Chapter VI
關燈
小
中
大
rtonlookedatBertha,andshesmiledherthankshesawshewaspleased.
“Whereareyougoingforyourhoneymoon?”heaskednow,tomakeconversation.
“Idon’tknow,”answeredCraddock.“We’vehardlyhadtimetothinkofityet.”
“Youcertainlyareveryvagueinallyourplans.”
Heshookhandswiththem,receivingfromBerthaagratefulpressure,andwentoff.
“Haveyoureallynotthoughtofourhoneymoon,foolishboy?”askedBertha.
“No!”
“Well,Ihave.I’vemadeupmymindandsettleditall.We’regoingtoItaly,andImeantoshowyouFlorenceandPisaandSiena.It’llbesimplyheavenly.Wewon’tgotoVenice,becauseit’stoosentimentalself-respectingpeoplecan’tmakeloveingondolasattheendofthenineteenthcentury....Oh,IlongtobewithyouintheSouth,beneaththeblueskyandthecountlessstarsofnight.”
“I’veneverbeenabroadbefore,”hesaid,withoutmuchenthusiasm.
Butherfirewasquiteenoughfortwo.“Iknow,Ishallhavethepleasureofunfoldingitalltoyou.IshallenjoyitmorethanIeverhavebeforeit’llbesonewtoyou.Andwecanstaysixmonthsifwelike.”
“Oh,Icouldn’tpossibly,”hecried.“Thinkofthefarm.”
“Oh,botherthefarm.It’sourhoneymoon,Sposomio.”
“Idon’tthinkIcouldpossiblystayawaymorethanafortnight.”
“Whatnonsense!Wecan’tgotoItalyforafortnight.Thefarmcangetonwithoutyou.”
“AndinJanuaryandFebruarytoo,whenallthelambingiscomingon.”
HedidnotwanttodistressBertha,butreallyhalfhislambswoulddieifhewerenottheretosuperintendtheirentranceintothiswickedworld.
“Butyoumustgo,”saidBertha.“I’vesetmyheartuponit.”
Helookeddownforawhile,ratherunhappily.
“Wouldn’tamonthdo?”heasked.“I’lldoanythingyoureallywant,Bertha.”
ButhisobviousdisliketothesuggestioncutBertha’sheart.Shewasonlyinclinedtobestubbornwhenshesawhemightresistherandhisfirstwordofsurrendermadeherveerroundpenitently.
“WhataselfishbeastIam!”shesaid.“Idon’twanttomakeyoumiserable,Eddie.Ithoughtitwouldpleaseyoutogoabroad,andI’dplanneditallsowell....Butwewon’tgoIhateItaly.Let’sjustgouptotownforafortnight,liketwocountrybumpkins.”
“Oh,butyouwon’tlikethat.”
“OfcourseIshall.Ilikeeverythingyoulike.D’youthinkIcarewherewegosolongasI’mwithyou?...You’renotangrywithme,darling,areyou?”
Mr.Craddockwasgoodenoughtointimatethathewasnot.
MissLey,muchagainstherwill,hadbeendrivenbyMissGloverintoworkingforsomecharitableinstitution,andwasknittingbabies’socks(asthesmallestgarmentsshecouldmake)whenBerthatoldherofthealteredplan:shedroppedastitch!MissLeywastoowisetosayanything,butshewonderediftheworldwerecomingtoanendBertha’sschemeswereshatteredlikebri