Chapter XXXVI

s.Foralongtimetheirtouchhadalittledisgustedher.ThiswastheimageBerthawishedtoimpressuponhermind.Itwasastrangerlyingdeadbeforeher,amantowhomshewasindifferent. Atlastturningaway,shewentoutandreturnedtoherownroom. Threedayslaterwasthefuneral.Allthemorningwreathsandcrossesofbeautifulflowershadpouredin,andnowtherewasacrowdinthedriveinfrontofCourtLeys.TheBlackstableFreemasons(LodgeNo.31,899),ofwhichEdwardathisdeathwasWorshipfulMaster,hadsignifiedtheirintentionofattending,andlinedtheroad,twoandtwo,inwhiteglovesandaprons.TherewerelikewiserepresentativesoftheTercanburyLodge(4169),oftheProvincialGrandLodge,theMarkMasons,andtheKnightsTemplars.TheBlackstableUnionistAssociationsentonehundredConservatives,whowalkedtwoandtwoaftertheFreemasons.TherewereafewwordsastoprecedencebetweenBrotherG.W.Hancock(P.W.M.),wholedtheBlackstableLodge(31,899),andMr.AtthillBacot,whomarchedattheheadofthepoliticiansbutitwasfinallysettledinfavouroftheLodge,astheolderestablishedbody.ThencamethemembersoftheLocalDistrictCouncil,ofwhichEdwardhadbeenchairman,andafterthesethecarriagesofthegentry.Mrs.MaystonRylesentalandauandpair,butMrs.Branderton,theMolsons,andtherest,onlysentbroughams.Itneededaprodigiousamountofgeneralshiptomarshaltheseforces,andArthurBrandertonlosthistemperbecausetheConservativeswouldstartbeforetheywerewantedto. “Ah,”saidBrotherA.W.Rogers(thelandlordofthePigandWhistle),“theywantCraddockherenow.HewasthebestorganiserI’veeverseenhe’dhavegottheprocessionintoworkingorderandthefuneraloverbythistime.” Thelastcarriagedisappeared,andBertha,aloneatlength,laydownbythewindowonthesofa.Shewasdevoutlygratefultotheoldconventionwhichpreventedthewidow’sattendanceatthefuneral. Shelookedwithtiredand