The Joy Of Living (Es Lebe Das Leben) - LightNovelsOnl.com
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Well?
Kellinghausen.
Go on.
Beata.
You had something to say.
Kellinghausen (_confused_).
I--I was only going to tell you--that there will be no duel.
Beata.
Ah.--Then the danger I spoke of is removed, and I----
_Enter_ Conrad.
Conrad.
His Highness Prince Usingen and Baron Brachtmann are in the drawing-room.
Kellinghausen.
I will come at once. (Conrad _goes out_.)
Beata.
If you don't mind I will join you at table.
Kellinghausen.
You are not well.
Beata (_carelessly_).
It's nothing to speak of. Don't keep them waiting.--(Kellinghausen _stands before her, shaken with tearless sobs_. Beata _goes up to him and lays her hand softly on his arm_.) Michael, dear, when I think how I have hurt you I should like to fall down before you and kiss your hands--I should like to show you--what is in my heart--but it's too late to say such things now----
Kellinghausen.
Good-bye. (_He goes out_. Beata _rings and_ Conrad _enters_.)
Beata.
Ask Countess Ellen to bring me my drops. (Conrad _goes out_. Beata _stretches out her arms and pa.s.ses her hands over her face_.)
_Enter_ Ellen.
Ellen (_in the doorway_).
Mother! Are you ill? (Beata _stretches out her arms again, half beckoning_ Ellen, _half warding her off_. Ellen, _hastening to her_.) Mother! Mother! what is it?
Beata (_softly_).
Nothing, nothing. (_She strokes_ Ellen's hair, _lets her arms slip gradually from the girl's shoulders, and finds the phial containing the drops in her left hand. A long shudder_.) Give me the drops.
Ellen.
How you s.n.a.t.c.h! Here they are. (Beata _turns the phial about in her hand_.) Mother, are we really going to Rossitsch, this evening?
Beata (_nodding_).
Yes.
Ellen.
In midwinter? Why do we go?
Beata.
H'm----
Ellen.
What will Norbert say? It looks as though you wanted to separate us----
Beata.
Does it? Does it really look so?
Ellen.
No, no, no--forgive me! No.
Beata.
But others might want to separate you--for life--for life, Ellen! Do you understand?
Ellen.
Mother!
Beata.
Shall I tell you what to do if ever that happens? Wait till you are of age, and then go to him wherever he is, and say: "My mother sent me."
Do you see?
