But in words it did not show itself, hardly even in looks: except, perhaps, while she fought to win him, but never since then.

  Had she been able to adhere to one line of conduct, if only for a few weeks at a time, and let herself be guided by her never-failing love, he would, in this stimulating atmosphere, have made of his married life what his mother, in spite of all, had made of hers.

  Why did not this happen? Because the jealousy which she had aroused in him and which had drawn him to her again was now reversed.

  They were hardly married before it was she who was jealous! Was it strange? A middle-aged woman, even though she be endowed with the strongest personality and the widest sympathy, when she wins a young husband who is the fashion - wins him as Angelika won hers - begins to live in perpetual disquietude lest any one should take him from her. Had she not taken him herself?

  If we were to say that she was jealous of every human being who came there, man or woman, old or young, beside those whom he met elsewhere, it would be an exaggeration, but this exaggeration throws a strong light upon the state of things, which actually existed.

  If he became at all interested in conversation with any one, she always interrupted. Her face grew hard, her right foot began to move; and if this did not suffice, she struck in with sulky or provoking remarks, no matter who was there.

  If something were said in praise of any one, and it seemed to excite his interest, she would pooh-pooh it, literally with a "pooh!" a shrug of the shoulders, a toss of the head, or an impatient tap of the foot.

  At first he imagined that she really knew something disadvantageous about all those whom she thus disparaged, and he was filled with admiration at her acquaintance with half Norway. He believed in her veracity as he believed in few things. He believed, too, that it was unbounded like so many of her qualities. She said the most cynical things in the plainest manner without apparent design.

  But little by little it dawned upon him that she said precisely what it pleased her to say, according to the humour that she was in.

  One day, as they were going to table - he had come in late and was hungry - he was delighted to see that there were oysters.

  "Oysters! at this time of the year," he cried. "They must be very expensive."

  "Pooh! that was the old woman, you know. She persuaded me to take them for you. I got them for next to nothing."

  "That was odd; you have been out, then, too?"

  "Yes, and I saw YOU; you were walking with Emma Ravn."

  He understood at once, by the tone of her voice, that this was not permitted, but all the same he said, "Yes; how sweet she is! so fresh and candid."

  "She! Why, she had a child before she was married."

  "Emma? Emma Ravn?"

  "Yes! But I do not know who by."

  "Do you know, Angelika, I do not believe that," he said solemnly.

  "You can do as you please about that, but she was at the pension at the time, so you can judge for yourself if I am right."

  He could not believe that any human being could so belie themselves. Emma's eyes, clear as water in a fountain where one can count the pebbles at the bottom, rose to his mind, in all their innocence. He could not believe that such eyes could lie. He grew livid, he could not eat, he left the table. The world was nothing but a delusion, the purest was impure.

  For a long time after this, whenever he met Emma or her white-haired mother, he turned aside, so as not to come face to face with them.

  He had clung to his relations: their weak points were apparent to every one, but their ability and honesty no less so. This one story destroyed his confidence, impaired his self-reliance, shattered his belief, and thus made him the poorer. How could he be fit for anything, when he so constantly allowed himself to be befooled?

  There was not one word of truth in the whole story.

  His simple confidence was held in her grasp, like a child in the talons of an eagle; but this did not last much longer.

  Fortunately, she was without calculation or perseverance. She did not remember one day what she had said the day before; for each day she coolly asserted whatever was demanded by the necessity of the moment. He, on the contrary, had an excellent memory; and his mathematical mind ranged the evidence powerfully against her. Her gifts were more aptness and quickness than anything else, they were without training, without cohesion, and permeated with passion at all points. Therefore he could, at any moment, crush her defence; but whenever this happened, it was so evident that she had been actuated by jealousy that it flattered his vanity; which was the reason why he did not regard it seriously enough - did not pursue his advantage. Perhaps if he had done so, he would have discovered more, for this jealousy was merely the form which her uneasiness took. This uneasiness arose from several causes.

  The fact was that she had a past and she had debts which she had denied, and now she lived in perpetual dread lest any one should enlighten him. If any one got on the scent, she felt sure that this would be used against her. It merely depended on what he learned - in other words, with whom he associated.

  She could disregard anonymous letters because he did so, but there were plenty of disagreeable people who might make innuendoes.

  She saw that Rafael too, to some extent, avoided his countless friends of old days. She did not understand the reason, but it was this: that he, as well, felt that they knew more of her than it was expedient for HIM to know. She saw that he made ingenious excuses for not being seen out with her. This, too, she misconstrued. She did not at all understand that he, in his way, was quite as frightened as she was of what people might say. She believed that he sought the society of others rather than hers. If nothing more came of such intercourse, stories might be told. This was the reason for her slanders about almost every one he spoke to. If they had vilified her, they must be vilified in return.

  She had debts, and this could not be concealed unless she increased them; this she did with a boldness worthy of a better cause. The house was kept on an extravagant scale, with an excellent table and great hospitality.