Chapter VI

ds,”hereplied.“Ihaveamilkmanit’smoreuseful.” “Youdearoldthing,”shecried.“Howmatteroffactyouare!” Shecaughtholdofhishandsandlookedatthem. “I’mratherfrightenedofyou,sometimes,”shesaid,laughing.“You’resostrong.Ifeelsoutterlyweakandhelplessbesideyou.” “AreyouafraidIshallbeatyou?” Shelookedupathimandthendownatthestronghands. “Idon’tthinkIshouldmindifyoudid.IthinkIshouldonlyloveyoumore.” Heburstoutlaughingandkissedher. “I’mnotjoking,”shesaid.“Iunderstandnowthosewomenwholovebeastsofmen.Theysaythatsomewiveswillstandanythingfromtheirhusbandstheylovethemallthemorebecausethey’rebrutal.IthinkI’mlikethatbutI’veneverseenyouinapassion,Eddie.Whatareyoulikewhenyou’reangry?” “Ineveramangry.” “MissGlovertoldmethatyouhadthebesttemperintheworld.I’mterrifiedatalltheseperfections.” “Don’texpecttoomuchfromme,Bertha.I’mnotamodelman,youknow.” Ofcourseshekissedhimwhenhemaderemarksofsuchabsurdmodesty. “I’mverypleased,”sheanswered“Idon’twantperfection.Ofcourseyou’vegotfaults,thoughIcan’tseethemyet.ButwhenIdo,IknowIshallonlyloveyoubetter.Whenawomanlovesanuglyman,theysaytheuglinessonlymakeshimmoreattractiveandIshallloveyourfaultsasIloveeverythingthatisyours.” Theysatforawhilewithoutspeaking,andthesilencewasevenmoreentrancingthanthespeech.Berthawishedshecouldremainthusforever,restinginhisarms.SheforgotthatsoonCraddockwoulddevelopahealthyappetiteanddemolishasubstantialdinner. “Letmelookatyourhands,”shesaid. Shelovedthemtoo.Theywerelargeandroughlymade,hardwithworkandexposure,tentimespleasanter,shethought,thanthesofthandsofthetownsman.Shefeltthemfirmandintenselymasculine.TheyremindedherofahandinanItalianMuseum,sculpturedinporphyry,butforsomereasonleftunfinishedandthelackofdetailgavethesameimpressionofmassivestrength.Hishands,too,mighthavebeenthoseofademi-godorofanhero.Shestretchedoutthelong,strongfingers.Craddock,knowingherverylittle,lookedwithwonderandamusement.Shecaughthisglance,andwithasmilebentdowntokisstheupturnedpalms.Shewantedtoabaseherselfbeforethestrongman,tobelowandhumblebeforehim.Shewouldhavebeenhishandmaiden,andnothingcouldhavesatisfiedhersomuchastoperformforhimthemostmenialservices.Sheknewnothowtoshowtheimmensityofherpassion. ItpleasedBerthatowalkintoBlackstablewithherloverandtocatchthepeople’sstares,knowinghowmuchthemarriageinterestedthem.WhatdidshecareiftheyweresurprisedatherchoosingEdwardCraddock,whomtheyhadknownallhislife?Shewasproudofhim,proudtobehiswife. One