Delphi Collected Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe \(Illustrated\) pdfdrive com

JULY 10.

You should see how foolish I look in company when her name is mentioned,

particularly when I am asked plainly how I like her. How I like her! I detest the

phrase.  What  sort  of  creature  must  he  be  who  merely  liked  Charlotte,  whose

whole  heart  and  senses  were  not  entirely  absorbed  by  her.  Like  her!  Some  one

asked me lately how I liked Ossian.

JULY 11.

Madame M — is very ill. I pray for her recovery, because Charlotte shares

my  sufferings.  I  see  her  occasionally  at  my  friend’s  house,  and  to-day  she  has

told  me  the  strangest  circumstance.  Old  M    —    is  a  covetous,  miserly  fellow,

who  has  long  worried  and  annoyed  the  poor  lady  sadly;  but  she  has  borne  her

afflictions  patiently.  A  few  days  ago,  when  the  physician  informed  us  that  her

recovery  was  hopeless,  she  sent  for  her  husband  (Charlotte  was  present),  and

addressed him thus: “I have something to confess, which, after my decease, may

occasion  trouble  and  confusion.  I  have  hitherto  conducted  your  household  as

frugally  and  economically  as  possible,  but  you  must  pardon  me  for  having

defrauded  you  for  thirty  years.  At  the  commencement  of  our  married  life,  you

allowed  a  small  sum  for  the  wants  of  the  kitchen,  and  the  other  household

expenses.  When  our  establishment  increased  and  our  property  grew  larger,  I

could not persuade you to increase the weekly allowance in proportion: in short,

you  know,  that,  when  our  wants  were  greatest,  you  required  me  to  supply

everything  with  seven  florins  a  week.  I  took  the  money  from  you  without  an

observation,  but  made  up  the  weekly  deficiency  from  the  money-chest;  as

nobody  would  suspect  your  wife  of  robbing  the  household  bank.  But  I  have

wasted nothing, and should have been content to meet my eternal Judge without

this  confession,  if  she,  upon  whom  the  management  of  your  establishment  will

devolve  after  my  decease,  would  be  free  from  embarrassment  upon  your

insisting that the allowance made to me, your former wife, was sufficient.”

I  talked  with  Charlotte  of  the  inconceivable  manner  in  which  men  allow

themselves to be blinded; how any one could avoid suspecting some deception,

when  seven  florins  only  were  allowed  to  defray  expenses  twice  as  great.  But  I

have myself known people who believed, without any visible astonishment, that

their house possessed the prophet’s never-failing cruse of oil.

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