“Think, dear sister, what this love must have been to me after a life of toil and suffering, of excitement and sacrifice, such as mine had been.  Yet we at once recognised that a union between us must never be thought of, so we resigned ourselves, renounced every selfish wish, suffered and endured—­but loved each other.

“My wife with true woman’s instinct seemed to understand what was going on.  She behaved indeed often in a jealous, scornful, contemptuous manner, yet she tolerated our mode of life, which otherwise was no injury to morality, but looked only to the possibility of knowing each other at the present moment.  Consequently I assumed that Minna would be sensible and understand that she had nothing to fear really, that a union between us could not even be thought of, and that therefore forbearance on her side was the most desirable and the best.  Now, however, I learn that I have perhaps deceived myself on this point; bits of gossip came to my ear; and she at last so far lost her senses that she intercepted a letter from me and—­opened it.  This letter, if she had been in a position to understand it, would really have soothed her in the most desirable way, for our resignation was its theme.

“She dwelt only on the confidential expressions and lost the sense.  In a rage she came to me and compelled me therefore to declare quietly and decisively how matters stood; namely, that she had brought trouble on herself by opening such a letter, and that if she could not restrain herself, we must part.  On this point we agreed; I calm, she passionate.  Another day I was sorry for her.  I went to her and said:  ’Minna, you are very sick.  Compose yourself and let us once more talk about the matter.’  We concluded with the idea of a Cure for her; she seemed to quiet herself, and the day of her departure for the Cure was approaching; previously, however, she would speak to Frau Wesendonck I firmly forbade her to do so.  All my efforts were to make Minna gradually acquainted with the character of my relations to Frau Wesendonck, in order to convince her that she had no need to fear about the continuance of our marriage, and that, therefore, she should behave herself sensibly, thoughtfully, and generously; reject any foolish revenge and every kind of spying.  Ultimately she promised this.  Yet she could not be quiet.  She went behind my back and—­without comprehending it herself—­insulted the gentle lady most grossly.  She said to her:  ’Were I like ordinary women, I would go with this letter to your husband!’ And thus Frau Wesendonck, who was conscious of never having any secrets from her husband—­a thing which a woman like Minna could not understand—­had nothing to do but at once to inform her husband of this scene and its cause.