Chapter XXX

apes—it’shisnature—butit’slikewisehisnaturetogetoutofthem.He’llsweareternaldevotiontohalf-a-dozenfairdamsels,andrideawayrejoicing,whiletheyarelefttoweepupononeanother’sbosoms.It’ssomemen’snaturetobreakwomen’shearts.” “Ithinkhe’sonlyalittlewild:hemeansnoharm.” “Thesesortofpeopleneverdothat’swhatmakestheirwrong-doingsomuchmorefatal.” “Andhe’ssoaffectionate.” “Mydear,Ishallreallybelievethatyou’reinlovewithhim.” “Iam,”saidBertha.“Madly!” Theplaintruthisoftenthesurestwaytohoodwinkpeople,moreespeciallywhenitistoldunconsciously.Womenoffiftyhaveanirritatinghabitoftreatingascontemporariesallpersonsoftheirownsexwhoareovertwenty-five,anditneverstruckMissLeythatBerthamightlookuponGeraldasanythingbutalittleboy. ButEdwardcouldnolongerbekeptinthecountry.Berthawasastonishedthatheshouldwishtoseeher,andalittleannoyed,fornowofalltimeshispresencewouldbeimportunate.Shedidnotwishtohaveherdreamdisturbed,sheknewitwasnothingelseitwasamerespringdayofhappinessinthelongwinteroflife.ShelookedatGeraldnowwithaheavyheartandcouldnotbeartothinkofthefuture.Howemptywouldexistencebewithoutthatjoyoussmileaboveall,withoutthatardentpassion!Thislovewaswonderfulitsurroundedherlikeamysticfireandliftedherupsothatsheseemedtowalkonair.Butthingsalwayscometoolateorcomebyhalves.Whyshouldallherpassionhavebeensquanderedandflungtothewinds,sothatnowwhenabeautifulyouthofferedherhisvirginheart,shehadnothingtogiveinexchange?BerthatoldherselfthatthoughshewasextremelyfondofGerald,ofcourseshedidnotlovehimhewasamereboy! ShewasalittlenervousatthemeetingbetweenhimandEdwardshewonderedwhattheywouldthinkofoneanother,andshewatched—Gerald!Edwardcameinlikeacountrybreeze,obstreperouslyhealthy,jovial,large,andsomewhatbald.MissLeytrembledlestheshouldknockherchinaoverashewentroundtheroom.Hekissedherononecheek,andBerthaontheother. “Well,howareyouall?—Andthisismyyoungcousin,eh?Howareyou?Pleasedtomeetyou.” HewrungGerald’shand,toweringoverhim,beaminggood-naturedlythensatinachairmuchtoosmallforhim,whichcreakedandgrumbledathisweight.Therearefewsensationsmoreamusingforawomanthantolookatthehusbandshehasonceadoredandthinkhowveryunnecessaryheisbutitisapttomakeconversationalittledifficult.MissLeysooncarriedGeraldoff,thinkingthathusbandandwifeshouldenjoyalittleofthatisolationtowhichmarriagehadindissolublydoomedthem.Berthahadbeenawaiting,withgreatdiscomfort,thenecessaryordeal.ShehadnothingtotellEdward,andwasmuchafraidthathewouldbesentimental. “Whereareyoustaying?”sheasked