Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
350 SKETCHES.
finished, and she saw the four gentlemen seated at the whist-
table with their cigars and punch, she drew a long breath,
bade the whist-players and smokers a good night, and re-
tired to her room. She felt weary both in body and soul.
Her soul was wearied, yes, but yet like an agitated sea.
Within it moved a something which Ellina had never before
experienced. Jt was something like discontent and bitter-
ness against her husband — voices rose out of these agi-
tated waves, whispering: “Has it come to this? Am I
to him nothing but a housekeeper, a servant, destined to
attend to his whims, his pleasures, his comforts? My feel-
ings, my pain, my heart’s life — do not they deserve some
consideration, some forbearance? Am I really so fallen?
And he —he who” —
“Be silent!” Ellina interrupted resolutely the resent-
ful voices, pressing her hands hard upon her beating heart,
as if she would have stifled its throbs; “be silent! not
a word against him; whatever he may be, whatever I
may become to him, I shall always know how to fulfill my
duties faithfully. He shall not see the agony of my soul,
the cloud in my heart. He shall miss nothing; he shall
never find cause of complaint!”
With this determination Ellina tried to calm her feelings.
She covered up the windows closely, so that “the bridal-
lights on the height” might not shine into her room. She
would not see them now. Chilled, indifferent, and sad in
her mind, she laid herself down upon her sofa, shut her eyes,
trying to feel nothing, think nothing — to sleep. In vain.
The misery in the depths of her heart was too great. Again
and again returned the galling wave; again and again was
heard the complaining, resentful voice, and heavy tears
gathered under her burning eyelids. Every moment she
felt more uneasy, more unhappy — she could not rest, she
could not even pray.
When she again opened her sleepless eyes, she found her
room light, — not from daylight, because it was now near
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
