But where are we going? There’s no one around. Come, let’s go back!… It’s so dark! SOLDIER (_Pulling at his cigar until it glows brightly_) There … it’s already getting brighter. Ha—! Oh, you dearie! MAID Oh! what are you doing there? If I had known this before! SOLDIER The devil take me, if any one at the dance to-day felt softer and rounder than you, Miss Marie. MAID Did you find it out in the same way with all the others? SOLDIER You notice things … dancing. You find out lots that way! MAID But you danced much oftener with that cross-eyed blonde than with me. SOLDIER She’s an old friend of one of my pals. MAID Of the corporal with the upturned mustache? SOLDIER Oh no, I mean the civilian. You know, the one who was talking with me at the table in the beginning. The one who has such a husky voice. MAID Oh I know. He’s fresh. SOLDIER Did he do anything to you? I’ll show him! What did he do to you? MAID Oh nothing… I only noticed how he was with the others. SOLDIER Tell me, Miss Marie… MAID You’ll burn me with your cigar. SOLDIER Pardon me!—Miss Marie—or may I say Marie? MAID We’re not such good friends yet… SOLDIER There’re many who don’t like each-other, and yet use first names. MAID Next time, if we… But, Frank! SOLDIER Oh, you remember my name? MAID But, Frank… SOLDIER That’s right, call me Frank, Miss Marie. MAID Don’t be so fresh—but, sh-h, suppose some one should come! SOLDIER What if some one did come? They couldn’t see anything two steps off. MAID For goodness’ sake, where are we going? SOLDIER Look! There’s two just like us. MAID Where? I don’t see anything. SOLDIER There … just ahead of us. MAID Why do you say: “two like us”— SOLDIER Well, I mean, they like each other too. MAID Look out! What’s that there? I nearly fell. SOLDIER Oh, that’s the meadow-gate. MAID Don’t shove me so. I’ll fall. SOLDIER Sh-h, not so loud. MAID Stop! Now I’m really going to scream—What are you doing?… Stop now— SOLDIER There’s no one anywhere around. MAID Then, let’s go back where the people are. SOLDIER We don’t need them. Why—Marie, we need … for that… MAID Stop, Frank, please, for Heaven’s sake! Listen to me, if I had … known … oh … come! * * * * * SOLDIER (_Blissfully_) Once more… Oh… MAID … I can’t see your face at all. SOLDIER Don’t matter—my face… * * * * * SOLDIER Well, Miss Marie, you can’t stay here on the grass all night. MAID Please, Frank, help me. SOLDIER Oh, come along. MAID Oh, Lord help me, Frank. SOLDIER Well, what’s the matter with me? MAID You’re a bad man, Frank. SOLDIER Yes, yes. Say, wait a minute. MAID Why do you leave me alone? SOLDIER Can’t you let me light my cigar! MAID It’s so dark. SOLDIER It’ll be light again to-morrow morning. MAID Tell me, at least, you love me. SOLDIER Well, you must have felt that, Miss Marie! MAID Where are we going now? SOLDIER