Chapter XIII
關燈
小
中
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dseemstothinkitunusual.”Shefollowedhimwithhereyes,pickinguptheballsonebyone,huntingamongbushes:shewasinthemoodforconfidencesthatafternoon.“Youdon’tknowhowdifferenteverythinghasbeensinceIfellinlove.Theworldisfuller....It’stheonlystateworthlivingin.”Edwardadvancedwiththeeightballsonhisracket.“Comehereandbekissed,Eddie,”shecried.
“NotifIknowit,”hereplied,laughing.“Bertha’saperfectterror.Shewantsmetospendmywholelifeinkissingher....Don’tyouthinkit’sunreasonable,AuntPolly?Mymottois:everythinginitsplaceandseason.”
“Onekissinthemorning,”saidBertha,“onekissatnight,willdotokeepyourwifequietandtherestofthetimeyoucanattendtoyourworkandreadyourpaper.”
AgainBerthasmiledcharmingly,butMissLeysawnoamusementinhereyes.
“Well,onecanhavetoomuchofagoodthing,”saidEdward,balancinghisracketonthetipofhisnose.
“Evenofproverbialphilosophy,”remarkedBertha.
Afewdayslater,hisguesthavingdefinitelyannouncedthatshemustgo,Edwardproposedatennis-partyasapartinghonour.MissLeywouldgladlyhaveescapedanafternoonofsmall-talkwiththenotabilitiesofLeanham,butEdwardwasdeterminedtopayhisaunteveryattention,andhisinnerconsciousnessassuredhimthatatleastasmallpartywasnecessarytotheoccasion.Theycame,Mr.andMissGlover,theBrandertons,theHancocks,Mr.AtthillBacot,thegreatpolitician(ofthedistrict).ButMr.AtthillBacotwasmorethanpolitical,hewasgallant,andhedevotedhimselftotheentertainmentofMissLey.Hediscussedwithherthesinsofthegovernmentandtheincapacityofthearmy.
“Moremen,moreguns!”hesaid.“Anelementaryeducationincommonsensefortheofficers,andtherudimentsofgrammarifthere’stime!”
“Goodheavens,Mr.Bacot,youmustn’tsaysuchthings.IthoughtyouwereaConservative.”
“Madam,Istoodfortheconstituencyin’85.ImaysaythatifaConservativemembercouldhavegotin,Ishouldhavebeenelected.Buttherearelimits.EventhestaunchConservativewillturn.NowlookatGeneralHancock.”
“Pleasedon’ttalksoloud,”saidMissLey,withalarm,forMr.Bacothadinstinctivelyadoptedhisplatformmanner,andhisvoicecouldbeheardthroughthewholegarden.
“LookatGeneralHancock,Isay,”herepeated,takingnonoticeoftheinterruption.“Isthatthesortofmanwhomyouwouldwishtohavethehandlingoftenthousandofyoursons?”
“Oh,butbefair,”criedMissLey,laughing.“They’renotallsuchfoolsaspoorGeneralHancock.”
“Igiveyoumyword,madam,Ithinktheyare....AsfarasIcanmakeout,whenamanhasshownhimselfincapableofdoinganythingelset