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ardent desire to see you was a talisman which kept death afar off。 It seemed to me impossible to die without seeing you once more。 I had a firm conviction that I would live through the war and return to you。 Thus I defied the balls of the enemy； and have returned to repose on your heart； my beloved wifeafter the storms and hardships of battle to fold you fondly in my arms and never again to leave you。〃 He threw his arms around her waist； and pressed his lips with a tender kiss upon her mouth。
Louise suffered this display of tenderness for one moment； then slipped lightly under his arms and retreated a few steps。
〃Do you know；〃 said she； with a low laugh； 〃that was a true； respectable husband's kiss； without energy and without fire； not too cold； not too warmthe tepid； lukewarm tenderness of a husband who really loves his wife； and might be infatuated about her； if she had not the misfortune to be his wife？〃
〃Ah！ you are still the old Louise；〃 said the major merrily； 〃still the gay； coquettish； unsteady butterfly； who； with its bright； variegated wings； knows how to escape； even when fairly caught in the toils。 I love you just as you are； Louise； I rejoice to find you just what I left you。 You will make me young again； child； by your side I will learn again to laugh and be happy。 We have lost the power to do either amidst the fatigues and hardships of our rude campaigns。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Louise； 〃we dismissed you； handsome； well…formed cavaliers； and you return to us clumsy； growling bears； good…humored but savage pets； rather too willing to learn again to dance and sing。 The only question is； will the women consent to become bear… leaders； and teach the uncultivated pets their steps？〃
〃Well； they will be obliged to do this；〃 said the major； laughing。 〃It is their duty。〃
〃Dear friend； if you begin already to remind us of our duty； I fear your cause is wholly lost。 Come； let us sit here awhile upon this grass plot and talk together。〃
〃Yes； you will be seated； but I do not see exactly why we should talk together。 I would much rather close your laughing； rosy lips with kisses。〃 He drew her to his side； and was about to carry out this purpose； but Louise waved him off。
〃If you do not sit perfectly quiet by my side；〃 said she； 〃I will unfold the gay wings； of which you have just spoken； and fly far away！〃
〃Well； then； I will sit quietly； but may I not be permitted to ask my shy prudish mistress why I must do so？〃
〃Why？ Well； because I wish to give my savage pet his first lecture after his return。 The lecture begins thus： When a man remains absent from his wife seven years； he has no right to return as a calm； confident； self…assured husband； with his portion of home…baked tenderness； he should come timidly； as a tender； attentive； enamoured cavalier； who woos his mistress and draws near to her humbly； tremblingly； and submissivelynot looking upon her as his wife； but as the fair lady whose love he may hope to win。〃
〃But why； Louise； should we take refuge in such dissimulation； when we are assured of your love？〃
〃You are assured of nothing！ How can you be so artless as to believe that these seven years have passed by and left no trace； and that we feel exactly to…day as we did before this fearful war？ When you have opened the door and given liberty to the bird whose wings you have cut； and whose wild heart you have tamed in a cage； when the captive flies out into the fresh； free air of God； floats merrily along in the midst of rejoicing； laughing Naturewill he； after years have passed； will lie； if you shall please to wish once more to imprison him； return willingly to his cage？ I believe you would have to entice him a long timeto whisper soft； loving； flattering words； and place in the cage the rarest dainties before you could induce him to yield up his golden freedom； and to receive you once more as his lord and master。 But if you seek to arrest him with railing and threatswith wise and grave essays on duty and constancyhe will swing himself on the lofty branch of a tree； so high that you cannot follow； and whistle at you！〃
〃You are right； I believe；〃 said Du Trouffle； thoughtfully。 〃I see to…day a new talent in you； Louise； you have become a philosopher。〃
〃Yes； and I thirst to bring my wisdom to bear against a man；〃 said Louise； laughingly。 〃I hope you will profit by it！ Perhaps it may promote your happiness； and enable you to recapture your bird。 You will not at least make shipwreck on the breakers against which the good prince dashed his head to…day： he was wounded and bleeding； and will carry the mark upon his brow as long as he lives。〃
〃What has he done which justifies so melancholy a prognostication？〃
〃What has he done？ He returned to his wife； not as a lover but as a husband； he did not kiss her hand tremblingly and humbly and timidlyseek to read in her glance if she were inclined to favor him； he advanced with the assurance of a conquering hero； and before the whole world he gave her a loud； ringing kiss； which resounded like the trump of victory。 The good prince thought that because the outside war was at an end and you had made peace with your enemies； all other strifes and difficulties had ceased； and you had all entered upon an epoch of everlasting happiness； that； by the sides of your fond and faithful wives； you had nothing to do but smoke the calumet of peace。 But he made a great and dangerous mistake； and he will suffer for it。 I tell you； friend； the war which you have just closed was less difficult； less alarming than the strife which will now be carried on in your families。 The wicked foe has abandoned the battle…field to you； but he is crouched down upon your hearths and awaits you at the sides of your wives and daughters。〃
〃Truly； Louise； your words； make me shudder！ and my heart； which was beating so joyfully； seems now to stand still。〃
Louise paid no attention to his words； but went on：
〃You say the war is at an end。 I believe it has just begun。 It will be carried on fiercely in every house； in every family； many hearts will break； many wounds be given； and many tears be shed before we snail have household peace。 All those fond ties which united men and women； parents and children； have been shaken； or torn apart； all contracts are destroyed or undermined。 In order to endure； to live through these fearful seven years； every one gave himself up to frivolitythe terrible consequence is； that the whole world has become light…minded and frivolous。 We do not look upon life with the same eyes as formerly。 To enjoy the present momentto snatch that chance of happiness from the fleeting hour； which the next hour is chasing and may utterly destroyseems the only aim。 Love is an amusement； constancy a phantom； in which no one believeswhich is only spoken of in nursery fairy tales。 The women have learned； by experience； that their husbands and lovers did not die of longing to see them； that they themselves； after the tears of separation； which perhaps flowed freely a long time； were once quenched； could live on alone； that independence had its bright side and was both agreeable and comfortable。 The history of the widow of Ephesus is repeated every day； my friend。 The women wept and were melancholy a long time after the separation from their husbands； but at last they could not close their ears to the sweet； soft words of consolation which were whispered to them； at last they realized that incessant weeping and mourning had its wearisome and monotonous side； that the dreary time flew more swiftly if they sought to amuse themselves and be happy。 They allowed themselves to be comforted； in the absence of their husbands； by their lovers； and they felt no reproach of conscience； for they were convinced that their truant husbands were doing the same thing in their long separationwere making love to 'the lips that were near。'〃
〃Did you think and act thus； Louisa？〃 said Major du Trouffle； in a sad and anxious tone； looking his wife firmly in the eye。
Louisa laughed with calm and unconcern。
〃My friend；〃 said she； 〃would I have told all this to you； if I had committed the faults I charge upon others？ I have been inactive but observant； that has been my amusement； my only distraction； and my observations have filled me with amazement and abhorrence。 I have drawn from these sources profound and philosophic lessons。 I have studied mankind； and with full conviction I can assure you the war is not at an end； and； instead of the palm of peace； the apple of discord will flourish。 Men no longer believe in constancy or honesty； every man suspects his neighbor and holds him guilty； even as he knows himself to be guilty。 Every woman watches the conduct of other women with malicious curiosity； she seems to herself less guilty when she finds that others are no better than herself； and when； unhappily； she does not find that her friend is false or faithless； she will try to make her appear so； if the truth will not serve her purpose； she will； by slander and scandal； draw a veil over her own sins。 Never was there as much treachery and crime as now。 Calumny stands before every door； and will whisper such evil and fearful things in the ears of every returned soldier； that he will become wild w