MILLY. The princess oughtn"t to be climbing up such a steep hill either on a hot day like this.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. [_More softly._] Well, you know why we are taking all this trouble. If, by good luck, we should happen to meet the princess----
LIDDY. [_Who has been looking through the telescope._] Oh, there it is again!
FRAU V. HALLDORF. [_Eagerly._] Where? Where?
[_Takes_ LIDDY"S _place_.
LIDDY. It"s just coming around the turn at the top.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. Oh, now I see it! Why, there"s no one inside!
LIDDY. Well, then she"s coming up on foot.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. [_To_ MILLY.] See, the princess is coming up on foot, too. And she is just as anaemic as you are.
MILLY. If I were going to marry a grand-duke, and if I could have my own carriage driven along beside me, I wouldn"t complain of having to walk either.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. I can"t see a thing now.
LIDDY. You have to turn the screw, mother.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. I have been turning it right along, but the telescope won"t move.
LIDDY. Let me try.
STRuBEL. [_Who has been throwing little wads of paper at_ ROSA _during the preceding conversation_.] What are they up to?
LIDDY. It seems to me that you"ve turned the screw too far, mother.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. Well, what shall we do about it?
STRuBEL. [_Rising._] Permit me to come to your aid, ladies. I"ve had some experience with these old screws.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. Very kind--indeed.
[STRuBEL _busies himself with the instrument_.
LIDDY. Listen, mother. If the carriage has almost reached the top the princess can"t be far off. Wouldn"t it be best, then, to watch for them on the road?
FRAU V. HALLDORF. Certainly, if you think that would be best, dear Liddy.
STRuBEL. This is not only an old screw, but it"s a regular perverted old screw.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. Ah, really? [_Aside to her daughters._] And if she should actually speak to us at this accidental meeting--and if we could present ourselves as the subjects of her n.o.ble fiance, and tell her that we live at her future home--just imagine what an advantage that would give us over the other women of the court!
STRuBEL. There, ladies! We have now rescued the useful instrument to which the far-sightedness of mankind is indebted.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. Thanks, so much. Pardon me, sir, but have you heard anything about the report that the princess is going to make the journey up here to-day?
STRuBEL. The princess? The princess of the Springs? The princess of the lonely villa? The princess who is expected at the iron spring every morning, but who has never been seen by a living soul? Why, I am enormously interested. You wouldn"t believe how much interested I am!
LIDDY. [_Who has looked out, back._] There--there--there--it is!
FRAU V. HALLDORF. The carriage?
LIDDY. It"s reached the top already. It is stopping over there at the edge of the woods.
FRAU V. HALLDORF. She will surely enter it there, then. Come quickly, my dear children, so that it will look quite accidental. Here is your money. [_She throws a coin to_ ROSA _and unwraps a small package done up in tissue-paper, which she has brought with her_.] Here is a bouquet for you--and here"s one for you. You are to present these to the princess.
MILLY. So that it will look quite accidental--oh, yes!
[_All three go out._
STRuBEL. Good heavens! Could I--? I don"t believe it! Surely she sits--well, I"ll make sure right away--[_Goes up to the telescope and stops._] Oh, I"ll go along with them, anyhow.
[_Exit after them._
FRAU LINDEMANN. [_Entering._] Have they all gone--all of them?
ROSA. All of them.
FRAU LINDEMANN. [_Looking toward the right._] There--there--two ladies and a lackey are coming up the footpath. Mercy me! How my heart is beating!--If I had only had the sofa recovered last spring!--What am I going to say to them?--Rosa, don"t you know a poem by heart which you could speak to the princess? [ROSA _shrugs her shoulders_.] They"re coming through the court now!--Stop putting your arms under your ap.r.o.n that way, you stupid thing!--oh dear, oh dear----
[_The door opens._ A LACKEY _in plain black livery enters, and remains standing at the door. He precedes_ THE PRINCESS _and_ FRAU V. BROOK. THE PRINCESS _is a pale, sickly, una.s.suming young girl, wearing a very simple walking costume and a medium-sized leghorn hat trimmed with roses_. FRAU V. BROOK _is a handsome, stately, stern-looking woman, in the thirties. She is well-dressed, but in accordance with the simple tastes of the North German n.o.bility._
FRAU V. BROOK. Who is the proprietor of this place?
FRAU LINDEMANN. At your command, your Highness.
FRAU V. BROOK. [_Reprovingly._] I am the maid of honor. Where is the room that has been ordered?
FRAU LINDEMANN. [_Opens the door, left._] Here--at the head of the stairs--my lady.
FRAU V. BROOK. Would your Highness care to remain here for a few moments?
THE PRINCESS Very much, dear Frau von Brook.
FRAU V. BROOK. Edward, order what is needed for Her Highness, and see that a room next to Her Highness is prepared for me. I may a.s.sume that these are Your Highness"s wishes?
THE PRINCESS. Why certainly, dear Frau von Brook.
[THE LACKEY, _who is carrying shawls and pillows, goes out with_ ROSA, _left_.
THE PRINCESS. Mais puisque je te dis, Eugenie, que je n"ai pas sommeil.
M"envoyer coucher comme une enfant, c"est abominable.
FRAU V. BROOK. Mais je t"implore, cherie, sois sage! Tu sais, que c"est le medecin, qui----