TIMEpassedslowly,slowly.Berthawrappedherprideaboutherlikeacloak,butsometimesitseemedtooheavytobearandshenearlyfainted.Therestraintwhichsheimposeduponherselfwasoftenintolerableangerandhatredseethedwithinher,butsheforcedherselftopreservethesmilingfacewhichpeoplehadalwaysseen.Shesufferedintenselyfromherlonelinessofspirit,shehadnotasoultowhomshecouldtellherunhappiness.Itisterribletohavenomeansofexpressingoneself,tokeepimprisonedalwaystheanguishthatgnawsatone’sheart-strings.Itiswellenoughforthewriter,hecanfindsolaceinhiswords,hecantellhissecretandyetnotbetrayit:butthewomanhasonlysilence.
BerthaloathedEdwardnowwithsuchangry,physicalrepulsionthatshecouldnotbearhistouchandeveryonesheknew,washisadmiringfriend.HowcouldshetellFannyGloverthatEdwardwasafoolwhoboredhertodeath,whenFannyGloverthoughthimthebestandmostvirtuousofmankind?ShewasannoyedthatintheuniversalestimationEdwardshouldhaveeclipsedhersoentirely:oncehisonlyimportancelayinthefactthathewasherhusband,butnowthepositionswerereversed.Shefounditveryirksomethustoshinewithreflectedlight,andatthesametimedespisedherselfforthepettyjealousy.ShecouldnothelprememberingthatCourtLeyswashers,andthatifshechoseshecouldsendEdwardawaylikeahiredservant.
Atlastshefeltitimpossiblelongertoendurehiscompanyhemadeherstupidandvulgarshewasillandweak,andsheutterlydespaired.Shemadeuphermindtogoawayagain,thistimeforever.
“IfIstay,Ishallkillmyself.”
FortwodaysEdwardhadbeenutterlymiserableafavouritedoghaddied,andhewasbroughttothevergeoftears.Berthawatchedhimcontemptuously.
“Youaremoreaffectedoverthedeathofawretchedpoodlethanyouhaveeverbeenoverapainofmine.”
“Oh,don’tragmenow,there’sagoodgirl.Ican’tbearit.”
“Fool!”mutteredBertha,underherbreath.
Hewentaboutwithhangingheadandmelancholyface,tellingeveryonetheparticularsofthebeast’sd