Chapter XXXII
關燈
小
中
大
thatshethought.However,thedangernowwasoveritwouldeaseBerthatostayathomeandcryitout.Shethoughtitbraveofhereventohavedressed.
“You’llgetnodinner,”shesaid.“There’snothingintheplace.”
“Oh,Iwantnothingtoeat.”
MissLeyexpressedherconcern,andpromisingtomaketheexcuses,wentaway.Berthastartedupwhensheheardthedoorcloseandwenttothewindow.ShelookedroundforGerald,fearinghemightbealreadytherehewasincautiousandeager:butifMissLeysawhim,itwouldbefatal.ThehansomdroveawayandBerthabreathedmorefreely.Shecouldnothelpitshetoofeltthatshemustseehim.Iftheyhadtopart,itcouldnotbeunderMissLey’scoldeyes.
Shewaitedatthewindow,buthedidnotcome.Whydidhedelay?Hewaswastingtheirfewpreciousminutesitwasalreadypasteight.Shewalkedupanddowntheroomandlookedagain,butstillhewasnotinsight.Shefanciedthatwhileshewatchedhewouldnotcome,andforcedherselftoread.Buthowcouldshe!AgainshelookedoutofwindowandthistimeGeraldwasthere.Hestoodintheporchoftheoppositehouse,lookingupandimmediatelyhesawher,crossedthestreet.Shewenttothedoorandopeneditgently,ashecameupstairs.
Heslippedinasifhewereathief,andontiptoetheyenteredthedrawing-room.
“Oh,it’ssogoodofyou,”hesaid.“Icouldn’tleaveyoulikethat.Iknewyou’dstay.”
“Whyhaveyoubeensolong?Ithoughtyouwerenevercoming.”
“Idarednotriskitbefore.IwasafraidsomethingmighthappentostopAuntPolly.”
“IsaidIhadaheadache.Idressedsothatshemightsuspectnothing.”
Thenightwasfallingandtheysattogetherinthedimness.Geraldtookherhandsandkissedthem.
“Thisweekhasbeenawful.I’veneverhadthechanceofsayingawordtoyou.Myhearthasbeenbreaking.”
“Mydearest.”
“IwonderedifyouweresorryIwasgoing.”
Shelookedathimandtriedtosmilealreadyshecouldnottrustherselftospeak.
“EverydayIthoughtyouwouldtellmetostopandyouneverdid—andnowit’stoolate.Oh,Bertha,ifyoulovedmeyouwouldn’tsendmeaway.”
“IthinkIloveyoutoomuch.Don’tyouseeit’sbetterthatweshouldpart?”
“Idaren’tthinkofto-morrow.”
“Youaresoyounginalittlewhileyou’llfallinlovewithsomeoneelse.Don’tyouseethatI’mold?”
“ButIloveyou.Oh,IwishIcouldmakeyoubelieveme.Bertha,Bertha,Ican’tleaveyou.Iloveyoutoomuch.”
“ForGod’ssakedon’ttalklikethat.It’shardenoughtobearalready—don’tmakeitharder.”
Thenighthadfallen,andthroughtheopenwindowthesummerbreezecamein,andthesoftnessoftheairwaslikeakiss.Theysatsidebysideinsilence,theboyholdingBertha’shandtheycouldnotspeak,forwordswerepowerlesstoexpresswhatwasintheirhearts.Butpresentlyastrangeintoxicationseizedthem,andthemysteryofpassionwrappe