Chapter XXXI

ht,“Idon’tbelieveyoucanputawomanofseventyforfiveminutesincompanyofaboyoffourteenwithouttheirgettingintomischief.” TheweektoGeraldandtoBerthapassedwithterriblequickness.Theyscarcelyhadamomentalone,forMissLey,underpretenceofmakingmuchofhernephew,arrangedlittlepleasureparties,sothatallthreemightbecontinuallytogether. “Wemustspoilyoualittlebeforeyougoandtheharmitdoesyouwillbeputrightbytherockingoftheboat.” AndthoughBerthawasinatorment,shehadstrengthtoavoidanyfurtherencounterwithGerald.Shedarednotseehimalone,andwasgratefultoMissLeyforputtingobstaclesintheway.Sheknewthatherlovewasimpossible,butalsothatitwasbeyondcontrol.Itmadehercompletelydespiseherself.Berthahadbeenalittleproudofheruprightness,ofherlibertyfromanydegradingemotion.Andthatotherlovetoherhusbandhadbeensuchanintolerableslavery,thatwhenitdiedawaythesenseoffreedomseemedthemostdeliciousthinginlife.Shehadvowedthatneverunderanycircumstancewouldsheexposeherselftothesufferingthatshehadonceendured.Butthisnewpassionhadtakenherunawares,andbeforesheknewthedangerBerthafoundherselfboundandimprisoned.Shetriedtoreasonawaytheinfatuation,butwithoutadvantageGeraldwasneverabsentfromherthoughts.Lovehadcomeuponherlikethesuddenmadnesswithwhichthegodsofoldafflictedthosethathadincensedthem.Itwasaninsanefireintheblood,irresistibleforallthehorroritaroused,asthatpassionwhichdistractedPh?draforTheseus’son. ThetemptationcametobidGeraldstay.IfheremainedinEnglandtheymightgivereintotheirpassionandletitdieofitselfandthatmightbetheonlywaytokillit.YetBerthadarednot.Anditwasterribletothinkthathelovedher,andshemustcontinuallydistresshim.Shelookedintohiseyes,fancyingshesawtherethegriefofabreakingheartandhissorrowwasmorethanshecouldbear.Thenagreatertemptationbesether.Thereisonewayinwhichawomancanbindamantoherforever,thereisonetiethatisindissolubleherveryfleshcriedout,andshetrembledatthethoughtthatshecouldgiveGeraldtheinestimablegiftofherperson.Thenhemightgo,butthatwouldhavepassedbetweenthemwhichcouldnotbeundonetheymightbeseparatedbytenthousandmiles,buttheywouldalwaysbejoinedtogether.Howelsecouldsheprovetohimherwonderfullove,howelsecouldsheshowherimmeasurablegratitude?Thetemptationwasmighty,incessantlyrecurringandshewasveryweak.Itassailedherwithalltheviolenceofherfervidimagination.Shedroveitawaywithanger,sheloatheditwithallherheart—butshecouldnotstifletheappallinghopethatitmightprovetoostrong.