Gurli
made excuses for me; she said I had caught a cold on the previous
evening, and that she was afraid the night air might do me harm.
Ottilia looked self-conscious and left without kissing Gurli.
"I had promised to show Ottilia some astronomical instruments at the
College at twelve o'clock on the following day. She kept her
appointment, but she was much depressed. She had been to see Gurli,
who had treated her very unkindly, so she said. She could not imagine
why. When I came home to dinner I found a great change in Gurli. She
was cold and mute as a fish. I could see that she was suffering. Now
was the time to apply the knife.
"'What did you say to Ottilia?' I commenced. 'She was so unhappy.'
'What did I say to her? Well, I said to her that she was a flirt.
That's what I said.'
'How could you say such a thing?' I replied. 'Surely, you're not
jealous!'
'I! Jealous of her!' she burst out.
'Yes, that's what puzzles me, for I am sure an intelligent and sensible
person like Ottilia could never have designs on another woman's husband!'
'No,' (she was coming to the point) 'but another woman's husband might
have designs on her.'
'Huhuhu!' she went for me tooth and nail. I took Ottilia's part; Gurli
called her an old maid; I continued to champion her.
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