Chapter XXVI

reewithmethatitishighproofofitsmeritthatIwasabletoreaditthesixthtimewithasunflaggingattentionasthefirst.Theperoration,indeed,Iamconvincedthatnoacquaintancecouldstale.Itissotruethat“everyEnglishmanhasamother”(supposing,ofcourse,thatanuntimelydeathhasnotrobbedhimofher).Itiscurioushowonedoesnotrealisethetruthofsomethingstilltheyarepointedoutwhenone’sonlysurpriseisatnothavingseenthembefore.IhopeitwillnotoffendyouifIsuggestthatBertha’shandiworkseemstomenotinvisibleinsomeofthesentiments(especiallyinthatpassageabouttheUnionJack).Didyoureallywritethewholespeechyourself?Come,now,confessthatBerthahelpedyou.—Yoursverysincerely, MARYLEY Edwardreadtheletterandtossedit,laughing,toBertha.“Whatcheekhersuggestingthatyouhelpedme!Ilikethat.” “I’llwriteatonceandtellherthatitwasallyourown.” Berthastillcouldhardlybelievegenuinetheadmirationwhichherhusbandexcited.Knowinghisextremeincapacity,shewasastoundedthattherestoftheworldshouldthinkhimanuncommonlycleverfellow.Toherhispretensionsweremerelyridiculousshemarvelledthatheshouldventuretodiscuss,withdogmaticglibness,subjectsofwhichheknewnothingbutshemarvelledstillmorethatpeopleshouldbeimpressedthereby:hehadanastonishingfacultyofconcealinghisignorance. Atlastthepolling-dayarrived,andBerthawaitedanxiouslyatCourtLeysfortheresult.Edwardeventuallyappeared,radiant. “