Chapter XIV

arddismountedandledhimtowardsBertha.“Isn’theastunner?Justlookathim.” Hepassedhishanddownthebeast’sforelegsandstrokeditssleekcoat. “Ionlygavethirty-fivequidforit,”heremarked.“ImustjusttakehimroundtothestableandthenI’llcomein.” InafewminutesEdwardjoinedhiswife.Theridingcostumesuitedhimwell,andinhistop-bootshehadmorethanevertheappearanceofthefox-huntingcountrysquire,whichhadalwaysbeenhisideal.Hewasinhighspiritsoverthenewpurchase. “It’sthebeastthatthrewArthurBrandertonwhenwewereoutlastweek....Arthur’slimpingaboutnowwithasprainedankleandabrokenfinger.Hesaysthehorseisthegreatestdevilhe’severriddenhe’sfrightenedtousehimagain.”Edwardlaughedscornfully. “Butyouhaven’tboughthim?”askedBertha,withalarm. “OfcourseIhave,”saidEdward.“Icouldn’tmissachancelikethat.Why,he’saperfectbeauty—onlyhe’sgotatemper,likeweallhave.” “Butishedangerous?” “Abit—that’swhyIgothimcheap.Arthurgaveahundredguineasforhim,andhetoldmeIcouldhavehimforseventy.‘No,’Isaid,‘I’llgiveyouthirty-five—andtaketheriskofbreakingmyneck.’Well,hejusthadtoacceptmyoffer!thehorsehasgotabadnameinthecounty,andhewouldn’tgetanyonetobuyitinahurry.Amanhasgottogetupearlyifhewantstodomeoveragee!” BythistimeBerthawasfrightenedoutofherwits. “But,Eddie,you’renotgoingtorideit—supposingsomethingshouldhappen.Oh,Iwishyouhadn’tboughthim.” “He’sallright,”saidCraddock.“Ifanyonecanridehim,Ican—and,byJove,I’mgoingtoriskit.Why,ifIboughthimandthendidn’tusehim,I’dneverhearthelastofit.” “Topleaseme,Eddie,don’t!Whatdoesitmatterwhatpeoplesay?I’msofrightened.Andnowofalltimesyoumightdosomethingtopleaseme.It’snotoftenIaskyoutodomeafavour.” “Well,whenyouaskforsomethingreasonable,Ialwaystrymybesttodoit—butreally,afterI’vepaidthirty-fivepoundsforahorse,Ican’tcuthimupforcat’smeat.” “Thatmeansyou’llalwaysdoanythingformesolongasitdoesn’tinterferewithyourownlikesanddislikes.” “Ah,well,we’realllikethat,aren’twe?...Come,come,don’tbenastyaboutit,Bertha.” Hepinchedhercheekgood-naturedly—women,weallknow,wouldlikethemooniftheycouldgetitandthefactthattheycan’tdoesn’tpreventthemfrompersistentlyaskingforit.Edwardsatdownbesidehiswife,holdingherhand. “Now,telluswhatyou’vebeenuptoto-day.Hasanyonebeen?” Berthasigheddeeply.Shehadabsolutelynoinfluenceoverherhusband.Noprayers,notearswouldstophimfromdoingathinghehadsethismindon—howevermuchshearguedhealwaysmanagedtomakeherseeminthewrong,andthenwenthiswayrejoicing.Butshehadherchildnow. “ThankGodforthat!”shemurmured.