sfromtheenclosingleaf,andopenstothesunshine,squandersitsperfumetothebreezeandthereisnonetoseeitsbeauty—andthenitdies.
Berthafounditpossibletolookbackuponthepastyearswithsomethinglikeamusement.ItseemednowmelodramatictohavelovedthesimpleEdwardwithsuchviolence,andshewasableeventosmileatthecontrastbetweenhervividexpectationsandtheflatreality.Geraldwasapleasantlysentimentalmemoryshedidnotwishtoseehimagain,butthoughtofhimoften,idealisinghimtillhebecameunsubstantialasacharacterinafavouritebook.HerwinterinItalyalsoformedthemotiveofsomeofhermostdelightfulthoughts,andshedeterminednevertospoiltheimpressionbyanothervisit.Shehadadvancedagooddealintheartoflifewhensherealisedthatpleasurecamebysurprise,thathappinesswasaspiritwhichdescendedunawares,andseldomwhenitwassought.
Edwardhadfallenintoalifeofsuchactivitythathistimewasentirelytakenup.HehadaddedlargelytotheLeyestate,and,withthesecond-rateman’sbeliefthatyoumustdoathingyourselftohaveitwelldone,keptthefarmsunderhisimmediatesupervision.Hewasanimportantmemberofalltheruralbodies:hewasontheSchoolBoard,ontheBoardofGuardians,ontheCountyCouncilhewaschairmanoftheUrbanDistrictCouncil,presidentoftheLeanhamcricketclub,presidentoftheFaversleyfootballclubpatronoftheBlackstableregattahewasonthecommitteeoftheTercanburydog-show,andanenthusiasticsupporteroftheMid-KentAgriculturalExhibition.HewasapillaroftheBlackstableConservativeAssociation,amagistrate,andachurchwarden.FinallyhewasanardentFreemason,andflewoverKenttoattendthemeetingsofthehalf-dozenlodgesofwhichhewasamember.Buttheamountofworkdidnotdisturbhim.
“Lordblessyou,”hesaid,“Ilovework.Youcan’tgivemetoomuch.Ifthere’sanythingtobedone,cometomeandI’lldoit,andsaythankyouforgivingmethechance.”
Edwardhadalwaysbeeneven-tempered,butnowhisgood-naturewasquiteangelic.Itbecameabyword.Hissuccesswasaccordingtohisdeserts,andtohavehimconcernedinamatterwasanexcellentinsurance.Hewasalwaysjovialandgay,contentedwithhimselfandwiththeworldatlargehewasamodelsquire,landlord,farme