Chapter III

WITHoldandyounggreatsorrowisfollowedbyasleeplessnight,andwiththeoldgreatjoyisasdisturbingbutyouth,Isuppose,findshappinessmorenaturalanditsrestisnottherebydisturbed.Berthasleptwithoutdreams,andawaking,forthemomentdidnotremembertheoccurrenceofthepreviousdaybutquicklyitcamebacktoherandshestretchedherselfwithasighofgreatcontent.Shelayinbedtocontemplateherwell-being.Shecouldhardlyrealisethatshehadattainedherdearestwish.Godwasverygood,andgaveHiscreatureswhattheyaskedwithoutwords,fromthefulnessofherheart,sheofferedupthanks.Itwasquiteextraordinary,afterthemaddeningexpectation,afterthehopesandfears,thelover’spainswhicharenearlypleasure,atlasttobesatisfied.Shehadnownothingmoretodesire,forherhappinesswascomplete.Ahyes,indeed,Godwasverygood! BerthathoughtofthetwomonthsshehadspentatBlackstable....Afterthefirstexcitementofgettingintothehouseofherfathersshehadsettleddowntothehumdrumofcountrylifeshespentthedaywanderingaboutthelanesorontheseashorewatchingthedesolateseashereadagreatdeal,andlookedforwardtotheampletimeatherdisposaltosatisfyanimmoderatedesireforknowledge.Shespentlonghoursinthelibrarywhichherfatherhadmade,foritwasonlywithfallingfortunesthatthefamilyofLeyhadtakentoreadingbooksithadonlyapplieditselftoliteraturewhenitwastoopoorforanyotherpursuit.Berthalookedatthetitlesofthemanyvolumes,receivingacertainthrillasshereadoverthegreatnamesofthepast,andimaginedthefuturedelightsthattheywouldgiveher. OnedayshewascallingattheVicarageandEdwardCraddockhappenedtobethere,latelyreturnedfromashortholiday.Shehadknownhimindaysgoneby—hisfatherhadbeenherfather’stenant,andhestillfarmedthesameland—butforeightyearstheyhadnotseenoneanother,andnowBerthahardlyrecognisedhim.Shethoughthim,however,agood-lookingfellowinhisknickerbockersandthickstockings,andwasnotdispleasedwhenhecameuptospeak,askingifsherememberedhim.HesatdownandacertainpleasantodourofthefarmyardwaswaftedovertoBertha,amingledperfumeofstrongtobacco,ofcattleandhorsesshedidnotunderstandwhyitmadeherheartbeat,butsheinhaleditvoluptuouslyandhereyesglittered.Hebegantotalk,andhisvoicesoundedlikemusicinherearshelookedatherandhiseyeswerelargeandgray,shefoundthemhighlysympathetichewascleanshaven,andhismouthwasveryattractive.Sheblushedandfeltherselfafool.Berthatookpainstobeascharmingaspossiblesheknewherowndarkeyeswerebeautiful,andfixedthemuponhis.Whenatlasthebadehergood-byeandshookhands,sheblushedagainshewasextraordinarilytroubled,andas,withhisrising,thestrongmasculineodourofthecountrysidereachedhernostrils,herheadwhirled.ShewasverygladMissLeywasnottheretoseeher. Shewalkedhomeinthedarknesstryingtocomposeherself,forshecouldthinkofnothingbutEdwardCraddock.Sherecalledthepast,tryingtobringbacktohermemoryincidentsoftheiroldacquaintance.Atnightshedreamtofhim,andshedreamthekissedher. Sheawokeinthemorning,thinkingofCraddock,andfeltitimpossibletogothroughthedaywithoutseeinghim.Shethoughtofsendinganinvitationtoluncheonortotea,buthardlydaredandshedidnotwantMissLeytoseehimyet.Thensherememberedthefarmshewouldwalkthere,wasitnothers?Hewouldsurelybeworkinguponit.Thegodoflovewaspropitious,andinafieldshesawhim,directingsomeoperation.Shetrembledatthesight,herheartbeatveryquicklyandwhen,seeingher,hecameforwardwithagree