[She seats herself again.]
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[After a pause.] In all this, do you hold me guilty?
IRENE.
Yes.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Guilty of that--your death, as you call it.
IRENE.
Guilty of the fact that I had to die. [Changing her tone to one of indifference.] Why don"t you sit down, Arnold?
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
May I?
IRENE.
Yes.--You need not be afraid of being frozen. I don"t think I am quite turned to ice yet.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Moves a chair and seats himself at her table.] There, Irene. Now we two are sitting together as in the old days.
IRENE.
A little way apart from each other--also as in the old days.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Moving nearer.] It had to be so, then.
IRENE.
Had it?
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Decisively.] There had to be a distance between us--
IRENE.
Was it absolutely necessary, Arnold?
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Continuing.] Do you remember what you answered when I asked if you would go with me out into the wide world?
IRENE.
I held up three fingers in the air and swore that I would go with you to the world"s end and to the end of life. And that I would serve you in all things--
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
As the model for my art--
IRENE. --in frank, utter nakedness--
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[With emotion.] And you did serve me, Irene--so bravely--so gladly and ungrudgingly.
IRENE.
Yes, with all the pulsing blood of my youth, I served you!
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Nodding, with a look of grat.i.tude.] That you have every right to say.
IRENE.
I fell down at your feet and served you, Arnold! [Holding her clenched hand towards him.] But you, you,--you--!