Chapter XXII

anicety.Iloathetheshoddinessoftheboulevards,withtheirgaudycafésover-giltandover-sumptuous,andtheircrowdsofill-dressedforeigners.ButifyoucomeIcanshowyouadifferentParis—arestfulandold-fashionedParis,theatrestowhichtouristsdonotgogardensfullofprettychildrenandnursemaidswithlongribbonstotheircaps.Icantakeyoudowninnumerablegraystreetswithfunnyshops,inoldchurcheswhereyouseepeopleactuallyprayinganditisallveryquietandcalmingtothenerves.AndIcantakeyoutotheLouvreathourswhentherearefewvisitors,andshowyoubeautifulpicturesandstatuesthathavecomefromItalyandGreece,wherethegodshavetheirhometothisday.Come,Eddie.—Youreverlovingwife, BERTHA. 41RuedesEcoliers,Paris, May25. MydearestEddie,—Iamdisappointedthatyouwillnotcome.Ishouldhavethought,ifyouwantedtoseeme,youcouldhavefoundtimetoleavethefarmsforafewdays.Butperhapsitisreallybetterthatweshouldnotmeet.IcannotconcealfromyouthatsometimesIlongforyoudreadfully.Iforgetallthathashappened,anddesirewithallmyhearttobewithyouoncemore.WhatafoolIam!Iknowthatwecannevermeetagain,andyouareneverabsentfrommythoughts.Ilookforwardtoyourlettersalmostmadly,andyourhandwritingmakesmyheartbeatasifIwereaschoolgirl.Oh,youdon’tknowhowyourlettersdisappointme,theyaresocoldyouneversaywhatIwantyoutosay.Itwouldbemadnessifwecametogether—Icanonlypreservemylovetoyoubynotseeingyou.Doesthatsoundhorrible?AndyetIwouldgiveanythingtoseeyouoncemore.Icannothelpaskingyoutocomehere.ItisnotsoveryoftenIhaveaskedyouanything.Docome.Iwillmeetyouatthestation,andyouwillhavenotroubleorbother—everythingisperfectlysimple,andCook’sInterpretersareeverywhere.I’msureyouwouldenjoyyourselfsomuch.—Ifyouloveme,come. BERTHA. CourtLeys,Blackstable,Kent, May30. MydearestBertha,—SorryIhaven’tansweredyoursof25thinst.before,butI’vebeenuptomyeyesinwork.Youwouldn’tthinktherecouldbesomuchtodoonafarmatthistimeofyear,unlessyousawitwithyourowneyes.Ican’tpossiblygetawaytoParis,andbesidesIcan’tstomachtheFrench.Idon’twanttoseetheircapital,andwhenIwantaholiday,London’sgoodenoughforme.You’dbettercomebackhere,peopleareaskingafteryou,andtheplaceseemsalltopsy-turvywithoutyou.LovetoAuntP.—Inhaste,youraffectionatehusband, E.CRADDOCK. 41RuedesEcoliers,Paris, June1. Mydearest,dearestEddie,—Youdon’tknowhowdisappointedIwastogetyourletterandhowIlongedforit.Whateveryoudo,don’tkeepmewaitingsolongforananswer.Iimaginedallsortsofthings—thatyouwereillordying.Iwasonthepoint