Chapter VIII
關燈
小
中
大
n,andMissGlovertookoutofherbasketherbrother’swoollensocksandbegantodarnthem.Sheworkedformorethananhour,thinkingmeanwhileoftheCraddocksshelikedEdwardbetterandbettereachtimeshesawhim,andshefelthewasamanwhocouldbetrusted.Sheupbraidedherselfalittleforherdisapprovalofthemarriageheractionwasunchristian,andsheaskedherselfwhetheritwasnotherdutytoapologisetoBerthaortoCraddockthethoughtofdoingsomethinghumiliatingtoherownself-respectattractedherwonderfully.ButBerthawasdifferentfromothergirlsMissGlover,thinkingofher,grewconfused.
Butatickoftheclocktoannounceanhourabouttostrikemadeherlookup,andshesawitwantedbutfiveminutestoten.
“Ihadnoideaitwassolate.”
Shegotupandtidilyputawayherwork,thentakingfromthetopoftheharmoniumtheBibleandthebigprayer-bookwhichwereuponit,placedthemattheendofthetable.Shedrewforwardachairforherbrother,andsatpatientlytoawaithiscoming.Astheclockstrucksheheardthestudydooropen,andtheVicarwalkedin.Withoutawordhewenttothebooks,andsittingdown,foundhisplaceintheBible.
“Areyouready?”sheasked.
Helookeduponemomentoverhisspectacles.“Yes.”
MissGloverleantforwardandrangthebell—theservantappearedwithabasketofeggs,whichsheplacedonthetable.Mr.Gloverlookedathertillshewassettledonherchair,andbeganthelesson.Afterwardstheservantlittwocandlesandbadethemgood-night.MissGlovercountedtheeggs.
“Howmanyarethereto-day?”askedtheparson.
“Seven,”sheanswered,datingthemonebyone,andenteringthenumberinabookkeptforthepurpose.
“Areyouready?”nowaskedMr.Glover.
“Yes,Charles,”shesaid,takingoneofthecandles.
Heputoutthelamp,andwiththeothercandlefollowedherupstairs.Shestoppedoutsideherdoorandbadehimgood-nighthekissedhercoldlyontheforeheadandtheywentintotheirrespectiverooms.
Thereisalwaysacertainflurryinacountry-houseonSundaymorning.Thereisintheairafeelingpeculiartotheday,astateofalertnessandexpectationforevenwhentheyarerepeatedforyears,weekbyweek,thepreparationsforchurchcannotbetakencoolly.Theodourofcleanlinenisunmistakable,everyoneishighlystarchedandsomewhatill-at-easethemembersofthehouseholdaskoneanotherifthey’reready,theyhuntforprayer-bookstheladiesareneverdressedintimeandsallyoutatlast,buttoningtheirglovesthemenstampandfumeandtakeouttheirwatches.Edward,ofcourse,woreatail-coatandatop-hat,whichisquitethepropercostumeforthesquiretogotochurchin,andnoonegavemorethoughttotheproprietiesthanEdward.Heheldhimselfveryupright,cultivatingtheslightlyself-consciousgravityconsideredfittotheoccasion.
“Weshallbelate,Bertha,”hesaid.“Itwilllooksobad—thefirsttimewecometochurchsinceourmarriage,too.”
“Mydear,”saidBertha,“youmaybequitecertainthatevenifMr.Gloverissoindiscreetastostart,forthecongregationtheceremonywillnotreallybegintillweappear.”
Theydroveupinanold-fashionedbroughamusedonlyforgoingtochurchandtodinner-parties,andthewordwasimmediatelypassedbytheloungersattheporchtothedevoutwithintherewasarustleofattentionasMr.andMrs.Craddockwalkeduptheaisletothefront