Chapter XXVI

Ley-CraddockorCraddock-Ley,ordroppingtheCraddockaltogether?” “Well,totellyouthetruth,Ihadn’tgonesofarasthatyet.” Berthagavealittlescornfullaugh.“Ithinktheideaisperfectlyridiculous.” “Idon’tseethatIthinkitwouldberatheranimprovement.” “Really,Edward,ifIwasnotashamedtotakeyourname,Idon’tthinkthatyouneedbeashamedtokeepit.” “Isay,Ithinkyoumightbereasonable—you’realwaysstandinginmyway.” “Ihavenowishtodothat.Ifyouthinkmynamewilladdtoyourimportance,useitbyallmeans....YoumaycallyourselfTompkinsforallIcare.” “Whataboutyou?” “OhI—IshallcontinuetocallmyselfCraddock.” “Idothinkit’srough.Youneverdoanythingtohelpme.” “Iamsorryyou’redissatisfied.Butyouforgetthatyouhaveimpressedoneidealonmeforyears:youhavealwaysgivenmetounderstandthatyourpatternfemaleanimalwasthecommonordomesticcow.” EdwarddidnotunderstandwhatBerthameant,anditoccurredtohimdimlythatitwasperhapsnotaltogetherproper. “Youknow,Edward,Ialwaysregretthatyoudidn’tmarryFannyGlover.Youwouldhavesuitedoneanotheradmirably.AndIthinkshewouldhaveworshippedyouasyoudesiretobeworshipped.I’msureshewouldnothaveobjectedtoyourcallingyourselfGlover.” “Ishouldn’thavewantedtotakehername.That’snobetterthanCraddock.TheonlythinginLeyisthatit’sanoldcountyname,andhasbelongedtoyourpeople.” “ThatiswhyIdon’tchoosethatyoushoulduseit.”