Chapter XIII

ThehandlewasturnedandMissGlovercamein,redwithnervousness. “Forgivemeforcomingin,Bertha.ButIthoughtyouseemedunwell.Can’tIdosomethingforyou?” “Oh,I’mallright,”saidBertha,dryinghertears,“OnlytheheatupsetmeandI’vegotaheadache.” “ShallIsendEdwardtoyou?” “WhatdoIwantwithEdward?”repliedBertha,petulantly.“Ishallbeallrightinfiveminutes.Ioftenhaveattackslikethis.” “I’msurehedidn’tmeantosayanythingunkind.He’skindnessitself,Iknow.” Berthaflushed.“Whatonearthdoyoumean,Fanny?Whodidn’tsayanythingunkind?” “IthoughtyouwerehurtbyEdward’ssayingyouwereadufferandabeginner.” “Oh,mydear,youmustthinkmeafool.”Berthalaughedhysterically.“It’squitetruethatI’maduffer.Itellyouit’sonlytheweather.Why,ifmyfeelingswerehurteachtimeEddiesaidathinglikethatIshouldleadamiserablelife.” “Iwishyou’dletmesendhimuptoyou,”saidMissGlover,unconvinced. “Goodheavens!Why?See,I’mallrightnow.”Shewashedhereyesandpassedthepowder-puffoverherface.“Mydear,itwasonlythesun.” Withaneffortshebracedherself,andburstintoalaughjoyfulenoughalmosttodeceivetheVicar’ssister. “Now,wemustgodown,orMrs.Brandertonwillcomplainmorethaneverofmybadmanners.” SheputherarmroundMissGlover’swaistandranherdownthestairstothemingledterrorandamazementofthatgoodcreature.Fortherestoftheafternoon,thoughhereyesneverrestedonEdward,shewasperfectlycharming—inthehighestspirits,chatteringincessantly,laughingeveryonenoticedhergoodhumourandcommenteduponherobviousfelicity. “Itdoesonegoodtoseeacouplelikethat,”saidGeneralHancock,“justashappyasthedayislong.” ButthelittlescenehadnotescapedMissLey’ssharpeyes,andshenoticedwithagonythatMissGloverhadgonetoBertha.Shecouldnotstopher,beingatthemomentinthetoilsofMrs.Branderton. “Oh,thesegoodpeoplearetooofficious!Whycan’tsheleavethegirlalonetohaveitoutwithherself!” ButtheexplanationofeverythingnowflashedacrossMissLey. “WhatafoolIam!”shethought,andshewasabletocogitatequiteclearlywhileexchanginghoneyedimpertinenceswithMrs.Branderton.“InoticeditthefirstdayIsawthemtogether.HowcouldIeverforgetit!”SheshruggedhershouldersandmurmuredthemaximofLaRochefoucauld— “Entredeuxamantsil-y-atoujoursunquiaime,etunquiselaisseaimer.” Andtothissheaddedanother,inthesamelanguage,which,knowingnooriginal,sheventuredtoclaimasherownitseemedtosummarisethesituation. “Celuiquiaimeatoujourstort.”