Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/174

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OF PARENTAL RESTRAINT.


TALE XLIII.

OF ABSENCE OF PARENTAL RESTRAINT.

A soldier going into a far country, entrusted his wife to the care of her mother. But some time after her husband's departure the wife fell in love with a young man, and communicated her wishes to the mother. She approved of the connection, and without delay sent for the object of her daughter's criminal attachment. But while they feasted, the soldier unexpectedly returned and beat at his gate. The wife, in great tremor, concealed the lover under her bed, and then opened the door for her husband. Being weary with travel he commanded his bed to be got ready; and the wife, more and more disturbed, knew not what she should do. The mother observing her daughter's perplexity, said, "Before you go,