1
The Shepherd's Flute. 2.
nights, entered the nuptial chamber, where he found
his wife alreadyareep. Without awakening her, he
allowed his glance to rest upon her for a long time,
and, although her eye-lids remained closed and her
features motionless, he reached her with strained and
ever-growing intentiess, as though this very hour he
must discover, behind her̃smoots' and peaceful brow,
those thought-impulses which had hitherto remained
concealed from him. finally he put out the light,
sat down in an easy-clair at the foot of the bed,
and in the stillness of the night gave himself up to
a quiteousualeditation on the being with whom
he had been united in calm. and untroubled wedlock
for three years, and who had today for the first time
appeared to him like a stranger. It was only when
the long widow began to glimmer in the light of the
coming down that he rose, and then hertee patientl¬
until Dionysia drew a deep breath as heanched her,
stretched herself, opened her eyes, and greeted him
with a pleasant morning smile. But when she saw him
standing at the foot of the bed with such unmoved
gravity, she asked lmaged, and her first done was
jesting: "What has happened to you, my Erasmus? Did