gwithopenmouththemostunreliableinformation.Feelingherselfmorestupid,Berthawasconsciousofacloserconnectionwithherfellow-men.Edwarddidnotlikeallthingsinanequaldegreepicturesboredhim(theyweretheonlythingsthatreallydid),andtheirvisittotheNationalGallerywasnotasuccess.NeitherdidtheBritishMuseummeetwithhisapprovalforonething,hehadgreatdifficultyindirectingBertha’sattentionsothathereyesshouldnotwandertovariousnakedstatueswhichareexhibitedtherewithnoregardatallforthesusceptibilitiesofmodestpersons.Onceshestoppedinfrontofagroupthatsomeshieldsandswordsquiteinadequatelyclothed,andremarkedontheirbeauty.Edwardlookedaboutuneasilytoseewhetheranyonenoticedthem,andagreeingbrieflythattheywerefinefigures,movedrapidlyawaytosomelessquestionableobject.
“Ican’tstandallthisrot,”hesaid,whentheystoodoppositethethreegoddessesoftheParthenon“Iwouldn’tgivetwopencetocometothisplaceagain.”
Berthafeltsomewhatashamedthatshehadasneakingadmirationforthestatuesinquestion.
“Nowtellme,”hesaid,“whereisthebeautyofthosecreatureswithoutanyheads?”
Berthacouldnottellhim,andhewastriumphant.Hewasadear,goodboyandshelovedhimwithallherheart!
TheNaturalHistoryMuseum,ontheotherhand,arousedCraddocktogreatenthusiasm.Herehewasquiteathomenoimproprietiesweretherefromwhichhemustkeephiswife,andanimalswerethesortofthingsthatanymancouldunderstand.ButtheybroughtbacktohimstronglythecountryofEastKentandthelifewhichitpleasedhimmosttolead.Londonwasallverywell,buthedidnotfeelathome,anditwasbeginningtopalluponhim.BerthaalsobegantalkingofhomeandofCourtLeysshehadalwayslivedmoreinthefuturethaninthepresent,andeveninthis,thetimeofhergreatesthappiness,lookedforwardtothedaystocomeatLeanham,whencompletefelicitywouldindeedbehers.
Shewascontentedenoughnow—itwasonlytheeighthdayofhermarriedlife,butsheardentlywishedtosettledownandsatisfyallheranticipations.Theytalkedofthealterationstheymustmakeinthehouse,Craddockhadalre