Chapter XV

tingclothes!Somethinghadhappened,andknowingwhatitwas,Berthawasyetabletorealiseherterrifiedwonder,asonepossibilityandanotherrushedthroughherbrain.Hewasuneasy,hehadsomethingtotell,butdarednotsayitshelookedathim,horror-stricken,andafaintnesscameoverhersothatshecouldhardlystand. Bertha’sheartbeatquickly.Shetoldherselfitwasabsurdtoletherimaginationrunawaywithherbut,notwithstanding,thepicturesvividlyproceeded:sheseemedtoassistataghastlyplayinwhichshewaschiefactor. Andwhatwouldshedowhenthefactwasfinallytoldher—thatEdwardwasdead?Shewouldfaintorcryout. “There’sbeenanaccident,”saidBranderton—“yourhusbandisratherhurt.” Berthaputherhandstohereyes,theagonywasdreadful. “Youmustn’tupsetyourself,”hewenton,tryingtobreakittoher. Then,rapidlypassingovertheintermediatedetailsshefoundherselfwithherhusband.Hewasdead,lyingonthefloor—andshepicturedhimtoherself,sheknewexactlyhowhewouldlooksometimeshesleptsosoundly,soquietly,thatshewasnervousandputhereartohishearttoknowifitwasbeating.Nowhewasdead.Despairsuddenlysweptdownuponheroverpoweringly.Berthatriedagaintoshakeoffherfancies,sheevenwenttothepianoandplayedafewnotesbutthemorbidattractionwastoostrongforherandthescenewenton.Nowthathewasdead,hecouldnotcheckherpassion,nowhewashelplessandshekissedhimwithallherloveshepassedherhandsthroughhishair,andstrokedhisface(hehadhatedthisinlife),shekissedhislipsandhisclosedeyes. TheimaginedgriefwassopoignantthatBerthaburstintotears.Sheremainedwiththebody,refusingtobeseparatedfromit—Berthaburiedherfaceinthecushionssothatnothingmightdisturbherillusion,shehadceasedtryingtodriveitaway.Ah,shelovedhimpassionately,shehadalwayslovedhimandcouldnotlivewithouthim.Sheknewthatshewouldshortlydie—andshehadbeenafraidofdeath.Ah,nowitwaswelcome!Shekissedhishands—hecouldnotpreventhernow—andwithalittleshudderopenedhiseyestheywereglassy,expressionless,immobile.Clingingtohim,shesobbedinloveandanguish.Shewouldletnonetouchhimbutherselfitwasarelieftoperformthelastofficesforhimwhohadbeenherwholelife.Shedidnotknowthatherlovewassogreat. Sheundressedthebodyandwasheditshewashedthelimbsonebyoneandspongedthem,thenverygentlydriedthemwithatowel.Thetouchofthecoldfleshmadehershuddervoluptuously—shethoughtofhimtakingherinhisstrongarms,kissingheronthemouth.Shewrappedhiminthewhiteshroudandsurroundedhimwithflowers.Theyplacedhiminthecoffin,andherheartstoodstill:shecouldnotleavehim.Shepassedwithhimalldayandallnight,lookingeveratthequiet,restfulface.Dr.RamsaycameandMissGlovercame,urginghertogoaway,butsherefused.Whatwasthecareofherownhealthnow,shehadonlywantedtoliveforhim? Thecoffinwasclosed,andshesawthe