Chapter XII

THEpassiontoanalysethecasualfellow-creaturewasthemostabsorbingvicethatMissLeypossessedandnotiesofrelationshiporaffection(thetwogonotinvariablytogether)preventedherfromexercisinghertalentsinthatdirection.SheobservedBerthaandEdwardduringluncheon:Berthawastalkative,chatteringwithavivacitythatseemedsuspicious,abouttheneighbours—Mrs.Branderton’snewbonnetsandnewhair,MissGlover’sgoodworksandMr.Glover’svisitstoLondonEdwardwassilent,exceptwhenhepressedMissLeytotakeasecondhelping.Heatelargely,andthemaidenladynoticedtheenormousmouthfulshetookandtheheartinesswithwhichhedrankhisbeer.Ofcourseshedrewconclusionsandshedrewfurtherconclusions,when,havingdevouredhalfapoundofcheeseandtakenalastdrinkofale,hepushedbackhischairandwithasortoflowroar,remindingoneofabeastofpreygorgedwithfood,said— “Ah,well,IsupposeImustsetaboutmywork.There’snorestfortheweary.” Hepulledanewbriar-woodpipefromhispocket,filledandlitit. “Ifeelbetternow....Well,so-longIshallbeintotea.” ConclusionsbuzzedaboutMissLey,likemidgesonasummer’sday.Shedrewthemalltheafternoonshedrewthemallthroughdinner.Berthawaseffusivetoo,unusuallysoandMissLeyaskedherselfadozentimesifthisstreamofchatter,thesepealsoflaughter,proceededfromalightheartorfromabasedesiretodeceiveamiddle-agedandinquiringaunt.Afterdinner,Edward,tellingherthatofcourseshewasoneofthefamilysohehopedshedidnotwishhimtostandonceremony,begantoreadthepaper.WhenBertha,atMissLey’srequest,playedthepiano,goodmannersmadehimputitaside,andheyawnedadozentimesinaquarterofanhour. “Imustn’tplayanymore,”saidBertha,“orEddiewillgotosleep—won’tyou,darling?” “Ishouldn’twonder,”hereplied,laughing.“ThefactisthatthethingsBerthaplayswhenwe’vegotcompanygivemethefairhump!” “EdwardonlyconsentstolistenwhenIplayTheBlueBellsofScotlandorYankeeDoodle.” Berthamadetheremark,smilinggood-naturedlyatherhusband,butMissLeydrewconclusions. “Idon’tmindconfessingthatIcan’tstandallthisforeignmusic.WhatIsaytoBerthais—whycan’tyouplayEnglishstuff?” “Ifyoumustplayatall,”interposedhiswife. “Afterall’ssaidanddoneTheBlueBellsofScotlandhasgotatuneaboutitthatafellowcangethisteethinto.” “Yousee,there’sthedifference,”saidBertha,strummingafewbarsofRuleBritannia,“itsetsmineonedge.” “Well,I’mpatriotic,”retortedEdward.“Ilikethegood,honest,homelyEnglishairs.Ilike’embecausethey’reEnglish.I’mnotashamedtosaythatformethebestpieceofmusicthat’severbeenwrittenisGodSavetheQueen.” “WhichwaswrittenbyaGerman,dearEdward,”saidMissLey,smiling. “That’sasitmaybe,”saidEdward,unabashed,“butthesentiment’sEnglishandthat’sallIcareabout.” “Hear!hear!”criedBertha.“IbelieveEdwardhasaspirationstowardsapoliticalcareer.IknowIshallfinishupasthewifeofthelocalM.P.” “I’mpatriotic,”saidEdward,“andI’mnotashamedto