CRADDOCKwentoutonhisnewhorseandreturnedtriumphantly.
“Hewasasquietasalamb,”hesaid.“Icouldridehimwithmyarmstiedbehindmybackandastojumping—hetakesafive-barredgateinhisstride.”
Berthawasalittleangrywithhimforhavingcausedhersuchterror,angrywithherselfalsofortroubling.
“AnditwasratherluckyIhadhimto-day.OldLordPhilipDirkwasthere,andheaskedBrandertonwhoIwas.‘Youtellhim,’sayshe,‘thatitisn’toftenI’veseenamanrideaswellashedoes.’YoushouldseeBranderton,heisn’thalfgladathavingletmetakethebeastforthirty-fivequid.AndMr.Molsoncameuptomeandsaid,‘Iknewthathorsewouldgetintoyourhandsbeforelong,you’retheonlymaninthispartwhocanrideit—butifitdon’tbreakyourneck,you’llbelucky.’”
Herecountedwithgreatsatisfactionthecomplimentspaidtohim.
“Wehadajollygoodrunto-day....Andhowareyou,dear,feelingcomfy?Oh,Iforgottotellyou—youknowRodgers,thehuntsman,well,hesaidtome,‘That’samightyfinehackyou’vegotthere,sir,buthetakessomeriding.’—‘Iknowhedoes,’Isaid‘butIflattermyselfIknowathingortwomorethanmosthorses.’TheyallthoughtIshouldgetrolledoverbeforethedaywasout,butIjustwentslickateverythingtoshowIwasn’tfrightened.”
ThenhegavedetailsoftheaffairandhehadasgreatapassionforthemeticulousasaGermanhistorian.Hewasoneofthosemenwhotakeinfinitepainsovertrifles,flatteringthemselvesthattheyneverdothingsbyhalves.Berthahadaheadache,andherhusbandboredhershethoughtherselfagreatfooltobesoconcernedabouthissafety.
AsthemonthsworeonMissGloverbecameverysolicitous.Theparson’ssisterlookeduponbirthasamysteriouslyheart-flutteringbusiness,which,however,modestyrequireddecentpeopletoignore.Shetreatedherfriendinanabsurdlyself-consciousmanner,andblushedlikeapeonywhenBerthafranklyreferredtothecomingevent.ThegreatesttormentofMissGlover’slifewasthat,asladyoftheVicarage,shehadtomanagetheMaternityBag,aninstitutiontoprovidetheinfantsoftheneedywitharticlesofraimentand