 into her aunt's flat. Mary Ley, in her late forties and unmarried, senses right from the start that Bertha means to leave her husband for good but, for the sake of her niece's peace of mind, is not prepared to broach the subject. Edward, on the other hand, is happily unaware of his wife's intentions, considering himself nothing more than a grass widower and urging his wife in several letters to come home as soon as she has fully recovered. After a prolonged trip with her aunt to Paris, made under the pretext of intending to buy dresses, Bertha, for want of any other reasonable course of action, returns to Kent and her husband, thus erroneously confirming Edward in his belief that her going away was just a passing phase.

While his wife settles down to a life of quiet despair and excruciating boredom, Edward Craddock, who has become a stranger to her, embarks on a career in politics. Elected County Councillor for the Conservative Party, he immediately starts dreaming of climbing the ladder of success even further and becoming an MP. Five years after her wedding, aged only 26, Bertha not only feels that she has aged prematurely; she is also aware of the fact that in the eyes of the local community she has become a mere appendage to her husband. Never having had anyone to confide in, she at long last picks Dr Ramsay, the local GP and her former guardian, to tell him the truth about the passionate hatred she feels for Edward and to ask for the doctor's help. "I know him through and through", Bertha says of her husband, "and he's a fool. You can't conceive how stupid, how utterly brainless he is. He bores me to death. […] Oh, when I think that I'm shackled to him for the rest of my life I feel I could kill myself." (Ch.27)

Again Bertha escapes to the Continent, again with her aunt, this time to Rome (while Edward Craddock has not once in his life been abroad). Claiming that her delicate health demands spending the winter in a warm climate, she is back in London in the following spring after having enjoyed six months of freedom but now must face reality again and no longer delay her return to her husband. This is when 19-year-old Gerald Vaudrey, a cousin of hers she has never met before, enters her life. Gerald, handsome and still
into her aunt's flat. Mary Ley, in her late forties and unmarried, senses justly from the beginning that Bertha means to leave her husband for good but, for the sake of her niece's peace of thinker, is not prepared to broach the subject. Edward, on the early hand, is happily unaware of his wife's intentions, considering himself nothing more than a supergrass widower and urging his wife in several letter to come home as soon as she has in full recover. After a prolonged slip with her aunt to Paris, made under the pretext of intend to buy dresses, Bertha, for want of any early reasonable course of military action, returns to Kent and her husband, therefore erroneously confirm Edward in his belief that her going away was barely a passing phase. 

 While his wife settles down to a life of quiet despair and excruciating boredom, Edward Craddock, who has become a stranger to her, embarks on a career in politics. Elected County Councillor for the Conservative Party, he immediately starts dreaming of climbing the ladder of success even further and becoming an MP. Five years after her wedding, aged only 26, Bertha not only feel that she has aged prematurely; she is also mindful of the fact that in the eye of the local residential district she has become a mere appendage to her husband. Never having had anyone to confide in, she at long last picks Dr Ramsay, the local GP and her former defender, to tell him the truth about the passionate hatred she feels for Edward and to ask for the doctor's help. " I know him through and through ", Bertha says of her husband, " and he's a fool. You can't conceive how stupid, how absolutely brainless he is. He bores me to end. [ … ] Oh, when I think that I'm shackled to him for the rest of my life I feel I could kill myself. " (Ch.27) 

 Again Bertha escape to the Continent, again with her aunt, this time to Rome (while Edward Craddock has not once in his life been abroad). claim that her delicate health demands spending the winter in a warm climate, she is back in London in the trace leap after having enjoyed six months of exemption but now must face reality again and no longer delay her return key to her husband. This is when 19 - year - previous Gerald Vaudrey, a cousin of hers she has never met before, insert her life. Gerald, handsome and still
 inho her aunt's flat. Mary Lty, in her late fottues anv unmardied, senres right from the start thav Beetha neans to leave her huscand for hood but, for rhe sake oh her nicee's pswce mh mind, is not ptepared to bsoach the subjacg. Zdward, on the other hand, is happily tnaware ov his wife's injentipgs, cknsidering himself nothing more thzn a gress widower and urging his wife in severap lehters to come home as soon as she yas fully rezovered. Afuex a prolonggd trip with her aunt to Paris, mxde uuder the prgcwxt mf intendinj to bly dresses, Bevnha, for want og any other ressoiablw course of action, revurns to Kent and het husband, dhbs erroneously confirnibg Edfard in fus celjeh tgat heg gking away sas just a passing phase.

While nif wife settles down eo a life of quiet despair and excruciatitg goredom, Edward Craddock, who has become a strwnger to rer, embarks on a career in politics. Elected Countf Couickllir wir the Conservative Party, he immediately starts srtampng of climbing tme ladder of succexs efgn further and becomnhg an MP. Five years wfter hgr wedeing, aged onlu 26, Bertha not only feels thqt she has ayed prematurely; she id also awarz of tne favt that in the eyes of che lodal communihy she haa become a mere aopekdace to her husband. Never hading had enyonz to conwide in, shq at long past ihcks Dr Ramsay, the locap CP and her former guardian, to tell him thx truth about tve iassionatz hatrcd she feels fow Edward and tp ask fjr thd doctor's gelp. "I nnow him thwough and thrmogh", Bertha sabs of her husvand, "and he'r a fool. You cam't conceine how stupid, how utterln brakhless he is. He yutws me to death. […] Of, wrej M thign that I'm shdckldd gp him for tht rcst of ky life I feel I cound kjll myself." (Ch.27)

Again Bcrtha escqpes to ehe Continent, again with her aujt, thms timx to Rpme (while Edward Craddock has not once in jis life been afroae). Claiming tkat her delicate health demands spending the winter in a wqrm climate, she is yagk in London in tre followhng spring after havung enjoyed six mpnths of freedom but how muvt fafe reality again and no longer delay her return to her husband. This is whwn 19-yeac-ojd Gerald Vzudrry, a boufnn of hqrs die has never met nefore, enters her life. Gerald, hendsome ang ftill
into her aunt's flat. Mary Ley, in forties unmarried, senses from the start her for good but, the sake of niece's peace of mind, is not to broach the subject. Edward, on the other hand, is happily unaware of wife's intentions, considering himself nothing more than a grass widower and urging his in letters come as soon as she has fully recovered. After a prolonged trip with her aunt to Paris, under the pretext of intending to buy dresses, for want of any reasonable course of action, returns Kent her husband, erroneously Edward his belief that going away was just a passing phase. While his wife settles down to a life of quiet and excruciating Craddock, who become stranger her, embarks on in politics. Elected County Councillor for he immediately starts dreaming of climbing the ladder success even and becoming an MP. Five years her wedding, aged only 26, Bertha not only that she has aged prematurely; she is also aware of the fact that in the the local community she become a mere to husband. having anyone to in, she at long last picks Dr Ramsay, the local GP her former guardian, to tell him the truth about the she for Edward and ask for the doctor's "I him through and through", of husband, fool. can't how stupid, how utterly he is. He bores me death. […] Oh, when to him for the rest of my life feel I could kill myself." (Ch.27) Again escapes to the Continent, again with her aunt, this time to Rome Edward Craddock once in his life been abroad). Claiming that delicate health demands spending winter in a warm climate, she is back in in following spring having enjoyed six of freedom but must face reality no longer her to is when 19-year-old Gerald Vaudrey, a of she has never met before, her handsome and still
 into her aunt's flat. Mary Ley, in Her late forTies aNd uNmaRrIed, sEnseS right from the sTArt tHat Bertha means to leave hEr husBaND for GOoD but, fOr the saKE oF HEr nIeCe'S peAcE Of Mind, iS noT preparEd to broach The SuBject. Edward, oN ThE other hand, Is hAppily unawarE of His wifE's IntENtionS, coNsideRing hiMSelf noThing more ThAN a grasS Widower AND uRginG his wife in several LEtTErs to come home aS soon aS sHE hAS FulLy rEcovered. AfTeR a proLOnged trIP wITH Her AUnt to Paris, madE under the prETexT of intEnDinG To buy dResseS, BERthA, for want of aNy otHer reasonAble coURse of acTIon, retuRns to KEnt And Her hUSbAnD, thUs ERroNEoUslY ConFirming EDwArD in hiS belIEF THat hEr gOing Away wAs just a passinG phAse.

WHIle His wiFe setTles DoWn to a Life of Quiet DeSpair and excruciAtinG boredom, EDwaRd craDdOck, whO Has becOme A stRanger tO her, embARks On A CAReEr in politics. ElecteD COUNtY CouncilLor for THe coNServativE PArtY, he iMMEdiatEly sTArTs dreamiNg of clIMbInG the ladDeR of sucCeSs eVen FurthER and BecomiNg an MP. FiVe yeaRS after her weddiNG, aged only 26, BertHA nOT OnLY feeLs tHat she has agEd prEMatuRely; SHe Is aLSo awaRe of tHe FAcT That in the eyes of the lOcAl commUnity She has become a Mere appendAGE To her husBand. nEvER having had anyoNe to cOnfide in, shE At long laSt picKs Dr RamsAy, the locaL gp and her fOrmEr gUarDiaN, TO tEll him the trutH ABout ThE passioNatE hatred She FeeLs fOr EDwArd and to aSk for the DoCtOr'S hElp. "i know HIm througH aNd tHrOugH", BertHA says oF her hUsbaNd, "AnD He's A fool. YoU CaN'T ConcEiVe How sTupId, How utTerlY BraInless hE is. He boreS me TO deaTh. […] oh, When I thInk that I'm shacKlEd to him for ThE reSt of my LIFe I feel I Could kill myself." (Ch.27)

Again BERtha escApeS to thE ConTinent, agaIn wIth her AunT, This tiMe to RoMe (whiLe edwARD CradDOCk Has NoT once in his LIFe bEen abRoAd). ClAiming tHat her delicate healTH deMands spending The WintER In A waRM cLImaTe, SHe iS BAck in London in thE following SpRInG after haviNG enJoYed six mOnths of FreedOM but now Must face rEality agaIn And nO LOngEr delay her Return to Her husbanD. this iS WhEn 19-yeaR-olD GeralD VAudRey, a cOusin oF HerS she hAs neveR mEt befoRe, entErS her life. gerald, handsome and still
 into her aunt's flat. Mar y Ley, inher l ate  fo rt iesandunmarried, sen s es r ight from the start th at Be rt h a me a ns  to l eave he r  h u s ban dfo r g oo d  b ut, f orthe sak e of her n iec e' s peace of m i nd , is not p rep ared to broa chthe su bj ect .  Edwa rd,  on t he oth e r hand , is happ il y  unawa r e of hi s wi fe's  intentions, cons i de r ing himself no thingmo r et h ana g rass widow er  andu rging h i sw i f e i n  several lett ers to come hom e as s oo n a s  she h as fu ll y  re covered. Af tera prolong ed tri p  with h e r auntto Par is,  ma de u n de rthe  p r ete x tofi nte nding to  b uy  dres ses, B e r tha,  fo r wa nt of  any other re aso nabl e  co urseof ac tion ,retur ns toKentan d her husband,thus  erroneou sly  c onf ir mingE dwardinhis  belief  that h e r g oi n g aw ay was just a pass in g ph ase.

Wh ile hi s  w if e  settles  d own  toa lifeof q u ie t despai r ande xc ru ciating  b oredom ,Edw ard  Crad d ock,  who h as becom e a s t ranger to her, embarks on ac ar e e ri n po lit ics. Electe d Co u ntyCoun c il lor for t he Co ns e rv a tive Party, he imme di atelystart s dreaming of  climbingt h e  ladderof s u cc e ss even furthe r and  becominga n MP. Fi ve ye ars afte r her wed d i ng, aged  on ly26,  Be r t ha  not only fee l s  tha tshe has  ag ed prem atu rel y;she  i s also aw are of t he  f ac ttha t int he eyesof  th eloc al co m munity  shehasbe co m e a  mere a p pe n d ageto  h er h usb an d. Ne verh avi ng hadanyone to  co n fide  i n,  she at  long last pi ck s Dr Ramsa y,  th e loca l GP and h er former guardian, tot ell him  th e tru th a bout thepas sionat e h a tred s he fee ls fo rEdw a r d and t oask  f or the doc t o r's  help ."I k now him  through and throu g h",  Bertha saysofherh u sb and ,  " a ndhe ' s a f ool. You can'tconceive h ow st upid, howu tte rl y brain less he  is.H e bores  me to de ath. […]Oh , wh e n  Ithink that  I'm sha ckled toh im fo r  t he re stof myli feI fee l I co u ldkillmyself ."  (Ch.2 7)

A ga in Berth a escapes to the Contin ent, a gainwit h her aun t,t his  time toRome  (while Ed war d C raddo ckh as no t on c einh is li fe b e en abroad ) .Cla i m in g that herd e l ica te he alt h  deman ds s pending the winte r  in a warm cli mate , she  is back  i n London in th e f ol l o wing spr in g after hav ing enjo ye d  sixmonths  of fr eedom b u t  n o w must  fac e r eality ag ain  a n d no lo ng er delayherre turn t o herh usba n d . This is when 1 9-yea r - old G e ral d Vau dr ey, a c o usin  of hers s he has neve r metbefo re, e nters h er  life.  Ge ra ld, handso m e and sti ll
 into_her aunt's_flat. Mary Ley, in_her late_forties_and unmarried,_senses_right from the_start that Bertha_means to leave her_husband for good_but,_for the sake of her niece's peace of mind, is not prepared to broach_the_subject. Edward,_on_the_other hand, is happily unaware_of his wife's intentions, considering_himself nothing_more than a grass widower and urging his_wife_in several letters_to come home as soon as she has fully_recovered. After a prolonged trip with_her aunt to_Paris,_made_under the pretext of_intending to buy dresses, Bertha, for_want of any other reasonable course_of action, returns to Kent and her_husband, thus erroneously confirming Edward in_his belief that her going_away was_just a passing phase.

While his_wife settles down_to a_life of quiet_despair and excruciating boredom, Edward Craddock,_who has become_a stranger to her, embarks on_a_career in politics._Elected_County_Councillor for_the Conservative Party,_he_immediately starts_dreaming_of climbing the ladder of success_even_further and becoming an MP. Five years_after her wedding, aged_only_26, Bertha not only_feels that she has aged_prematurely; she is also aware of_the fact_that in_the eyes of the local community she has become a mere_appendage to her husband. Never having_had anyone to confide_in, she_at_long last picks_Dr_Ramsay, the_local GP and her former guardian, to_tell him_the truth about the passionate hatred_she feels for Edward_and_to ask for the doctor's help._"I know him through and through",_Bertha says of her husband,_"and_he's_a fool. You can't conceive_how stupid, how utterly brainless he_is. He bores_me to death. […] Oh, when I_think_that I'm shackled to him for_the_rest of my life I feel_I_could_kill myself." (Ch.27)

Again Bertha escapes_to the Continent, again with her_aunt, this time to Rome (while Edward Craddock has_not once in_his life been abroad). Claiming_that_her_delicate health demands spending the winter in a warm climate,_she is_back in London_in the following spring after having enjoyed six months of_freedom but now must face reality again_and no longer delay her return to her husband. This is_when 19-year-old Gerald Vaudrey, a cousin of hers_she has never met before, enters her_life. Gerald, handsome and_still