The Malady of the Century

days, long past, when his thoughts had hovered for weeks round the Belgian watering-place, the name had remained in his mi

ay at Ostend, made friends with him on the first day after his arrival, when they found he could speak English. They invited him to join them on their walks, and made him give them information about Germany, and es

small beside her tall companion; and there gradually dawned upon him a dim idea that that slight figure reminded him of somebody-that he had seen those delicate contours, those graceful proportions, that light and gliding gait before. Without hastening his steps he soon overtook them, and recognized at the first glance that it was Loulou. She too turned her head involuntarily to look at the passing trio. As she caught sight of Wilhelm a sudden pallor overspread her face, and with an unconscious movement of terror she dropped her companion's arm. Both stood stockstill, as if suddenly deprived of the power of motion, an

rtunate woman and the man to whom she now was bound in sinful union. That same day he took leave of his Americans, and left Ostend ea

t morning, an hour's drive in a hotel omnibus brought him to Ault, a small market-town in the department of Somme, which the Americans had recommended to him as the q

door, and a mighty square tower. The church blocked the way, and forced the street to make a bend in order to pass round it. This building, which would have adorned a capital, stood there haughty and arrogant like a gigantic knight in full tilting armor in the midst of the common people, and seemed to wave the simple, unpretentious provincial houses to right and left with a lordly gesture so that nothing might intercept his view of the sea. Beside the High Street there were a few little side alleys, mostly inhabited by

s were so far accustomed to summer visitors that they did not take much notice of them, but happily not so much as to direct their whole thought and energy to fleecing them. It seemed as if the people of Ault had merely arranged a ba

intervening roofs from the second-floor windows. The view from the front windows was the more remarkable. They looked out upon the churchyard which lay behind the Gothic cathedral. Not that there was anything depressing in the sight; it made, on the contrary, a cheerful imp

ame name occurred over and over again, speaking well for the settled habits of the population. And, according to the inscriptions, most of those buried here had lived to be eighty or ninety years of age. Had Ault been a professedly fa

re happily free of those gruesome colored prints which the commercial traveller delights to sow broadcast over the unsuspecting country towns. Only the so-called salon boasted the luxury of a cottage piano, a polished

of the buying and selling of property in the little town. His wife was the soul of the establishment. She possessed the gift of omnipresence. At one and the same moment you might see her in the kitchen and in the outhouses, in the hotel and in the cafe. The servants, of whom there was a considerable number, answered to a look, a bock of her finger. You could hear her clear voice from morning till night in the courtyard or on th

lly led the conversation in the loudest tones, succeeded in making him very impatient, in spite of the mildness with which Wilhelm usually judged his fellows. He did business in sewing machines in Paris, but here gave himself out as an "ingenieur constructeur," and belonged to that class of persons who cannot endure not to be the center of observation wherever they happen to be. It has been said of a man of that stamp, that if he were at a wedding he would wish to be the bridegroom, and if at a funeral to be in the place of the corpse. At the dinner table of the Hotel de France he reigned supreme. His strong point lay in the perpetration of the most ghastly puns, which he would discharge first to

ng of salt or entrees, of bread or cider (the table beverage)-with a low "Merci, monsieur," accompanied by a pleasant smile and an inclination of the head. The acquaintance began with a look. It was after a more than usually exasperating pun from the man in the knickerbockers, and involuntarily their eyes met, after which

sturdy figures, and shrewd, clean-shaven faces above the blue cotton white-embroidered blouses and severely stiff snow-white shirt collars; and the women in round dark-brown cloaks reaching to their feet; the drum-beating, yelling tooth-drawers and patent medicine venders praising their remedies against tapeworm and ague with incredible volubility, and the couple of majestic g

bor was looking about in search

in want of

if you pleas

reach; she thanked him, and, not to let the c

eems fond o

e answered,

ng patting and stroki

thought o

, "it was a charming beast, with w

nsider that, next to dogs they are by far the most intelligent of our domestic animals. They have such a l

repress a smile

opinion of the donkey is a sign that the ungrateful world has at

silvery gray of his coat with the velvety, black markings, and his ears are very becoming to him. It is such an in

wash Titania in 'Mids

ne worse. But how is it that the donkey

his want of spirit,

never bit or kicked. So they said, an animal that is strong enough to hurt us, and yet puts up with any kind of treatment, must necessarily be deadly stupid. That is how it was. People cannot believe that one may be good-tempered and uncomplaining and yet have any brains. With th

w opinion of your fell

she replied, gazing through

ull but firm, and the well shaped, boldly modeled nose stood in exactly the right proportion to the rather large face. The light brown eyes with their remarkably small pupils were conspicuously lively, and flashed and sparkled incessantly on all sides. Their expression was extremely intelligent and generally mocking, and if you looked long at them you gained the somewhat uncomfortable impression that that cold clear glance could, on occasion, stab a heart as cruelly as would a dagger. But her most striking feature was her mouth-a sudden dash of violent coral-red in the opalescent white of her face. This brutal effect of color exer

s. On his long walks he caught himself thinking deeply about her, while the blood coursed with unwonted heat through his veins. He marked her entrance into the dining room or salon by his heart stopping suddenly and then racing on in wild, irregular beats, and if he looked at her the indecorous thought came to him that it would be a joy to stroke those firm, round cheeks, to pass one's fingers gently ov

f made a slight backward curve, the sea had washed the shingle together to form a little beach covered with pebbles from the largest to the smallest size. Here two rows of modest wooden cabins were erected, which served as bathing houses, and beside these, a great wooden structure on wheels, not unlike the enormous house-caravans in which the owners of shows and menageries and such-like wandering folk travel about from fair to fair. The French flag fluttering from a pole on the

ding the newspapers or novels. The young people ran about barefoot and in bathing costume, or lay at the edge of the water fishing for shrimps, which they rarely or never caught. There were merry, noisy groups of bathers in the shallow water near the shore, splashing o

forms with embarrassing distinctness-should calmly stroll back to the bathing houses under the open gaze of the men. For that reason he even refrained from going to the shore at the bathing hour, or bathing there himself. By degrees, however

her nod, which, however, he did not follow, he could not have said exactly why. Confused, and a prey to all sorts of undefined emotions, he continued his walk till he reached the point where the waves, breaking at the very foot of the cliff, prevented his going any further. As he turned, ho remembered that he would have to pass her again, and considered if he could not avoid it by keeping close to the cliff and so get b

. She saved him the embarrassment of making a beginning

me company for a little while! W

imself on the thick, soft rug. His head was shad

admirer of the se

must make its nearer acquaint

rned by rote about their rapture and enthusiasm, just like a musical box which grinds out a tune when you press a button at the top. The sea was invented by a few romantically inclined poets. But I deny that there is any truth in then rhapsodies; the sea is hopelessly monotonous, and monotony excludes the possibility of beauty or charm. One has at most the same feeling for it as for a mirror in which one sees oneself reflected. The sea is a blank page, which each one fills up with whatever he happen

nst the storms," W

of waters, without a boundary line, without the variety or movement of life upon it, bores th

into it yourself, by an effort of your own imagination. Fore

and it thus calls up the pictures with which we proceed to enliven it. The sea does nothing of this, and the best proof of that is, that no

is

aints extraordin

without shore, or

utely nothing but water, only a

forget all about the sea. Moreover, the ancients, who surely had an eye for all that is grand and beautiful, they did not know either what to do with the sea. They were a magnificent race, healthy-minded realists-and kept strictly to the evidences of their sens

at your fingers' ends,

nor prejudice. Even the fact that the common herd of the reading public has made a po

the sea so much wh

ry dull, very remote bathing place, where I should be sure not to meet any acquaintances. For directly I have friends about me, I enjoy myself, laug

ve given everything and r

I like-always to giv

you are very exceptional. Pardon a pos

Do I look like a

distinct pictu

to give a novelist, or a comedy-writer of my acquaintance, a little help now and then. Whe

I study nat

fessor

ly an a

you are

m Ge

!" exclaime

le?" asked Wi

o accent, a

y German has light blue eyes,

much how we picture Germ

to be surprised.

ish lady? Of course with jet bla

lm no

In fact, it is very common in our best families-

ll Latins, you des

ever the prejudices of the Latins may be, I have my own opinion. Your nationality in a matter of indiffe

conversation, however, they did not notice the signal. A lady's maid whom Wilhelm had often seen at the hotel-a mid

sse did not hear

erybody having gone to dinner. The tide was rising, and had nearly covered the strip of beach. The thunder of the waves, mingled with th

letters and newspapers. She handed them to the lady, who smilingly tore off the wrapper from her Figaro and gave it to Wilhelm, saying: "You do not know my name yet?" W

me," returned Wilhelm, pulling o

untess, as she glanced at the card, and then put it away in her own elegant to

ner the countess invited Wilhelm, in the most natural man

he waves below. Here and there were small inclosed woods, and it was at the edge of one of these, about a quarter of a mile walk from the town, that the countess seated herself on a mossy bank in the shade. Wilhelm sat down beside her on the gnarled root of a tree; Anne was sent home, to return in two hours' time, but Fi

asked the countess after they had

Berlin, but I had to leave for political reasons, and

ter a few weeks and go our separate ways-you to the right, I to the left-and with only the consoling prospect of meeting again some day beyond the stars! So you will come to Paris, and if you have any intention of getting up a revoluti

iling, "and am, in any case, no politician, alt

y profession in Paris

se. You will perhaps think less of m

o is forced to earn his living must, of course, have a profession. But it is never anything but a necessary

nsider to be the re

Why, happine

t is knowledge, to another the fulfilling of duty, to lower natures wealth and worldly honors.

my and limited natures who are incapable of recognizing the true obj

tha

thing very, very

is somethi

n th

ne should lose

after a pause she added-"You have, at least, had a moment of absolute happiness-when you fou

is the happiness to come from for one who has no wishes at all, or who

thout a wish-is t

la Comtesse

s?" she ask

" Wilhelm

said, and let her brilliant ey

king at her, as if ashamed of the wa

were once?" she

n in love? Perhaps-Or n

ut that is the way with you men. If you cease to love, you will not admit that you ever had loved. Tell me, was the

ch a moment. But, loo

s forever, and the truest love is sometimes as perishable as the loveliest rose-the most exquisite dream. But it is not to say that because it is over we are to deny that it ever existed. You may not feel a

iews, Madame la Comtesse, but neverthel

German philosopher, if our whole

my philosophy very ha

d her lustrous hazel eyes flashed, "why you woul

thirty

rs less But whether thirty or thirty-four, it would be culpable to have reached t

n his eyes like the boy he really was in some respects. Sh

e is about you men. No, it is the only good thing, the only thing that

ss to resist love than to give way to it. They only care for men who are slaves to that passion. I admire those chaste and saintly men who have been able to cast off the bonds of the flesh. The highest po

en and the adulteress. Beside, Christ was a God, and I am speaking of ordinary mortals, and

real life it is just the opposite. The knowledge of woman, the lust of the flesh, transforms man into a beast. You know the classics so well and are so fond of them-there is no apter

imals," and, lost in dreamy thought, she stroked Fido, who began to gasp and choke with delight, and eagerly licked the caressing hand. After a pause she resumed slowly-"I should n

it drop. The countess looked up in surprise, and following Wilhelm's gaze, she caught sight of the hotel wit and his l

vexation. "And what is the harm, if they do see us? They will only boast, wh

moment was broken, and did not return before Anne a

ly aware of what was going on in him, and sought by looks, words, and manner to increase the effects of the afternoon's conversation. When the meal was

little walk on the shor

be bored to death? No, come up to my room. You have never pa

st it contained no bed, but a chaise longue instead, a rocking chair, and a table with a jute cover. The countess was inwardly much amused at Wilhelm's timorous hesitation in crossing her

u are my friend, are you not?"-she held out her hand, which he pressed warmly and retained in his-"you ought to know who I am and how I live. I will tell you the whole truth-I never lie, it is so vu

ed lips in the tea withou

ith me first.' And he meant it. You probably know that we develop early in Spain. At sixteen I was not very different from what I am now. Count Pozaldez was a young lieutenant of cavalry, and my father's adjutant. Of course we saw a good deal of one another, and he soon began to behave as if he were madly in love with me. I was not averse to him, for he was young, handsome, and aristocratic. And what else does a girl of sixteen look for? I naturally had no difficulty in understanding his glances and his sighs, but it went on for months without his making me a formal proposal. One day he wrote me a letter eight pages long, in which he informed me that, as he possessed nothing in the world but his sword, he dared not venture to lift his eyes to the heiress of the richest landowner in Old Castile; beside that, he was not worthy of me, only a king could be that-the wretch! But I will come back to that later on. On the other hand, however, he could not live without me, and if I did not return his love he was resolved to put a bullet

cularly for my father's sake. He would have killed him if he had known. Later-later-I must tell it you, so that you may grasp the whole situation-the villain did all he could to direct King Amadeo's attention to me-he had just come to Madrid. When I noticed his base schemes-as I could not fail to do-that put the finishing touches. I gave him the choice between a scandalous lawsu

ren?" aske

swered, and h

ublic opinion, she continues to live under one roof with the father of her first child. And then-you

the eyes of an imploring chil

fy a young and embittered woman thirsting for happiness? Of course I received a great deal of attention. An attache of our embassy succee

y his hand, but she held it

cond time, and put an end to a connection which had lost the excuse of sincerity For two years now I ha

elm sadly. "All I think is that you have h

t?" cried the c

he misfortune to make a mistake in

? The first passably good-looking, well-b

ay her heart so lightly, she has no right to complain

and how it may be obtained, and one is not to stretch out a hand to grasp it? You would really be so cruel as to say to a woman-young, and in need of love-in childish ignorance and folly you were guilty

e questions unanswered, and continue

man, who should have learned wisdom from a first

ou are!" murmur

th a sudden inspiration: "A woman has every

once. I thought

in love really if only one seriously believes one is. And it is t

ict yourself too? A little while ago you were demonstrating to me that you were a part of nature, and that unknown natural forces were at work within

, but she laid her so

ing else, I know I am full of contradictions. I am no German philosopher. But nature too is full of contradictions-first day, then

that caressed his lips and che

ight be full, one would have to love you in return, and there are men-I do not know whether to call them too proud or too fastidious-who can only lo

dge? Is not your triumph a thousand times greater when a disappointed, deeply-skeptical woman lays her heart at your feet, and says-'You I will trust, you will bring me healing and happiness'-than when a young girl gives you her love because you happen to be the first man who asks for it? Other images!-other memories! D

d-like desire, and bending suddenly she cove

ed to be able to do so, and now his wish was fulfilled. Was fulfilled desire really happiness, as this beautiful woman as

to hold him back. He pointed to the door of the

aid the countess; "one does what one likes

reated, and stroked

hy

re is close. I should like to

rious smile played about her f

full of stars, and there was scarcely a breath of wind. The tide was rising, wave after wave rolled in, fell over, and swept up the beach in a thin white sheet of f

are of passion; but how could he have roused it? There was nothing in him to account for it. And she did not know him-knew nothing about his life or his character. She was beautiful certainly-beautiful and alluring, and clever

the sky. Just behind it stood the full moon, tracing-as if for its amusement-the silhouette of the roof of the church tower upon the ground. Where the shadow of the church ended, the moon poured its sil

lights were already extinguished. Without lighting the candle, which he found ready for him at the foot of the stairs, he mounted

a night's lodging with me," said Wilhelm; "very

d put the candlestick down on the table. Suddenly two cool, bare arms were laid about his