Chapter VI

day,whenitwasverywarmforthetimeofyear,shewasrestingonastile,whileCraddockstoodbyherside.Theydidnotspeak,butlookedatoneanotherinecstatichappiness. “Look,”saidCraddock,suddenly.“There’sArthurBranderton.” HeglancedatBertha,thenfromsidetosideuneasily,asifhewishedtoavoidameeting. “He’sbeenaway,hasn’the?”askedBertha.“Iwantedtomeethim.”Shewasquitewillingthatalltheworldshouldseethem.“Goodafternoon,Arthur!”shecalledout,astheyouthapproached. “Oh!isityou,Bertha?Hulloa,Craddock!”HelookedatEdward,wonderingwhathedidtherewithMissLey. “We’vejustbeenwalkingintoLeanham,andIwastired.” “Oh!”YoungBrandertonthoughtitqueerthatBerthashouldtakewalkswithCraddock. Berthaburstoutlaughing.“Oh,hedoesn’tknow,Edward!He’stheonlypersoninthecountywhohasn’theardthenews.” “Whatnews?”askedBranderton.“I’vebeeninYorkshireforthelastweekatmybrother-in-law’s.” “Mr.CraddockandIaregoingtobemarried.” “Areyou,byJove!”criedBrandertonhelookedatCraddockandthen,awkwardly,offeredhiscongratulations.Theycouldnothelpseeinghisastonishment,andCraddockflushed,knowingitduetothefactthatBerthahadconsentedtomarryapennilessbeggarlikehimself,amanofnofamily.“Ihopeyou’llinvitemetothewedding,”saidtheyoungmantocoverhisconfusion.“Oh,it’sgoingtobeveryquiet—therewillonlybeourselves,Dr.Ramsay,myaunt,andEdward’sbestman.” “Thenmayn’tIcome?”askedBranderton. BerthalookedquicklyatEdwardithadcausedhersomeuneasinesstothinkthathemightbesupportedbyapersonofnogreatconsequenceintheplace.AfterallshewasMissLeyandshehadalreadydiscoveredthatsomeofherlover’sfriendswerenottoodesirable.Chanceofferedhermeansofsurmountingthedifficulty. “I’mafraidit’simpossible,”shesaid,inanswertoBranderton’sappeal,“unlessyoucangetEdwardtoofferyoutheimportantpostofbestman.” Shesucceededinmakingthepairthoroughlyuncomfortable.BrandertonhadnogreatwishtoperformthatofficeforEdward—“ofcourse,Craddockisaverygoodfellow,andafinesportsman,butnotthesortofchapyou’dexpectagirllikeBerthaLeytomarry.”AndEdward,understandingtheyoungerman’sfeelings,wassilent. ButBrandertonhadsomeknowledgeofpolitesociety,andbrokethemomentarypause. “Whoisgoingtobeyourbestman,Craddock?”heaskedhecoulddonothingelse. “Idon’tknow—Ihaven’tthoughtofit.” ButBranderton,catchingBertha’seye,suddenlyunderstoodherdesireandthereasonofit. “Won’tyouhaveme?”hesaidquickly.“Idaresayyou’llfindmeintelligentenoughtolearntheduties.” “Ishouldlikeitverymuch,”answeredCraddock.“It’sverygoodofyou.” Brande