Chapter XI

tformshookandrumbled. HeseizedbothMissLey’shands,andtheterrifyingthoughtflashedthroughherheadthathewouldkissherbeforetheassembledmultitude. “He’scultivatingtheairsofthecountrysquire,”shethought.“Iwishhewouldn’t.” Hetooktheinnumerablebagswithwhichshetravelledandscatteredthemamongtheattendants.Heeventriedtoinducehertotakehisarmtothedog-cart,butthishonourshestoutlyrefused. “Now,willyoucomeroundtothissideandI’llhelpyouup.Yourluggagewillcomeonafterwardswiththepony.” Hewasmanagingeverythinginaself-confidentandmasterfulfashionMissLeynoticedthatmarriagehaddispelledtheshynesswhichhadbeeninhimratheranattractivefeature.Hewasbecomingbluffandhearty.Alsohewasfillingout.Prosperityandaknowledgeofgreaterimportancehadbroadenedhisbackandstraightenedhisshouldershewasquitethreeinchesmoreroundthechestthanwhenshehadfirstknownhim,andhiswaisthadproportionatelyincreased. “Ifhegoesondevelopinginthisway,”shethought,“thegoodmanwillbecolossalbythetimehe’sforty.” “Ofcourse,AuntPolly,”hesaid,boldlydroppingtherespectfulMissLey,whichhithertohehadinvariablyused,thoughhisnewrelativewasnotawomanwhommostmenwouldhaveventuredtotreatfamiliarly.“Ofcourseit’sallrotaboutyourleavingusinaweekyoumuststayacoupleofmonthsatleast.” “It’sverygoodofyou,dearEdward,”repliedMissLeydrily,“butIhaveotherengagements.” “ThenyoumustbreakthemIcan’thavepeopleleavemyhouseimmediatelytheycome.” MissLeyraisedhereyebrowsandsmiledwasithishousealready?Dearme! “MydearEdward,”sheanswered,“Ineverstayanywherelongerthantwodays—thefirstdayItalktopeople,thesecondIletthemtalktome,andthethirdIgo....Istayaweekathotelssoastogoenpension,andgetmywashingproperlyaired.” “You’retreatinguslikeahotel,”saidEdward,laughing. “It’sagreatcompliment:inprivatehousesonegetssoabominablywaitedon.” “Ahwell,we’llsaynomoreaboutit.ButIshallhaveyourtrunktakentothebox-roomandIkeepthekeyofit.” MissLeygavetheshort,drylaughwhichdenotedthatherinterlocutor’sremarkhadnotamusedher,butsomethinginherownmind.PresentlytheyarrivedatCourtLeys. “D’youseeallthedifferencessinceyouwerelasthere?”askedEdward,jovially. MissLeylookedroundandpursedherlips. “It’scharming,”shesaid. “Iknewitwouldmakeyousitup,”hecried,laughing. Berthareceivedherauntinthehallandembracedherwiththegravedecorumwhichhadalwayscharacterisedtheirrelations. “Howcleveryouare,Bertha,”saidMissLey“youmanagetopreserveyourbeautifulfigure.” Thenshesetherselfsolemnlytoinvestigatetheconnubialblissoftheyoungcouple.