BERTHA AT HOME
Bertha drove back, furiously angry, principally with Nigel, whom she
also pitied a little. It could be no joke to live with a woman like his
wife. But he should not have deceived Bertha; he should have let her
know; he should not have induced her to come against Percy's wish, at
the risk of being insulted.
She was not anxious about Madeline, knowing that that sensible young
lady would go to her own home when the carriage came, and that she could
explain matters to her the next morning. Madeline was not _une faiseuse
d'embarras_.
* * * * *
Bertha had brought her key as Percy had promised to wait up for her; the
servants were to be allowed to go to bed. It was not long after twelve;
she saw a light in the library and went in, fully intending to tell
Percy everything.
She found him sitting by the fire, with a book. He had fallen asleep.
She watched him for some moments, and she thought he looked pale and a
little worried. ... How wilful, how foolish it had been of her to go to
the party without him! What did it matter? How trivial to insist on her
own way! How ungrateful! For lately Percy had been devoted. And how
lucky she was that he should care for her so much, after all these
years.
As Bertha watched, she felt that strange suffering which is always the
other side of intense love--the reverse of the medal of the ecstasy of
passion--and she thought she would tell him nothing about it. Why should
he be hurt, annoyed, and humiliated? It would spoil all the pleasure of
her coming back so early--the unexpected delightful time they might
have. ... In this Bertha committed an error of judgment, for she forgot
that he would probably hear of the scene some time or other, and would
attach more importance to it than if she told him now.
"Percy," she whispered.
He woke up.
"You already! Why, it's only twelve o'clock! Oh, dear, how good of you
to come so early."
"I didn't enjoy myself a bit," she murmured. "I'll never go out without
you again. Do forgive me for going!"
"How is it you didn't enjoy it?"
"Because you hadn't seen me in my new dress. Do I look like a canary?"
"No," he said. "Let me look at you. No, you're not a canary--you're a
Bird of Paradise."