Chapter XIII

heymakehimageneral,justtoencouragetheothers.Iunderstandthereason.It’sagreatthing,ofcourse,forparentssendingtheirsonsintothearmytobeabletosay,‘Well,hemaybeafool,butthere’snoreasonwhyheshouldn’tbecomeageneral.’” “Youwouldn’trobusofourgenerals,”saidMissLey“they’resousefulattea-parties.InmyyoungdaysthefoolofthefamilywassentintotheChurch,butnow,Isuppose,he’ssentintothearmy.” Mr.BacotwasabouttomakeaveryheatedretortwhenEdwardcalledtohim— “Wewantyoutomakeupasetattennis.WillyouplaywithMissHancockagainstmywifeandtheGeneral?Comeon,Bertha.” “Ohno,Imeantositout,Eddie,”saidBertha,quickly.ShesawthatEdwardwasputtingallthebadplayersintooneset,sothattheymightbegotridof.“I’mnotgoingtoplay.” “Youmust,oryou’lldisarrangethenextlot.It’sallsettledMissGloverandIaregoingtotakeonMissJaneHancockandArthurBranderton.” Berthalookedathimwitheyesflashingangrily.Ofcoursehedidnotnoticehervexation.HepreferredtoplaywithMissGlover,shetoldherselftheparson’ssisterplayedwell,andforagoodgamehewouldneverhesitatetosacrificehiswife’sfeelings.BesidesBertha,onlyMissGloverandyoungBrandertonwerewithinearshot,andinhisjovial,pleasantmanner,Edwardlaughinglysaid— “Bertha’ssuchaduffer.Ofcourseshe’sonlyjustbeginning.Youdon’tmindplayingwiththeGeneral,doyou,dear?” ArthurBrandertonlaughedandBerthasmiledatthesally,butshereddened. “I’mnotgoingtoplayatall.ImustseetotheteaandIdaresaymorepeoplewillbecominginpresently.” “Oh,Iforgotthat,”saidEdward.“Noperhapsyououghtn’ttoplay.”Andthenputtinghiswifeoutofhisthoughts,andlinkinghisarmwithyoungBranderton’s,hesaunteredoff.“Comealong,oldchapwemustfindsomecrocktomakeupthepat-ballset.”Edwardhadsuchacharming,frankmanner,onecouldnothelplikinghim. Berthawatchedthetwomengoandturnedverywhite. “Imustjustgointothehouseamoment,”shesaidtoMissGlover.“GoandentertainMrs.Branderton,there’sadear.”Andprecipitatelyshefled. Sherantoherroom,andflingingherselfonthebed,burstintoafloodoftears.Thehumiliationseemeddreadful.ShewonderedhowEddie,whomshelovedaboveallelseintheworld,couldtreathersocruelly.Whathadshedone?Heknew—ah,yes,heknewwellenoughthehappinesshecouldcauseher—andhewentoutofhiswaytobebrutal.Sheweptbitterly,andjealousyofMissGlover(MissGlover,ofallpeople!)stabbedhertotheheart. “Hedoesn’tloveme,”shemoaned,hertearsredoubling. Presentlytherewasaknockatthedoor. “Whoisit?”shecried.