inquireafterabullockthatwasindisposeditpleasedhertothinkofthestrongmanamonghisbeasts,andthethoughtgaveatautnesstoherownmuscles.Shedeterminedtolearnridingandtennisandgolf,sothatshemightaccompanyhiminhisamusementsherownattainmentsseemedunnecessaryandevenhumiliating.LookingatEdwardCraddocksherealisedthatmanwasindeedthelordofcreation.Shesawhimstridingoverhisfieldswithlongsteps,orderinghislabourershereandthere,abletodirecttheiroperations,fearless,brave,andfree.Itwasastonishinghowmanyexcellenttraitsshederivedfromexaminationofhisprofile.
Then,talkingofthemenheemployed,shecouldimaginenofelicitygreaterthantohavesuchamaster.
“Ishouldliketobeamilkmaidonyourfarm,”shesaid.
“Idon’tkeepmilkmaids,”hereplied.“Ihaveamilkmanit’smoreuseful.”
“Youdearoldthing,”shecried.“Howmatteroffactyouare!”
Shecaughtholdofhishandsandlookedatthem.
“I’mratherfrightenedofyou,sometimes,”shesaid,laughing.“You’resostrong.Ifeelsoutterlyweakandhelplessbesideyou.”
“AreyouafraidIshallbeatyou?”
Shelookedupathimandthendownatthestronghands.
“Idon’tthinkIshouldmindifyoudid.IthinkIshouldonlyloveyoumore.”
Heburstoutlaughingandkissedher.
“I’mnotjoking,”shesaid.“Iunderstandnowthosewomenwholovebeastsofmen.Theysaythatsomewiveswillstandanythingfromtheirhusbandstheylovethemallthemorebecausethey’rebrutal.IthinkI’mlikethatbutI’veneverseenyouinapassion,Eddie.Whatareyoulikewhenyou’reangry?”
“Ineveramangry.”
“MissGlovertoldmethatyouhadthebesttemperintheworld.I’mterrifiedatalltheseperfections.”
“Don’texpecttoomuchfromme,Bertha.I’mnotamodelman,youknow.”
Ofcourseshekissedhimwhenhemaderemarksofsuchabsurdmodesty.
“I’mverypleased,”sheanswered“Idon’twantperfection.Ofcourseyou’vegotfaults,thoughIcan’tseethemyet.ButwhenIdo,IknowIshallo