an!OnewouldthinkIwaseightyI’veneverfunkedahorseyet,andI’mnotgoingtobeginnow.”
Brandertonshruggedhisshoulders,andsaidnothingmoreatthetime,butafterwardsspoketoBerthaprivately.
“Youknow,Ithink,ifIwereyou,I’dpersuadeEdwardtogetridofthathorse.Idon’tthinkheoughttorideitagain.It’snotsafe.Howeverwellherides,itwon’tsavehimifthebeasthasgotabadtrick.”
Berthahadinthisparticulargreatfaithinherhusband’sskill.Whateverhecouldnotdo,hewascertainlyoneofthefinestridersinthecountybutshespoketohimnotwithstanding.
“Pooh,that’sallrot!”hesaid.“Itellyouwhat,onthe11thofnextmonthwegooverprettywellthesamegroundandI’mgoingout,andIswearhe’sgoingoverthatpostandrailinCoulter’sfield.”
“You’reveryincautious.”
“No,I’mnot.Iknowexactlywhatahorsecando.AndIknowthathorsecanjumpifhewantsto,andbyGeorge,I’llmakehim.Why,ifIfunkeditnowIcouldneverrideagain.Whenachapgetstobenearfortyandhasabadfall,theonlythingistogoforitagainatonce,orhe’lllosehisnerveandnevergetitback.I’veseenthatoverandoveragain.”
MissGloverlateron,whenEdward’sbandageswereremovedandhewasfairlywell,beggedBerthatouseherinfluencewithhim.
“I’veheardhe’samostdangeroushorse,Bertha.IthinkitwouldbemadnessforEdwardtoridehim.”
“I’vebeggedhimtosellit,buthemerelylaughsatme,”saidBertha.“He’sextremelyobstinateandIhaveverylittlepoweroverhim.”
“Aren’tyoudreadfullyfrightened?”
Berthalaughed.“No,I’mreallynot.Youknowhealwayshasriddendangeroushorsesandhe’snevercometoanyharm.WhenwewerefirstmarriedIusedtogothroughagonies.EverytimehehuntedIusedtothinkhe’dbebroughthomedeadonastretcher.Butheneverwas,andIcalmeddownbydegrees.”
“Iwonderyoucould.”
“Mydear,noonecankeeponbeingfrightfullyagitatedfortenyears.Peoplewholiveonvolcanoesforgetallaboutitandyou’dsoongetusedtosittingonbarrelsofgunpowderifyouhadnoarmchair.”