Chapter XIV

on.You’dbetterhurryup.” ThiswastheopportunityforwhichBerthahadbeenlooking.Shewastiredofalwaysgivingway,ofhumblingherselfshewantedanexplanation. “You’reverygood,”shesaid,“butIdon’twanttoplaytenniswithyouanymore.” “Whyonearthnot?” Sheburstoutfuriously—“BecauseI’msickandtiredofbeingmadeaconveniencebyyou.I’mtooproudtobetreatedlikethat.Oh,don’tlookasifyoudidn’tunderstand.Youplaywithmebecauseyou’vegotnooneelsetoplaywith.Isn’tthatso?Thatishowyouarealwayswithme.Youpreferthecompanyoftheveriestfoolintheworldtomine.Youseemtodoeverythingyoucantoshowyourcontemptforme.” “Why,whathaveIdonenow?” “Oh,ofcourse,youforget.Youneverdreamthatyouaremakingmefrightfullyunhappy.DoyouthinkIliketobetreatedbeforepeopleasasortofpooridiotthatyoucanlaughandsneerat?” Edwardhadneverseenhiswifesoangry,andthistimehewasforcedtopayherattention.Shestoodbeforehim,attheendofherspeech,withteethclenched,hercheeksflaming. “It’sabouttheotherday,Isuppose.Isawatthetimeyouwereinapassion.” “Anddidn’tcaretwostraws.” “You’retoosilly,”hesaid,withalaugh.“Wecouldn’tplaytogetherwhenwehadpeoplehere.Theylaughatusasitisforbeingsodevotedtooneanother.” “Iftheyonlyknewhowlittleyoucaredforme!” “Imighthavemanagedasetwithyoulateron,ifyouhadn’tsulkedandrefusedtoplayatall.” “Itwouldneverhaveoccurredtoyou,Iknowyoubetterthanthat.You’reabsolutelyselfish.” “Come,come,Bertha,”hecriedgood-humouredly,“that’sathingI’venotbeenaccusedofbefore.Noonehasevercalledmeselfish.” “Ohno,theythinkyoucharming.Theythinkbecauseyou’recheerfulandeven-tempered,becauseyou’rehail-fellow-well-metwitheveryoneyouknow,thatyou’vegotsuchanicecharacter.IftheyknewyouaswellasIdo,they’dunderstanditwasmerelybecauseyou’reperfectlyindifferenttothem.Youtreatpeopleasiftheywereyourbosomfriends,andthen,fiveminutesafterthey’vegone,you’veforgottenallaboutthem....Andtheworstofitis,thatI’mnomoretoyouthananybodyelse.” “Oh,come,Idon’tthinkyoucanreallyfindsuchawfulthingswrongwithme.” “I’veneverknownyousacrificeyourslightestwhimtogratifymymostearnestdesire.” “Youcan’texpectmetodothingswhichIthinkunreasonable.” “Ifyoulovedme,you’dnotalwaysbeaskingifthethingsIwantarereasonable.Ididn’tthinkofreasonwhenImarriedyou.” Edwardmadenoanswer,whichnaturallyaddedtoBertha’sirritation.Shewasarrangingflowersforthetable,andbrokeoffthestalkssavagely.Edward,afterapause,wenttothedoor. “Whereareyougoing?”sheasked. “Sinceyouwon’tplay,I’mjustgoingtodoafewservesforpractice.” “Whydon’tyou