"The Widow" Bertha

Not long after, Rochester returned Bertha's telegram.

These days telegrams are paid by word, which is very expensive. Rochester only gave Bertha two addresses, and said nothing about the others.But these two addresses, one in the West End of London, and the other is the address of the hospital, Bertha can understand without saying too much: this is the private banker and doctor who had agreed to introduce to Bertha.

Bertha thought for a while, discussed with Miss Jane Eyre, and finally sent a message to Dr. Bartz introduced by Rochester in Jane's name, asking him to come to the White Horse Hotel to consult with Mr. Rochester's friend.

—Yes, Bertha did not reveal her identity.

The next day, Dr. Bartz came to visit. A middle-aged man in his 40s, who looked quite famous.

This was not a formal consultation, and after Dr. Butz took his seat, he accepted the tea served by Grace: "With all due respect, ma'am, you look very healthy, not as sick as Mr. Rochester said. "

Bertha nodded: "I'm really much better now."

Dr. Bartz: "Then..."

Holding the teacup, he glanced intentionally or unintentionally at the maids Grace and Miss Jane Eyre present, and lowered his voice: "What Mr. Rochester said is that you have something to hide."

Bertha: "..."

Dr. Butts: "Is a private examination required?"

Bertha: "..."

If Bertha hadn't lived her entire life before time travel and was still a married woman after time travel, she would probably be the same as Miss Jane Eyre at this moment, completely ignoring what the old driver was implying.

We all know that in the Victorian era, a little chaos in the private life of wealthy families was the norm.Even if women know restraint because of social constraints, their husbands may not.

Dr. Bartz probably misunderstood the "unspeakable secret" in Rochester's mouth, thinking that Bertha had some sexually transmitted disease.

"I used to suffer from agitation, and I couldn't control several people when I started it, and I even hurt people." Bertha cleared her throat, pretending not to understand Mr. Butz's hint, "it has improved a lot in recent days. , I haven't had an illness for a long time. Does this also need a private examination, doctor?"

Doctor Butts suddenly realized.

Realizing that he had misunderstood, he also looked embarrassed: "Well, it's a hysterical attack, which will indeed bring about changes in life. You said that you have improved a lot recently, but what good news did you encounter in your life?"

Bertha smiled mockingly: "I'm born again, okay?"

Dr. Butts: "Ma'am, do you mean...?"

Bertha: "I have come to London because I am new and distracted."

Dr. Butts: "Oh, the husband is dead, that's great news!"

Miss Jane Eyre, who was listening, almost poured tea again.

The well-behaved Mr. Rochester is already a "dead man" in the eyes of many people who know Bertha just now!Even Jane Eyre still couldn't let go of the fact that she fell in love with a married man, and she was almost unable to hold back when Dr. Bartz said, "It's good news that her husband died".

Although Bertha did something wicked, even if Mr. Rochester was present, he was determined not to say anything.

Miss Jane Eyre envied Bertha's audacity while trying to maintain her calm.

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter," Dr. Bartz said eagerly, "It seems that before your hysteria attack, Madam, it was probably caused by anger in your heart. Now that the troubles are gone and the root cause of the attack has disappeared, the situation has naturally improved. Since you have come to London Relax, find more fun, keep your mood happy, and you won't have any problems again."

"Thank goodness."

Bertha put on a long sigh of relief: "I have to tell my friends this good news, Dr. Bartz, can you relay the situation to Edward for me? He is my old friend, and I have been worried about it for a long time gone."

"Of course."

Dr. Bartz thought he had won favor with the rich lady, and he was overjoyed: "I will send a telegram to Mr. Rochester when I get back, telling him to rest assured that the life of bringing anger to you, madam, is over! Husband is dead. Any panacea will work."

After making a promise, Dr. Bartz turned and left with a smile.Leaving Bertha and Jane looking at each other, no one could hold back and laughed out loud.

"This... what kind of quack doctor is this!"

While she couldn't help laughing, Miss Jane Eyre still insisted on bluntly saying: "Mr. Rochester is probably being cheated, isn't he?"

Bertha's smile was a bit cold: "Dr. Bartz may not be a quack doctor. He just knows how to read and see. When he finds out that I don't want to treat the disease, he just says a few nice words and gives Edward an explanation."

In Dr. Butz's eyes, Bertha is a newly freed widow after the death of her husband.The so-called people are refreshed on happy occasions, and their mental outlook is naturally very different from the past. The disease is indeed incurable.

It's a pity that Bertha is no longer in Thornfield, otherwise she really wanted to see with her own eyes what Rochester's expression would be when he saw the phrase "the husband's death is more effective than any panacea".

"So it is."

Miss Jane Eyre understood, and then she showed a curious look: "Then, are you going to meet the banker introduced by Mr. Rochester?"

"Not yet."

Bertha said, "I don't have to go myself."

If she doesn't go, who will go?

Thomas Thames, the young man who ran errands for Bertha, came and went almost every day, with good news.

"I went to St. Mary Mead, madam."

It was still a clean and bright church, and Thomas was still a young man wearing a shabby hat. He said in a confused tone, "I didn't find out about Miss Marple. There is not even a family named Marple in St. Mary Mead."

That's... what a pity!

While Bertha was deeply regretful, she also breathed a sigh of relief.

It's a pity that there is no real Miss Marple in this world. She is a loyal fan of Ms. Agatha's books, and it is a pity that she cannot be as beautiful as ever.But there's an upside to that too—it's one thing to bluff with a shiny name, quite another to accidentally assume someone else's identity.

Such inquiries made the guilty Bertha feel better, but at the same time... she had other ideas on her mind.

"Well."

Bertha curled her lips and took out the money bag as agreed.

"You have worked hard, and the travel expenses and errand expenses are indispensable."

"Thank you ma'am."

When Thomas saw Bertha taking the money, he politely extended his hand, but when the heavy ten coins were placed in his palm, he froze in place.

Bertha gave him ten shillings!That's enough for Thomas to run errands for Bertha for a month!

"Don't make such an expression," Bertha said with a smile. "Except for travel expenses and errand expenses, you can change your clothes for the rest of the money. It should be the kind that can enter the White Horse Hotel openly, and the doorman will bow and open the door for you respectfully. After changing your clothes, come to the hotel to find me, I still have something to ask for your help."

Thomas suddenly realized.

It seems that the result of the first errands made this lady very satisfied, which meant to continue the cooperation.

The wise man didn't need to say much, Thomas immediately put on his hat: "See you this afternoon, ma'am."

When it was afternoon tea time, Bertha had just sat down and was about to chat with Miss Jane Eyre about the application letter for the newspaper, when the hotel butler brought Thomas Thames in.

Bertha and Jane's eyes lit up at the young man who entered the door: Sure enough, people depend on their clothes!

The young man who was a little frivolous before has now turned into a tall and handsome young gentleman.Thomas Thames's aesthetics are really good. Even if he wears a dark three-piece suit like all the gentlemen in London, he still folds a warm-colored veil on his pocket.

With a little embellishment, it is more lively, and it makes his ice blue eyes crystal clear.

but……

Bertha gave him ten shillings for a better dress.This guy withheld part of the money privately.

She didn't believe that Thomas thought he couldn't see it. The reason for doing this was either that he was obsessed with money and was reluctant to spend money, or that Thomas Thames was really short of money and had to do it.

No matter which one, Bertha put a question mark in her heart.

"What do I need to do, Mrs Thames?" asked Thomas.

"Edward Coutz's private bank, have you heard of it?"

"Kuzi Bank, I know the place."

"Please run for me and say that Miss Bertha Marple was introduced by Rochester and wanted to open a bank account."

Now that it is confirmed that Miss Marple does not exist in this world, Bertha immediately feels at ease.

"What about other than that?"

This young man is very clever, Bertha sighed inwardly.It's just that she was a little dissatisfied with keeping the money she gave without saying a word.

But Bertha didn't say it bluntly, but continued to the topic: "Then I will ask you to go to St. Mary Mead Village again, in the name of Miss Marple, to find out if there is any real estate for sale in the local area. If there is, you can represent me. Let's talk."

"Are you going to settle in St. Mary Mead Village, madam?" Thomas was a little surprised.

"When I am old," replied Bertha casually, "who knows."

She wouldn't be moving to St. Mary Mead now, but not in a few decades.

——Since Miss Marple does not exist in this world, then Bertha can completely confirm her existence.

Calculating carefully, Bertha Mason and Miss Marple are about the same age, and when the story written by Ms. Agatha happens, it will probably be decades later.Who said she couldn't be Miss Marple, live in St. Mary Mead, and help people solve crimes when she was bored?

What's more, Colonel Dent and the others still want to keep in touch with "Miss Marple", it is very useful to keep this identity.

Bertha figured that these two errands could be done by the way, and Thomas would be back tomorrow if he moved so quickly.

But while she was waiting, Bertha received an unexpected letter before Thomas came.

That same evening, the letter was hand delivered to Bertha by the postman.

The clean envelope had no postmark, which made Bertha raise her eyebrows. Will the postman deliver letters without a postmark?

Bertha was puzzled, and had to open the envelope.

Inside the thin envelope was a note that was not too big or too small. The handwriting on it was neat and somewhat uninhibited. There were not many words written in my own handwriting, so I gave Bertha an unfamiliar address: No. 22, South Bank Street , the 23rd, and a brief exhortation.

[To my lover whom I have never met:

When you first arrive in London, you probably need a place to live.After thinking about it, this should satisfy you, and you can take a look at it when you have time.

Also: Kutz Bank is really not a good choice. I prefer Barclays Bank located at 52 Lombard Street.If possible, I would also advise Mr. Rochester to withdraw from the Kutz Bank as soon as possible. ]

Bertha: "..."

Seeing the word "lover", Bertha was taken aback for a moment, and then realized - this is a letter from Mycroft Holmes!

It's okay for the party to be concerned about the momentary hilarity, but Bertha couldn't laugh or cry.Moreover, she only hinted that she knew Holmes. The close personal relationship and lover relationship were all misunderstood by others, but she didn't admit it!

Besides, how did the elder Holmes know what happened in Thornfield? !

Bertha flipped through the note, and after a while, she burst out laughing.

She wondered what surprises awaited her in the abode which Mr. Mycroft Holmes had recommended to her.

The author has something to say: #今日麦哥Have you seen the lover you have never met?not yet#

Brother Mai: Wait until I ask someone to wash the carriage...

Jiang Hua: Brother! ! ! !

Mike: Hi, I'm just going out.

#Today is my ex-husband dead, yes! #

Rochester: I advise a certain lady not to put her nose in her face.

Bertha:? ? ?I'm all buried!Your ex-wife is dead and my ex-husband is dead, even!