BUTtheapathywithwhichforweeksBerthahadlookeduponallterrestrialconcernswaspassingawaybeforeherincreasingstrength.Ithadbeendueonlytoanutterphysicalweakness,ofthesameorderasthatmercifulindifferencetoallearthlysympathieswhichgiveseasetothefinalpassageintotheUnknown.Theprospectofdeathwouldbeunendurableifonedidnotknowthattheenfeebledbodybroughtalikeenfeeblementofspirit,dissolvingthetiesofthisworld:whenthetravellermustleavethehostelwiththedoublegate,thewinehelovedhaslostitssavourandthebreadturnedbitterinhismouth.Likeuselessgauds,Berthahadletfalltheinterestsoflifehersoullaya-dying.Hersoulwasalightedcandleinalantern,flickeringinthewindsothatitsflamewashardlyseenandthelanternwasuselessbutpresentlythewindofdeathwasstilled,andthelightshoneoutandfilledthedarkness.
Withincreasingstrengththeoldpassionreturnedlovecamebacklikeaconqueror,andBerthaknewthatshehadnotdonewithlife.InherlonelinesssheyearnedforEdward’saffectionfornowhewasallshehad,andshestretchedoutherarmstohimwithagreatdesire.Sheblamedherselfbitterlyforhercoldness,sheweptattheideaofwhathemusthavesuffered.Andshewasashamedthatthelovewhichshehadthoughteternal,shouldhavebeenforawhiledestroyed.Butachangehadcomeoverher.Shedidnotnowloveherhusbandwiththeoldblindpassion,butwithanewfeelingaddedtoitfortohimwastransferredthetendernesswhichshehadlavishedonherdeadchild,andallthemother’sspiritwhichmustnow,toherlife’send,gounsatisfied.Herheartwaslikeahousewithemptychambers,andthefiresofloveragedthroughthemtriumphantly.
BerthathoughtalittlepainfullyofMissGlover,butdismissedherwithashrugoftheshoulders.ThegoodcreaturehadkeptherresolveneveragaintocomenearCourtLeys,andfordaysnothinghadbeenheardofher.
“Whatdoesitmatter?”criedBertha.“SolongasEddielovesme,therestoftheworldisnothing.”
Butherroomgainednowtheaspectofaprison,sothatshefeltitimpossiblemuchlongertoendureitsdreadfulmonotony.Herbedwasabedoftorture,