nopportunitytospeak.Bertha,almostforthefirsttime,wasseriouslyangrywithherhusbandanditfrightenedher—suddenlyEdwardseemedanenemy,andshewishedtoinflictsomehurtuponhim.Shedidnotunderstandherself—whatwasgoingtohappennext?Whywouldn’thesaysomethingsothatshemightpourforthherwoesandthenbereconciled!Thedayworeonandshepreservedasullensilenceherheartwasbeginningtoacheterribly—thenightcame,andstillEdwardmadenosignshelookedaboutforachanceofbeginningthequarrel,butnothingoffered.Berthapretendedtogotosleepandshedidnotgivehimthekiss,thenever-endingkissofloverswhichtheyalwaysexchanged.Surelyhewouldnoticeit,surelyhewouldaskwhattroubledher,andthenshecouldatlastbringhimtohisknees.Buthesaidnothinghewasdog-tiredafterahardday’swork,andwithoutawordwenttosleep—infiveminutesBerthaheardhisheavy,regularbreathing.
Thenshebrokedownshecouldneversleepwithoutsayinggood-nighttohim,withoutthekissofhislips.
“He’sstrongerthanI,”shesaid,“becausehedoesn’tloveme.”
Berthaweptsilentlyshecouldnotbeartobeangrywithherhusband.Shewouldsubmittoanythingratherthanpassthenightinwrath,andthenextdayasunhappilyasthis.Shewasentirelyhumbled.Atlast,unableanylongertobeartheagony,shewokehim.
“Eddie,you’venotsaidgood-nighttome.”
“ByJove,Iforgotallaboutit,”heanswered,sleepily.Berthastifledasob.
“Hulloa,what’sthematter?”hesaid.“You’renotcryingjustbecauseIforgottokissyou—Iwasawfullyfagged,youknow.”
Hereallyhadnoticednothingwhateverwhileshewaspassingthroughutterdistresshehadbeenashappilyself-satisfiedasusual.ButthemomentaryrecurrenceofBertha’sangerwasquicklystilled.Shecouldnotaffordnowtobeproud.
“You’renotangrywithme?”shesaid.“Ican’tsleepunlessyoukissme.”
“Sillygirl!”hewhispered.
“Youdoloveme,don’tyou?”
“Yes.”
Hekissedherasshelovedtobekissed,andinthedelightofitherangerwasqui