PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Defensively.] I never did you any wrong! Never, Irene!
IRENE.
Yes, you did! You did wrong to my innermost, inborn nature--
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Starting back.] I--!
IRENE.
Yes, you! I exposed myself wholly and unreservedly to your gaze--[More softly.] And never once did you touch me.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Irene, did you not understand that many a time I was almost beside myself under the spell of all your loveliness?
IRENE.
[Continuing undisturbed.] And yet--if you had touched me, I think I should have killed you on the spot. For I had a sharp needle always upon me--hidden in my hair-- [Strokes her forehead meditatively.] But after all--after all--that you could--
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Looks impressively at her.] I was an artist, Irene.
IRENE.
[Darkly.] That is just it. That is just it.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
An artist first of all. And I was sick with the desire to achieve the great work of my life. [Losing himself in recollection.] It was to be called "The Resurrection Day"--figured in the likeness of a young woman, awakening from the sleep of death--
IRENE.
Our child, yes--
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Continuing.] It was to be the awakening of the n.o.blest, purest, most ideal woman the world ever saw. Then I found you. You were what I required in every respect. And you consented so willingly--so gladly.
You renounced home and kindred--and went with me.
IRENE.
To go with you meant for me the resurrection of my childhood.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
That was just why I found in you all that I required--in you and in no one else. I came to look on you as a thing hallowed, not to be touched save in adoring thoughts. In those days I was still young, Irene. And the superst.i.tion took hold of me that if I touched you, if I desired you with my senses, my soul would be profaned, so that I should be unable to accomplish what I was striving for.--And I still think there was some truth in that.
IRENE.
[Nods with a touch of scorn.] The work of art first--then the human being.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
You must judge me as you will; but at that time I was utterly dominated by my great task--and exultantly happy in it.
IRENE.
And you achieved your great task, Arnold.
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
Thanks and praise be to you, I achieved my great task. I wanted to embody the pure woman as I saw her awakening on the Resurrection Day.
Not marvelling at anything new and unknown and undivined; but filled with a sacred joy at finding herself unchanged--she, the woman of earth--in the higher, freer, happier region--after the long, dreamless sleep of death. [More softly.] Thus did I fashion her.--I fashioned her in your image, Irene.
IRENE.
[Laying her hands flat upon the table and leaning against the back of her chair.] And then you were done with me--
PROFESSOR RUBEK.
[Reproachfully.] Irene!
IRENE.