Chapter XVII

EDWARDCRADDOCKwasastrongman,alsounimaginative.DrivingthroughthenighttoTercanburyhedidnotgivewaytodistressingthoughts,buteasilykepthisanxietywithinproperbounds,andgavehiswholeattentiontoconductingthehorsehekepthiseyesontheroadinfrontofhim,andthebeaststeppedoutwithswift,regularstride,rapidlypassingthemilestones.EdwardrangDr.Spocrefupandgavehimthenotehecarried.Thedoctorpresentlycamedown,anundersizedmanwithasqueakyvoiceandagesticulativemanner.HelookeduponEdwardwithsuspicion. “Isupposeyou’rethehusband?”hesaid,astheyclattereddownthestreet.“Wouldyoulikemetodrive?Idaresayyou’reratherupset.” “No—anddon’twanttobe,”answeredEdward,withalaugh.Helookeddownalittleuponpeoplewholivedintowns,andnevertrustedamanwhowaslessthansixfeethighandburlyinproportion! “I’mrathernervousofanxioushusbandswhodrivemeatabreakneckpaceinthemiddleofthenight,”saidthedoctor.“Theditcheshaveanalmostirresistibleattractionforthem.” “Well,I’mnotnervous,doctor,soitdoesn’tmattertwopenceifyouare.” Whentheyreachedtheopencountry,Edwardsetthehorsegoingatitsfastesthewassomewhatamusedatthedoctor’sdesiretodrive—absurdlittleman! “Areyouholdingontight?”heasked,withgood-naturedscorn. “Iseeyoucandrive,”saidthedoctor. “ItisnotthefirsttimeI’vehadreinsinmyhands,”repliedEdward,modestly.“Hereweare!” Heshowedthespecialisttothebedroom,andaskedwhetherDr.Ramsayrequiredhimfurther. “No,Idon’twantyoujustnowbutyou’dbetterstayuptobeready,ifanythinghappens....I’mafraidBerthaisverybadindeed—youmustbepreparedforeverything.” Edwardretiredtothenextroomandsatdown.Hewasgenuinelydisturbed,butevennowcouldnotrealisethatBerthawasdying—hismindwassluggish,an