A TRIPPING TONGUE

A Tripping Tongue

So the wife apparently suffers from what seems to be foot in mouth disease.

What bothers me is she's very obvious -- makes me think about the hubby -- who is he? Does he harbor illusions that his wife is innocent and faithful and this story finally reveals her true nature? He was trusting enough to let her go to the Crimea with her girlfriend -- what was he expecting her to do there? For her to stay home and play rummy and drink some hot milk and be in bed by nine?

There is an imbalance in this story. The reader is ahead of the husband -- shortly into the story we seem to have the wife pegged -- but the husband is clueless -- maybe he's just a fool in love. Blinded by her youth and looks -- and style. She obviously has her way -- and the hubby follows. Is he weak -- gullible -- naive? If so, then he deserves what he gets. Doesn't he?

Am I being too harsh?
 
The problem for me in this story is the wife is no master at keeping secrets -- or even covering them up -- and therefore I'm thinking the husband must know this woman pretty well and yet he allows to go off to the Crimea -- is this possible?

Probably yes. We can all be completely blind when we are in love. I'm thinking this woman is younger and better looking than the hubby -- he's got the money and the position -- she's a trophy wife -- and he adores her and even now after hearing her story and knowing outright what she did in Yalta -- will it make any difference? Does the hubby really desire the truth? He'll most likely shrug it off and maintain faith in his wife's fidelity.

What choice does he have? 

He could've married someone closer to his age -- less attractive -- but if that's what he had wanted then he'd have found a suitable mate.

And if he accepts the truth -- he'll also know -- she married him for his position and money and she doesn't really love him. Who needs the bitter medicine of truth?

Lies are so much sweeter and palatable.

He got what he wanted.

Oh, what a lucky man he is!