The Home in the Valley | Page 7

frequently rejoiced his neighbors with invitations
to visit his beautiful estate. To him strangers were godsends. He
entertained them to the best of his ability, invited the neighbors to see
them, and although his little soirees were very pleasant, still, as the
guests were drawn from all classes of society, many amusing scenes
were enacted, in all of which, Mistress Ulrica Eugenia performed a
prominent and independent part.
Although Mrs. Ulrica had liberated herself from all obedience to her
legal master, and had in fact assumed the reins of government herself,
she nevertheless possessed some, if not a great deal of affection for the
rosy cheeks and sleepy eyes of her husband, and at the 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;