Chapter XXVIII
關燈
小
中
大
ingamygig(Iforgethisname,buthewasaparson)toldmeIwasmakinghisplaceintoagambling-hell,andthathewouldn’thavemeanotherdayinhishouse.SooffItoddled,andIstayedathomeforsixmonths.Thatgavemethefairhump,Icantellyou.”
TheconversationwasdisturbedbytheentranceofMissLey.
“Youseewe’vemadefriends,”saidBertha.
“Geraldalwaysdoesthatwitheverybody.He’sthemostgregariousperson.Howareyou,Lothario?”
“Flourishing,myBelinda,”hereplied,flinginghisarmsroundMissLey’snecktohergreatdelightandpretendedindignation.
“You’reirrepressible,”shesaid.“Iexpectedtofindyouinsackclothandashes,penitentandsilent.”
“MydearAuntPolly,askmetodoanythingyoulike,excepttorepentandtoholdmytongue.”
“Youknowyourmotherhasaskedmetolookafteryou.”
“Ilikebeinglookedafter—andisBerthagoingtohelp?”
“I’vebeenthinkingitover,”addedMissLey.“AndtheonlywayIcanthinktokeepyououtofmischiefistomakeyouspendyoureveningswithme.Soyou’dbettergohomenowanddress.Iknowthere’snothingyoulikebetterthanchangingyourclothes.”
MeanwhileBerthaobservedwithastonishmentthatGeraldwassimplydevouringherwithhiseyes.Itwasimpossiblenottoseehisevidentadmiration.
“Theboymustbemad,”shethought,butcouldnothelpfeelingalittleflattered.
“He’sbeentellingmesomedreadfulstories,”shesaidtoMissLey,whenhehadgone.“Ihopethey’renottrue.”
“Oh,IthinkyoumusttakeallGeraldsayswithagrainofsalt.Heexaggeratesdreadfully,andallboysliketoseemByronic.Sodomostmen,forthematterofthat!”
“Helookssoyoung.Ican’tbelievethathe’sreallyverynaughty.”
“Well,mydear,there’snodoubtabouthismother’smaid.Theevidenceisofthe—mostconclusiveorder.IknowIshouldbedreadfullyangrywithhim,buteveryoneissovirtuousnow-a-daysthatachangeisquiterefreshing.Andhe’ssoyoung,hemayreform.Englishmenstartgallopingtothedevil,butastheygrowoldertheynearlyalwayschangehorsesandamblealonggentlytorespectability,awife,andseventeenchildren.”
“Ilikethecontrastofhisgreeneyesandhisdarkhair.”
“Mydear,itcan’tbedeniedthathe’smadetocapturethefeminineheart.Inevertrytoresisthimmyself.He’ssoextremelyconvincingwhenhetellsyousomeoutrageousfib.”
Berthawenttoherroomandlookedatherselfintheglass,thenputonhermostbecomingdinner-dress.
“Goodgracious,”saidMissLey.“You’venotputthatonforGerald?You’llturntheboy’shead,he’sdreadfullysusceptible.”
“It’sthefirstoneIcameacross,”repliedBertha,innocently.