Chapter XXX

BERTHAstillfeltonherhandsGerald’spassionatekisses,likelittlepatchesoffireandonherlipswasstillthetouchofhisboyishmouth.Whatmagiccurrenthadpassedfromhimtoherthatsheshouldfeelthissuddenhappiness?ItwasenchantingtothinkthatGeraldlovedhersherememberedhowhiseyeshadsparkled,howhisvoicehadgrownhoarsesothathecouldhardlyspeak:ah,thosewerethesignsofreallove,ofthelovethatismightyandtriumphant.Berthaputherhandstoherheartwitharipplinglaughofpurejoy—forshewasbeloved.Thekissestingledonherfingerssothatshelookedatthemwithsurprise,sheseemedalmosttoseeamarkofburning.Shewasverygratefultohim,shewantedtotakehisheadinherhandsandkisshishairandhisboyisheyesandagainthesoftlips.Shetoldherselfthatshewouldbeamothertohim. Thedayfollowinghehadcometoheralmostshyly,afraidthatshewouldbeangry,andthebashfulnesscontrastingwithhisusualhappyaudacity,hadcharmedher.Itflatteredherextremelytothinkthathewasherhumbleslave,toseethepleasurehetookindoingasshebadebutshecouldhardlybelieveittruethathelovedher,andshewishedtoreassureherself.Itgaveheraqueerthrilltoseehimturnwhitewhensheheldhishand,toseehimtremblewhensheleanedonhisarm.Shestrokedhishairandwasdelightedwiththeanguishinhiseyes. “Don’tdothat,”hecried.“Please.Youdon’tknowhowithurts.” “Iwashardlytouchingyou,”shereplied,laughing. Shesawinhiseyesglisteningtears—theyweretearsofpassion,andshecouldscarcelyrestrainacryoftriumph.Atlastshewaslovedasshewished,shegloriedinherpower:hereatlastwasonewhowouldnothesitatetolosehissoulforhersake.Shewasintenselygrateful.Butherheartgrewcoldwhenshethoughtitwastoolate,thatitwasnogood:hewasonlyaboy,andshewasmarriedand—nearlythirty. Buteventhen,whyshouldsheattempttostophim?Ifitwastheloveshedreamtof,nothingcoulddestroyit.AndtherewasnoharmGeraldsaidnothingtowhichshemightnotlisten,andhewassomuchyoungerthanshe,hewasgoinginlessthanamonthanditwouldallbeover.Whyshouldshenotenjoythemodestcrumbsthatthegodsletfallfromtheirtable—itwaslittleenough,inallconscience!HowfoolishishewhowillnotbaskinthesunofSt.Martin’ssummer,becauseitheraldsthewinterassurelyastheeastwind! TheyspentthewholedaytogethertoMissLey’samusement,whoforoncedidnotusehersharpeyestomucheffect. “I’msothankfultoyou,Bertha,forlookingafterthelad.Hismotheroughttobeeternallygratefultoyouforkeepinghimoutofmischief.” “I’mverygladifIhave,”saidBertha,“he’ssuchaniceboy,andI’msofondofhim.Ishouldbeverysorryifhegotintotrouble....I’mratheranxiousabouthimafterwards.” “Mydear,don’tbebecausehe’scertaintogetintoscr