WITHoldandyounggreatsorrowisfollowedbyasleeplessnight,andwiththeoldgreatjoyisasdisturbingbutyouth,Isuppose,findshappinessmorenaturalanditsrestisnottherebydisturbed.Berthasleptwithoutdreams,andawaking,forthemomentdidnotremembertheoccurrenceofthepreviousdaybutquicklyitcamebacktoherandshestretchedherselfwithasighofgreatcontent.Shelayinbedtocontemplateherwell-being.Shecouldhardlyrealisethatshehadattainedherdearestwish.Godwasverygood,andgaveHiscreatureswhattheyaskedwithoutwords,fromthefulnessofherheart,sheofferedupthanks.Itwasquiteextraordinary,afterthemaddeningexpectation,afterthehopesandfears,thelover’spainswhicharenearlypleasure,atlasttobesatisfied.Shehadnownothingmoretodesire,forherhappinesswascomplete.Ahyes,indeed,Godwasverygood!
BerthathoughtofthetwomonthsshehadspentatBlackstable....Afterthefirstexcitementofgettingintothehouseofherfathersshehadsettleddowntothehumdrumofcountrylifeshespentthedaywanderingaboutthelanesorontheseashorewatchingthedesolateseashereadagreatdeal,andlookedforwardtotheampletimeatherdisposaltosatisfyanimmoderatedesireforknowledge.Shespentlonghoursinthelibrarywhichherfatherhadmade,foritwasonlywithfallingfortunesthatthefamilyofLeyhadtakentoreadingbooksithadonlyapplieditselftoliteraturewhenitwastoopoorforanyotherpursuit.Berthalookedatthetitlesofthemanyvolumes,receivingacertainthrillasshereadoverthegreatnamesofthepast,andimaginedthefuturedelightsthattheywouldgiveher.
OnedayshewascallingattheVicarageandEdwardCraddockhappenedtobethere,latelyreturnedfromashortholiday.Shehadknownhimindaysgoneby—hisfatherhadbeenherfather’stenant,andhestillfarmedthesameland—butforeightyearstheyhadnotseenoneanother,andnowBerthahardlyrecognisedhim.Shethoughthim,however,agood-lookingfellowinhisknickerbockersandthickstockings,andwasnotdispleasedwhenhecameuptospeak,askingifsherememberedhim.HesatdownandacertainpleasantodourofthefarmyardwaswaftedovertoBertha,amingledperfumeofstrongtobacco,ofcattleandhorsesshedidnotunderstandwhyitmadeherheartbeat,butsheinhale