It
was pleasant to take off his frock coat; he felt, as if he were
getting into his dressing-gown.
When they entered the hotel, she began at once to pack, and there she
was in her element.
They went downstairs into the saloon as soon as they got on board. For
appearance sake, however, he asked her whether she would like to watch
the sunset; but she declined.
At supper he helped himself first, and she asked the waitress the
price of black bread.
When he had finished his supper, he remained sitting at the table,
lingering over a glass of porter. A thought which had amused him for
some time, would no longer be suppressed.
"Old fool, what?" he said, lifting his glass and smiling at his wife
who happened to look at him at the moment.
She did not return his smile but her eyes, which had flashed for a
second, assumed so withering an expression of dignity that he felt
crushed.
The spell was broken, the last trace of his old love had vanished; he
was sitting opposite the mother of his children; he felt small.
"No need to look down upon me because I have made a fool of myself for
a moment," she said gravely. "But in a man's love there is always a
good deal of contempt; it is strange."
"And in the love of a woman?"
"Even more, it is true! But then, she has every cause.
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