Chapter XXXIII

oanswerWhytothecrudeThouShaltNot,arelikesailorsonawintryseawithoutacompass.Reasonandinstinctsayonething,andconventionsaysanother.Buttheworstofitisthatone’sconsciencehasbeenrearedontheDecalogue,andfosteredonhell-fire—andone’sconsciencehasthelastword.Idaresayit’scowardly,butit’scertainlydiscreet,totakeitintoconsideration.It’slikelobstersaladit’snotactuallyimmoraltoeatit,butitwillverylikelygiveyouindigestion....Onehastobeverysureofoneselftogoagainsttheordinaryviewofthingsandifoneisn’t,perhapsit’sbetternottorunanyrisks,butjusttowalkalongthesamesecureoldroadasthecommonherd.It’snotexhilarating,it’snotbrave,andit’sratherdullbutit’seminentlysafe.” Berthasighed,butdidnotanswer. “You’dbettertellJanetopackyourboxes,”saidMissLey.“ShallIwiretoEdward?” WhenBerthahadatlaststarted,MissLeybegantothink. “IwonderifI’vedoneright,”shemurmured,uncertainasever. Shewassittingonthepiano-stool,andasshemeditated,herfingerspassedidlyoverthekeys.Presentlyhereardetectedthebeginningofawell-knownmelody,andalmostunconsciouslyshebegantoplaytheairofRigoletto. LaDonnaèmobile Qualpiumaalvento. MissLeysmiled.“Thefactisthatfewwomencanbehappywithonlyonehusband.Ibelievethattheonlysolutionofthemarriagequestionislegalisedpolyandry.” InthetrainatVictoria,Bertharememberedwithreliefthatthecattle-marketwasheldatTercanburythatday,andEdwardwouldnotcomehometilltheevening.ShewouldhaveopportunitytosettleherselfinCourtLeyswithoutfussorbother.Fullofherpainfulthoughts,thejourneypassedquickly,andBerthawassurprisedtofindherselfatBlackstable.Shegotout,wonderingwhetherEdwardwouldhavesentatraptomeether—buttoherextremesurpriseEdwardhimselfwasontheplatform,andrunningup,helpedheroutofthecarriage. “Hereyouareatlast!”hecried. “Ididn’texpectyou,”saidBertha.“Ithoughtyou’dbeatTercanbury.” “IgotyourwirefortunatelyjustasIwasstarting,soofcourseIdidn’tgo.” “I’msorryIpreventedyou.” “Why?I’mjollyglad.Youdidn’tthinkIwasgoingtothecattle-marketwhenmymissuswascominghome?” Shelookedathimwithastonishmenthishonest,redfaceglowedwiththesatisfactionhefeltatseeingher. “ByJove,thisisripping,”hesaid,astheydroveaway.“I’mtiredofbeingagrass-widower,Icantellyou.” TheycametoCorstalHillandhewalkedthehorse. “Justlookbehindyou,”hesaid,inanundertone.“Noticeanything?” “What?” “LookatParke’shat.”Parkewasthefootman. Bertha,lookingagain,observedacockade. “Whatd’youthinkofthat,eh?”Edwardwasalmostexplodingwithlaughter.“IwaselectedchairmanoftheUrbanDistrictCouncilyesterdaythatmeansI’mex-officioJ.P.So,assoonasIheardyouwerecoming,Iboltedoffandgotacockade.” WhentheyreachedCourtLeys,hehelpedBerthaoutofthetrapquitetenderly.Shewastakenabacktofindtheteaready,flowersinthedrawing-room,andeverythingpossibledonetomakehercomfortable. “Areyoutired?”askedEdward.“LiedownonthesofaandI’llgiveyouyourtea.” Hewaitedonherandpressedhertoeat,andwas,infact,unceasinginhisattentions. “ByJove,Iamgladtoseeyouhereagain.” Hispleasurewasobvious,andBerthawassomewhattouched. “Areyoutootiredtocomeforalittlewalkinthegarden?IwanttoshowwhatI’vedoneforyou,andjustnowtheplaceislookingitsbest.” Heputashawlroundhershoulders,sothattheeveningairmightnothurther,andinsistedongivingherhisarm. “Now,lookhereI’veplantedrose-treesoutsidethedr