EXACTLYonemonthafterhertwenty-firstbirthday,asBerthahadannounced,themarriagetookplaceandtheyoungcouplestartedofftospendtheirhoneymooninLondon.Bertha,knowingshewouldnotread,tookwithhernotwithstandingabook,towittheMeditationsofMarcusAureliusandEdward,thinkingthatrailwayjourneyswerealwaystedious,boughtfortheoccasionTheMysteryoftheSix-fingeredWoman,thetitleofwhichattractedhim.Hewasdeterminednottobebored,for,notcontentwithhisnovel,hepurchasedatthestationaSportingTimes.
“Oh,”saidBertha,whenthetrainhadstarted,heavingagreatsighofrelief,“I’msogladtobealonewithyouatlast.Nowweshan’thaveanybodytoworryus,andnoonecanseparateus,andweshallbetogetherfortherestofourlives.”
Craddockputdownthenewspaper,which,fromforceofhabit,hehadopenedaftersettlinghimselfinhisseat.
“I’mgladtohavetheceremonyovertoo.”
“D’youknow,”shesaid,“Iwasterrifiedonthewaytochurchitoccurredtomethatyoumightnotbethere—thatyoumighthavechangedyourmindandfled.”
Helaughed.“WhyonearthshouldIchangemymind?That’sathingIneverdo.”
“Oh,Ican’tsitsolemnlyoppositeyouasifwe’dbeenmarriedacentury.Makeroomforme,boy.”
Shecameovertohissideandnestledclosetohim.
“Tellmeyouloveme,”shewhispered.
“Iloveyouverymuch.”
Hebentdownandkissedhiswife,thenputtinghisarmaroundherwaistdrewhernearertohim.Hewasalittlenervous,hewouldnotreallyhavebeenverysorryifsomeofficiouspersonhaddisregardedtheengagedonthecarriageandentered.HefeltscarcelyathomewithBertha,andwasstillbewilderedbyhischangeoffortunetherewas,indeed,avastdifferencebetweenCourtLeysandBewlie’sFarm.
“I’msohappy,”saidBertha.“SometimesI’mafraid....D’youthinkitcanlast,d’youthinkweshallalwaysbeashappy?I’vegoteverythingIwantintheworld,andI’mabsolutelyandcompletelycontent.”Shewassilentforaminute,caressinghishands.“Youwillalwaysloveme,Eddie,won’tyou—evenwhenI’moldandhorrible?”
“I’mnotthesortofchaptoalter.”
“Oh,youdo