Chapter XVIII

deadthewholetime.Oh,ifGodmademesufferlikethat,it’sinfamous.Iwonderyou’renotashamedtoputitdowntoGod.HowcanyouimagineHimtobesostupid,socruel!Why,eventhevilestbeastintheslumswouldn’tcauseawomansuchfrightfulanduselessagonyforthemerepleasureofit.” MissGloversprangtoherfeet.“Bertha,yourillnessisnoexcuseforthis.Youmusteitherbemad,orutterlydepravedandwicked.” “No,I’mmorecharitablethanyou,”criedBertha.“IknowthereisnoGod.” “ThenI,forone,canhavenothingmoretodowithyou.”MissGlover’scheekswereflaming,andasuddenindignationdispelledherhabitualshyness. “Fanny,Fanny!”criedherbrother,“restrainyourself.” “Oh,thisisn’tatimetorestrainone’sself,Charles.It’sone’sdutytospeakoutsometimes.No,Bertha,ifyou’reanatheist,Icanhavenothingmoretodowithyou.” “Shespokeinanger,”saidtheVicar.“Itisnotourdutytojudgeher.” “It’sourdutytoprotestwhenthenameofGodistakeninvain,Charles.IfyouthinkBertha’spositionexcusesherblasphemies,Charles,thenIthinkyououghttobeashamedofyourself....ButI’mnotafraidtospeakout.Yes,Bertha,I’veknownforalongtimethatyouwereproudandheadstrong,butIthoughttimewouldchangeyou.Ihavealwayshadconfidenceinyou,becauseIthoughtatthebottomyouweregood.ButifyoudenyyourMaker,Bertha,therecanbenohopeforyou.” “Fanny,Fanny,”murmuredtheVicar. “Letmespeak,CharlesIthinkyou’reabadandwickedwoman—andIcannolongerfeelsorryforyou,becauseeverythingthatyouhavesufferedIthinkyouhavethoroughlydeserved.Yourheartisabsolutelyhard,andIknownothingsothoroughlywickedasahard-heartedwoman.” “MydearFanny,”saidBertha,smiling,“we’vebothbeenabsurdlymelodramatic.” “Irefusetolaughatthesubject.Iseenothingridiculousinit.Come,Charles,letusgo,andleavehertoherownthoughts.” ButasMissGloverboundedtothedoorthehandlewasturnedfromtheoutsideandMrs.Brandertoncamein.Thepositionwasawkward,andherappearanceseemedalmostprovidentialtotheVicar,whocouldnotflingoutoftheroomlikehissister,butalsocouldnotmakeuphismindtoshakehandswithBertha,asifnothinghadhappened.Mrs.Brandertonentered,allairsandgraces,smirkingandogling,andthegew-gawsonherbrand-newbonnetquiveredwitheverymovement. “ItoldtheservantIcouldfindmywayupalone,Bertha,”shesaid.“Iwantedsomuchtoseeyou.” “Mr.andMissGloverwerejustgoing.Howkindofyoutocome!” MissGloverbouncedoutoftheroomwithasmileatMrs.BrandertonthatwasalmostghastlyandMr.Glover,meek,polite,andasantisepticasever,shakinghandswithMrs.Branderton,followedhissister. “Whatqueerpeopletheyare!”saidMrs.Branderton,standingatthewindowtoseethemcomeoutofthefrontdoor.“Ireallydon’tthinkthey’requitehuman....Why,she’swalkingoninfront—shemightwaitforhim—takingsuchlongstepsandhe’stryingtocatchherup.Ibelievethey’rehavingarace.Ha!ha!Whatridiculousp