Chapter XV

CRADDOCKwentoutonhisnewhorseandreturnedtriumphantly. “Hewasasquietasalamb,”hesaid.“Icouldridehimwithmyarmstiedbehindmybackandastojumping—hetakesafive-barredgateinhisstride.” Berthawasalittleangrywithhimforhavingcausedhersuchterror,angrywithherselfalsofortroubling. “AnditwasratherluckyIhadhimto-day.OldLordPhilipDirkwasthere,andheaskedBrandertonwhoIwas.‘Youtellhim,’sayshe,‘thatitisn’toftenI’veseenamanrideaswellashedoes.’YoushouldseeBranderton,heisn’thalfgladathavingletmetakethebeastforthirty-fivequid.AndMr.Molsoncameuptomeandsaid,‘Iknewthathorsewouldgetintoyourhandsbeforelong,you’retheonlymaninthispartwhocanrideit—butifitdon’tbreakyourneck,you’llbelucky.’” Herecountedwithgreatsatisfactionthecomplimentspaidtohim. “Wehadajollygoodrunto-day....Andhowareyou,dear,feelingcomfy?Oh,Iforgottotellyou—youknowRodgers,thehuntsman,well,hesaidtome,‘That’samightyfinehackyou’vegotthere,sir,buthetakessomeriding.’—‘Iknowhedoes,’Isaid‘butIflattermyselfIknowathingortwomorethanmosthorses.’TheyallthoughtIshouldgetrolledoverbeforethedaywasout,butIjustwentslickateverythingtoshowIwasn’tfrightened.” ThenhegavedetailsoftheaffairandhehadasgreatapassionforthemeticulousasaGermanhistorian.Hewasoneofthosemenwhotakeinfinitepainsovertrifles,flatteringthemselvesthattheyneverdothingsbyhalves.Berthahadaheadache,andherhusbandboredhershethoughtherselfagreatfooltobesoconcernedabouthissafety. AsthemonthsworeonMissGloverbecameverysolicitous.Theparson’ssisterlookeduponbirthasamysteriouslyheart-flutteringbusiness,which,however,modestyrequireddecentpeopletoignore.Shetreatedherfriendinanabsurdlyself-consciousmanner,andblushedlikeapeonywhenBerthafranklyreferredtothecomingevent.ThegreatesttormentofMissGlover’slifewasthat,asladyoftheVicarage,shehadtomanagetheMaternityBag,aninstitutiontoprovidetheinfantsoftheneedywitharticlesofraimentandtheirmotherswithflannelpetticoats.Shecouldnever,withoutmuchconfusion,askthenecessaryinformationofthebeneficiariesinhercharityfeelingthatthewholethingoughtnottobediscussedatall,shekepthereyesaverted,andactedgenerallysoastocausegreatindignation. “Well,”saidonegoodlady,“I’drathernot’aveherbagatallthanbetreatedlikethat.Why,shetreatsyouasif—well,asifyouwasn’tmarried.” “Yes,”saidanother,“that’sjustwhatIcomplainof—IpromiseyouI’ad’alfamindtotakemymarriagelinesoutofmypocketan’show’er.Itain’tnothin’tobeashamedabout—nicethingitwouldbeafter’avin’sixteen,ifIwasbashful.” Butofcoursethemoreunpleasantadutywas,themorezealouslydidMissGloverperformitshefeltitrighttovisitBerthawithfrequency,andmanfullyboretheyoungwife’spersistenceinreferring