and her death, I ſuppoſe, was the cauſe of his coming to this eſtate—For the Baron has not been here till within theſe five weeks ever ſince he was married. We regretted his abſence much, and his arrival has cauſed great joy.
Wife [addreſſing her diſconrſe to Agatha.]
By all accounts the Baroneſs was very haughty; and very whimſical.
Cottager.
Wife, wife, never ſpeak ill of the dead. Say what you pleaſe againſt the living, but not a word againſt the dead.
Wife.
And yet, huſband, I believe the dead care the leaſt what is ſaid againſt them—And ſo, if you pleaſe, I’ll tell my ſtory. The late Baroneſs was, they ſay, haughty and proud; and they do ſay, the Baron was not ſo happy as he might have been; but he, bleſs him, our good Baron is ſtill the ſame as when a boy. Soon after Madam had cloſed her eyes, he left France, and came to Wildenhaim, his native country.
Cottager.
Many times has he joined in our village dances. Afterwards, when he became an officer, he was rather wild, as moſt young men are.
Wife.
Yes, I remember when he fell in love with poor Agatha, Friburg’s daughter: what a piece of work that was—It did not do him much credit. That was a wicked thing.
Cottager.
Have done—no more of this—It is not well to ſtir up old grievances.
Wife.
Why, you ſaid I might ſpeak ill of the living.
