Chapter XXXV

’sdead,whydon’tyoutellme?” “I’mawfullysorry.Wedidallwecould.Hefellatthesamepostandrailfenceastheotherday.Ithinkhemusthavelosthisnerve.Iwasclosebyhim,Isawhimrushatitblindly,andthenpulljustasthehorsewasrising.Theycamedownwithacrash.” “Ishedead?” “Yes.” Berthadidnotfeelfaint.ShewasalittlehorrifiedattheclearnesswithwhichshewasabletounderstandArthurBranderton.Sheseemedtofeelnothingatall.Theyoungmanlookedatherasifheexpectedthatshewouldweeporswoon. “Wouldyoulikemetosendmywifetoyou?” “No,thanks.” Berthaunderstoodquitewellthatherhusbandwasdead,butthenewsseemedtomakenoimpressionuponher.Shehearditunmoved,asthoughitreferredtoastranger.ShefoundherselfwonderingwhatyoungBrandertonthoughtofherunconcern. “Won’tyousitdown,”hesaid,takingherarmandleadinghertoachair.“ShallIgetyousomebrandy?” “I’mallright,thanks.Youneednottroubleaboutme—Whereishe?” “Itoldthemtotakehimupstairs.ShallIsendRamsay’sassistanttoyou?He’shere.” “No,”shesaid,inalowvoice.“Iwantnothing.Havetheytakenhimupalready?” “Yes,butIdon’tthinkyououghttogotohim.Itwillupsetyoudreadfully.” “I’llgotomyroom.DoyoumindifIleaveyou?Ishouldprefertobealone.” BrandertonheldthedooropenandBerthawalkedout,herfaceverypale,butshowingnottheleasttraceofemotion.BrandertonwalkedtoLeanhamVicaragetosendMissGlovertoCourtLeys,andthenhome,wherehetoldhiswifethatthewretchedwidowwasstunnedbytheshock. Berthalockedherselfinherroom.Sheheardthehumofvoicesinthehouse,Dr.Ramsaycametoherdoor,butsherefusedtoopenthenallwasquitestill. Shewasaghastattheblanknessofherheart,thetranquilitywassoinhumanthatshewonderedifshewasgoingmadshefeltnoemotionwhatever.BertharepeatedtoherselfthatEdwardwaskilledhewaslyingquitenearathand,dead—andshefeltnogrief.Sherememberedheranguishyearsbeforewhenshethoughtofhisdeathandnowthatithadtakenplaceshedidnotfaint,shedidnotweep,shewasuntroubled.Berthahadhiddenherselftoconcealhertearsfromstrangeeyes,andthetearscamenot.Afterhersuddensuspicionwasconfirmed,shehadexperiencednoemotionwhatevershewashorrifiedthatthetragicdeathaffectedhersolittle.Shewalkedtothewindowandlookedout,tryingtogatherherthoughts,tryingtomakeherselfcarebutshewasalmostindifferent. “Imustbefrightfullycruel,”shemuttered. Thentheideacameofwhatherfriendswouldsaywhentheysawhercalmself-possession.Shetriedtoweep,buthereyesremaineddry. Therewasaknockatthedoor,andMissGlover’svoice,brokenwithtears,“Bertha,Bertha,wontyouletmein?It’sme—Fanny.” Berthasprangtoherfeet,butdidnotanswer. MissGlovercalledagain,andhervoicewaschokedwithsobs.WhycouldFannyGloverweepforEdward’sdeath,whowasastranger,whenshe,Bertha,remainedinsensible? “Bertha!” “Yes.” “Openthedoorforme.Oh,I’msosorryforyou.Pleaseletmein.” Berthalookedwildlyatthedoor,shedarednotletMissGlovercome. “Icanseenoonenow,”shecried,hoarsely.“Don’taskme.” “IthinkIcouldcomfortyou.” “Iwantt