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THE LIFTED VEIL
had delighted to believe in coy sensibilities and in wit at war with latent
feelingsaw the light floating vanities of the girl defining themselves into
the systematic coquetry； the scheming selfishness； of the womansaw
repulsion and antipathy harden into cruel hatred； giving pain only for the
sake of wreaking itself。
For Bertha too； after her kind； felt the bitterness of disillusion。 She had
believed that my wild poet's passion for her would make me her slave； and
that； being her slave； I should execute her will in all things。 With the
essential shallowness of a negative； unimaginative nature； she was unable
to conceive the fact that sensibilities were anything else than weaknesses。
She had thought my weaknesses would put me in her power； and she
found them unmanageable forces。 Our positions were reversed。 Before
marriage she had completely mastered my imagination； for she was a
secret to me； and I created the unknown thought before which I trembled
as if it were hers。 But now that her soul was laid open to me； now that I
was compelled to share the privacy of her motives； to follow all the petty
devices that preceded her words and acts； she found herself powerless with
me； except to produce in me the chill shudder of repulsionpowerless；
because I could be acted on by no lever within her reach。 I was dead to
worldly ambitions； to social vanities； to all the incentives within the
compass of her narrow imagination； and I lived under influences utterly
invisible to her。
She was really pitiable to have such a husband； and so all the world
thought。 A graceful； brilliant woman； like Bertha； who smiled on
morning callers； made a figure in ball…rooms； and was capable of that light
repartee which； from such a woman； is accepted as wit； was secure of
carrying off all sympathy from a husband who was sickly； abstracted； and；
as some suspected； crack… brained。 Even the servants in our house gave
her the balance of their regard and pity。 For there were no audible
quarrels between us； our alienation； our repulsion from each other； lay
within the silence of our own hearts； and if the mistress went out a great
deal； and seemed to dislike the master's society； was it not natural； poor
thing？ The master was odd。 I was kind and just to my dependants； but I
excited in them a shrinking； half…contemptuous pity； for this class of men
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THE LIFTED VEIL
and women are but slightly determined in their estimate of others by
general considerations； or even experience； of character。 They judge of
persons as they judge of coins； and value those who pass current at a high
rate。
After a time I interfered so little with Bertha's habits that it might seem
wonderful how her hatred towards me could grow so intense and active as
it did。 But she had begun to suspect； by some involuntary betrayal of
mine； that there was an abnormal power of penetration in methat fitfully；
at least； I was strangely cognizant of her thoughts and intentions； and she
began to be haunted by a terror of me； which alternated every now and
then with defiance。 She meditated continually how the incubus could be
shaken off her lifehow she could be freed from this hateful bond to a
being whom she at once despised as an imbecile； and dreaded as an
inquisitor。 For a long while she lived in the hope that my evident
wretchedness would drive me to the commission of suicide； but suicide
was not in my nature。 I was too completely swayed by the sense that I
was in the grasp of unknown forces； to believe in my power of self…release。
Towards my own destiny I had become entirely passive； for my one ardent
desire had spent itself； and impulse no longer predominated over
knowledge。 For this reason I never thought of taking any steps towards a
complete separation； which would have made our alienation evident to the
world。 Why should I rush for help to a new course； when I was only
suffering from the consequences of a deed which had been the act of my
intensest will？ That would have been the logic of one who had desires to
gratify； and I had no desires。 But Bertha and I lived more and more aloof
from each other。 The rich find it easy to live married and apart。
That course of our life which I have indicated in a few sentences filled
the space of years。 So much miseryso slow and hideous a growth of
hatred and sin； may be compressed into a sentence！ And men judge of
each other's lives through this summary medium。 They epitomize the
experience of their fellow…mortal； and pronounce judgment on him in neat
syntax； and feel themselves wise and virtuousconquerors over the
temptations they define in well… selected predicates。 Seven years of
wretchedness glide glibly over the lips of the man who has never counted
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them out in moments of chill disappointment； of head and heart throbbings；
of dread and vain wrestling； of remorse and despair。 We learn WORDS
by rote； but not their meaning； THAT must be paid for with our life…blood；
and printed in the subtle fibres of our nerves。
But I will hasten to finish my story。 Brevity is justified at once to
those who readily understand； and to those who will never understand。
Some years after my father's death； I was sitting by the dim firelight in
my library one January eveningsitting in the leather chair that used to be
my father'swhen Bertha appeared at the door； with a candle in her hand；
and advanced towards me。 I knew the ball…dress she had onthe white
ball…dress； with the green jewels； shone upon by the light of the wax
candle which lit up the medallion of the dying Cleopatra on the
mantelpiece。 Why did she come to me before going out？ I had not seen
her in the library； which was my habitual place for months。 Why did she
stand before me with the candle in her hand； with her cruel contemptuous
eyes fixed on me； and the glittering serpent； like a familiar demon； on her
breast？ For a moment I thought this fulfilment of my vision at Vienna
marked some dreadful crisis in my fate； but I saw nothing in Bertha's mind；
as she stood before me； except scorn for the look of overwhelming misery
with which I sat before her 。 。 。 〃Fool； idiot； why don't you kill yourself；
then？〃that was her thought。 But at length her thoughts reverted to her
errand； and she spoke aloud。 The apparently indifferent nature of the
errand seemed to make a ridiculous anticlimax to my prevision and my
agitation。
〃I have had to hire a new maid。 Fletcher is going to be married； and
she wants me to ask you to let her husband have the public… house and
farm at Molton。 I wish him to have it。 You must give the promise now；
because Fletcher is going to…morrow morningand quickly； because I'm in
a hurry。〃
〃Very well； you may promise her；〃 I said； indifferently； and Bertha
swept out of the library again。
I always shrank from the sight of a new person； and all the more when
it was a person whose mental life was likely to weary my reluctant insight
with worldly ignorant trivialities。 But I shrank especially from the sight
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of this new maid； because her advent had been announced to me at a
moment to which I could not cease to attach some fatality： I had a vague
dread that I should find her mixed up with the dreary drama of my life
that some new sickening vision would reveal her to me as an evil genius。
When at last I did unavoidably meet her； the vague