Chapter XXIII

BERTHA’SreliefwasunmistakablewhenshelandedonEnglishsoilatlastshewasnearEdward,andshehadbeenextremelysea-sick.ThoughitwaslessthanthirtymilesfromDovertoBlackstablethecommunicationsweresobadthatitwasnecessarytowaitforhoursattheport,ortaketheboat-traintoLondonandthencomesixtymilesdownagain.Berthawasexasperatedatthedelay,forgettingthatshewasnow(thankHeaven!)inafreecountry,wheretherailwayswerenotrunfortheconvenienceofpassengers,butthepassengersnecessaryevilstocreatedividendsforanill-managedcompany.Bertha’simpatiencewassogreatthatshefeltitimpossibletowaitatDovershepreferredtogotheextrahundredmilesandsaveherselftenminutesratherthanspendtheafternooninthedrearywaiting-room,orwanderingaboutthetown.ThetrainseemedtocrawlandherrestlessnessbecamequitepainfulassherecognizedtheKentishcountry,thefatmeadowswithtrimhedges,theportlytrees,andthegeneralairofprosperity. Bertha’sthoughtswerefullofEdward,andhewasthewholecauseofherimpatience.Shehadhoped,againstherknowledgeofhim,thathewouldmeetheratDover,andithadbeenadisappointmentnottoseehim.ThenshethoughthemighthavecometoLondon,thoughnotexplainingtoherselfhowhecouldpossiblyhavedivinedthatshewouldbethere.HerheartbeatabsurdlywhenshesawabackwhichmighthavebeenEdward’s.Stilllater,shecomfortedherselfwiththeideathathewouldcertainlybeatFaversley,whichwasthenextstationtoBlackstable.Whentheyreachedthatplacesheputherheadoutofwindow,lookingalongtheplatform—buthewasnowhere. “Hemighthavecomeasfarthis,”shethought. Now,thetrainsteamingon,sherecognisedthecountrymoreprecisely,thedesolatemarshandthesea—thelineranalmostatthewater’sedgethetidewasout,leavingabroadexpanseofshiningmud,overwhichtheseagullsflew,screeching.Thenthehouseswerefamiliar,cottagesbeatenbywindandweather,theJollySailor,whereintheolddaysmanyasmuggledkegofbrandyhadbeenhiddenonitswaytothecathedralcityofTercanbury.Thecoastguardstationwaspassed,alongbuilding,trimandlow.FinallytheyrattledacrossthebridgeovertheHighStreetandtheporterswiththeirKentishdrawl,calledout,“Blackstable,Blackstable.” Bertha’semotionswerealwaysuncontrolled,andsopowerfulassometimestounfitherforaction:nowshehadhardlystrengthtoopenthecarriagedoor. “Atlast!”shecried,withag