The Lonely Way-Intermezzo-Countess Mizzie - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
How are you? (_He shakes hands with Felix_)
JOHANNA (_who has risen_)
Mr. Fichtner. (_She holds out her hand to him_)
JULIAN
I could hardly recognize you, Johanna. You have grown into a young lady now.--Has your father not come home yet?
JOHANNA
He hasn't gone out yet. He has nothing to do at the Academy until twelve.
JULIAN
I suppose he's in his studio?
JOHANNA
I'll call him.
[_Julian looks around. As Johanna is about to leave the room, Wegrat enters, carrying his hat and stick._
WEGRAT (_giving his hand to Julian_)
I'm delighted, my dear fellow.
JULIAN
I heard of it only after my arrival here yesterday--through Sala. I don't need to tell you ...
WEGRAT
Thank you very much for your sympathy. I thank you with all my heart.--But sit down, please.
JULIAN
You were going out?
WEGRAT
Oh, it's no hurry. I have nothing to do in the Academy until twelve.
Johanna, will you please get a carriage for me, just to be on the safe side?
[_Johanna goes out. Wegrat seats himself, as does Julian. Felix stands leaning against the glazed oven._
WEGRAT
Well, you stayed away quite a while this time.
JULIAN
More than two years.
WEGRAT
If you had only got here ten days earlier, you could have had a last look at her. It came so very suddenly--although it wasn't unexpected.
JULIAN
So I have heard.
WEGRAT
And now you are going to stay right here, I suppose?
JULIAN
A little while. How long I am not yet able to tell.
WEGRAT
Of course not. The making of schedules has never been your line.
JULIAN
No, I have a certain disinclination for that kind of thing. (_Pause_)
WEGRAT
Oh, mercy, my dear fellow ... how often have I not been thinking of you recently!
JULIAN
And I....
WEGRAT
No, you haven't had much chance for it.... But I.... As I enter the building where I now hold office and authority, I remember often how we two young chaps used to sit side by side in the model cla.s.s, full of a thousand plans and hopes.
JULIAN
Why do you say that in such a melancholy tone? A lot of those things have come true, haven't they?
WEGRAT
Some--yes.... And yet one can't help wanting to be young again, even at the risk of similar sorrows and struggles....
JULIAN
