Chapter XXXIV

eweremyhusband,IshouldbegratefultoGod.” “Ihavemuchtobethankfulfor,”murmuredBertha. Sincehelethergoherownwayandshewasonlytoopleasedthatheshouldgohis,therewasreallynopossibilityofdifference,andEdward,wiseman,cametotheconclusionthathehadeffectuallytamedhiswife.Hethought,withgood-humouredscorn,thathehadbeenquiterightwhenhelikenedwomentochickens,animalswhich,tobehappy,requirednomorethanagoodrun,wellfencedin,wheretheycouldscratchabouttotheirheart’scontent. “Feed’emregularly,andlet’emcackleandthereyouare!” Itisalwayssatisfactorywhenexperienceverifiesthehypothesisofyouryouth. Oneyear,rememberingbyaccidenttheirwedding-day,Edwardgavehiswifeabraceletandfeelingbenevolentinconsequence,andhavingdinedwell,hepattedherhandandremarked:— “Timedoesfly,doesn’tit?” “Ihaveheardpeoplesayso,”shereplied,smiling. “Well,who’dhavethoughtwe’dbeenmarriedeightyears!itdoesn’tseemaboveeighteenmonthstome.Andwe’vegotonverywell,haven’twe?” “MydearEdward,youaresuchamodelhusband.Itquiteembarrassesmesometimes.” “Ha,ha!that’sagoodone.ButIcansaythisformyself,Idotrytodomyduty.Ofcourseatfirstwehadourlittletiffs—peoplehavetogetusedtooneanother,andonecan’texpecttohaveallplainsailingjustatonce.Butforyearsnow—well,eversinceyouwenttoItaly,Ithink,we’vebeenashappyasthedayislong,haven’twe?” “Yes,dear.” “WhenIlookbackatthelittlerumpusesweusedtohave,uponmyword,Iwonderwhattheywereallabout.” “SodoI.”AndthisBerthasaidquitetruthfully. “Isupposeitwasjusttheweather.” “Idaresay.” “Ah,well—all’swellthatendswell.” “MydearEdward,you’reaphilosopher.” “Idon’tknowaboutthat—butIthinkI’mapoliticianwhichremindsmethatI’venotreadaboutthenewmen-of-warinto-day’spaper.WhatI’vebeenagitatingaboutforyearsismoreshipsandmoreguns—I’mgladtoseetheGovernmenthavetakenmyadviceatlast.” “It’sverysatisfactory,isn’tit?Itwillencourageyoutopersevere.And,ofcourse,it’snicetoknowthattheCabinetreadyourspeechesintheBlackstableTimes.” “Ithinkitwouldbeagoodsightbetterforthecountryifthoseinpowerpaidmoreattentiontoprovincialopinion.It’smenlikemewhoreallyknowthefeelingofthenation.Youmightgetmethepaper,willyou—it’sinthedining-room.” ItseemedquitenaturaltoEdwardthatBerthashouldwaituponhim:itwasthedutyofawife.ShehandedhimtheStandard,andhebegantoreadheyawnedonceortwice. “Lord,Iamsleepy.” Presentlyhecouldnotkeephiseyesopen,thepaperdroppedfromhishand,andhesankbackinhischairwithlegsoutstretched,hishandsrestingcomfortablyonhisstomach.Hisheadlolledtoonesideandhisjawdropped,andhebegantosnore.Bertharead.Afterawhilehewokewithastart. “Blessme,IdobelieveI’vebeenasleep,”hecried.“Well,I’mdeadtired,IthinkIshallgotobed.Isupposeyouwon’tcomeupyet?” “Notjustyet.” “Well,don’tstayuptoolate,there’sagoodgirl,it’snotgoodforyouandputthelightsoutproperlywhenyoucome.” Sheturnedtohimhercheek,whichhekissed,stiflingayawnthenherolledupstairs. “There’soneadvantageinEdward,”murmuredBertha.“Noonecouldaccusehimofbeinguxorious.” Mariageàlamode. Bertha’ssolitarywalkwastothesea.TheshorebetweenBlackstableandtheMedwaywasextraordinarilywild.Atdistantintervalswerethelong,lowbuildingsofthecoastguardstationsandtheclean,pinkwalls,theneatrai