"
"Then every one who receives an invitation is expected to contribute to
our future welfare?"
"An invitation to the house."
"Well, to the house--then?"
"Certainly."
"Ah, now, my dear, I begin to understand why the presents are always
shown."
For all answer Clara extended the sheet of paper on which we had made
our calculations.
I capitulated.
II
I pass over the wedding. In theory I have grown more and more opposed to
such exhibitions. A wedding is more pathetic than a funeral, and
nothing, perhaps, is more out of place than the jubilations of the
guests. When a man and a woman, as husband and wife, have lived together
five years, then the community should engage a band and serenade them,
but at the outset--however, I will not insist--I am doubtless cynically
inclined. I come to the moment when, having successfully weathered the
pitfalls of the honeymoon (there's another mistaken theory--but let that
pass) my wife and I found ourselves at last in our own home, in the
midst of our wedding presents.
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