Chapter VIII

ereventhanusualaftertheclimb,encasedinthebraidedjacketthatfittedherasseverelyassardinesarefittedintheirtin. “Iwascomingtoseeyou,Bertha,”shecried.“Iheardyouwereback.” “We’vebeenhomeseveraldays,gettingtorights.” MissClovershookBertha’shandwithmuchvigour,andtogethertheywalkedbacktothehouse,alongtheavenueborderedwithleaflesstrees. “Now,dotellmeallaboutyourhoneymoon,I’msoanxioustoheareverything.” ButBerthawasnotverycommunicative,shehadaninstinctivedisliketotellingherprivateaffairs,andneverhadanyoverpoweringdesireforsympathy. “Oh,Idon’tthinkthere’smuchtotell,”sheanswered,whentheywereinthedrawing-roomandshewaspouringoutteaforherguest.“Isupposeallhoneymoonsaremoreorlessalike.” “Youfunnygirl,”saidMissGlover.“Didn’tyouenjoyit?” “Yes,”saidBertha,withasmilethatwasalmostecstaticthenafteralittlepause:“Wehadaverygoodtime—wewenttoallthetheatres.” MissGloverfeltthatmarriagehadcausedadifferenceinBertha,anditmadehernervoustorealisethechange.Shelookeduneasilyatthemarriedwomanandoccasionallyblushed. “Andareyoureallyhappy?”sheblurtedoutsuddenly.Berthasmiled,andreddening,lookedmorecharmingthanever. “Yes—IthinkI’mperfectlyhappy.” “Aren’tyousure?”askedMissGlover,whocultivatedprecisionineverypartoflifeandstronglydisapprovedofpersonswhodidnotknowtheirownminds. Berthalookedatherforamoment,asifconsideringthequestion. “Youknow,”sheanswered,atlast,“happinessisneverquitewhatoneexpectedittobe.IhardlyhopedforsomuchbutIdidn’timagineitquitelikeitis.” “Ah,well,Ithinkit’sbetternottogointothesethings,”repliedMissGlover,alittleseverely,thinkingthesuggestionofanalysisscarcelysuitableinayoungmarriedwoman.“Weoughttotakethingsastheyare,andbethankful.” “Oughtwe?”saidBerthalightly,“Ineverdo....I’mneversatisfiedwithwhatIhave.” TheyheardtheopeningofthefrontdoorandBerthajumpedup. “There’sEdward!Imustgoandseehim.Youdon’tmind,doyou?” Shealmostskippedoutoftheroommarriage,curiouslyenough,haddissipatedthegravityofmannerwhichhadmadepeoplefindsolittlegirlishnessabouther.Sheseemedyounger,lighterofheart. “Whatafunnycreaturesheis!”thoughtMissGlover.“Whenshewasagirlshehadallthewaysofamarriedwoman,andnowthatshe’sreallymarriedshemightbeaschoolgirl.” Theparson’ssisterwasnotcertainwhethertheirresponsibilityofBerthawasfittoherresponsibleposition,whetherherunusualburstsoflaughterwerepropertoamysticstatedemandinggravity. “Ihopeshe’llturnoutallright,”shesighed. ButBerthaimpulsivelyrushedtoherhusbandandkissedhim.Shehelpedhimoffwithhiscoat. “I’msogladtoseeyouagain,”shecried,laughingalittleatherowneagernessforitwasonlyafterluncheonthathehadlefther. “Isanyonehere?”heasked,noticingMissGlover’sumbrella.Hereturnedhiswife’sembracesomewhatmechanically. “Comeandsee,”saidBertha,takinghisarmanddragginghimalong.“Youmustbedyingfortea,youpoorthing.” “MissGlover!”hesaid,shakingthelady’shandasenergeticallyassheshookhis.“Howgoodofyoutocomeandseeus.Iam