theirmotherswithflannelpetticoats.Shecouldnever,withoutmuchconfusion,askthenecessaryinformationofthebeneficiariesinhercharityfeelingthatthewholethingoughtnottobediscussedatall,shekepthereyesaverted,andactedgenerallysoastocausegreatindignation.
“Well,”saidonegoodlady,“I’drathernot’aveherbagatallthanbetreatedlikethat.Why,shetreatsyouasif—well,asifyouwasn’tmarried.”
“Yes,”saidanother,“that’sjustwhatIcomplainof—IpromiseyouI’ad’alfamindtotakemymarriagelinesoutofmypocketan’show’er.Itain’tnothin’tobeashamedabout—nicethingitwouldbeafter’avin’sixteen,ifIwasbashful.”
Butofcoursethemoreunpleasantadutywas,themorezealouslydidMissGloverperformitshefeltitrighttovisitBerthawithfrequency,andmanfullyboretheyoungwife’spersistenceinreferringtoanunpleasantsubject.Shecarriedherheroismtothepitchofknittingsocksfortheforthcomingbaby,althoughtodosomadeherheartpalpitateuncomfortablyandwhenshewassurprisedattheworkbyherbrother,hercheeksburnedliketwofires.
“Now,Berthadear,”shesaidoneday,pullingherselftogetherandstraighteningherbackasshealwaysdidwhenshewasmortifyingtheflesh.“Now,Berthadear,Iwanttotalktoyouseriously.”
Berthasmiled.“Ohdon’t,Fannyyouknowhowuncomfortableitmakesyou.”
“Imust,”answeredthegoodcreature,gravely.“Iknowyou’llthinkmeridiculous,butit’smyduty.”
“Ishan’tthinkanythingofthekind,”saidBertha,touchedwithherfriend’shumility.
“Well,youtalkagreatdealof—ofwhat’sgoingtohappen”—MissGloverblushed—“butI’mnotsureifyouarereallypreparedforit.”
“Oh,isthatall?”criedBertha.“Thenursewillbehereinafortnight,andDr.Ramsaysaysshe’samostreliablewoman.”
“Iwasn’tthinkingofearthlypreparations,”saidMissGlover.“Iwasthinkingoftheother.Areyouquitesureyou’reapproachingthe—thething,intherightspirit?”
“Whatdoyouwantmetodo?”
“Itisn’twhatIwantyoutodo.It’swhatyououghttodo.I’mnobody.Buthaveyouthoughtatallofthespiritualsideofit?”