Chapter X

ANDsotheCraddocksbegantheirjourneyalongthegreatroadnowhitherwhichiscalledtheRoadofHolyMatrimony.Thespringcame,andwithitahundrednewdelightsBerthawatchedthelengtheningdays,thecolouredcrocusspringfromtheground,thesnowbellsthewarmdampdaysofFebruarybroughttheprimrosesandthentheviolets.Februaryisamonthoflanguorstheworld’sheartisheavy,listlessoftheunrestofAprilandthevigorouslifeofMay.Throughoutnaturetheseedisgerminatingandthepulseofallthingsthrobs.TheseamistsarosefromtheNorthSea,andcoveredtheKentishlandwithaveilofmoisture,whiteandalmosttransparent,sothatthroughittheleaflesstreeswereseenstrangelydistorted,theirbrancheslikelongarmswrithingtofreethemselvesfromtheshacklesofwinterthegrasswasverygreeninthemarshes,andtheyounglambsfriskedandgambolled,bleatingtotheirmothers.Alreadythethrushesandtheblackbirdsweresinginginthehedge-rows.Marchroaredinboisterously,andtheclouds,highabove,sweptacrosstheskybeforethetearingwinds,sometimesheapedupinheavymassesandthenblownasunder,flyingwestwards,trippingoveroneanother’sheelsintheirhurry.Naturewasrestingholdingherbreath,asitwere,beforethegreateffortofbirth. GraduallyBerthacametoknowherhusbandbetter.Athermarriageshehadreallyknownnothingbutthatshelovedhimthesensesonlyhadspoken,sheandheweremerelypuppetswhomnaturehadthrowntogetherandmadeattractiveinoneanother’seyes,thattheracemightbecontinued.Bertha,desireburningwithinherlikeafire,hadflungherselfintoherhusband’sarms,lovingasthebeastslove—andasthegods.Hewasthemanandshewasthewoman,andtheworldwasaGardenofEden,conjuredupbythepowerofpassion.Butgreaterknowledgebroughtonlygreaterlove.Littlebylittle,readinginEdward’smind,Berthadiscoveredtoherdelightanunexpectedpurityitwaswithafeelingofcurioushappinessthatsherecognisedhisinnocence.Shesawthathehadneverlovedbefore,thatwomantohimwasastrangething,athinghehadscarcelyknown.Shewasproudthatherhusbandhadcometoherunsoiledbyforeignembraces,thelipsthatkissedherswerecleannospeechonthesubjecthadpassedbetweenthem,andyetshefeltcertainofhisextremechastity.Hissoulwastrulyvirginal. Andthisbeingso,howcoul