human
I received a letter from Felix to-day,
gpt
Ah! murmurs Elsa somewhat bitterly.
human
Does he write for money again?
gpt
Yes, I am to raise some money for him,
human
Ah!
gpt
He has a fine property, but that cannot last,
human
If it makes him happy,
gpt
Hm! To ruin one's self is at the time a very pleasant occupation, but to be ruined--a very unpleasant condition, especially with a wife like Linda. I do not believe that Felix will be willing to live on the income of his wealthy wife.
human
Do you believe that Felix is happy? Erwin continues;
gpt
I cannot express how I feel!
human
As I know him, continues Erwin,
gpt
I do not understand Linda! she cries.
human
How can she under--under the circumstances rush into society? I no longer try to understand Felix. Hm!--he is weak--could never refuse a woman anything; if one had asked him for his hand, he would have let it be cut off for her. As far as I am concerned he can give her his hand--but--but----
gpt
Poor devil!
human
You pity him for my sake! cries Elsa, bitterly.
gpt
It is not necessary. I know that you think his conduct unanswerable--that you must think so. He has forfeited all the sympathy which his blameless conduct for years had won. I will never forget the tone in which Marie Dey said to me last spring, when she returned from Rome: 'I have often met your sister-in-law; she goes a great deal into society--one sees her everywhere. Your brother does not seem to find as much pleasure in society as his wife!' And Marie was always a friend to Felix. I know that in Parisian society Felix is called '_le revenant_,' for which name he has naturally to thank some kind Austrian. Evidently the whole story, which was forgotten, has been warmed up again.
human
The world is very malicious,
gpt
Certainly! But after one has passed sixteen years, one knows it, and guards one's self! cries Elsa, and adds with a bitter smile:
human
I suppose he is a great philosopher and thinks nothing of it.
gpt
Elsa! Elsa!
human
See! said she, dully,
gpt
Felix writes me that his wife plans to return in the latter part of June or the first of July. He will come to Traunberg with his little son somewhat sooner.
human
He will return?
gpt
Well, he must sooner or later.
human
Certainly! cries Elsa, with a shudder.
gpt
Erwin, what will strangers think of his return, if I myself am not able to rejoice?
human
Strangers do not take the situation so tragically,
gpt
Well, to be sure! sighs Elsa.
human
It is of no consequence to strangers whether he has acted without any tact, yes, unresponsibly. To think evil of one who is far from one is a pleasure to malicious people, and to the best is simply indifferent. But to be forced to think evil of one whom one loves is the most painful thing in the world.
gpt
If Felix insists upon coming, she then continues,
human
I will do my utmost to make life endurable for him and his wife. I cannot persuade him to return.