Chapter XXX
關燈
小
中
大
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“Oh,I’mputtingupattheInnsofCourt—Ialwaysgothere.”
“Ithoughtyoumightcaretogotothetheatreto-night.I’vegotabox,sothatAuntPollyandGeraldcancometoo.”
“I’mgameforanythingyoulike.”
“Youalwayswerethebest-temperedman,”saidBertha,smilinggently.
“Youdon’tseemtocareverymuchformysociety,allthesame.”
Berthalookedupquickly.“Whatmakesyouthinkthat?”
“Well,you’reapreciouslongtimecomingbacktoCourtLeys,”hereplied,laughing.
Berthawasrelieved,forevidentlyhewasnottakingthematterseriously.Shehadnotthecouragetosaythatshemeantnevertoreturn:theendlessexplanation,hiswonder,theimpossibilityofmakinghimunderstand,weremorethanshecouldbear.
“Whenareyoucomingback?Weallmissyou,likeanything.”
“Doyou?”shesaid.“Ireallydon’tknow.We’llseeaftertheseason.”
“What?Aren’tyoucomingforanothercoupleofmonths?”
“Idon’tthinkBlackstablesuitsmeverywell.I’malwaysillthere.”
“Oh,nonsense.It’sthefinestairinEngland.Deathratepracticallynil.”
“D’youthinkourlifewasveryhappy,Edward?”
Shelookedathimanxiouslytoseehowhewouldtakethetentativeremark:buthewasonlyastonished.
“Happy?Yes,rather.Ofcoursewehadourlittletiffs.Allpeopledo.Buttheywerechieflyatfirst,theroadwasabitroughandwehadn’tgotourtyresproperlyblownout.I’msureI’vegotnothingtocomplainabout.”
“Thatofcourseisthechiefthing,”saidBertha.
“Youlookaswellasanythingnow.Idon’tseewhyyoushouldn’tcomeback.”
“Well,we’llseelater.Weshallhaveplentyoftimetotalkitover.”
Shewasafraidtospeakthewordsonthetipofhertongueitwouldbeeasierbycorrespondence.
“Iwishyou’dgivesomefixeddate—sothatIcouldhavethingsready,andtellpeople.”
“ItdependsuponAuntPollyIreallycan’tsayforcertain.I’llwritetoyou.”
TheykeptsilenceforamomentandthenanideaseizedBertha.
“Whatd’yousaytogoingtotheNaturalHistoryMuseum?Don’tyouremember,wewentthereonourhoneymoon?I’msureitwouldamuseyoutoseeitagain.”
“Wouldyouliketogo?”askedEdward.
“I’msureitwouldamuseyou,”shereplied.
NextdaywhileBerthawasshoppingwithherhusband,GeraldandMissLeysatalone.
“AreyouverydisconsolatewithoutBertha?”sheasked.
“Utterlymiserable!”
“That’sveryrudetome,dearboy.”
“I’mawfullysorry,butIcanneverbepolitetomorethanonepersonatatime:andI’vebeenusingupallmygoodmannerson—Mr.Craddock.”
“I’mgladyoulikehim,”repliedMissLey,smiling.
“Idon’t!”
“He’saveryworthyman.”
“IfIhadn’tseenBerthaforsixmonths,Ishouldn’ttakeheroffatoncetoseebugs.”
“PerhapsitwasBertha’ssuggestion.”
“ShemustfindMr.Craddockpreciousdullifshepr