The Home in the Valley | Page 7

same time she kept a watchful eye upon those whom she suspected of partaking with her in this sentiment. Not only was Mrs. H---- occasionally aggravated by the pangs of jealousy, but she was also tormented by the thought that her husband entirely confided in her own fidelity, thus at once cutting off the possibility of a love quarrel and a reconciliation.
Upon the evening when we first made the personal acquaintance of the inmates of Almvik, Mr. H---- and his wife were riding out in their gig; for in the morning they rode in a light hunting wagon, and at noon they used the large family coach.
Mr. H----, immediately before starting forth on the ride had received a severe lecture from his spouse, because he indulged in an afternoon's nap, instead of devising means for the amusement of the family, that is, of the worthy dame herself, and their only treasure, the little Eugene Ulrich, and Mr. H----, we say, never felt inclined for sprightly conversation after such a lecture.
He well knew that he would be obliged to succumb in everything; but like a stubborn boy, who is punished by being compelled to stand in a corner until shame forces him to submit, Mr. H---- determined, to speak figuratively--to stand silently in that corner the entire day rather than to acknowledge himself conquered.
That was, at least, one point gained, towards his emancipation. It cannot but be supposed, however, that, if the lecture had been upon any other subject less trivial than the mere act of sleeping, Mr. H---- would have undoubtedly acted in an entirely different manner. At least that is the only excuse we can find for his conduct on this occasion.
"Well," said Mistress Ulrica, straightening herself up in her seat with the utmost dignity, "upon my honor, Mr. H----, you are a very agreeable companion."
"I am obliged to be careful while driving."
"Is it necessary that you should sit there as dumb as a fence post?"
No reply.
"Well, I must say that your sulkiness is not to be envied. Suppose some one should see us--I mean you--why they would readily believe that your wife was an old woman."
"Now, now, my dear Ulrique Eugenie, don't--"
"Your dear Ulrique Eugenie is not yet thirty eight years old, and even though you are two years younger, I do not think that should make any difference."
"On the contrary, on the contrary," grumbled her husband, chuckling inwardly.
"I do not know but what your words have a double meaning; but Fabian, we must not quarrel, let us become reconciled, there is my hand."
"Your heart ever overflows with the milk of human kindness, my dear," said he.
"Thank you, my dear husband,--but can you imagine what I really intended to say?"
"Indeed I cannot."
"I intended to say, should you ever cast your eyes upon another--"
"God forbid!"
"You may well say God forbid, am I not your wife, who will not allow her rights to be trodden under foot?"
"Am I not aware of that?"
"Even if you are, my dear, there is no harm in my saying that if I should discover the slightest cause which would arouse my suspicion I would scratch out your eyes!"
"Sweet Ulgenie!"
Ulgenie, a word which the reader will observe, is compounded from the words Ulrica and Eugenie, was one of those contorted terms of endearment, which Mrs. H---- permitted her husband to use during their moments of tenderness. Should he wish to address her in an extremely affectionate manner, he would term her his "pet Ulte," an expression which had also originated in the fertile mind of the loving wife!
On this occasion the husband considered the first expression sufficiently affectionate, and in all probability many tender recollections were associated with those three syllables, for no sooner had he uttered the name "Ulgenie," than she cast her eyes downward with an unusual gentle expression, and in a changed tone of voice, she whispered:--
"Never again my dearest husband shall we differ in our opinions. Equality in marriage renders it a useful institution; but to change the subject, it is long since you have made any hunting excursions, dear Fabian, to-morrow you must go."
As Mistress Ulrica was determined that her husband should become a skillful sportsman, she gave him rest neither night nor day, unless he devoted at least two days of the week to hunting or fishing excursions. Not that Mr. H---- was a sportsman; but that it afforded his wife great pleasure to inform her guests, that a certain moorcock was killed by her dear Fabian, or that he had caught the pike which then graced their table, for, she would add complacently, her Fabian was well aware that she took great delight in eating the game taken by his skillful hand.
Therefore there were no means of escape for him, he must by force become a sportsman, for a