nd, for she was _infected_ by
him on the _wedding night_. Of course you remember what being _infected_
is. But really it is something quite different from what we imagined.
Because of _that_ she got a frightful eruption all over her body and her
face, and most likely all her hair will fall out; is it not frightful?
Her cousin, the medical student, who is apparently very poor, is there
to _nurse_ her. Our servant Rosa told me about it, she heard of it from
the housemaid where they have rooms. As you know, one can't talk to
Lizzi about anything of that kind, and so I did not learn any more;
but the other day, when I went to buy some picture postcards, I met the
three ladies. The young wife was wearing a very thick veil, so that one
could see nothing. They were sitting on a bench in the garden in front
of their house, and I bowed in passing, on the way back. They bowed, and
smiled in a friendly way. In the afternoon I had to lie down, for I was
feeling very bad because of . . . .!! Then I suddenly heard some people
talking on the veranda just outside my window--the veranda runs all
round the house. At first I saw shadows passing, and then they sat down
outside. I recognised the soft voice of the Polish student directly,
and I heard her say to the wife of the mayor of J.: "Yes, my unfortunate
cousin's experience has been a terrible one; that is because people sell
girls like merchandise, without asking them, and without their having
the least idea what they are in for." I got up at once and sat down
close to the window behind the curtain so that I could hear everything.
The mayor's wife said: "Yes, it's horrible what one has to go through
when one is married. _My_ husband is not one of that sort but -- -- --"
And then I could not understand what she went on to say I overheard
this conversation on Thursday. But that's not all I have to tell you. Of
course my first thought was, if only I could have a talk with her; for
she spoke about _enlightenment_ and although we are both of us already
_very much enlightened_, still, as a medical student, she must know a
great deal more than we do, so that we can learn from her. And since she
said that girls ought not to be allowed to _run blindly into marriage_,
I thought she would probably tell me a little if I went cautiously to
work. There was a word which she and the mayor's wife used more than
once, _segsual_ and I don't know what it means, and I'm sure you
don't know either, darling R