Bertha kept tossing and turning on the ground where she slept in Mr Collins' humble home. When the man saw Bertha at his doorstep late in the evening, he was worried at first.
But then she told him that she was worried for him due to his unhealthy condition and asked if she could stay with him for the night to look after him.
Not only Bertha but Mr Collins was also very awkward with the situation. Bertha wanted to hole up somewhere away, isolated from people and just vent out all the aches she was holding up.
She didn't know what Mr Collins made out of her unexpected visit and strange wish, but the man was kind enough to let her have her way. He kept her engaged the whole evening with his life stories and light-hearted conversations.
However, he didn't miss how her eyes teared up out of the blue a few times. She was good at hiding her emotions but the man's eyes were more experienced and wise to fail to notice her inner turmoil.
