Erna (Backing away from him).—Never! Our accounts are somewhat more complicated than all that, my confirmed invalid overseer!
Burris.—I can well stand even your abuse now. Just relieve your burdened heart of all its sudden bitterness. When you are holding in your arms a bouncing boy, you will realize the folly of what you say and feel now.
Erna.—Don’t come near me. Can’t you comprehend how I must loathe you? You knew all the time how your application would be received, and yet you made it, as far as you let me know, in good faith. Now you dare talk of forgiveness.
Burris (Trying to regain his cheerful manner).—I couldn’t say that I knew—rather say, expected, hoped, gambled on. After all, any man will do for his bride whatever her eyes ask him to do.
Erna.—That is the mean and cowardly element in your behavior, Sir! You have robbed me of the life I dreamed of all my days, and now I am doomed to drag out a miserable existence here at Harshaw, hateful Harshaw—now doubly hateful because I must stay here forever as a retainer to her ladyship, as a humble wife of my lord overseer, as “esteemed lady” of all these miserable servant folk.
Burris (Stung).—Very well! I fell in love with you, in spite of your weakness for the military life, because I regarded it as curable. And I still regard so, my dear Erna. I married you, a born lady, in order to administer this cure. Once before, this weakness of yours, humored by the late colonel, your father, has cost Harshaw dear.
Erna (Vehemently).—I shall not permit . . .
Burris.—My profoundest respect to the late colonel, but it was a never-to-be-forgotten day, wasn’t it, when the charming Captain Blowitz brought his squadron to the castle in honor of Lady Erna’s birthday! He had his bugles sound for the delectation of baroness Erna, to whom he presented the whole squadron as a token of esteem. Transfer orders carried Blowitz off to Halitz, and with him a goodly slice of the estate. The best section was sold, and the sale price just barely paid the expenses of the pompous birthday celebration.
Erna.—You still remember that! That still sticks in your crop! You are jealous and you are not ashamed to show it. Who would have looked for such spirit in a yearling volunteer! I assure you, Captain Blowitz is a cavalier in my estimation still, compared with you.
