andshefanciedthatsolongassheremainedstretcheduponit,healthwouldnotreturn.ShebeggedDr.Ramsaytoallowhertogetup,butwasalwaysmetwiththesamerefusal,backedupbyherhusband’scommonsense.Allsheobtainedwasthedismissalofthenursetowhomshehadtakenasuddenandviolentdislike.Fromnoreasonablecause,Berthafoundthemerepresenceofthepoorwomanunendurable,andherofficiousloquacityirritatedherbeyondmeasure.Ifshemustremaininbed,Berthapreferredabsolutesolitudetheturnofhermindwasbecomingalmostmisanthropic.
Thehourspassedendlessly.FromherpillowBerthacouldseeonlythesky,nowametallicbluewithdazzlingcloudsswayingheavilyacross,nowgray,darkeningtheroom.Thefurnitureandthewall-paperforcedthemselvesdistastefullyonhermind.Everydetailwasimpressedonherconsciousnessasindeliblyasthepotter’smarkontheclay.
Finallyshemadeuphermindtogetup,comewhatmight.ItwastheSundayafterthequarrelwithMissGloverEdwardwouldbeindoorsanddoubtlessintendedtospendmostoftheafternooninherroom,butsheknewhedislikedsittingtherethecloseness,theodoursofmedicine,madehisheadache.Herappearanceinthedrawing-roomwouldbeadelightfulsurprise.Shewouldnottellhimthatshewasgettingup,butgodownstairsandtakehimunawares.Shegotoutofbed,butassheputherfeettotheground,hadtoclingtoachairherlegsweresoweakthattheyhardlysupportedher,andherheadreeled.Butinalittlewhileshegatheredstrengthandslowlydressedherself,slowlyandverydifficultlyherweaknesswasalmostpain.Shehadtositdown,andherhairwassowearisometodothatshewasafraidshemustgiveuptheattemptandreturntobed.ButthethoughtofEdward’ssurpriseupheldher—hehadsaidhowpleasedhewouldbetohaveherdownstairswithhim.Atlastshewasreadyandwenttothedoor,supportingherselfoneveryobjectathand.Butwhatjoyitwastobeupagain,tofeelherselfoncemoreamongtheliving—awayfromthegraveofherbed!
Shecametothetopofthestairsandwentdown,leaningheavilyonthebanistersshewentonestepatatime,aslittlechildrendo,andlaughedatherself.Butthelaughchanged