He was theconstant lover, and though she grew old, losing her rounded lines and her faircomeliness, to him she would certainly never alter. To him she would always bethe loveliest woman in the world. There was a pleasing grace in the orderlinessof their lives. They had but the studio, a bedroom, and a tiny kitchen. Mrs.Stroeve did all the housework herself; and while Dirk painted bad pictures, shewent marketing, cooked the luncheon, sewed, occupied herself like a busy antall the day; and in the evening sat in the studio, sewing again, while Dirkplayed music which I am sure was far beyond her comprehension. He played withtaste, but with more feeling than was always justified, and into his musicpoured all his honest, sentimental, exuberant soul.

Their life inits own way was an idyl, and it managed to achieve a singular beauty. Theabsurdity that clung to everything connected with Dirk Stroeve gave it acurious note, like an unresolved discord, but made it somehow more modern, morehuman; like a rough joke thrown into a serious scene, it heightened thepoignancy which all beauty has.

他是一个忠贞不渝的爱人，当她老了以后，当她失去了圆润的线条和秀丽的形体以后，她在他的眼睛里仍然会是个美人，美貌一点也不减当年。对他说来，她永远是世界上最美丽的女人。他们的井然有序的生活安详娴雅，令人非常愉快。他们住房只有一个画室，一间卧室和一个小厨房。所有家务事都是施特略夫太太自己做；在戴尔克埋头绘画的当儿，她就到市场上去买东西，做午饭，缝衣服，象勤快的蚂蚁一样终日忙碌着。吃过晚饭，她坐在画室里继续做针线活，而戴尔克则演奏一些我猜想她很难听懂的乐曲。他的演奏有一定的艺术水平，但是常常带着过多的感情，他把自己的诚实的、多情的、充满活力的灵魂完全倾注到音乐里去了。

他们的生活从某一方面看象是一曲牧歌，具有一种独特的美。戴尔克·施特略夫的一言一行必然会表现出的荒诞滑稽都给予这首牧歌添上一个奇怪的调子，好象一个无法调整的不谐和音，但是这反而使这首乐曲更加现代化，更富于人情味，象是在严肃的场景中插入一个粗俗的打诨，更加激化了美所具备的犀利的性质。