A Case of Hate at First Sight
Osbert Frobler understood that he was taking a chance when he became engaged to a woman who could not abide him, but he ardently believed in the power of true love to overcome any problem. For Gertrude, his intended bride, it clearly had been a case of hate at first sight. Osbert, desperately seeking to look at things in a positive light, hoped that time would transform, or at least soften, her pronounced animosity toward him.
"Gertrude may hate, loathe, and despise me now, but I believe that her ill feeling is bound to change," Osbert said. "One way or another, the strength of my true love will conquer her heart, and we will live happily ever after as husband and wife."
As the day of their wedding approached, and Gertrude continued to maintain her deep hatred of him, Osbert began to have faint doubts in regard to their forthcoming marriage. He knew that his love for Gertrude was strong and unshakable, but he was not entirely certain that it would be altogether wise to marry a woman who hated him. Osbert could not help thinking that a life of wedded harmony probably was unlikely in the face of such enmity.
When Osbert asked Gertrude why she was willing to become his wife, even though it was painfully apparent that she hated him, she merely shrugged and told him not to worry, because she harbored a distinctly unfavorable opinion of all men, not merely him, and besides, she was tired of being single had nothing better to do. Osbert gamely accepted her reply, judging it to be a distressing answer, but nonetheless a straightforward one.
Although Osbert was suitably impressed by Gertrude's display of peevish honesty, her blunt words did little to alleviate his earnest concerns, which were growing day by day. He decided that, true love on his part notwithstanding, it might be best to delay the wedding, if only for a short while. Osbert did believe in the power of true love, but he figured that when choosing a spouse, the power of true hate also must be taken into account.
"Gertrude may hate, loathe, and despise me now, but I believe that her ill feeling is bound to change," Osbert said. "One way or another, the strength of my true love will conquer her heart, and we will live happily ever after as husband and wife."
As the day of their wedding approached, and Gertrude continued to maintain her deep hatred of him, Osbert began to have faint doubts in regard to their forthcoming marriage. He knew that his love for Gertrude was strong and unshakable, but he was not entirely certain that it would be altogether wise to marry a woman who hated him. Osbert could not help thinking that a life of wedded harmony probably was unlikely in the face of such enmity.
When Osbert asked Gertrude why she was willing to become his wife, even though it was painfully apparent that she hated him, she merely shrugged and told him not to worry, because she harbored a distinctly unfavorable opinion of all men, not merely him, and besides, she was tired of being single had nothing better to do. Osbert gamely accepted her reply, judging it to be a distressing answer, but nonetheless a straightforward one.
Although Osbert was suitably impressed by Gertrude's display of peevish honesty, her blunt words did little to alleviate his earnest concerns, which were growing day by day. He decided that, true love on his part notwithstanding, it might be best to delay the wedding, if only for a short while. Osbert did believe in the power of true love, but he figured that when choosing a spouse, the power of true hate also must be taken into account.