Chapter XXXV

obandagedhimandsenthimbacktoCourtLeys.Berthawassurprisedtoseehiminadogcart.Edwardbynowhadrecoveredhisgoodtemper,andexplainedtheoccurrence,laughing. “It’snothingtomakeafussabout.OnlyI’mbandagedupsothatIfeellikeamummy,andIdon’tknowhowI’mgoingtogetabath.That’swhatworriesme.” NextdayArthurBrandertoncametoseehim.“You’vefoundyourmatchatlast,Craddock.” “Me?Notmuch!Ishallbeallrightinamonth,andthenoutIgoagain.” “Iwouldn’tridehimagain,ifIwereyou.It’snotworthit.Withthattrickofhisofswinginghisleg,you’llbreakyourneck.” “Bah,”saidEdward,scornfully.“Thehorsehasn’tbeenbuiltthatIcan’tride.” “You’reagoodweightnow,andyourbonesaren’tassuppleaswhenyouweretwenty.Thenextfallyouhavewillbeabadone.” “Rot,man!OnewouldthinkIwaseightyI’veneverfunkedahorseyet,andI’mnotgoingtobeginnow.” Brandertonshruggedhisshoulders,andsaidnothingmoreatthetime,butafterwardsspoketoBerthaprivately. “Youknow,Ithink,ifIwereyou,I’dpersuadeEdwardtogetridofthathorse.Idon’tthinkheoughttorideitagain.It’snotsafe.Howeverwellherides,itwon’tsavehimifthebeasthasgotabadtrick.” Berthahadinthisparticulargreatfaithinherhusband’sskill.Whateverhecouldnotdo,hewascertainlyoneofthefinestridersinthecountybutshespoketohimnotwithstanding. “Pooh,that’sallrot!”hesaid.“Itellyouwhat,onthe11thofnextmonthwegooverprettywellthesamegroundandI’mgoingout,andIswearhe’sgoingoverthatpostandrailinCoulter’sfield.” “You’reveryincautious.” “No,I’mnot.Iknowexactlywhatahorsecando.AndIknowthathorsecanjumpifhewantsto,andbyGeorge,I’llmakehim.Why,ifIfunkeditnowIcouldneverrideagain.Whenachapgetstobenearfortyandhasabadfall,theonlythingistogoforitagainatonce,orhe’lllosehisnerveandnevergetitback.I’veseenthatoverandoveragain.” MissGloverlateron,whenEdward’sbandageswereremovedandhewasfairlywell,beggedBerthatouseherinfluencewithhim. “I’veheardhe’samostdangeroushorse,Bertha.IthinkitwouldbemadnessforEdwardtoridehim.” “I’vebeggedhimtosellit,buthemerelylaughsatme,”saidBertha.“He’sextremelyobstinateandIhaveverylittlepoweroverhim.” “Aren’tyoudreadfullyfrightened?” Berthalaughed.“No,I’mreallynot.Youknowhealwayshasriddendangeroushorsesandhe’snevercometoanyharm.WhenwewerefirstmarriedIusedtogothroughagonies.EverytimehehuntedIusedtothinkhe’dbebroughthomedeadonastretcher.Butheneverwas,andIcalmeddownbydegrees.” “Iwonderyoucould.” “Mydear,noonecankeeponbeingfrightfullyagitatedfortenyears.Peoplewholiveonvolcanoesforgetallaboutitandyou’dsoongetusedtosittingonbarrelsofgunpowderifyouhadnoarmchair.” “Never!”saidMissGlover,withconviction,seeingavividpictureofherselfinsuchaposition. MissGloverwasunaltered.Timepassedoverherheadpowerlesslyshestilllookedanythingbetweenfive-and-twentyandforty,herhairwasnomorewashed-out,herfigureinitsarmourofblackclothwasasjuvenileaseverandnotanewideanorathoughthadenteredhermind.ShewaslikeAlice’squeen,whoranatthetopo