The Opposite House: A Novel — page 285: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

280 The Opposite House. my mother, Traugott. She is no longer the un- approachable woman of former days, but my loyal, tender mother, who can understand her child, and who knows herself what love is. A short time ago she told me her own love-history, and I perceived, with tears, that, though her heart had been embit- tered and hardened by sorrow, it had never ceased to throb lovingly forme. Do not ask too much of her at first, dearest ; do not expect her to show you a tenderness which she often still denies me. Be content with her friendship and esteem, and do not forget how hard it is to embrace, as a son, a man whose family has always been the object of hatred. Mamma likes you; your uniform will raise you still more in her eye, and at least relieve her of the terrible thought of being compelled to marry her child to a merchant. The feud between the Gerralds and Von Rotterswyls was too deep and had endured too many years to be so swiftly for- gotten. The formality of her manner will also disappear, when she sees how truly | love you, Traugott; ana when she has once accepted you as her daughter’s husband, it will not be long ere she treasures you in her heart as a son.” They walked along the path bordered with yew, brushing the waving tendrils which grew so lux- uriantly over the tall stone statues that they were almost hidden beneath the leafage. Their fixed Comicbookks S|