Rudolph (Glancing at watch).—Eleven.
Erna.—My Lord, how your war stories have made our time spin!
Burris (Heels together, then kissing their hands).—In that case, gracious ladies . . .
Rudolph.—I am off, too. Nothing more for me here.
Lena.—May you sleep soundly under our family roof again, Mr. Karl. Good-night.
(Burris once more kisses Lena’s hand and starts off.)
Erna.—Mr. Karl, please take with you your charmed shooter; something might happen to Lena, if you left it here. We don’t care to be the victims of the fate ordained for you.
(Burris returns and takes the pistol out of Erna’s hands. She holds it back with an air of coquetry. She looks straight into his eyes. Her unexpected favor sweeps Burris off his feet. Blushing, he bows low and then salutes her with a courtly sweep of the hand.)
Rudolph.—Gross Gott! (He goes out followed by Burris. At the door Burris turns and returns Erna’s steady eye.)
(When they have gone out, there is a short silence. Lena sinks into her couch in the darkened alcove and covers her eyes with her palms. Immediately, however, she rises again and puts out the table lamp. There is now only the small lamp on the buffet, and the moon outside.)
Lena.—Erna, are you here? I know you must be, but why don’t you answer? (Receiving no answer, she retires to her alcove.)
Erna (Suddenly in deep voice) Here I am. Want me to go?
Lena.—No, stay.
Erna.—That’s nice of you.
Lena.—And very cruel of you.
Erna.—No, I don’t mean to be cruel; I am only happy. My annual outburst.
Lena.—Your voice sounds gay. I can hear your happiness in it. I can hear you smiling.
Erna.—I don’t know,—yet. But why shouldn’t I be happier than usual? When you think that from one year’s end to another my eyes don’t rest on any face but yours, that I cannot step out of this house the year around—that on top of all this I have to sit and read your “over land and sea” romances with an unending salaam continued from night to night! Now that I get a glimpse of a new—I don’t mean new, but unaccustomed face, you begin to wonder that my voice expresses a little more interest in life.
