Chapter XXIX
關燈
小
中
大
ehadabox.
“Oh,youwretch,”shecried.“Youmustbeutterlyruined.”
“Oh,I’vegotfivehundredquid,”hereplied,laughing.“Imustbluesomeofit.”
“Butwhyonearthdidyougetabox?”
“Irememberedthatyouhatedanyotherpartofthetheatre.”
“Butyoupromisedtogetcheapseats.”
“AndIwantedtobealonewithyou.”
Hewasbynatureaflattererandfewwomencouldwithstandthecajoleryofhisgreeneyes,andofhischarmingsmile.
“Hemustbeveryfondofme,”thoughtBertha,astheydrovehome,andsheputherarminhistoexpressherthanksandherappreciation.
“It’sveryniceofyoutohavebeensogoodtome.Ialwaysthoughtyouwereaniceboy.”
“I’ddomorethanthatforyou.”
Hewouldhavegiventherestofhisfivehundredpoundsforonekiss.Sheknewit,andwaspleased,butgavehimnoencouragement,andforoncehewasbashful.Theyseparatedatherdoorstepwiththequietesthandshake.
“It’sawfullykindofyoutohavecome.”
Heappearedimmenselygratefultoher.Herconscienceprickedhernowthathehadspentsomuchmoneybutshelikedhimallthemore.
Gerald’smonthwasnearlyover,andBerthawasastonishedthatheoccupiedherthoughtssomuch.Shedidnotknowthatshewassofondofhim.
“Iwishheweren’tgoing,”shesaid,andthenquickly:“butofcourseit’smuchbetterthatheshould!”
Atthatmomenttheboyappeared.
“Thisdayweekyou’llbeonthesea,Gerald,”shesaid.“Thenyou’llbesorryforallyouriniquities.”
“No!”heanswered,sittinginthepositionhemostaffected,atBertha’sfeet.
“No—which?”
“Ishan’tbesorry,”hereplied,withasmile,“andI’mnotgoingaway.”
“Whatd’youmean?”
“I’vealteredmyplans.ThemanI’mgoingtosaidIcouldstartatthebeginningofthemonthorafortnightlater.”
“Butwhy?”Itwasafoolishquestion,becausesheknew.
“Ihadnothingtostayfor.NowIhave,that’sall.”
Berthalookedathim,andcaughthisshiningeyesfixedintentlyuponher.Shebecamegrave.
“You’renotangry?”heasked,changinghistone.“Ithoughtyouwouldn’tmind.Idon’twanttoleaveyou.”
Helookedathersoearnestlyandtearscametohiseyes,Berthacouldnothelpbeingtouched.
“I’mverygladthatyoushouldstay,dear.Ididn’twantyoutogososoon.We’vebeensuchgoodfriends.”
Shepassedherfingersthroughhiscurlyhairandoverhisearsbuthestarted,andshi
