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following confession：…
〃It is difficult to follow you； but I go hobbling along after
you with my thoughts； though what you say makes my head whirl round
and round。 Still I contrive to lay hold on some of it。〃
Kaela's beauty had a firm hold on Alfred； it filled his soul；
and held a mastery over him。 Beauty beamed from Kaela's every feature；
glittered in her eyes； lurked in the corners of her mouth； and
pervaded every movement of her agile fingers。 Alfred； the sculptor；
saw this。 He spoke only to her； thought only of her； and the two
became one； and so it may be said she spoke much； for he was always
talking to her； and he and she were one。 Such was the betrothal； and
then came the wedding； with bride's…maids and wedding presents； all
duly mentioned in the wedding speech。 Mamma…in…law had set up
Thorwalsden's bust at the end of the table； attired in a
dressing…gown； it was her fancy that he should be a guest。 Songs
were sung； and cheers given； for it was a gay wedding； and they were a
handsome pair。 〃Pygmalion loved his Galatea；〃 said one of the songs。
〃Ah； that is some of your mythologies；〃 said mamma…in…law。
Next day the youthful pair started for Copenhagen； where they were
to live； mamma…in…law accompanied them； to attend to the 〃coarse
work；〃 as she always called the domestic arrangements。 Kaela looked
like a doll in a doll's house； for everything was bright and new；
and so fine。 There they sat； all three； and as for Alfred； a proverb
may describe his position… he looked like a swan amongst the geese。
The magic of form had enchanted him； he had looked at the casket
without caring to inquire what it contained； and that omission often
brings the greatest unhappiness into married life。 The casket may be
injured； the gilding may fall off； and then the purchaser regrets
his bargain。
In a large party it is very disagreeable to find a button giving
way； with no studs at hand to fall back upon； but it is worse still in
a large company to be conscious that your wife and mother…in…law are
talking nonsense； and that you cannot depend upon yourself to
produce a little ready wit to carry off the stupidity of the whole
affair。
The young married pair often sat together hand in hand； he would
talk； but she could only now and then let fall a word in the same
melodious voice； the same bell…like tones。 It was a mental relief when
Sophy； one of her friends； came to pay them a visit。 Sophy was not；
pretty。 She was； however； quite free from any physical deformity；
although Kaela used to say she was a little crooked； but no eye；
save an intimate acquaintance； would have noticed it。 She was a very
sensible girl； yet it never occurred to her that she might be a
dangerous person in such a house。 Her appearance created a new
atmosphere in the doll's house； and air was really required； they
all owned that。 They felt the want of a change of air； and
consequently the young couple and their mother travelled to Italy。
〃Thank heaven we are at home again within our own four walls；〃
said mamma…in…law and daughter both； on their return after a year's
absence。
〃There is no real pleasure in travelling；〃 said mamma； 〃to tell
the truth； it's very wearisome； I beg pardon for saying so。 I was soon
very tired of it； although I had my children with me； and； besides；
it's very expensive work travelling； very expensive。 And all those
galleries one is expected to see； and the quantity of things you are
obliged to run after！ It must be done； for very shame； you are sure to
be asked when you come back if you have seen everything； and will most
likely be told that you've omitted to see what was best worth seeing
of all。 I got tired at last of those endless Madonnas； I began to
think I was turning into a Madonna myself。〃
〃And then the living； mamma；〃 said Kaela。
〃Yes； indeed；〃 she replied； 〃no such a thing as a respectable meat
soup… their cookery is miserable stuff。〃
The journey had also tired Kaela； but she was always fatigued；
that was the worst of it。 So they sent for Sophy； and she was taken
into the house to reside with them； and her presence there was a great
advantage。 Mamma…in…law acknowledged that Sophy was not only a
clever housewife； but well…informed and accomplished； though that
could hardly be expected in a person of her limited means。 She was
also a generous…hearted； faithful girl； she showed that thoroughly
while Kaela lay sick； fading away。 When the casket is everything；
the casket should be strong； or else all is over。 And all was over
with the casket； for Kaela died。
〃She was beautiful；〃 said her mother； 〃she was quite different
from the beauties they call 'antiques；' for they are so damaged。 A
beauty ought to be perfect； and Kaela was a perfect beauty。〃
Alfred wept； and mamma wept； and they both wore mourning。 The
black dress suited mamma very well； and she wore mourning the longest。
She had also to experience another grief in seeing Alfred marry again；
marry Sophy； who was nothing at all to look at。 〃He's gone to the very
extreme；〃 said mamma…in…law； 〃he has gone from the most beautiful to
the ugliest； and he has forgotten his first wife。 Men have no
constancy。 My husband was a very different man；… but then he died
before me。〃
〃'Pygmalion loved his Galatea；' was in the song they sung at my
first wedding；〃 said Alfred； 〃I once fell in love with a beautiful
statue； which awoke to life in my arms； but the kindred soul； which is
a gift from heaven； the angel who can feel and sympathize with and
elevate us； I have not found and won till now。 You came； Sophy； not in
the glory of outward beauty； though you are even fairer than is
necessary。 The chief thing still remains。 You came to teach the
sculptor that his work is but dust and clay only； an outward form made
of a material that decays； and that what we should seek to obtain is
the ethereal essence of mind and spirit。 Poor Kaela！ our life was
but as a meeting by the way…side； in yonder world； where we shall know
each other from a union of mind； we shall be but mere acquaintances。〃
〃That was not a loving speech；〃 said Sophy； 〃nor spoken like a
Christian。 In a future state； where there is neither marrying nor
giving in marriage； but where； as you say； souls are attracted to each
other by sympathy； there everything beautiful develops itself； and
is raised to a higher state of existence： her soul will acquire such
completeness that it may harmonize with yours； even more than mine；
and you will then once more utter your first rapturous exclamation
of your love； 'Beautiful； most beautiful！'〃
THE END
。