Beata.
Dear Leonie, find fault with me when I sow discord, but praise me when I make peace.
Leonie.
Do you care so much for praise?
Beata.
Don"t you?
Leonie.
Oh, no one ever praises me. I suppose I don"t know how to play my cards. Norbert, please have the carriage called.
Norbert.
Very well, mother. (_Goes out_.)
Leonie.
Ah, Prince--good-evening! (_He kisses her hand_.) How is it we never see you at our missionary meetings? Her Royal Highness wished me to say that she counts on your help. Isn"t that flattering? (_To the others_.) The Prince is one of us, you know. He serves the cause of religion faithfully----
Prince.
And in poverty of spirit. That"s my special merit, you know, Baroness.
Brachtmann (_aside to the_ Prince).
You reprobate!
Leonie.
But pray don"t let me disturb you, for I must really be off. My carriage is waiting, and my coachman is so cross. We"re all the slaves of our carriages. (_To_ Kellinghausen.) It has been so delightful--dear Beata is such a wonderful hostess. Our great stateswoman knows so well how to keep her party in hand. Willingly or unwillingly, she makes them all come into line; don"t you, Beata, dear?
Beata.
I"m afraid you are among the unwilling to-night, Leonie.
Leonie.
Oh, I"m not as adaptable as some of your friends.
Brachtmann (_aside to the_ Prince).
Do you hear those amenities?
Prince (_to_ Brachtmann).
The Baroness is dispensing Christian charity sprinkled with a.r.s.enic.
Let"s efface ourselves. (_They move quietly into the background_.)
Leonie.
(_To_ Kellinghausen, _with whom she has been talking_.) No, no, my dear Count you mustn"t think of it. Norbert will put me in my carriage. And meanwhile, I want to have a little chat with dear Beata. We always have so many things to say to each other.
Kellinghausen (_kissing her hand_).
At your orders, my dear friend. I"ll draw the curtain to protect your _tete-a-tete_. (_He draws the curtain between the columns and goes out_.)
Leonie.
How wonderfully well you look to-night, Beata! Not in the least like a prospective grandmother.
Beata.
Why, as to that, Leonie, it looks as though you and I were to be made grandmothers on the same day.
Leonie.
Ah, really? Well, Ellen is a delightful child. Where is she, by the way? You don"t seem to care to let her be seen in your neighbourhood on such occasions.
Beata.
Seen? In my neighbourhood? You have an odd way of putting things. But I believe you had something to say to me.
Leonie.
I know I oughtn"t to keep you from your other guests, but it"s such a pleasure to have you to myself. I wonder what has become of Norbert?--I must say, Beata, I can"t help admiring your self-possession. I don"t see how you can be so unconcerned.
Beata.
What should I be concerned about?
Leonie.
Why, you don"t mean--? I should almost think you-- But I don"t know how to express myself. It"s so very painful.--There are such dreadful people in the world.
Beata.
Are there?
Leonie.
This former secretary of Richard"s, for instance, who has made such a shocking speech against him. You"ve received a copy, of course?
Beata.
Not that I know of.