Chapter VIII

>gladtoseeyou.Youseewecamehomesoonerthanweexpected—there’snoplacelikethecountry,isthere?” “You’rerightthere,Mr.CraddockIcan’tbearLondon.” “Oh,youdon’tknowit,”saidBertha“foryouit’sAeratedBreadshops,ExeterHall,andChurchCongresses.” “Bertha!”criedEdward,inatoneofsurprisehecouldnotunderstandfrivolitywithMissGlover. Thatgoodcreaturewasfartokind-heartedtotakeoffenceatanyremarkofBertha’s,andsmiledgrimly:shecouldsmileinnootherway. “TellmewhatyoudidinLondon.Ican’tgetanythingoutofBertha.” Craddock’smindwascommunicative,nothingpleasedhimmorethantogivepeopleinformation,andhewasalwaysreadytosharehisknowledgewiththeworldatlarge.Heneverpickedupafactwithoutrushingtotellittosomebodyelse.Somepersonswhentheyknowathingimmediatelyloseinterestanditboresthemtodiscussit,butCraddockwasnotofthese.Norcouldrepetitionexhausthiseagernesstoenlightenhisfellows,hewouldtellanhundredpeoplethenewsofthedayandbeasfreshaseverwhenitcametothehundredandfirst.Suchacharacteristicisundoubtedlyagift,usefulinthehighestdegreetoschoolmastersandpoliticians,butslightlytedioustotheirhearers.CraddockfavouredhisguestwithadetailedaccountofalltheiradventuresinLondon,theplaystheyhadseen,theplotsthereofandtheactorswhoplayedthem.Hegavethecompletelistofthemuseumsandchurchesandpublicbuildingstheyhadvisited,whileBerthalookedathim,smilinghappilyathisenthusiasm.Shecaredlittlewhathespokeof,themeresoundofhisvoicewasmusicinherears,andshewouldhavelisteneddelightedlywhilehereadaloudfromendtoendWhitaker’sAlmanack:thatwasathing,bytheway,whichhewasquitecapableofdoing.EdwardcorrespondedfarmorewithMissGlover’sconceptionofthenewlymarriedmanthandidBerthawiththatofthenewlymarriedwoman. “Heisanicefellow,”shesaidtoherbrotherafterwards,whentheywereeatingtheirsupperofcoldmutton,solemnlyseatedateitherendofalongtable. “Yes,”answeredtheVicar,inhistired,patientvoice,“Ithinkhe’llturnoutagoodhusband.” Mr.Gloverwaspatienceitself,whichalittleirritatedMissLey,wholikedamanofspiritandofthatMr.Gloverhadneveragrain.Hewasresignedtoeverythinghewasresignedtohisfoodbeingbadlycooked,totheperversityofhumannature,totheexistenceofdissenters(almost),tohisinfinitesimalsalaryhewasresignationdriventodeath.MissLeysaidhewaslikethoseSpanishdonkeysthatoneseesploddingalonginastring,listlesslybearingover-heavyloads—patient,patient,patient.ButnotsopatientasMr.Gloverthedonkeysometimeskicked,theVicarofLeanhamnever. “Idohopeitwillturnoutwell,Charles,”saidMissGlover. “Ihopeitwill,”heansweredthenafterapause:“Didyouaskthemiftheywerecomingtochurchto-morrow?”Hehelpedhimselftomashedpotatoes,noticinglong-sufferinglythattheywereburntagainthepotatoeswerealwaysburnt,buthemadenocomment. “Oh,Iquiteforgot,”saidhissister,answeringthequestion.“ButIthinkthey’resureto.EdwardCraddockwasalwaysaregularattendant.” Mr.Glovermadenoreply,andtheykeptsilencefortherestofthemeal.Immediatelyafterwardstheparsonwentintohisstudytofinishthemorrow’ssermo