shewasstandingbythefireandturnedtotheglass....Shelookedatherhands,restingontheedgeofthechimney-piece,smallandexquisitelymodelled,thefingerstapering,thenailsofthesoftestpink.Theywerethegentlesthandsintheworld,madeforcaressesand,consciousoftheirbeauty,sheworenorings.WiththemBerthawaswellsatisfied.Then,raisingherglance,shesawherselfinthemirror:forawhileshegazedintoherdarkeyes,flashingsometimesandatothersconveyingtheburningmessagesoflove.Shelookedatherears—small,andpinklikeashelltheymadeonefeelthatnomaterialsweresogratefultotheartist’shandsasthematerialswhichmakeupthebodyofman.Herhairwasdarktoo,soabundantthatshescarcelyknewhowtowearit,curlingonewantedtopassone’shandsthroughit,imaginingthatitstouchmustbedelightful.Sheputherfingerstooneside,toarrangeastraylock:theymightsaywhattheyliked,shethought,butherhairwasgood.Berthawonderedwhyshewassodarkheroliveskinsuggested,indeed,thesouthwithitsburningpassion:shehadthecomplexionofthefairwomeninUmbria,clearandsoftbeyonddescription.Apainteroncehadsaidthatherskinhadinitallthecolourofthesettingsun,ofthesettingsunatitsborderswherethesplendourmingleswiththeskyithadanhundredmellowtints,creamandivory,thepalestyellowoftheheartofrosesandthefaintest,theveryfaintestgreen,allflushedwithradiantlight.Shelookedatherfull,redlips,almostpassionatelysensual.Berthasmiledatherself,andsawtheeven,glisteningteeththescrutinyhadmadeherblush,andthecolourrenderedstillmoreexquisitethepallid,marvellouscomplexion.Sheturnedslowlyandfacedthethreepersonslookingather. “Doyouthinkitimpossibleforamantolovemeformyself?Youarenotflattering,deardoctor.” MissLeythoughtBerthacertainlyveryboldthustochallengethecriticismoftwowomen,bothunmarriedbutshesilencedit.MissLey’seyeswentfromthestatuesquenecktothearmsasfinelyformed,andtothefigure. “You’relookingyourbest,mydear,”shesaid,withasmile. Thedoctorutteredanexpressionofannoyance:“Canyoudonothingtohinderthismadness,MissLey?” “MydearDr.Ramsay,Ihavetroubleenoughinarrangingmyownlifedonotaskmetointerferewithotherpeople’s.”