Chapter XXI

aveandtheoldhingescracked.Heentered,laughing. “Ifyouwantedtokeepmeout,yououghttohavebarricadedyourselfupwiththefurniture.” Berthawasdisinclinedtotreatthematterlightly.“Ifyoucomein,”shesaid,“Ishallgoout.” “Ohno,youwon’t!”hesaid,draggingabigchestofdrawersinfrontofthedoor. Berthagotupandputonayellowsilkdressing-gown,whichwasreallymostbecoming. “I’llspendthenightonthesofathen,”shesaid.“Idon’twanttoquarrelwithyouanymoreortomakeascene.IhavewrittentoAuntPolly,andthedayafterto-morrowIshallgotoLondon.” “Iwasgoingtosuggestthatachangeofairwoulddoyougood.Ithinkyournervesareabitgroggy.” “It’sverygoodofyoutotakeaninterestinmynerves,”shereplied,withascornfulglance,settlingherselfonthesofa. “Areyoureallygoingtosleepthere?”hesaid,gettingintobed. “Itlookslikeit.” “You’llfinditawfullycold.ButIdaresayyou’llthinkbetterofitinanhour.I’mgoingtoturnthelightout.Good-night!” Berthadidnotanswer,andinafewminutesshewasangrilylisteningtohissnores.Couldhereallybeasleep?Itwasinfamousthathesleptsocalmly. “Edward,”shecalled. Therewasnoanswer,butshecouldnotbringherselftobelievethathewassleeping.Shecouldneverevenclosehereyes.Hemustbepretending—toannoyher.Shewantedtotouchhim,butfearedthathewouldburstoutlaughing.Shefeltindeedhorriblycold,andpiledrugsanddressesoverher.Itrequiredgreatfortitudenottosneakbacktobed.Shewasunhappyandthirsty.Nothingissodisagreeableasthewaterintoilet-bottles,withtheglasstastingoftooth-washbutshegulpedsomedown,thoughitalmostmadehersick,andthenwalkedabouttheroom,turningoverhermanifoldwrongs.Edwardsleptoninsufferably.Shemadeanoisetowakehim,buthedidnotstirsheknockeddownatablewithaclattersufficienttodisturbthedead,butherhusbandwasinsensible.Thenshelookedatthebed,wonderingwhethershedaredliedownforanhour,andtrusttowakingbeforehim.Shewassocoldthatshedeterminedtoriskit,feelingcertainthatshewouldnotsleeplongshewalkedtothebed. “Comingtobedafterall?”saidEdward,inasleepyvoice. Shestopped,andherheartrosetohermouth.“Iwascomingformypillow,”sherepliedindignantly,thankingherstarsthathehadnotspokenaminutelater. Shereturnedtothesofa,andeventuallymakingherselfverycomfortable,fellasleep.Inthisblissfulconditionshecontinuedtillthemorning,andwhensheawokeEdwardwasdrawinguptheblind