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Chapter XX

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    doubtaboutthefactthattheworldhelivedin,theparticularspotandperiod,weretheverybestpossibleandthatnoexistencecouldbemoresatisfactorythanhappilytocultivateone’sgarden.Notbeinganalytic,heforboretothinkaboutthematterandifhehad,wouldnothaveborrowedthephrasesofM.deVoltaire,whomhehadneverheardof,andwouldhaveutterlyabhorredasaFrenchman,aphilosopher,andawit.ButthefactthatEdwardate,drank,slept,andateagain,asregularlyastheoxenonhisfarm,sufficientlyprovedthatheenjoyedahappinessequaltotheirs—andwhatmorecanadecentmanwant? Edwardhadmoreoverthatmagnificentfacultyofalwaysdoingrightandofknowingit,whichissaidtobethemostinestimablegiftofthetrueChristianbutifhisinfallibilitypleasedhimselfandedifiedhisneighbours,itdidnotfailtocausehiswifetheutmostannoyance.Shewouldclenchherhandsandfromhereyesshootarrowsoffire,whenhestoodinfrontofher,smilinglyconsciousofthejusticeofhisownstandpointandtheunreasonofhers.AndtheworstofitwasthatinhersanermomentsBerthahadtoconfessthatEdward’sviewwasinvariablyrightandshecompletelyinthewrong.Herinjusticeappalledher,andshetookuponherownshoulderstheblameofalltheirunhappiness.Always,afteraquarrelfromwhichEdwardhadcomewithhisusualtriumph,Bertha’sragewouldbesucceededbyapassionofremorseandshecouldnotfindsufficientreproacheswithwhichtocastigateherself.Sheaskedfranticallyhowherhusbandcouldbeexpectedtoloveherandinatransportofagonyandfearwouldtakethefirstopportunityofthrowingherarmsaroundhisneckandmakingthemostabjectapology.Then,havingeatenthedustbeforehim,havingweptandhumiliatedherself,shewouldbeforaweekabsurdlyhappy,undertheimpressionthathenceforwardnothingshortofanearthquakecoulddisturbtheirblissfulequilibrium.Edwardwasagainthegoldenidol,clothedinthediaphanousgarmentsoftruelove,hiswordwaslawandhisdeedswereperfectBerthawasanhumbleworshipper,offeringincenseanddevoutlygratefultothedeitythatforboretocrushher.Itrequiredverylittleforhertoforgettheslightsandthecoldnessofherhusband’saffection:herlovewaslikethetidecove
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