And upon this wall
she could plainly see the shadows both of her husband and of her maid;
whether they drew apart, or came near together or laughed, it was all as
clear to her as though she had veritably beheld them.
The gentleman, using no precaution since he felt sure that his wife
could not see them, kissed her maid, and on the first occasion his wife
suffered this to pass without uttering a word. But when she saw that the
shadows frequently returned to this fellowship, she feared that there
might be some reality beneath it all, and burst into a loud laugh,
whereat the shadows were alarmed and separated.
The gentleman then asked his wife why she was laughing so heartily, so
that he might have a share in her merriment.
"Husband," she replied, "I am so foolish that I laugh at my own shadow."
Inquire as he might, she would never acknowledge any other reason, but,
nevertheless, he thenceforward refrained from kissing such shadow-faces.
"That is the story of which I was reminded when I spoke of the lady who
loved her husband's sweetheart."
"By my faith," said Ennasuite, "if my maid had treated me in that
fashion, I should have risen and extinguished the candle upon her nose.
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