Chapter XXXIV

bycontrastasubtlecharm.Undazzledbytheirsplendour,onemaydiscernmoreeasilytheirindividualitiesandthespiritoftheirtimetheyhavepleasantqualitiesnotalwaysfoundamongtheirbetters,andthereisevenacertainpathosintheirincompletesuccess. InmusicalsoBerthadevelopedatasteforthehalfknown,thehalfarchaic.ItsuitedtheGeorgiandrawing-roomwithitsoldpictures,withitsChippendaleandchintz,toplaythesimplemelodiesofCouperinandRameautherondos,thegavottes,thesonatinasinpowderandpatch,whichdelightedtherococolordsandladiesofapastcentury. Livingawayfromthepresent,inanartificialparadise,Berthawasalmostcompletelyhappy.Shefoundindifferencetothewholeworldatrustyarmour:lifewaseasywithoutloveorhate,hopeordespair,withoutambition,desireofchange,ortumultuouspassion.Sobloomtheflowersunconscious,uncaring,thebudburstsfromtheenclosingleaf,andopenstothesunshine,squandersitsperfumetothebreezeandthereisnonetoseeitsbeauty—andthenitdies. Berthafounditpossibletolookbackuponthepastyearswithsomethinglikeamusement.ItseemednowmelodramatictohavelovedthesimpleEdwardwithsuchviolence,andshewasableeventosmileatthecontrastbetweenhervividexpectationsandtheflatreality.Geraldwasapleasantlysentimentalmemoryshedidnotwishtoseehimagain,butthoughtofhimoften,idealisinghimtillhebecameunsubstantialasacharacterinafavouritebook.HerwinterinItalyalsoformedthemotiveofsomeofhermostdelightfulthoughts,andshedeterminednevertospoiltheimpressionbyanothervisit.Shehadadvancedagooddealintheartoflifewhensherealisedthatpleasurecamebysurprise,thathappinesswasaspiritwhichdescendedunawares,andseldomwhenitwassought. Edwardhadfallenintoalifeofsuchactivitythathistimewasentirelytakenup.HehadaddedlargelytotheLeyestate,and,withthesecond-rateman’sbeliefthatyoumustdoathingyourselftohaveitwelldone,keptthefarmsunderhisimmediatesupervision.Hewasanimportantmemberofalltheruralbodies:hewasontheSchoolBoard,ontheBoardofGuardians,ontheCountyCouncilhewaschairmanoftheUrbanDistrictCouncil,presidentoftheLeanhamcricketclub,presidentoftheFaversleyfootballclubpatronoftheBlackstableregattahewasonthecommitteeoftheTercanburydog-show,andanenthusiasticsupporteroftheMid-KentAgriculturalExhibition.HewasapillaroftheBlackstableConservativeAssociation,amagistrate,andachurchwarden.FinallyhewasanardentFreemason,andflewoverKenttoattendthemeetingsofthehalf-dozenlodgesofwhichhewasamember.Buttheamountofworkdidnotdisturbhim. “Lordblessyou,”hesaid,“Ilovework.Youcan’tgivemetoomuch.Ifthere’sanythingtobedone,cometomeandI’lldoit,andsaythankyouforgivingmethechance.” Edwardhadalwaysbeeneven-tempered,butnowhisgood-naturewasquiteangelic.Itbecameabyword.Hissuccesswasaccordingtohisdeserts,andtohavehimconcernedinamatterwasanexcellentinsurance.Hewasalwaysjovialandgay,contentedwithhimselfandwiththeworldatlargehewasamodelsquire,landlord,farmer,conservative,man,Englishman.Hedideverythingthoroughly,andhisenergywassuchthathemadeapointofputtingintoeveryconcerntwiceasmuchworkasitreallyneeded.Hewasbusyfrommorningtillnight(asarulequiteunnecessarily),andhegloriedinit. “ItshowsI’manexcellentwoman,”saidBerthatoMissGlover,“tosupporthisvirtueswithequanimity.” “Mydear,Ithinkyououghttobeveryproudandhappy.He’sanexampletothewholecounty.Ifh