utthat—butIthinkI’mapoliticianwhichremindsmethatI’venotreadaboutthenewmen-of-warinto-day’spaper.WhatI’vebeenagitatingaboutforyearsismoreshipsandmoreguns—I’mgladtoseetheGovernmenthavetakenmyadviceatlast.”
“It’sverysatisfactory,isn’tit?Itwillencourageyoutopersevere.And,ofcourse,it’snicetoknowthattheCabinetreadyourspeechesintheBlackstableTimes.”
“Ithinkitwouldbeagoodsightbetterforthecountryifthoseinpowerpaidmoreattentiontoprovincialopinion.It’smenlikemewhoreallyknowthefeelingofthenation.Youmightgetmethepaper,willyou—it’sinthedining-room.”
ItseemedquitenaturaltoEdwardthatBerthashouldwaituponhim:itwasthedutyofawife.ShehandedhimtheStandard,andhebegantoreadheyawnedonceortwice.
“Lord,Iamsleepy.”
Presentlyhecouldnotkeephiseyesopen,thepaperdroppedfromhishand,andhesankbackinhischairwithlegsoutstretched,hishandsrestingcomfortablyonhisstomach.Hisheadlolledtoonesideandhisjawdropped,andhebegantosnore.Bertharead.Afterawhilehewokewithastart.
“Blessme,IdobelieveI’vebeenasleep,”hecried.“Well,I’mdeadtired,IthinkIshallgotobed.Isupposeyouwon’tcomeupyet?”
“Notjustyet.”
“Well,don’tstayuptoolate,there’sagoodgirl,it’snotgoodforyouandputthelightsoutproperlywhenyoucome.”
Sheturnedtohimhercheek,whichhekissed,stiflingayawnthenherolledupstairs.
“There’soneadvantageinEdward,”murmuredBertha.“Noonecouldaccusehimofbeinguxorious.”
Mariageàlamode.
Bertha’ssolitarywalkwastothesea.TheshorebetweenBlackstableandtheMedwaywasextraordinarilywild.Atdistantintervalswerethelong,lowbuildingsofthecoastguardstationsandtheclean,pinkwalls,theneatrailings,thewell-keptgravel,contrastedrathersurprisinglywiththesurroundingdesolation.Onecouldwalkformileswithoutmeetingasoul,andthecountryspreadoutfromthesea,lowandflatandmarshy.Thebeachwasofcountlessshellsofeverypossiblevariety,whichcrumbledunderfootwhilehereandthereweregreatbanksofseaweedandbitsofwoodorrope,thejetsamofathousandtides.Inonespot,afewyardsoutbuthighanddryatlowwater,weretheremainso