“I don’t know what has happened to me,” he said, “but I seem to see everything now so differently. Of course it is much better that I’m going away; but it’s dreadfully hard.” An inspector came to look at the tickets. “Is the lady going?” “No,” said Gerald; and then, when the man had passed: “You won’t forget me, Bertha, will you? You won’t think badly of me; I lost my head. I didn’t realise till last night that I wanted to do you the most frightful wrong. I didn’t understand that I should have ruined you and your whole life.” At last Bertha forced herself to speak. The time was flying, and she could not understand what was passing in Gerald’s mind. “If you only knew how much I love you!” she cried. He had but to ask her to go and she would go. But he did not ask. Was he repenting already? Was his love already on the wane? Bertha tried to make herself speak again, but could not. Why did he not repeat that he could not live without her! “Take your seats, please! Take your seats, please!” A guard ran along the platform. “Jump in, sir. Right behind!” “Good-bye,” said Gerald. “May I write to you?” She shook her head. It was too late now. “Jump in, sir. Jump in.” Gerald kissed her quickly and got into the carriage. “Right away!” The guard blew his whistle and waved a flag, and the train puffed slowly out of the station. Chapter XXXIII Miss Ley was much alarmed when she got up and found that Bertha had flown. “Upon my word, I think that Providence is behaving scandalously. Am I not a harmless middle-aged woman who mind my own business; what have I done to deserve these shocks?” She suspected that her niece had gone to the station; but the train started at seven, and it was ten o’clock. She positively jumped when it occurred to her that Bertha might have--eloped: and like a swarm of abominable little demons came thoughts of the scenes she must undergo if such were the case, the writing of the news to Edward, his consternation, the comfort which she must administer, the fury of Gerald’s father, the hysterics of his mother. “She can’t have done anything so stupid,” she cried in distraction. “But if women can make fools of themselves, they always do!” Miss Ley was extraordinarily relieved when at last she heard Bertha come in and go to her room.