stically
adapted to the music.

The principal motive is the love-motive, its strains which run through
the whole opera are not only charming but original. The orchestration
is in the style at present in vogue, which subordinates the voices more
or less to the music.

The following is a short synopsis of the libretto.

The husband Gilfen rather neglects his pretty wife Louise, while his
friend Trott pays court to her.

In the first scene we find Gilfen undecided, whether to set out on a
journey, or not.

{418}

Trott desiring his absence offers to do everything in his power to
hasten his friend's departure, of course all for friendship's sake.
Gilfen puts him to the test by pretending to need all sorts of things.
He begs Trott to fetch a parcel lying at the custom-house, and weighing
forty pounds; a letter from the post-office, a rose-tree for Louise,
and a travelling-map, which was only to be had at a stationer's shop at
a considerable distance.

Before leaving the house Trott finds an opportunity to tell Louise that
he does all this for her sake only. Gilfen, finding him with his wife,
sends him on his errands and then leaves Louise to herself. She is
filled with sadness by her husband's indifference and sings a pretty
song about a youth, who makes love to a maiden, and a man, who neglects
his wife. Gilfen returns, attracted by the song, and guessing that his
wife still loves him as before he decides to stay at home.

Louise leaves him and Trott returns out of breath and laden with
parcels. The husband thanks him, but explains that there is still a
letter to be written, for which an important document is needed, and is
to be found in a chest on the next floor. Trott is hastening away,
when Gilfen implies, that he must have the chest itself. Seeing the
carriage, waiting outside Trott rushes away, determined to do his
utmost for friendship's sake. Then Gilfen appears before his wife in
travelling costume.--In the interview, which ensues, Louise shows him
clearly, that her heart is still his, but that she longs {419} for more
tenderness and love. They are interrupted by Trott's entrance,
dragging in the heavy chest. Gilfen declares that he has now
everything he wants, and takes an affectionate farewell of his wife and
his friend.

Left alone, the latter loses no time in making love to Louise, but all
he gains is a friendly handshake. Mistaking her coolness for timidity,
he becomes bolder. At this