Little Alice was suddenly taken ill. It was unfortunate,
of course, but I didn't dare to send for Gurli, for fear she might
think that it was done on purpose to annoy her! Oh! when once one has
lost faith.... I asked a friend at the Admiralty yesterday whether it
was legal in Sweden to kill one's wife's friends with tobacco smoke. I
was told it wasn't, and that even if it were it was better not to do
it, for fear of doing more harm than good. If only it happened to be
an admirer! I should take him by the neck and throw him out of the
window. What am I to do?"
"It's a difficult matter, Willy, dear, but we shall be able to think
of a way out of it. You can't go on living like a bachelor."
"No, of course, I can't."
"I spoke very plainly to her, a day or two ago. I told her that she
would lose you if she didn't mend her ways."
"And what did she say?"
"She said you had a right to do as you liked with your body."
"Indeed! And she, too? A fine theory! My hair is fast turning grey,
mother!"
"It's a good old scheme to make a wife jealous. It's generally kill or
cure, for if there is any love left, it brings it out."
"There is, I know, there is!"
"Of course, there is. Love doesn't die suddenly; it gets used up in
the course of the years, perhaps.
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