Chapter VII

WestminsterAbbeyandjoinedthepartyofAmericansandcountryfolkwhowerebeingdrivenhitherandthitherbyablack-robedvergertheyvisitedthetombsofthekingsandsaweverythingwhichitwastheirdutytosee.BerthadevelopedafineenthusiasmfortheantiquitiesofLondonshequiteenjoyedthesensationsofbovineignorancewithwhichtheCook’stouristsurrendershimselfintothehandsofacustodian,lookingasheistoldandswallowingwithopenmouththemostunreliableinformation.Feelingherselfmorestupid,Berthawasconsciousofacloserconnectionwithherfellow-men.Edwarddidnotlikeallthingsinanequaldegreepicturesboredhim(theyweretheonlythingsthatreallydid),andtheirvisittotheNationalGallerywasnotasuccess.NeitherdidtheBritishMuseummeetwithhisapprovalforonething,hehadgreatdifficultyindirectingBertha’sattentionsothathereyesshouldnotwandertovariousnakedstatueswhichareexhibitedtherewithnoregardatallforthesusceptibilitiesofmodestpersons.Onceshestoppedinfrontofagroupthatsomeshieldsandswordsquiteinadequatelyclothed,andremarkedontheirbeauty.Edwardlookedaboutuneasilytoseewhetheranyonenoticedthem,andagreeingbrieflythattheywerefinefigures,movedrapidlyawaytosomelessquestionableobject. “Ican’tstandallthisrot,”hesaid,whentheystoodoppositethethreegoddessesoftheParthenon“Iwouldn’tgivetwopencetocometothisplaceagain.” Berthafeltsomewhatashamedthatshehadasneakingadmirationforthestatuesinquestion. “Nowtellme,”hesaid,“whereisthebeautyofthosecreatureswithoutanyheads?” Berthacouldnottellhim,andhewastriumphant.Hewasadear,goodboyandshelovedhimwithallherheart! TheNaturalHistoryMuseum,ontheotherhand,arousedCraddocktogreatenthusiasm.Herehewasquiteathomenoimproprietiesweretherefromwhichhemustkeephiswife,andanimalswerethesortofthingsthatanymancouldunderstand.ButtheybroughtbacktohimstronglythecountryofEastKentandthelifewhichitpleasedhimmosttolead.Londonwasallverywell,buthedidnotfeelathome,anditwasbeginningtopalluponhim.BerthaalsobegantalkingofhomeandofCourtLeysshehadalwayslivedmoreinthefuturethaninthepresent,andeveninthis,thetimeofhergreatesthappiness,lookedforwardtothedaystocomeatLeanham,whencompletefelicitywouldindeedbehers. Shewascontentedenoughnow—itwasonlytheeighthdayofhermarriedlife,butsheardentlywishedtosettledownandsatisfyallheranticipations.Theytalkedofthealterationstheymustmakeinthehouse,Craddockhadalreadyplansforputtingtheparkinorder,fortakingovertheHomeFarmandworkingithimself. “Iwishwewerehome,”saidBertha.“I’msickofLondon.” “Idon’tthinkIshouldmindmuchifwe’dgottotheendofourfortnight,”hereplied. Craddockhadarrangedwithhimselftostayintownfourteendays,andhecouldnotalterhismind.Itmadehimuncomfortabletochangehisplansandthinkoutsomethingnewhepridedhimself,moreover,onalwaysdoingthethinghehaddetermined. ButalettercamefromMissLeyannouncingthatshehadpackedhertrunksandwasstartingforthecontinent. “Oughtn’twetoaskhertostayon?”saidCraddock.“Itseemsabitroughtoturnheroutsoquickly.” “Youdon’twanttohaveherlivewithus,doyou?”askedBertha,insomedismay. “No,rathernotbutIdon’tseewhyyoushouldpackherofflikeaservantwithamonth’snotice.” “Oh,I’llas