Chapter XV

,princeofthechildrenofJudah.”ShehadfallenuponthegenealogicaltableatthebeginningoftheBookofChronicles.Thechapterwasverylong,andconsistedentirelyofnames,uncouthanddifficulttopronouncebutMissGlovershirkednotoneofthem.Withgraveandsomewhathigh-pitcheddelivery,modelledonherbrother’s,shereadoutthebewilderinglist.Berthalookedatherinamazement. “That’stheendofthechapter,”shesaidatlast“wouldyoulikemetoreadyouanotherone?” “Yes,IshouldlikeitverymuchbutIdon’tthinkthepartyou’vehitonisquitetothepoint.” “Mydear,Idon’twanttoreproveyou—that’snotmyduty—butalltheBibleistothepoint.” Andasthetimepassed,Berthaquitelosthercourageandwasoftenseizedbyapanicfear.Suddenly,withoutobviouscause,herheartsankandsheaskedherselffranticallyhowshecouldpossiblygetthroughit.Shethoughtshewasgoingtodie,andwonderedwhatwouldhappenifshedid.WhatwouldEdwarddowithouther?Thinkingofhisbittergriefthetearscametohereyes,butherlipstrembledwithself-pitywhenthesuspicioncamethathewouldnotbeheartbroken:hewasnotamantofeeleithergrieforjoyverypoignantly.Hewouldnotweepatthemosthisgaietyforacoupleofdayswouldbeobscured,andthenhewouldgoaboutasbefore.Sheimaginedhimrelishingthesympathyofhisfriends.Insixmonthshewouldalmosthaveforgottenher,andsuchmemoryasremainedwouldnotbeextraordinarilypleasing.HewouldmarryagainEdwardloathedsolitude,andnexttimedoubtlesshewouldchooseadifferentsortofwoman—onelessremotefromhisideal.Edwardcarednothingforappearance,andBerthaimaginedhersuccessorplainasMissHancockordowdyasMissGloverandtheironyofitlayintheknowledgethateitherofthosetwowouldmakeawifemoresuitablethanshetohischaracter,answeringbettertohisconceptionofahelpmate. BerthafanciedthatEdwardwouldwillinglyhavegivenherbeautyforsomesolidadvantage,suchasaknowledgeofdressmakinghertaste,herartsandaccomplishments,werenothingtohim,andherimpulsivepassionwasapositivedefect.“Handsomeisashandsomedoes,”saidhehewasaplain,simplemanandhewantedasimple,plainwife. ShewonderedifherdeathwouldreallycausehimmuchsorrowBertha’swillgavehimeverythingofwhichshewaspossessed,andhewouldspenditwithasecondwife.Shewasseizedwithinsanejealousy. “No,Iwon’tdie,”shecriedbetweenherteeth,“Iwon’t!” Butoneday,whileEdwardwashunting,hermorbidfanciestookanotherturn.Supposingheshoulddie?Thethoughtwasunendurable,buttheveryhorrorofitfascinatedhershecouldnotdriveawaythesceneswhich,withstrangedistinctness,herimaginationsetbeforeher.Shewasseatedatthepianoandheardsuddenlyahorsestopatthefrontdoor—Edwardwasbackearly:butthebellrangwhyshouldEdwardring?TherewasamurmurofvoiceswithoutandArthurBrandertoncamein.Inhermind’seyeshesaweverydetailmostclearly.Hewasinhishun