Chapter IX

SOMEdayslater,aftertheduepreliminarieswhichMrs.Brandertonwouldonnoaccounthaveneglected,theCraddocksreceivedaninvitationtodinner.Berthasilentlypassedittoherhusband. “Iwonderwhoshe’llasktomeetus,”hesaid. “D’youwanttogo?”askedBertha. “Why,don’tyou?We’vegotnoengagement,havewe?” “Haveyoueverdinedtherebefore?”saidBertha. “No.I’vebeentotennis-partiesandthatsortofthing,butI’vehardlysetfootinsidetheirhouse.” “Well,Ithinkit’sanimpertinenceofhertoaskyounow.” Edwardopenedhismouthwide:“Whatonearthd’youmean?” “Oh,don’tyousee?”criedhiswife,“they’remerelyaskingyoubecauseyou’remyhusband.It’shumiliating.” “Nonsense!”repliedEdward,laughing.“Andiftheyare,whatdoIcare?—I’mnotsothin-skinnedasthat.Mrs.BrandertonwasverynicetometheotherSundayitwouldbefunnyifwedidn’taccept.” “Didyouthinkshewasnice?Didn’tyouseethatshewaspatronisingyouasifyouwereagroom.Itmademeboilwithrage.Icouldhardlyholdmytongue.” Edwardlaughedagain.“Inevernoticedanything.It’sjustyourfancy,Bertha.” “I’mnotgoingtoherhorriddinner-party.” “ThenIshallgobymyself,”hereplied,laughing. Berthaturnedwhiteitwasasifshehadreceivedasuddenblowbuthewaslaughing,ofcoursehedidnotmeanwhathesaid.Shehurriedlyagreedtoallheasked. “Ofcourseifyouwanttogo,Eddie,I’llcometoo....ItwasonlyforyoursakethatIdidnotwishto.” “Wemustbeneighbourly.Iwanttobefriendswitheverybody.” Shesatonthesideofhischair,puttingherarmroundhisneck.Edwardpattedherhandandshelookedathimwitheyesfullofeagerlove,shebentdownandkissedhishair.Howfoolishhadbeenhersuddenthoughtthathedidnotloveher! ButBerthahadanotherreasonfornotwishingtogotoMrs.Branderton.SheknewEdwardwouldbebitterlycriticised,andthethoughtmadeherwretchedtheywouldtalkofhisappearanceandmanner,andwonderhowtheygotontogether.BerthaunderstoodwellenoughthepositionEdwardoccupiedinLeanhamtheBrandertonsandtheirlike,knowinghimallhislife,hadtreatedhimasamereacquaintance:forthemhehadbeenapersontowhomyouarecivil,andthatisall.ThiswasthefirstoccasionuponwhichhehadbeendealtwithentirelyasanequalitwashisintroductionintowhatMrs.BrandertonwaspleasedtocalltheuppertenofLeanham.ItdidindeedmakeBertha’sbloodboilanditcuthertothehearttothinkthatforyearshehadbeenusedinsoinfamousafashion:hedidnotseemtomind. “IfIwerehe,”shesaid,“I’dratherdiethango.They’veignoredhimalways,andnowtheytakehimupasafavourtome.” ButEdwardappearedtohavenoprideofcoursehischaracterwascharming,andhecouldbearillwilltonoone.HeneitherresentedtheformerneglectoftheBrandertonsnortheirpresentimpertinence. “IwishIcouldmakehimunderstand.” Berthapassedtheinterveningweekinatremorofanxiety.Shedivinedwhotheotherguestswouldbe.Wouldtheylaughathim?OfcoursenotopenlyMrs.Branderton,theleastcharitableofthemall,pridedherselfuponherbreedi