Now, the baking heat of summer was upon them; and
Elsa seldom left thehouse. His first feeling was one of utter rebellion. His meals
were coldscraps, served at odd times; his bed remained unmade, his
bootsuncleaned.
Without even ordinary domestic tasks to fill them,
Elsas days grew everlonger and drearier. He was still deeplymoved; it would be many
a day before his heart healed of its wounds.
For, on entering the house, hefound himself in a
scene of wild confusion. And he grew rounder and ruddierthan before. And between her
and her sister-in-law, reallyhearty relations never established themselves. Between
the second and the third cry,there was almost time to fall asleep again. Wives of a
briefer standing frankly envied her the title.
For now she had to sing: there was nokeeping back
the tunes that rose to her lips. Dear me, so I am, ejaculated the Professor, and
made this an excuse tohurry from the room.
Without even ordinary domestic tasks to fill them,
Elsas days grew everlonger and drearier. With words that fitted these, and
appropriate doll-like gestures.
What had it ever done for her, but
robher?
She soon learnt her lesson, and became an adept at
excusing herself.
Dear me, so I am, ejaculated the Professor, and
made this an excuse tohurry from the room. Other women bore children without this
mercilessado. His meals were coldscraps, served at odd times; his bed remained
unmade, his bootsuncleaned.
She grew uncertain in temper: sulked, would not
speak when spoken to.
Still more startled was she by Annemaries sudden
dash from theroom, and the click of a turned key. It began with her catching herself
listening for an infants cry.
Dear me, so I am, ejaculated the Professor, and
made this an excuse tohurry from the room.
If they went farther afield, she rode in a
bath-chair,which was pushed by an old, one-eyed man. She soon learnt her lesson, and
became an adept at excusing herself.
And thethoughts that darted through her brain in
answer were dark and unwifely. There was a good reason why she had not married, at
marrying-time.