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Reffold went down to table-d'hôte that night, she met Bernardine on the stairs, and stopped to speak with her. "We've had a splendid afternoon," she said; "and we've arranged to go again to-morrow at the same time. Such a pity you don't come! Oh, by the way, thank you for going to see my husband. I hope he did not tire you. He is a little querulous, I think. He so enjoyed your visit.
I suppose you are from London?" "I am not living in London now," said Bernardine cautiously. "But you know it, without doubt," continued Mrs. Reffold. "There are several Kensington people here. You may meet some friends: indeed in our hotel there are two or three families from Lexham Gardens." Bernardine smiled a little viciously; looked first at Mrs.
That was all he said, but Bernardine knew to whom he referred. To-day, as Bernardine was on her way back to the Kurhaus, she was thinking constantly of Mrs. Reffold, and wondering whether she ought to be made to realize that her husband was becoming rapidly worse. Whilst engrossed with this thought, a long train of sledges and toboggans passed her.
Some such impression conveyed itself to the two men who were walking with Mrs. Reffold. They looked at the one woman, and then at the other, and smiled at each other, as men do smile on such occasions. "I am going to speak to this little thing," Mrs. Reffold had said to her two companions before they came near Bernardine. "I must find out who she is, and where she comes from.
Bernardine took her hand, and the two women hurried away in silence. BERNARDINE had seen Mr. Reffold the previous day. She had sat by his side and held his hand. He had smiled at her many times, but he only spoke once. "Little Brick," he whispered for his voice had become nothing but a whisper. "I remember all you told me. God bless you. But what a long time it does take to die."
"You will have to stay here a little longer," he said, "and then you will be free to go where you choose. I wish I could die quicker for you, Winifred." Mrs. Reffold looked up from her embroidery. "You will get better soon," she said. "You are better." "Yes, you've helped a good deal to make me better," he said bitterly. "You have been a most unselfish person haven't you?
Reffold, in her pleasantest voice. "Then you have made a triumph of the Disagreeable Man. He very rarely deigns to talk with any of us. He does not even appear to see us. He sits quietly and reads. It would be interesting to hear what his conversation is like. I should be quite amused to know what you did talk about." "I dare say you would," said Bernardine quietly. Then Mrs.
She was leaning back in an arm-chair playing with the fringe of an antimacassar. "Oh, how tired I am of this horrid place!" she said suddenly. "And I have had a most wearying afternoon. Mr. Reffold seems to be more irritable every day. It is very hard that I should have to bear it." Bernardine listened to her in astonishment. "Yes," she added, "I am quite worn out.
Yea, how the dogs must wonder at us: those dogs who know when we are in pain or trouble, and nestle nearer to us. So Bernardine reached her own door. She heard her name called, and, turning round, saw Mrs. Reffold. There was a scared look on the beautiful face. "Miss Holme," she said, "I have been sent for I daren't go to him alone I want you he is worse. I am" . . .
The soul would see itself face to face for one brief moment; and then forget its own likeness. But for the moment what a weight of suffering, what a whole century of agony! Bernardine grew very tender for Mrs. Reffold: she bent over the sofa, and fondled the beautiful face. "Mrs. Reffold" . . . she whispered. That was all she said: but it was enough. Mrs. Reffold burst into an agony of tears.
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