t—Berthaburiedherfaceinthecushionssothatnothingmightdisturbherillusion,shehadceasedtryingtodriveitaway.Ah,shelovedhimpassionately,shehadalwayslovedhimandcouldnotlivewithouthim.Sheknewthatshewouldshortlydie—andshehadbeenafraidofdeath.Ah,nowitwaswelcome!Shekissedhishands—hecouldnotpreventhernow—andwithalittleshudderopenedhiseyestheywereglassy,expressionless,immobile.Clingingtohim,shesobbedinloveandanguish.Shewouldletnonetouchhimbutherselfitwasarelieftoperformthelastofficesforhimwhohadbeenherwholelife.Shedidnotknowthatherlovewassogreat.
Sheundressedthebodyandwasheditshewashedthelimbsonebyoneandspongedthem,thenverygentlydriedthemwithatowel.Thetouchofthecoldfleshmadehershuddervoluptuously—shethoughtofhimtakingherinhisstrongarms,kissingheronthemouth.Shewrappedhiminthewhiteshroudandsurroundedhimwithflowers.Theyplacedhiminthecoffin,andherheartstoodstill:shecouldnotleavehim.Shepassedwithhimalldayandallnight,lookingeveratthequiet,restfulface.Dr.RamsaycameandMissGlovercame,urginghertogoaway,butsherefused.Whatwasthecareofherownhealthnow,shehadonlywantedtoliveforhim?
Thecoffinwasclosed,andshesawthegesturesoftheundertakers—shehadseenherhusband’sfaceforthelasttime,herbeloved:herheartwaslikeastone,andshebeatherbreastinpain.
Hurriedlynowthepicturesthrongeduponher—thedrivetothechurchyard,theservice,thecoffinstrewnwithflowers,andfinallythegrave-side.Theytriedtokeepherathome.Whatcaredsheforthesilly,theabominableconvention,whichsoughttopreventherfromgoingtothefuneral?Wasitnotherhusband,theonlylightofherlife,whomtheywereburying?Theycouldnotrealisethehorrorofit,theutterdespair.Anddistinctly,bythedimnessofthewinterdayinherdrawing-roomatCourtLeys,Berthasawtheloweringofthecoffin,heardtherattleofearththrownuponit.
Whatwouldherlifebeafterwards?Shewouldtrytolive,shewouldsurroundherselfwithEdward’sthings,sothathismemorymightbealwayswithhe