Chapter XXIV

andcontrast,characterisation,lightandshade,andmanyotherthingstowhichthepracticeofhaberdashery,greengrocery,company-promotion,orpork-butchery,isnogreatkey. Oneday,Edward,comingin,caughtsightoftheyellowpaper-coverofaFrenchbookthatBerthawasreading. “What,atitagain?”saidhe.“Youreadtoomuchit’snotgoodforpeopletobealwaysreading.” “Isthatyouropinion?” “Myideaisthatawomanoughtn’ttostuffherheadwithbooks.You’dbemuchbetteroutintheopenairordoingsomethinguseful.” “Isthatyouropinion?” “Well,Ishouldliketoknowwhyyou’realwaysreading?” “Sometimestoinstructmyselfalwaystoamusemyself.” “Muchinstructionyou’llgetoutofanindecentFrenchnovel.” BerthawithoutansweringhandedhimthebookandshowedthetitletheywerethelettersofMadamedeSévigné. “Well?”hesaid. “You’renowiser,dearEdward?”sheasked,withasmile:suchaquestioninsuchatone,revengedherformuch.“You’renonethewiser?I’mafraidyou’reveryignorant.YouseeI’mnotreadinganovel,anditisnotindecent.Theyarethelettersofamothertoherdaughter,modelsofepistolarystyleandfemininewisdom.” Berthapurposelyspokeinratherformalandelaborateamanner. “Oh,”saidEdward,somewhatmystifiedfeelingthathehadbeenconfounded,butcertain,nonetheless,thathewasintheright.Berthasmiledprovokingly. “Ofcourse,”hesaid,“I’vegotnoobjectiontoyourreadingifitamusesyou.” “It’sverygoodofyoutosayso.” “Idon’tpretendtohaveanybook-learningI’mapracticalman,andit’snotrequired.Inmybusinessyoufindthatthemanwhoreadsbooks,comesamucker!” “Youseemtothinkthatignoranceiscreditable.” “It’sbettertohaveagoodandpureheart,Bertha,andacleanmind,thananyamountoflearning.” “It’sbettertohaveagrainofwitthanacollectionofmoralsaws.” “Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbythat,butI’mquitecontenttobeasIam,andIdon’twanttoknowasingleforeignlanguage.Englishisquitegoodenoughforme.” “Solongasyou’reagoodsportsmanandwashyourselfregularly,youthinkyou’veperformedthewholedutyofman.” “Ifthere’sonechapIcan’tstick,it’sameaslybookworm.” “IpreferhimtothehybridofaprofessionalcricketerandaTurkish-bathman.” “Doesthatmeanme?” “Youcantakeittoyourselfifyoulike,”saidBertha,smiling,“orapplyittoawholeclass....DoyoumindifIgoonreading?” BerthatookupherbookbutEdwardwasthemoreargumentativelyinclinedsincehesawhehadnotsofargotthebetterofthecontest. “Well,whatImustsayis,ifyouwanttoread,whycan’tyoureadEnglishbooks?Surelythereareenough.IthinkEnglishpeopleoughtto