Chapter XXI

er:— MydearAuntPolly,—IhavebeensoseedytheselastfewweeksthatEdward,poordear,hasbeenquitealarmedandhasbeenbotheringmetocomeuptotowntoseeaspecialist.He’sasurgentasifhewantedtogetmeoutoftheway,andI’malreadyhalf-jealousofmynewparlour-maid,whohaspinkcheeksandgoldenhair—whichisjustthetypethatEdwardreallyadmires.IalsothinkthatDr.Ramsayhasn’ttheghostofanideawhatisthematterwithme,andnotbeingparticularlydesiroustodepartthislifejustyet,Ithinkitwillbediscreettoseesomebodywhowillatleastchangemymedicine.Ihavetakengallonsofironandquinine,andI’mfrightfullyafraidthatmyteethwillgoblack.Myownopinion,coincidingsoexactlywithEdward’s(thathorridMrs.Rylecallsusthehumming-birds,meaningtheturtledoves,herknowledgeofnaturalhistoryarousesdearEdward’scontempt)Ihavegracefullyaccededtohisdesire,andifyoucanputmeup,willcomeatyourearliestconvenience.—Yoursaffectionately,B.C. P.S.—Ishalltaketheopportunityofgettingclothes(Iampositivelyinrags),soyouwillhavetokeepmesomelittletime. Edwardcameinshortlyafterwards,lookingverymuchpleased.HeglancedslilyatBertha,thinkinghimselfsocleverthathecouldscarcelyhelplaughing:itwashishabittobemostparticularinhisbehaviour,orhewouldundoubtedlyhaveputhistongueinhischeek. “Withwomen,mydearsir,youmustbefirm.Whenyou’reputtingthemtoafence,closeyourlegsanddon’tcheckthembutmindyoukeep’emundercontrolorthey’lllosetheirlittleheads.Amanshouldalwaysletawomanseethathe’sgotherwellinhand.” Berthawassilent,abletoeatnothingforluncheonshesatoppositeherhusband,wonderinghowhecouldgorgesodisgracefullywhenshewasangryandmiserable.Butintheafternoonherappetitereturned,and,goingtothekitchen,sheatesomanysandwichesthatatdinnershecouldagaintouchnothing.ShehopedEdwardwouldnoticethatsherefusedallfood,andbeproperlyalarmedandsorry.Buthedemolishedenoughfortwo,andneversawthathiswifefasted. AtnightBerthawenttobedandboltedherselfintheroom.PresentlyEdwardcameupandtriedthedoor.Findingitclosed,heknockedandcriedtohertoopen.Shedidnotanswer.Heknockedagainmoreloudlyandshookthehandle. “Iwanttohavemyroomtomyself,”shecriedout“I’mill.Pleasedon’ttrytocomein.” “What?WhereamItosleep?” “Oh,youcansleepinoneofthesparerooms.” “Nonsense!”hecriedandwithoutfurtheradoputhisshouldertothedoor:hewasastrongmanonehe