nlyloveyoubetter.Whenawomanlovesanuglyman,theysaytheuglinessonlymakeshimmoreattractiveandIshallloveyourfaultsasIloveeverythingthatisyours.”
Theysatforawhilewithoutspeaking,andthesilencewasevenmoreentrancingthanthespeech.Berthawishedshecouldremainthusforever,restinginhisarms.SheforgotthatsoonCraddockwoulddevelopahealthyappetiteanddemolishasubstantialdinner.
“Letmelookatyourhands,”shesaid.
Shelovedthemtoo.Theywerelargeandroughlymade,hardwithworkandexposure,tentimespleasanter,shethought,thanthesofthandsofthetownsman.Shefeltthemfirmandintenselymasculine.TheyremindedherofahandinanItalianMuseum,sculpturedinporphyry,butforsomereasonleftunfinishedandthelackofdetailgavethesameimpressionofmassivestrength.Hishands,too,mighthavebeenthoseofademi-godorofanhero.Shestretchedoutthelong,strongfingers.Craddock,knowingherverylittle,lookedwithwonderandamusement.Shecaughthisglance,andwithasmilebentdowntokisstheupturnedpalms.Shewantedtoabaseherselfbeforethestrongman,tobelowandhumblebeforehim.Shewouldhavebeenhishandmaiden,andnothingcouldhavesatisfiedhersomuchastoperformforhimthemostmenialservices.Sheknewnothowtoshowtheimmensityofherpassion.
ItpleasedBerthatowalkintoBlackstablewithherloverandtocatchthepeople’sstares,knowinghowmuchthemarriageinterestedthem.WhatdidshecareiftheyweresurprisedatherchoosingEdwardCraddock,whomtheyhadknownallhislife?Shewasproudofhim,proudtobehiswife.
Oneday,whenitwasverywarmforthetimeofyear,shewasrestingonastile,whileCraddockstoodbyherside.Theydidnotspeak,butlookedatoneanotherinecstatichappiness.
“Look,”saidCraddock,suddenly.“There’sArthurBranderton.”
HeglancedatBertha,thenfromsidetosideuneasily,asifhewishedtoavoidameeting.
“He’sbeenaway,hasn’the?”askedBertha.“Iwantedtomeethim.”Shewasquit