(Der Einsame Weg)
A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS
1903
PERSONS
PROFESSOR WEGRAT } President of the Academy } of Plastic Arts
GABRIELLE } His wife
FELIX } } Their children JOHANNA }
JULIAN FICHTNER
STEPHAN VON SALA
IRENE HERMS
DR. FRANZ REUMANN } A physician
FICHTNER"S VALET
SALA"S VALET
A MAID AT THE WEGRATS"
THE LONELY WAY
THE FIRST ACT
_The little garden attached to Professor Wegrat"s house. It is almost surrounded by buildings, so that no outlook of any kind is to be had.
At the right in the garden stands the small two-storied house with its woodwork veranda, to which lead three wooden steps. Entries are made from the veranda as well as from either side of the house. Near the middle of the stage is a green garden table with chairs to match, and also a more comfortable armchair. A small iron bench is placed against a tree at the left._
_Johanna is walking back and forth in the garden when Felix enters, wearing the uniform of a uhlan._
JOHANNA (_turning about_)
Felix!
FELIX
Yes, it"s me.
JOHANNA
How are you?--And how have you been able to get another furlough?
FELIX
Oh, it won"t last long.--And how"s mamma?
JOHANNA
Doing pretty well the last few days.
FELIX
Do you think she would be scared if I dropped in on her unexpectedly?
JOHANNA
No. But wait a little just the same. She"s asleep now. I have just come from her room.--How long are you going to stay, Felix?
FELIX
To-morrow night I"m off again.
JOHANNA (_staring into a fancied distance_)
Off....
FELIX
Oh, it sounds big! But one doesn"t get so very far off--not in any respect.
JOHANNA
And you have wanted it so badly.... (_Pointing to his uniform_) Now you"ve got it. And are you not satisfied?
FELIX
Well, at any rate it is the most sensible thing I have gone into so far. For now I feel at least that I might achieve something under certain circ.u.mstances.
JOHANNA
I believe you would make good in any profession.
FELIX