Chapter XX

tarisesinyourbosom,especiallyifyou’vehadgoodthingstoeat,andisindistinguishablefromtheprocessofdigestion.Butformeloveiseverything,thecauseandreasonoflife.WithoutloveIshouldbenon-existent.” “Well,youmayloveme,”saidEdward,“but,byJove,you’vegotajollyfunnywayofshowingit....ButasfarasI’mconcerned,ifyou’lltellmewhatyouwantmetodo,I’lltryanddoit.” “Oh,howcanItellyou?”shecried,impatiently.“IdoeverythingIcantomakeyoulovemeandIcan’t.Ifyou’reastockandastone,howcanIteachyoutobethepassionatelover?IwantyoutolovemeasIloveyou.” “Well,ifyouaskmeformyopinionIshouldsayitwasratheragoodjobIdon’t.Why,thefurniturewouldbesmashedupinaweek,ifIwereasviolentasyou.” “Ishouldn’tmindifyouwereviolentifyoulovedme,”repliedBertha,takinghisremarkwithvehementseriousness.“Ishouldn’tcareifyoubeatmeIshouldnotmindhowmuchyouhurtme,ifyoudiditbecauseyoulovedme.” “Ithinkaweekofitwouldaboutsickenyouofthatsortoflove,mydear.” “Anythingwouldbepreferabletoyourindifference.” “ButGodblessmysoul,I’mnotindifferent.AnyonewouldthinkIdidn’tcareforyou—orwasgoneonsomeotherwoman.” “Ialmostwishyouwere,”answeredBertha.“Ifyoulovedanyoneatall,Imighthavesomehopeofgainingyouraffection—butyou’reincapableoflove.” “Idon’tknowaboutthat.IcansaytrulythatafterGodandmyhonour,Itreasurenothingintheworldsomuchasyou.” “You’veforgottenyourhunter,”criedBertha,scornfully. “No,Ihaven’t,”answeredEdward,withacertaingravity. “WhatdoyouthinkIcareforapositionlikethat?YouacknowledgethatIamthird—Iwouldassoonbenowhere.” “Icouldnotloveyouhalfsomuch,lovedInothonourmore,”misquotedEdward. “Themanwasaprigwhowrotethat.IwanttobeplacedaboveyourGodandaboveyourhonour.TheloveIwantistheloveofthemanwhowillloseeverything,evenhisownsoul,forthesakeofawoman.” Edwardshruggedhisshoulders.“Idon’tknowwhereyou’llgetthat.Myideaofloveisthatit’saverygoodthinginitsplace—butthere’salimittoeverything.Thereareotherthingsinlife.” “Ohyes,Iknow—there’sdutyandhonour,andthefarm,andfox-hunting,andtheopinionofone’sneighbours,andthedogsandthecat,andthenewbrougham,andamillionotherthings....Whatdoyousupposeyou’ddoifIhadcommittedsomecrimeandwerelikelytobeimprisoned?” “Idon’twanttosupposeanythingofthesort.YoumaybesureI’ddomyduty.” “Oh,I’msickofyourduty.Youdinitintomyearsmorning,noon,andnight.IwishtoGodyouweren’tsovirtuous—youmightbemorehuman.” Edwardfoundhiswife’sbehavioursoextraordinarythatheconsultedDr.Ramsay.Themedicalmanhadbeenforthirtyyearstherecipientofmaritalconfidences,andwasscepticalastothevalueofmedicineinthecureofjealousy,talkativeness,incompatibilityoftemper,andthelikediseases.HeassuredEdwardthattimewastheonlyremedybywhichalldifferenceswerereconciledbutafterfurtherpressingconsentedtosendBerthaabottleofharmlesstonic,whichitwashishabi