Chapter XI

nEdwardappearednottoseethathiswifewasoutoftemper.Hisspiritswerealwaysequable,andhewasanunobservantperson.Sheansweredhiminmono-syllables,buthechatteredaway,delightedathavingdrivenagoodbargainwithamaninBlackstable.Berthalongedforhimtoremarkuponherconditionsothatshemightburstoutwithreproaches,butEdwardwashopelesslydense—orelsehesawandwasunwillingtogiveheranopportunitytospeak.Bertha,almostforthefirsttime,wasseriouslyangrywithherhusbandanditfrightenedher—suddenlyEdwardseemedanenemy,andshewishedtoinflictsomehurtuponhim.Shedidnotunderstandherself—whatwasgoingtohappennext?Whywouldn’thesaysomethingsothatshemightpourforthherwoesandthenbereconciled!Thedayworeonandshepreservedasullensilenceherheartwasbeginningtoacheterribly—thenightcame,andstillEdwardmadenosignshelookedaboutforachanceofbeginningthequarrel,butnothingoffered.Berthapretendedtogotosleepandshedidnotgivehimthekiss,thenever-endingkissofloverswhichtheyalwaysexchanged.Surelyhewouldnoticeit,surelyhewouldaskwhattroubledher,andthenshecouldatlastbringhimtohisknees.Buthesaidnothinghewasdog-tiredafterahardday’swork,andwithoutawordwenttosleep—infiveminutesBerthaheardhisheavy,regularbreathing. Thenshebrokedownshecouldneversleepwithoutsayinggood-nighttohim,withoutthekissofhislips. “He’sstrongerthanI,”shesaid,“becausehedoesn’tloveme.” Berthaweptsilentlyshecouldnotbeartobeangrywithherhusband.Shewouldsubmittoanythingratherthanpassthenightinwrath,andthenextdayasunhappilyasthis.Shewasentirelyhumbled.Atlast,unableanylongertobeartheagony,shewokehim. “Eddie,you’venotsaidgood-nighttome.” “ByJove,Iforgotallaboutit,”heanswered,sleepily.Berthastifledasob. “Hulloa,what’sthematter?”hesaid.“You’renotcryingjustbecauseIforgottokissyou—Iwasawfullyfagged,youknow.” Hereallyhadnoticednothingwhateverwhileshewaspassingthroughutterdistresshehadbeenashappilyself-satisfiedasusual.ButthemomentaryrecurrenceofBertha’sangerwasquicklystilled.Shecouldnotaffordnowtobeproud. “You’renotangrywithme?”shesaid.“Ican’tsleepunlessyoukissme.” “Sillygirl!”hewhispered. “Youdoloveme,don’tyou?” “Yes.” Hekissedherasshelovedtobekissed,andinthedelightofitherangerwasquiteforgotten. “Ican’tliveunlessyouloveme.Oh,IwishIcouldmakeyouunderstandhowIloveyou....We’refriendsagainnow,aren’twe?” “Wehaven’teverbeenotherwise.” Berthagaveasighofrelief,andlayinhisarmscompletelyhappy.AminutemoreandEdward’sbreathingtoldherthathehadalreadyfallenasleepshedarednotmoveforfearofwakinghim. ThesummerbroughtBerthanewpleasures,ands