Chapter XIX

Berthawasexhausted,and,keepingsilence,pressedEdward’shandinacknowledgmentofhiskindintention.Presentlyhelookedathiswatchagain. “Yourhalf-hour’snearlyup.InfiveminutesI’mgoingtocarryyoutoyourroom.” “Ohno,you’renot,”sherepliedplayfully,takinghisremarkashumorous.“I’mgoingtostaytilldinner.” “No,youcan’tpossibly.Itwillbeverybadforyou....Topleasemegobacktobednow.” “Well,we’llsplitthedifferenceandI’llgoaftertea.” “No,youmustgonow.” “Why,onewouldthinkyouwantedtogetridofme!” “Ihavetogoout,”saidEdward. “Ohno,youhaven’t—you’remerelysayingthattoinducemetogoupstairs.Youfibber!” “Letmecarryyouupnow,there’sagoodgirl.” “Iwon’t,Iwon’t,Iwon’t.” “Ishallhavetoleaveyoualone,Bertha.Ididn’tknowyoumeanttogetupto-day,andIhaveanengagement.” “Oh,butyoucan’tleavemethefirsttimeIgetup.Whatisit?Youcanwriteanoteandbreakit.” “I’mawfullysorry,”hereplied.“ButI’mafraidIcan’tdothat.Thefactis,IsawtheMissHancocksafterchurch,andtheysaidtheyhadtowalkintoTercanburythisafternoon,andasitwassowetIofferedtodrivethemin.I’vepromisedtofetchthematthree.” “You’rejoking,”saidBerthahereyeshadsuddenlybecomehard,andshewasbreathingfast. Edwardlookedatheruneasily.“Ididn’tknowyouweregoingtogetup,orIshouldn’thavearrangedtogoout.” “Ohwell,itdoesn’tmatter,”saidBertha,throwingoffthemomentaryanger.“Youcanjustwriteandsayyoucan’tcome.” “I’mafraidIcan’tdothat,”heanswered,gravely.“I’vegivenmywordandIcan’tbreakit.” “Oh,butit’sinfamous.”Herwrathblazedoutagain.“Evenyoucan’tbesocruelastoleavemeatsuchatime.Ideservesomeconsideration—afterallI’vesuffered.ForweeksIlayatdeath’sdoor,andatlastwhenI’malittlebetterandcomedown—thinkingtogiveyoupleasure,you’reengagedtodrivetheMissesHancockintoTercanbury.” “Come,Bertha,bereasonable.”Edwardcondescendedtoexpostulatewithhiswife,thoughitwasnothishabittohumourherextravagances.“Youseeit’snotmyfault.Isn’titenoughforyouthatI’mverysorry?Ishallbebackinanhour.Stayhere,andthenwe’llspendtheeveningtogether.” “Whydidyoulietome?” “Ihaven’tlied:I’mnotgiventothat,”saidEdward,withnaturalsatisfaction. “Youpretendeditwasformyhealth’ssakethatImustgoupstairs.Isn’tthatalie?” “Itwasforyourhealth’ssake.” “Youlieagain.Youwantedtogetmeoutoftheway,sothatyoumightgototheMissHancockswithouttellingme.” “Yououghttoknowmebetterthanthatbynow.” “Whydidyousaynothingaboutthemtillyoufounditimpossibletoavoid.” Edwardshruggedhisshouldersgood-humouredly.“BecauseIknowhowtouchyyouare.” “Andyetyoumadethemtheoffer.” “Itcameoutalmostunawares.Theyweregrumblingabouttheweather,andwithoutthinking,Isaid,‘I’lldriveyouoverifyoulike.’Andtheyjumpedatit.” “You’resogood-naturedifanyonebuty