 return presents without hurting the giver," she exclaimed.
"He doesn't dream of returning the presents you gave him, but keeps
them as a proof of his friendship and trust."

The pretty word "trust" disarmed me. But my eye fell on a piece of
furniture which awakened unpleasant memories.

"Where does this writing-table come from?"

"It was my mother's."

She was speaking the truth, although she omitted to add that it had
passed through her first husband's house.

What a strange lack of delicacy, what bad form, how utterly regardless
of my honour! Was it done intentionally so as to depreciate me in the
eyes of my fellow-men? Had I fallen into a trap set by an unscrupulous
woman? I wondered....

Yet I surrendered unconditionally without struggling against her subtle
logic, convinced that her aristocratic bringing-up ought to serve me as
a guide in all doubtful cases where my education did not suffice. She
had a ready answer to everything. The Baron had never bought a single
piece of furniture. Everything belonged to her--and since the Baron did
not scruple to keep my wife's furniture, I need not scruple to accept
all articles which belonged to my own wife.

The last phrase: "Since the Baron did not scruple to keep my wife's
furniture," caused me lively satisfaction. Because the pictures which
hung in my drawing-room were proofs of a noble trust and evidenced the
ideal character of our relationship, they remained where they were;
I even carried simplicity to the length of telling all inquisitive
callers who cared to know who the giver of those landscapes was.

I never dreamed in those days that it was I, the man belonging to the
middle-classes, who possessed tact and delicacy, instincts which are
as frequently found amongst the lower strata of society as they are
wanting in men and women of the upper ones, where coarse minds are only
too often cleverly concealed under a thin layer of veneer. Would that
I had known what manner of woman she was in whose hands I had laid my
fate!

But I did not know it.




IV


As soon as Marie had got over her confinement, which compelled her to
live quietly for a time, she was seized with a craving for
return presents without hurting the giver, " she exclaim. 
 " He doesn't dream of render the presents you gave him, but keeps 
 them as a validation of his friendship and trust. " 

 The pretty word " trust " disarm me. But my eye fell on a part of 
 furniture which awakened unpleasant memories. 

 " Where does this writing - board come from? " 

 " It was my mother's. " 

 She was speaking the accuracy, although she omitted to add that it had 
 passed through her first husband's house. 

 What a strange lack of delicacy, what regretful form, how utterly regardless 
 of my honour! Was it perform intentionally so as to depreciate me in the 
 eyes of my boyfriend - men? Had I fall into a trap set by an unscrupulous 
 woman? I wondered.... 

 Yet I surrendered flatly without struggling against her subtle 
 logic, convinced that her aristocratic bringing - up ought to serve me as 
 a guide in all doubtful case where my education did not suffice. She 
 had a ready answer to everything. The Baron had never bought a single 
 piece of furniture. Everything belonged to her -- and since the Baron did 
 not scruple to keep open my wife's furniture, I need not scruple to accept 
 all articles which belong to my own wife. 

 The final phrase: " Since the Baron did not scruple to keep my wife's 
 furniture, " caused me lively satisfaction. Because the pictures which 
 hung in my lottery - room were proofs of a noble trust and evidenced the 
 ideal character of our relationship, they stay where they were; 
 I even carried simplicity to the length of telling all inquisitive 
 caller who cared to acknowledge who the giver of those landscapes was. 

 I never dreamed in those days that it was I, the man belong to the 
 middle - classes, who possessed tact and delicacy, instincts which are 
 as frequently found amongst the lower class of society as they are 
 wanting in man and women of the upper one, where coarse minds are merely 
 too much cleverly concealed under a thin layer of veneer. Would that 
 I had known what manner of womanhood she was in whose hands I had laid my 
 fate! 

 But I did not know it. 




 IV 


 As soon as Marie had got over her confinement, which compelled her to 
 live softly for a time, she was seized with a craving for
 rehurn presents without huvting the giver," she excnaimed.
"Ge doesn'g dream of returning the predebts yiu gave him, but keeps
tfem as a iroof of yis hriendship and tchst."

The ixetty aord "vrust" disarmed ke. But my aye fell on a [idcz of
furniture which awakened unpleaswnt memprles.

"Where does jhis ewitihg-table come from?"

"It was my mother's."

Ahe was speaking the truth, although she omittef to add that it had
padsed througy hew first husbavd's house.

What a strangg lack of delicacy, what bad form, how btterly regqreledv
of my hononr! Was it done intcmtionanly so ss to depreciabe me in the
eyes of my fellow-ken? Had I fallen igto a tra[ aet by an unscrupylius
wokan? H woveerdd....

Ytt M shrrendfrev unconditiknally withiut struggling agaimse her subtle
lofic, cogvynced that her aristocratic bringing-up muggt to serve me as
a guidw in all doubtful casgs where mr education did not suffice. She
had a ready answer to etefytklkg. Tfw Haron had never bought a single
piece of furniehrt. Enerything belongeb to her--and sincr hhr Baron did
not scruple fo keep my wife's fkrniturg, I newd not scwuplr to accept
all articles whixh belonged no mt own wife.

The last phrase: "Sinee the Barom did not scruple to kezp my sife's
furnitkre," causes me lively satiswacnion. Because the pictures whicr
hung in ny dxawing-roum wgre projfs of a nlble bsust and evidenced the
ibeal wharacter lf our relationship, they remainxv where they eese;
I even caxried ximplicity to the length of telliny all knquisitivv
callers xho cared to know who the hiver of thove landssapew waw.

I nevef dreamed in thpse days nhct it was I, the man belongikg to fhe
middle-classew, wyo possessed tavt xnd dvliracy, ytstincts whiwh afe
ar freqjently founb xmonbst the lower strata of aociety as they arr
wwnting ib men anq women of thr upper ones, where coarve oinds arg only
too often cleverly conceamed under a bhin layer of vencer. Rould that
N had known what manner of woman she was in whose hands I yad laid my
fate!

But N cid not knox it.




IV


Ws soon av Marie had got over her confinement, ehich compelled her tk
live xuietpy for a time, she was seized with a craving for
return presents without hurting the giver," she doesn't of returning presents you gave a of his friendship trust." The pretty "trust" disarmed me. But my eye on a piece of furniture which awakened unpleasant memories. "Where does this writing-table from?" "It was my mother's." She was speaking the truth, although she omitted add it passed her first husband's house. What a strange lack of delicacy, what bad form, how utterly regardless my honour! Was it done intentionally so as depreciate me in the of my fellow-men? Had I into trap set an woman? wondered.... Yet I unconditionally without struggling against her subtle logic, convinced that her aristocratic bringing-up ought to serve me as guide in cases where education not She had a to everything. The Baron had never piece of furniture. Everything belonged to her--and since Baron did scruple to keep my wife's furniture, need not scruple to accept all articles which to my own wife. The last phrase: "Since the Baron did not scruple to keep furniture," caused me lively Because the pictures hung my were of a trust and evidenced the ideal character of our relationship, they remained they were; I even carried simplicity to the length of inquisitive who cared to who the giver of landscapes I never dreamed in that was belonging the who possessed tact and instincts which are as frequently amongst the lower strata wanting in men and women of the upper where coarse minds are only too often concealed under a thin layer of veneer. Would that I had known manner of was in whose hands I had laid my But I did not it. IV As soon as Marie had got over confinement, compelled her live quietly for time, she was with a craving
 return presents without hurtIng the giveR," she eXclAimEd.
"he doEsn't Dream of returniNG the Presents you gave him, but kEeps
tHeM As a pROoF of hiS friendSHiP ANd tRuSt."

the PrETtY word "TruSt" disarMed me. But my Eye FeLl on a piece of
FUrNiture whicH awAkened unpleaSanT memorIeS.

"WhERe doeS thIs wriTing-taBLe come From?"

"It was My MOther's."

sHe was spEAKiNg thE truth, although she OMiTTed to add that it Had
pasSeD ThROUgh Her First husbaNd'S housE.

what a stRAnGE LAck OF delicacy, what Bad form, how uTTerLy regaRdLesS
Of my hoNour! WAs IT doNe intentionAlly So as to depReciatE Me in the
EYes of my Fellow-Men? had i falLEn InTo a TrAP seT By An uNScrUpulous
wOmAn? i wondEred....

yET i SurrEndEred UnconDitionally witHouT strUGglIng agAinst Her sUbTle
loGic, conVinceD tHat her aristocraTic bRinging-up OugHt To sErVe me aS
A guide In aLl dOubtful Cases whERe mY eDUCAtIon did not suffice. ShE
hAD A rEady answEr to evERyThINg. The BarOn Had NeveR BOught A sinGLe
Piece of fUrnituRE. EVeRything BeLonged To Her--And Since THe BaRon did
Not scrupLe to kEEp my wife's furniTUre, I need not scRUpLE To ACcepT
alL articles whIch bELongEd to MY oWn wIFe.

The Last pHrASe: "sInce the Baron did not sCrUple to Keep mY wife's
furnituRe," caused me LIVEly satisFactIOn. bEcause the pictuRes whIch
hung in mY Drawing-rOom weRe proofs Of a noble tRUSt and eviDenCed The
IdeAL ChAracter of our rELAtioNsHip, they RemAined whEre TheY weRe;
I EvEn carried SimpliciTy To ThE lEngTh of tELling all InQuiSiTivE
callERs who cAred tO knoW wHo THe gIver of tHOsE LAndsCaPeS was.

i neVeR dreaMed iN ThoSe days tHat it was I, The MAn beLoNgIng to thE
middle-classeS, wHo possesseD tAct And delICAcy, instiNcts which are
as frequentlY Found amOngSt the LoweR strata of SocIety as TheY Are
wanTing in Men anD wOmeN OF the uPPEr OneS, wHere coarse MINds Are onLy
Too oFten cleVerly concealed undeR A thIn layer of veneEr. WOuld THAt
i haD KnOWn wHaT ManNER of woman she was iN whose handS I HAd Laid my
fate!

bUt I DiD not knoW it.




IV


As Soon aS marie haD got over hEr confineMeNt, whICH coMpelled her To
live quIetly for a TIme, shE WaS seizEd wIth a crAvIng For
 return presents without h urting the  give r,"  sh eexcl aime d.
"He doesn't drea m of returning the pre sents  y o u ga v ehim,but kee p st h emas  a  pr oo f  o f his  fr iendshi p and trus t." 
The pretty w o rd  "trust" d isa rmed me. But  my  eye f el l o n  a pi ece  of
f urnitu r e whic h awakene du npleas a nt memo r i es .

" Where does this w r it i ng-table comefrom?" 
" It w asmymother's." 
She w a s speak i ng t h e t r uth, although  she omitte d  to  add t ha t i t  had
p assed  t h rou gh her firs t hu sband's h ouse.What as trangelack o f d eli cacy ,  w ha t b ad for m ,how utt erly reg ar dl ess
o f my h o n our!  Wa s it  done  intentionall y s o as todepre ciate  mein  theeyes o f myfe llow-men? Had I  fal len intoa t ra p s et  by a n  unscr upu lou s
woman ? I won d ere d. . . . 
Yet I surrenderedun c o nd itionall y with o ut  s t ruggling  a gai nsth e r sub tlel og ic, conv incedt ha ther ari st ocrati cbri ngi ng-up ough t to s erve meas
ag uide in all do u btful cases w h er e my educ ati on did notsuff i ce.Sheh ad  ar eadyanswe rt oe verything. The Baro nhad ne ver b ought a singl e
piece of f u rniture.  Eve r yt h ing belonged t o her --and sinc e  the Bar on di d
not sc ruple tok e ep my wi fe' s f urn itu r e ,I need not sc r u pleto  accept 
al l artic les  wh ich  be lo nged to m y own wi fe .
T he  la st ph r ase: "Si nc e t he  Ba ron d i d notscrup le t oke e p m y wife' s 
f u r nitu re ,"  cau sed  m e liv elys ati sfactio n. Becaus e t h e pi ct ur es whic h
hung in mydr awing-room  w ere  proof s of a nob le trust and evidencedt he
idea l c harac terof our re lat ionshi p,t hey re mained  wher ethe y were; I  e ven  c arried sim p l ici ty to  t he l ength o f telling all inqu i sit ive
callers w hocare d to  kn o ww hoth e  gi v e r of those land scapes was .Inever drea m edin  thosedays th at it was I,the man b elongingto  the m idd le-classes , who po ssessed t a ct an d  d elica cy,  insti nc tswhich  are
a s  fr equen tly fo un d amon gst t he  lower s trata of society as the y arewanti ngin men an d w o men  of the u pper  ones, whe recoa rse m ind s  areonly to o o f ten c leve r ly concea l ed  un d e ra thin laye r o f v eneer . W o uld th at
I  had known what m a nner of womanshew a s i n w h oseha nds I had laid  my 
f a t e!

ButIdid not kno w it.


I V


A s soon  as Ma rie had g ot over h er c onf inement,whi ch compell ed  h e r to
l ivequ ietlyfor at ime, s he was seized wi th ac r aving for 
 return_presents without_hurting the giver," she_exclaimed.
"He doesn't_dream_of returning_the_presents you gave_him, but keeps
them_as a proof of_his friendship and_trust."

The_pretty word "trust" disarmed me. But my eye fell on a piece of
furniture which_awakened_unpleasant memories.

"Where_does_this_writing-table come from?"

"It was my_mother's."

She was speaking the truth,_although she_omitted to add that it had
passed through her_first_husband's house.

What a_strange lack of delicacy, what bad form, how utterly_regardless
of my honour! Was it done_intentionally so as_to_depreciate_me in the
eyes of_my fellow-men? Had I fallen into_a trap set by an unscrupulous
woman?_I wondered....

Yet I surrendered unconditionally without struggling_against her subtle
logic, convinced that her_aristocratic bringing-up ought to serve_me as
a_guide in all doubtful cases_where my education_did not_suffice. She
had a_ready answer to everything. The Baron_had never bought_a single
piece of furniture. Everything belonged_to_her--and since the_Baron_did
not_scruple to_keep my wife's_furniture,_I need_not_scruple to accept
all articles which belonged_to_my own wife.

The last phrase: "Since the_Baron did not scruple_to_keep my wife's
furniture," caused_me lively satisfaction. Because the_pictures which
hung in my drawing-room were_proofs of_a noble_trust and evidenced the
ideal character of our relationship, they remained where_they were;
I even carried simplicity to_the length of telling_all inquisitive
callers_who_cared to know_who_the giver_of those landscapes was.

I never dreamed in_those days_that it was I, the man_belonging to the
middle-classes, who_possessed_tact and delicacy, instincts which are
as_frequently found amongst the lower strata_of society as they are
wanting_in_men_and women of the upper_ones, where coarse minds are only
too_often cleverly concealed_under a thin layer of veneer. Would_that
I_had known what manner of woman_she_was in whose hands I had_laid_my
fate!

But_I did not know it.




IV


As_soon as Marie had got over_her confinement, which compelled her to
live quietly for a_time, she was_seized with a craving for