Chapter XV

toanunpleasantsubject.Shecarriedherheroismtothepitchofknittingsocksfortheforthcomingbaby,althoughtodosomadeherheartpalpitateuncomfortablyandwhenshewassurprisedattheworkbyherbrother,hercheeksburnedliketwofires. “Now,Berthadear,”shesaidoneday,pullingherselftogetherandstraighteningherbackasshealwaysdidwhenshewasmortifyingtheflesh.“Now,Berthadear,Iwanttotalktoyouseriously.” Berthasmiled.“Ohdon’t,Fannyyouknowhowuncomfortableitmakesyou.” “Imust,”answeredthegoodcreature,gravely.“Iknowyou’llthinkmeridiculous,butit’smyduty.” “Ishan’tthinkanythingofthekind,”saidBertha,touchedwithherfriend’shumility. “Well,youtalkagreatdealof—ofwhat’sgoingtohappen”—MissGloverblushed—“butI’mnotsureifyouarereallypreparedforit.” “Oh,isthatall?”criedBertha.“Thenursewillbehereinafortnight,andDr.Ramsaysaysshe’samostreliablewoman.” “Iwasn’tthinkingofearthlypreparations,”saidMissGlover.“Iwasthinkingoftheother.Areyouquitesureyou’reapproachingthe—thething,intherightspirit?” “Whatdoyouwantmetodo?” “Itisn’twhatIwantyoutodo.It’swhatyououghttodo.I’mnobody.Buthaveyouthoughtatallofthespiritualsideofit?” Berthagaveasighthatwaschieflyvoluptuous.“I’vethoughtthatI’mgoingtohaveason,that’smineandEddie’sandI’mawfullythankful.” “Wouldn’tyoulikemetoreadtheBibletoyousometimes?” “Goodheavens,youtalkasifIweregoingtodie.” “Onecannevertell,dearBertha,”repliedMissGlover,sombrely“Ithinkyououghttobeprepared....‘Inthemidstoflifeweareindeath’—onecannevertellwhatmayhappen.” Berthalookedathersomewhatanxiously.Shehadbeenforcingherselfoflatetobecheerful,andhadfounditnecessarytostiflearecurringpresentimentofevilfortune.TheVicar’ssisterneverrealisedthatshewasdoingeverythingpossibletomakeBerthathoroughlyunhappy. “IbroughtmyownBiblewithme,”shesaid.“DoyoumindifIreadyouachapter?” “Ishouldlikeit,”saidBertha,andacoldshiverwentthroughher. “Haveyougotanypreferenceforsomeparticularpart?”askedMissGlover,extractingthebookfromalittleblackbagwhichshealwayscarried. OnBertha’sanswerthatshehadnopreference,MissGloversuggestedopeningtheBibleatrandom,andreadingonfromthefirstlinethatcrossedhereyes. “Charlesdoesn’tquiteapproveofit,”shesaid“hethinksitsmacksofsuperstition.ButIcan’thelpdoingit,andtheearlyProtestantsconstantlydidthesame.” MissGlover,havingopenedthebookwithclosedeyes,begantoread:“ThesonsofPharez!Hezron,andHamul.AndthesonsofZerahZimri,andEthan,andHeman,andCalcol,andDarafiveoftheminall.”MissGloverclearedherthroat.“AndthesonsofEthanAzariah.ThesonsalsoofHezron,thatwerebornuntohimJerahmeel,andRam,andChelubai.AndRambegatAmminadabandAmminadabbegatNahshon