Well, I had made acquaintance with my future mother-in-law, and was in a way not at all discontented with the result, however far it was from being brilliant. The reason was, that when I had pictured the future and imagined the happiness of bringing a beloved woman home as bride, I had always shuddered at the thought of a mother-in-law, and had been terrified by the prospect of marrying into a family which might provide me with a tail of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and a new outfit of aunts and uncles, and so forth. Now in this case there was evidently no idea whatever of a family; if Minna did not bring me any dowry in money, she did not bring me any superfluous relations. As far as the mother was concerned, of whom, I knew, that Minna had in her own mind formed an unusual but sound judgment, she seemed to be a rather modest being, who would certainly prefer to toddle about in peace in her kitchen, and take a nap in "Zur Katze," and who was so wrapped up in her Dresden customs that there could hardly be any idea of bringing her to England. Supposing that I had got a stately lady as "mamma" who embraced me in a motherly way, criticised my habits, was discontented with my prospects, mixed herself up in the household affairs, put the daughter against me as much as possible, insisted upon visiting on regular evenings! My goodness, how easily I had got out of it with this homely motherly soul!
If I had written a diary, I should, that day, have put down: "At ease on one point, mother-in-law harmless."
