Chapter XXXI

ld’sgreeneyesflashedmorebrightly,andBerthareddenedbeforetheirardentgaze. “Ishallneverforgetto-day,Bertha,”saidGerald.“AslongasIliveIshalllookbackuponitwithregret.” “Oh,don’tthinkthatitmustcometoanend,orweshallbothbemiserable.” “YouarethemostbeautifulwomanI’veeverseen.” Berthalaughed,showingherexquisiteteeth,andwasgladthatherownknowledgetoldhershelookedherbest. “Butcomeontheterraceagainandsmokethere.We’llwatchthesunset.” Theysatalone,andthesunwasalreadysinking.Theheavywesterncloudswerearichandvividred,andovertheriverthebricksandmortarstoodoutinink-blackmasses.Itwasasunsetthatsingularlyfittedthescene,combininginaudaciouscolourwiththeriver’sstrength.Themurkywaveletsdancedlikelittleflamesoffire. Berthaandtheyouthsatsilently,veryhappy,butwiththeregretgnawingattheirheartsthattheirhourofjoywouldhavenomorrow.Thenightfell,andonebyonethestarsshoneout.Theriverflowednoiselessly,restfullyandaroundthemtwinkledthelightsoftheriversidetowns.Theydidnotspeak,butBerthaknewtheboythoughtofher,anddesiredtohearhimsayso. “Whatareyouthinkingof,Gerald?” “WhatshouldIbethinkingof,butyou—andthatImustleaveyou.” Berthacouldnothelptheexquisitepleasurethathiswordsgave:itwassodelicioustobereallyloved,andsheknewhislovewasreal.Sheturnedherface,sothathesawherdarkeyes,darkerinthenight. “IwishIhadn’tmadeafoolofmyselfbefore,”hewhispered.“Ifeelitwasallhorribleyou’vemademesoashamed.” “Oh,Gerald,you’renotrememberingwhatIsaidtheotherday?Ididn’tmeantohurtyou.I’vebeensosorryeversince.” “Iwishyoulovedme.Oh,Bertha,don’tstopmenow.I’vekeptitinsolong,andIcan’tanymore.Idon’twanttogoawaywithouttellingyou.” “Oh,mydearGerald,don’t,”saidBertha,hervoicealmostbreaking.“It’snogood,andweshallbothbedreadfullyunhappy.Mydear,youdon’tknowhowmucholderIamthanyou.EvenifIwasn’tmarried,itwouldbeimpossibleforustoloveoneanother.” “ButIloveyouwithallmyheart.” Heseizedherhandsandpressedthem,andshemadenoefforttoresist. “Don’tyoulovemeatall?”heasked. Berthadidnotanswer,andhebentnearertolookintohereyes.Thenleavingherhands,heflunghisarmsaboutherandpressedhertohisheart. “Bertha,Bertha!”Hekissedherpassionately.“Oh,Bertha,sayyouloveme.Itwouldmakemesohappy.” “Mydearest,”shewhispered,andtakinghisheadinherhand,shekissedhim. Butthekissthatshehadreceivedfiredherbloodandshecouldnotresistnowfromdoingasshehadwished.Shekissedhimonthelips,andontheeyes,an