Chapter XXIX
關燈
小
中
大
and,quitesecureinhisdeparture,shecouldaffordtolethimfallalittleinlove.
“Areyousorryyou’regoingawaysosoon?”sheasked.
“Ishallbemiserableatleavingyou.”
“It’sniceofyoutosayso.”
Bitbybitsheextractedfromhimhisdiscreditablehistory.Berthawaspossessedbyacuriositytoknowdetails,whichsheelicitedartfully,makinghimconfesshisiniquitiesthatshemightpretendtobeangry.Itgaveheracuriousthrill,partlyofadmiration,tothinkthathewassuchadepravedyoungperson,andshelookedathimwithasortofamusedwonder.HewasverydifferentfromthevirtuousEdward.Achildlikeinnocenceshoneoutofhishandsomeeyes,andyethehadalreadytastedthewineofmanyemotions.Berthafeltsomewhatenviousofthesexwhichgaveopportunity,andthespiritwhichgavepower,toseizelifeboldly,andwringfromitallithadtooffer.
“Ioughttorefusetospeaktoyouanymore,”shesaid.“Ioughttobeashamedofyou.”
“Butyou’renot.That’swhyyou’resucharipper.”
Howcouldshebeangrywithaboywhoadoredher?Hisveryperversityfascinatedher.Herewasamanwhowouldneverhesitatetogotothedevilforawoman,andBerthawaspleasedatthecomplimenttohersex.
OneeveningMissLeywasdiningout,andGeraldaskedBerthatocometodinnerwithhim,andthentotheopera.Sherefused,thinkingoftheexpensebuthewassoeager,andshereallysoanxioustogo,thatfinallysheconsented.
“Poorboy,he’sgoingawaysosoon,Imayaswellbenicetohim.”
Geraldarrivedinhighspirits,lookingevenmoreboyishthanusual.
“I’mreallyafraidtogooutwithyou,”saidBertha.“Peoplewillthinkyou’remyson.‘Dearme,who’dhavethoughtshewasforty!’”
“Whatrot!”Helookedatherbeautifulgown.Likeallreallynicewomen,Berthawasextremelycarefultobealwayswelldressed.“ByJove,youareastunner!”
“Mydearchild,I’moldenoughtobeyourmother.”
Theydroveoff—toarestaurantwhichGerald,boylike,hadchosen,becausecommonreportpronounceditthedearestinLondon.Berthawasmuchamusedbythebustle,theglitterofwomenindiamonds,thebusywaitersglidingtoandfro,theglareoftheelectriclight:andhereyesrestedwithapprovalonthehandsomeboyinfrontofher.Shecouldnotkeepinchecktherecklessnesswithwhichheinsistedonorderingthemostexpensivethingsandwhentheyarrivedattheopera,shefoundh
