Chapter XIII
關燈
小
中
大
arpeyestotheplayers.Edwardwascertainlyveryhandsome—helookedsoclean,anditwasobvioustothemostcasualobserverthathebathedhimselfdaily:hewasoneofthosemenwhocarrythemorningtubstampedoneverylineoftheirfaces.YoufeltthatPear’sSoapwasasessentialtohimashisbeliefintheConservativeParty,DerbyDay,andtheDepressionofAgriculture.AsBerthaoftensaid,hisenergywassuperabundant.Notwithstandinghisincreasingsizehewasmostagile,andperpetuallydidunnecessaryfeatsofstrength,suchasjumpingandhoppingoverthenet,holdingchairswithoutstretchedarm.
“Ifhealthandagooddigestionareallthatisnecessaryinahusband,Berthacertainlyoughttobethemostcontentedwomanalive.”
MissLeyneverbelievedsoimplicitlyinherowntheoriesthatshewaspreventedfromlaughingatthem.Shehadanimpartialmindandsawthetwosidesofaquestionclearlyenoughtofindlittletochoosebetweenthemconsequentlyshewasableandwillingtoarguewithequalforcefromeitherpointofview.
Thesetwasfinished,andBerthathrewherselfonachair,panting.
“Findtheballs,there’sadear,”shecried.
Edwardwentoffonthesearch,andBerthalookedathimwithadelightfulsmile.
“Heissuchagood-temperedperson,”shesaidtoMissLey.“Sometimeshemakesmefeelpositivelyashamed.”
“Hehasallthevirtues.Dr.Ramsay,theGlovers,evenMrs.Branderton,havebeendinninghispraiseintomyears.”
“Yes,theyalllikehim.ArthurBrandertonisalwayshere,askinghisadviceaboutsomethingorother.He’sadear,goodthing.”
“Who?ArthurBranderton?”
“No,ofcoursenot—Eddie.”
Berthatookoffherhatandstretchedherselfmorecomfortablyonthelongchair.Herhairwassomewhatdisarranged,andtherichlockswanderedaboutherforeheadandonthenapeofherneckinawaythatwouldhavedistractedanyminorpoetunderseventy.MissLeylookedatherniece’sfineprofile,andwonderedagainatthecomplexion,madeupofthesoftestcoloursinthesettingsun.Hereyesnowwereliquidwithlove,languorouswiththeshadeoflonglashesandherfull,sensualmouthwashalfopenwithasmile.
“Ismyhairveryuntidy?”askedBertha,catchingMissLey’slookanditsmeaning.
“No,Ithinkitsuitsyouwhenitisnotdonetooseverely.”
“Edwardhatesithelikesmetobeprim....AndofcourseIdon’tcarehowIlooksolongashe’spleased.Don’tyouthinkhe’sverygood-looking?”Thenwithoutwaitingforananswer,sheaskedasecondquestion.
“Doyouthinkmeagreatfoolforbeingsomuchinlove,AuntPolly?”
“Mydear,it’ssurelytheproperbehaviourwithone’slawfulspouse.”
Bertha’ssmilebecamealittlesadasshereplied—
“Edwar