CHRISTINE. [As she goes out] Well, G.o.d help us all! Never have I seen the like of it!
[The sun has risen and is shining on the tree tops in the park. The light changes gradually until it comes slantingly in through the windows. JEAN goes to the door and gives a signal.]
JULIA. [Enters in travelling dress and carrying a small birdcage covered up with a towel; this she places on a chair] Now I am ready.
JEAN. Hush! Christine is awake.
JULIA. [Showing extreme nervousness during the following scene] Did she suspect anything?
JEAN. She knows nothing at all. But, my heavens, how you look!
JULIA. How do I look?
JEAN. You"re as pale as a corpse, and--pardon me, but your face is dirty.
JULIA. Let me wash it then--Now! [She goes over to the washstand and washes her face and hands] Give me a towel--Oh!--That"s the sun rising!
JEAN. And then the ogre bursts.
JULIA. Yes, ogres and trolls were abroad last night!?But listen, Jean. Come with me, for now I have the money.
JEAN. [Doubtfully] Enough?
JULIA. Enough to start with. Come with me, for I cannot travel alone to-day. Think of it--Midsummer Day, on a stuffy train, jammed with people who stare at you--and standing still at stations when you want to fly. No, I cannot! I cannot! And then the memories will come: childhood memories of Midsummer Days, when the inside of the church was turned into a green forest--birches and lilacs; the dinner at the festive table with relatives and friends; the afternoon in the park, with dancing and music, flowers and games!
Oh, you may run and run, but your memories are in the baggage-car, and with them remorse and repentance!
JEAN. I"ll go with you-but at once, before it"s too late. This very moment!
JULIA. Well, get dressed then. [Picks up the cage.]
JEAN. But no baggage! That would only give us away.
JULIA. No, nothing at all! Only what we can take with us in the car.
JEAN. [Has taken down his hat] What have you got there? What is it?
JULIA. It"s only my finch. I can"t leave it behind.
JEAN. Did you ever! Dragging a bird-cage along with us! You must be raving mad! Drop the cage!
JULIA. The only thing I take with me from my home! The only living creature that loves me since Diana deserted me! Don"t be cruel! Let me take it along!
JEAN. Drop the cage, I tell you! And don"t talk so loud--Christine can hear us.
JULIA. No, I won"t let it fall into strange hands. I"d rather have you kill it!
JEAN. Well, give it to me, and I"ll wring its neck.
JULIA. Yes, but don"t hurt it. Don"t--no, I cannot!
JEAN. Let me--I can!
JULIA. [Takes the bird out of the cage and kisses it] Oh, my little birdie, must it die and go away from its mistress!
JEAN. Don"t make a scene, please. Don"t you know it"s a question of your life, of your future? Come, quick! [s.n.a.t.c.hes the bird away from her, carries it to the chopping block and picks up an axe.
MISS JULIA turns away.]
JEAN. You should have learned how to kill chickens instead of shooting with a revolver--[brings down the axe]--then you wouldn"t have fainted for a drop of blood.
JULIA. [Screaming] Kill me too! Kill me! You who can take the life of an innocent creature without turning a hair! Oh, I hate and despise you! There is blood between us! Cursed be the hour when I first met you! Cursed be the hour when I came to life in my mother"s womb!
JEAN. Well, what"s the use of all that cursing? Come on!
JULIA. [Approaching the chopping-block as if drawn to it against her will] No, I don"t want to go yet. I cannot?-I must see--Hush!
There"s a carriage coming up the road. [Listening without taking her eyes of the block and the axe] You think I cannot stand the sight of blood. You think I am as weak as that--oh, I should like to see your blood, your brains, on that block there. I should like to see your whole s.e.x swimming in blood like that thing there. I think I could drink out of your skull, and bathe my feet in your open breast, and eat your heart from the spit!--You think I am weak; you think I love you because the fruit of my womb was yearning for your seed; you think I want to carry your offspring under my heart and nourish it with my blood--bear your children and take your name! Tell me, you, what are you called anyhow? I have never heard your family name?-and maybe you haven"t any. I should become Mrs. "Hovel," or Mrs. "Backyard"--you dog there, that"s wearing my collar; you lackey with my coat of arms on your b.u.t.tons-- and I should share with my cook, and be the rival of my own servant. Oh! Oh! Oh!--You think I am a coward and want to run away!
No, now I"ll stay--and let the lightning strike! My father will come home--will find his chiffonier opened--the money gone! Then he"ll ring--twice for the valet--and then he"ll send for the sheriff--and then I shall tell everything! Everything! Oh, but it will be good to get an end to it--if it only be the end! And then his heart will break, and he dies!--So there will be an end to all of us--and all will be quiet?peace--eternal rest!--And then the coat of arms will be shattered on the coffin--and the count"s line will be wiped out--but the lackey"s line goes on in the orphan asylum--wins laurels in the gutter, and ends in jail.
JEAN. There spoke the royal blood! Bravo, Miss Julia! Now you put the miller back in his sack!
[CHRISTINE enters dressed for church and carrying n hymn-book in her hand.]
JULIA. [Hurries up to her and throws herself into her arms ax if seeking protection] Help me, Christine! Help me against this man!
CHRISTINE. [Unmoved and cold] What kind of performance is this on the Sabbath morning? [Catches sight of the chopping-block] My, what a mess you have made!--What"s the meaning of all this? And the way you shout and carry on!
JULIA. You are a woman, Christine, and you are my friend. Beware of that scoundrel!
JEAN. [A little shy and embarra.s.sed] While the ladies are discussing I"ll get myself a shave. [Slinks out to the right.]
JULIA. You must understand me, and you must listen to me.
CHRISTINE. No, really, I don"t understand this kind of trolloping.
Where are you going in your travelling-dress--and he with his hat on--what?--What?
JULIA. Listen, Christine, listen, and I"ll tell you everything--
CHRISTINE. I don"t want to know anything--
JULIA. You must listen to me--
CHRISTINE. What is it about? Is it about this nonsense with Jean?
Well, I don"t care about it at all, for it"s none of my business.
But if you"re planning to get him away with you, we"ll put a stop to that!
JULIA. [Extremely nervous] Please try to be quiet, Christine, and listen to me. I cannot stay here, and Jean cannot stay here--and so we must leave?-
CHRISTINE. Hm, hm!
JULIA. [Brightening. up] But now I have got an idea, you know.